Gary Owen stuck his head on the block last week by claiming this ebullient City team would give Barcelona a real examination.
The former Blues star and M.E.N. Sport columnist is not afraid of bold views, but that one had a few people spluttering in their coffee.
The way the Champions League group stages are developing, there is a very real prospect that in February, in the round of 16, the Blues could be squaring up to Lionel Messi and Co.
The Blues need to qualify first, of course, and if they manage it, they will probably do so in second place.
That means they would face a group winner over two legs in the next round, and cannot draw another English club or Bayern Munich.
With United, Chelsea and Arsenal on course to top their groups, it is likely City would face one of four clubs, namely Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg – or Barcelona.
City have ripped up the Premier League etiquette book this season, by not only elbowing their way to the festive table but by then tipping soup in the lap of the champions and doing a tap-dance round the candelabras.
But they have yet to fully translate their stunning form into convincing performances in the Champions League – and need a good result at Napoli next Tuesday to keep their heads above the Group A waters.
Barcelona, by contrast, look imperious once again, and Owen, it appeared, had gone off his rocker.
Then along came the Wembley friendly, when the script read that the one-paced journeymen of England would end up bedazzled by the world champions, to all intents and purposes a Barcelona team garnished by the brilliance of David Silva.
Reinforced
It didn’t happen, although the events of that match have been revised by those – including myself – whose faces were left as red as the Spain shirts after predicting a hammering.
And the way the game went has reinforced Owen’s standpoint.
Rarely has an international fixture been between two such polar opposites.
Spain’s panache against England’s cussedness, Spain’s passing against England’s tackling, Spain’s style against England’s substance.
Thirty per cent possession against 70 per cent possession, and yet the 30 per cent men won. England was shocked and Spain was disgusted.
Xabi Alonso’s pre-match dismissal of tackling as an ugly necessity rather than an art in itself was made to look like a weakness rather than a virtue.
And the Spanish press derided the English for being too Italian – in other words, too pragmatic, not bold enough and placing the outcome ahead of the beauty of the journey.
That brings us back to the prospect of City v Barcelona.
Not that City equate to England, in any way.
They are a far better team. Every single one of City’s first eleven would walk into the England team apart from, curiously, Micah Richards, it seems. (Everyone can see he is the best right-back in the country, apart from Fabio Capello).
But three of England’s best performers in the wins over Spain and Sweden were Joleon Lescott, James Milner and Gareth Barry. They, along with Dutchman Nigel de Jong and Belgian Vincent Kompany, help to give City a strong, English-style backbone which is fleshed out by the gorgeous abilities of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri.
And therein lies the key to what Owen was getting at.
City combine English guts and spirit with Spanish style. They could, on a good night, frustrate Barcelona with their fighting qualities and physicality, and then beat them with their passing and possession.
England were missing players who might have made a difference, in Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Steven Gerrard.
But they still don’t have a Silva or a Yaya to keep the ball in midfield, or the unpredictable genius of a Balotelli to feast on scraps up front.
City do, and that is why backing City to beat Barca would be a safer bet than putting your house on England to beat Spain.
Could City beat Barcelona? Have your say.
England provide Manchester City a blueprint for Barca
November 17, 2011
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I would rather learn to walk 1st than run Garry. Its stupid comments like this that will turn us into another hated club like ...........................hhmmmmm now who could it be ????
Get real Garry, England played it like they were in a World Cup Final but still hardly created a goal chance. Spain played it like it was,a meaningless friendly fixture, except for the last 25 minutes or so didn't move out of first gear. As for Swedan, a Championship side would have given them a game, a very poor International side.
All delusional media hype,lets wait for the real thing in the summer to make value judgements.
Hypothetical questions & answers again. If, ifs & buts were only nuts, would there be a lot more monkeys?
We needed a draw @ Bayern, didn't get it. Let's just get Newcastle in our sights now, that's all that matters @ the mo.
I agree with who ever asked about Hargreaves & whether the lads on international duty have come back in one piece.
Let's get the Show on the road.
City can beat Barca and why not they slaughtered United 6-1 on their own patch?
City tend to operate with over 60% possession,unafraid to patiently build up play.....we also have a very fast counter attack that can be deployed at will.....Barca operate with over 70% possession....they also have a very fast counter attack that can be deployed at will.....City have a better defence.
Every great team can be beaten on the day; this would include Barcelona. As great as they are with outstanding players, City have those players too. It would be a challenge but that's what we have done so far this season.
The pundits have written us off as being defensive and boring but look where we are at the moment. So yes, we could give Barcelona a good game and beat them. You have to believe to achieve; if not then what's the point of life.
Nice article. I particularly liked -
Not that City equate to England, in any way.
They are a far better team. Every single one of City’s first eleven would walk into the England team apart from, curiously, Micah Richards, it seems. (Everyone can see he is the best right-back in the country, apart from Fabio Capello).
But the England game was a friendly and while City definitely have the potential to upstage Barca for all the reasons you mentioned, I don't think we have the belief at CL level to do it yet. I'd be absolutely delighted to be proved wrong though.
For my money if anyone has what it takes to beat Barca this year it's Bayern. Strong, solid, organised, with years of CL experience and have attacking flair. Yet City have the potential to be better. If we can get a result against them at home, it'll be a massive result. We really would have beaten one of the best 2 or 3 clubs in Europe. City have the ability and with the right atmosphere we can give the players the belief.
That is a tough question. If we could play as well as we did against Spurs earlier in the season I reckon we would have a very good chance... but when Barcelona are at their best, which they seem to be almost all the time, hardly anyone stands a chance. In saying that though, if anyone stands a chance, it's between City and Real.
Decent piece Stuart but please spare us the excruciating metaphors...
"City have ripped up the Premier League etiquette book this season, by not only elbowing their way to the festive table but by then tipping soup in the lap of the champions and doing a tap-dance round the candelabras."
... clunk!
I hope so.
If City are to play Barca this year, Barca will have more possession, more attacking flare, look more dangerous.
However City will give a good fight as an underdog.
On a neutral ground, I will rate Barc win as 40 percent, draw 40 percent, City win 20 percent.
But City can do better than the way United lost at Wembley last year.
Manchester City now comprise a team of great internationals and they are getting better by the week.They would give Barcelona a good game and would stand every chance of beating them.
Part of this comes from the fact that teams like Barcelona give you the opportunity to play football.Other teams as we know from experience set out to thwart us.
By the way, Gerrard would have not made a difference to the England team.He is past his best and hanging on along with Ferdinand,Terry,Lampard and co.
all i've got to say is...if this is what nasri is like off form, then how good can he be on form?!?!? he's got two goals, 6 assists, and countless chances created (less than silva but still up their at the top of that category). there's nothing wrong with that return so far!
Arsenal 2-1 Barca. This was last seaon in the CL. Barca had an off day infront of goal. OK they won the 2nd leg easily, but no one is invincible, great side that they are. I'm sure a top performing BLUES could produce a shock.
Crikey any Stockport County player would walk into the England team!
Don't care who City draw should we get through.
Might as well despatch the best up front!
MuEN can we have the advertising in “BLUE” please you will do anything to get red on our side
I can here you lot sniggering right now ......
CTID
Norwich at home the week after next. How will we know if they are true Norwich fans or Rags that got in again.
TYPICAL ENGLAND BASHERS,YES BARCELONA WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BEATING A POOR UNITED SIDE AND SPAIN WON A SUB STANDARD WORLD CUP GETTIN BEAT BY SWITZERLAND IN THE PROCESS ,CITY HAVE NO NEED TO FEAR BARCELONA WE CAN BEAT ANYBODY AND AS FAR AS ENGLAND ARE CONCERNED WHY WORRY EVERYBODY SAYS WE HAVE NO CHANCE,JUST LIKE LAST SATURDAY AT WEMBLEY OOPS!!!!!!
Read it and weep Trafford Berties.
Getting a little ahead of ourselves aren't we?
Win or Lose if we played Barca I would love that fixture (providing we progress). We are not quite there on winning the CL or being finalists but I believe we could frustrate Barca and come away with something. We need to have more confidence & belief now in the CL and that started to show against Villareal. If we do draw Barca that would be incredible for us, the whole club, players staff & fans. I would bet on us doing better than the rags did last year anyway!
CTID
That's all we need, another bloody loose cannon like Owen putting even more pressure on us. Is it too much to ask for us to actually win something this season first (which will be difficult enough), without ex-players creating unreasonable expectations. Let's just wait and see, eh Gary.
That wasn't a blueprint for success. That was a park the bus FA cup underdog match where we got the breaks.
You will never see Spain end a meaningful match with those 11 players on the pitch, unless they're comfortably ahead. And 9 times out of 10, we'd have lost anyway.
That's the way you play if you're vastly inferior to the opponent and think it's your best, if very remote, chance of sneaking something. Maybe that's the way we would have to play Barca, I don't know. It's the way Macc Town would play Barca, but we're better than Mac. And we're better than England.
Would have no problem drawing against Barcelona in the next round as it means we are through the groupsphases.