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Zenit v FC Porto (Match 4) Champions League

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CDG

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
This week we will face FC Porto in a crunch Champions League match.

We are currently 2nd in the group and have just defeated Porto 1-0 in Portugal, we also played them at the same stage of the CL 2 years ago and defeated them 3-1. A win here and we are 99 percent through. The only way we would not be able qualify with a win here is if we lose our last 2 matches and Porto win there last 2 matches which would include them winning in Spain against Athletico Madrid and us losing at home against Atletico Madrid and losing In Austria too.

We will be without Witsel who is suspended but other than this, we are at full strength. I don't think the line up will look a lot different than this -

Lodygin
Ansaldi
Hubocan
Lombaerts
Criscito
Fayzulin
Zyrianov
Shirokov
Danny
Hulk
Kherzakov

We did not retain possession enough in Portugal and clearly missed the prescence of Witsel in midfield. I see Arshavin dropping to the bench and Shatov not being risked, a more defensive minded Zyrianov will get the nod although I give a very very small outside chance of there being a surprise and Tymoshuck getting a shot as a DM. Porto know they must win, I would very surprised to see them go for a draw, this should definatley play to our advantage with Danny and Hulk bang in form to exploit any attacking space and chances.

We have scored 10 goals in our last 3 home matches in the CL against Portugese opposition Porto (3), Benfica (3) and Parkers Farrios (4).

I know me man Klebsy is in town for this one, he started walking from the Algarve at 06:00 pm last Tuesday with his pet Donkey Miguel and is due in Piter in the next few hours. He will be banging his Zenit Bukha Horn whilst wearing his favourite Fayzhulin shirt.

Let's do this Zenit. We can do this!
 
#2 ·
I think our lineup will be quite different from what you have. I expect to see Smolnikov, Shatov, Neto and Arshavin.

We haven't played well for a few games now, hopefully this is the one where we get everything back on track.
 
Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
Sviatoslav said:
I think our lineup will be quite different from what you have. I expect to see Smolnikov, Shatov, Neto and Arshavin.

We haven't played well for a few games now, hopefully this is the one where we get everything back on track.
Click to expand...
I don't expect to see most of those players, most of them did not play well against Porto and there replacements did.

I don't expect to see Shatov, Fayzulin will definitely get the nod ahead of him and Zyrianov I expect to play too, if Hubocan is fit, Hubocan and Lombaerts are the first choice CB pairing for Spalleti as are if fit Ansaldi and Criscito as the full backs, Ansaldi can play either side equally well.

Kherzakov 1 million percent will start up front instead of Arshavin too after getting the winner v Porto.

Not sure how you are calculating us playing well, we are winning quite a lot of games and the only game we lost we played very well, that is unless you want to count a horrific own goal from the Zenit 3rd choice keeper and a mistake by probably our 4th choice full back to give away a penalty as taking anything away from our attacking performance. We could have scored 6 the other end.

Other than Porto away we are doing enough to win all of the matches we are winning.

You are watching what happens in the games aren't you?
 
#5 ·
CDG said:
I don't expect to see most of those players, most of them did not play well against Porto and there replacements did.

I don't expect to see Shatov, Fayzulin will definitely get the nod ahead of him and Zyrianov I expect to play too, if Hubocan is fit, Hubocan and Lombaerts are the first choice CB pairing for Spalleti as are if fit Ansaldi and Criscito as the full backs, Ansaldi can play either side equally well.

Kherzakov 1 million percent will start up front instead of Arshavin too after getting the winner v Porto.

Not sure how you are calculating us playing well, we are winning quite a lot of games and the only game we lost we played very well, that is unless you want to count a horrific own goal from the Zenit 3rd choice keeper and a mistake by probably our 4th choice full back to give away a penalty as taking anything away from our attacking performance. We could have scored 6 the other end.

Other than Porto away we are doing enough to win all of the matches we are winning.

You are watching what happens in the games aren't you?
Click to expand...
-Fayzulin AND Shatov. No Zyryanov.
-I don't expect to see Hubocan back yet.
-If Spalletti saw Ansaldi and Criscito as our main full backs then don't you think that there would have been one training session where one of them played RB?
-Arshavin? Less likely than the rest but I felt like Spaghetti subbed him at half last game to keep him fresh.

And the last four games (Porto, Ural, Tyumen, Amkar) we haven't played particularly well. Can't really argue that.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Sviatoslav said:
-Fayzulin AND Shatov. No Zyryanov.
-I don't expect to see Hubocan back yet.
-If Spalletti saw Ansaldi and Criscito as our main full backs then don't you think that there would have been one training session where one of them played RB?
-Arshavin? Less likely than the rest but I felt like Spaghetti subbed him at half last game to keep him fresh.

And the last four games (Porto, Ural, Tyumen, Amkar) we haven't played particularly well. Can't really argue that.
Click to expand...
I don't understand your basis of not really playing well. Does an individual error mean the team played bad? Does 6 clear chances we should have scored mean the team played bad.

My opinion of not playing well is not creating chances and getting battered by the opposition, this is not happened in any of those matches you mentioned. Porto hardly battered us. Lodygin made 1 save of note all match and we came as close as they did with other chances.

Against Tyumen, 1 horrendous error by our 3rd choice keeper and 1 mis-timed tackle by our 4th choice full back cost us 2 goals, at the other end we could have scored 6. This is a match we played well in. We did better than Ural in the match and definitely deserved the 3 points, remember there goal was down to a freak fall by Neto, this doesn't mean we didn't play well. We deserved to beat Amkar and another day we would have beaten them 4-1.

The only match out of the 4 we didn't play well in against Porto, we didn't play worse than them, we were both about on par but given we had a 1 man advantage we should have done better. Based on how our starting players did against Porto and the players that replaced them, there is no way in a million years if Kherzakov is match fit he doesn't start ahead of Arshavin. As for Shatov, he was very poor in Portugal and with no Witsel, him and Fayzulin would offer not offer the right DM protection to our defence, you only said a month or 2 back that because Zyrianov is the captain he will start most games (your words not mine), he will start this.

You also said previously that Ansaldi and Criscito would not play at the same time only for the match in Porto for this to happen at the end. Ansaldi can play either full back position equally well and is a better player than Smolynkov. I see Ansaldi definitely starting and just a case of wether Criscito who hasn't yet got back to his previous form starts or Smolynkov does. One thing is for certain, I don't see Anyukov sticking around for too long, he is the first choice Russian full back on the team-sheet and the 4th choice Zenit full back on the team sheet if all players are fit.

We can beat Porto! Lets do it!
 
#7 ·
I was going to write a long response but what's the point talking to someone who thought we played well against Tyumen? We created some scoring chances? No shit, the opposition is from the second division( aka, not even the FNL).
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Yep great news. This would be the best team to field

Lodygin
Ansaldi
Hubocan
Lombaerts
Criscito
Witsel
Fayzulin
Shirokov
Danny
Hulk
Kherzakov

I think he might play Smolynkov instead of Criscito, possibly Shatov instead of Fayzulin
Witsel gives the midfield some much needed protection.

We can do this. Let's go Piter!
 
#11 ·
I don't see both Criscito and Ansaldi starting unless Criscito plays CB. Fayzulin is definitely starting, Spaghetti basically confirmed it in his Amkar post-game press conference. I still think Arshavin may start, with Kerzhakov not fully fit yet and could be used as an impact sub.

A win here would be huge, hopefully we overrun Porto like we did last time they came to St. Pete's.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
CDG said:
Yep great news. This would be the best team to field

Lodygin
Ansaldi
Hubocan
Lombaerts
Criscito
Witsel
Fayzulin
Shirokov
Danny
Hulk
Kherzakov

I think he might play Smolynkov instead of Criscito, possibly Shatov instead of Fayzulin
Witsel gives the midfield some much needed protection.

We can do this. Let's go Piter!
Click to expand...
Looks like I was right, Shatov though instead of Kherzakov.

Ansaldi and Criscito both starting at full backs like I predicted.

Very happy with that team.

Lodygin - Ansaldi, Hubocan, Lombaerts, Criscito - Fayzulin, Witsel, Shatov, Shirokov, Danny and Hulk
 
#17 ·
russia and ukraine neeeds a joint league.......

spalletti sucks big time and lodygin lol........

zenit have no defensive or tactical work,just a bunch of players getting together to play.
 
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#19 ·
kleber said:
russia and ukraine neeeds a joint league.......

spalletti sucks big time and lodygin lol........

zenit have no defensive or tactical work,just a bunch of players getting together to play.
Click to expand...
kleber on top form :D

and what to say about Porto's slapstick defending on Zenit's goal? :shades:
 
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