#found this from marcus posting about one hes doing where one ticket is $50. like damn hes cheap!

[krissywendell]

just found this and its making me insane. $269 for a kirill to sign puck and you arent allowed to touch him when taking a picture

[andrewuttaro]

New Look Sabres: GM 26 - TOR - The Eichel Standard

6-4 Regulation Win

Let’s have a moment of honesty. I’ll start. I expected this to be a signed sealed and delivered loss (I think many of us did). I had a rip-roaring time watching that epic Buffalo Bills game on Thanksgiving to the point where I was near dreading a home and home series with the team I hate more than any other in the world (I think many of us did). The Buffalo Sabres, losers of 11 out of 13, up against a hated Leafs squad fresh off the firing and roasting of their former coach rattling off three straight wins, is the setup for a massively painful loss… or a very cathartic win... and a playoff spot at the moment *Heavily suggestive nudging*. We’ll come back to that. One more moment of honesty: I have begun to feel dirty roasting the Leafs fans who file into Key Bank Center in droves as of late. The reality that has been attested to me a dozen times is these are mostly folks who haven’t and may never see a Leafs game in Toronto. They’ve been priced out. Instead of feeling offended that so many thrifty season ticket holders in the lower bowl sell their tickets to Leafs fans… we should really pity these Leafs fans and give them good treatment. They are priced out by an organization that has sucked ass for half a century and not even granted them the dignity of watching it live. Just a thought. I digress. What is the greatest game against the Leafs in Sabres history? Greatest Game Against for this divisional rival actually has scanter options than you might think. There is no Leafs-Sabres game in the top fifteen of the Buffalo News’ top 50 games in franchise history. These teams are rarely good at the same time and the one time they were gave us the only playoff series between the two in the 1999 Eastern Conference Final, a series won by the Sabres I may add. The Greatest Game Against the Leafs in franchise history comes in that series: Game 5. The 4-2 win sealed the second trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. Like many big moments the team got in the late 1990s it was backstopped by Dominik Hasek being the best goaltender in the world but nonetheless the Sabres won a trip to the biggest series for the organization since the mid-70s so whose complaining? That series allows us to carry the historical playoff edge against the Leafs into a playoff series I now feel is as inevitable as Thanos. I guess we’ll see about that. Last night was a boost, no doubt about that.

Buffalo did what they’ve been good at lately: getting a neat little hot start and getting our hopes up before absolutely roasting our turkey. There are nights where Jack Eichel has a game. There are nights when Linus Ullmark has a game. Last Night they both had a game. William Nylander outmaneuvered Johan Larsson and Marco Scandella back on the other end and suddenly found himself on a breakaway. Linus Ullmark said: ain’t no problem. He scooped it up to thunderous applause. I wasn’t at this game so I’m not going to comment on the Leafs jerseys to Sabres jerseys ratio but from the sound of it both fanbases had the power of applause. Auston Matthews disappeared throughout this game; but the guy who was mature enough for the C did not. This game could be framed as the battle of the Captains. John Tavares broke the scoreless tie late in the first period with a quick shot from Ilya Mikheyev. I think Linus Ullmark was screened by both Leafs and Sabres players on that one. Sometimes it seems as though this club either doesn’t know how to defend the net or defends it so hard the goalie can’t do his job. Either way it was 1-0 after one period. Tavares struck again early in the second period. Eichel and Spezza had both gone to the box creating a 4-on-4 and some space for creative players on the Leafs. This 2-0 goal I feel comfortable blaming on Ullmark. Tavares leads a 2-on-3 and the puck ends up way behind the net. Ullmark splayed out on his belly way too early and JT got his own rebound and tapped it in. I suppose it also would have helped if the Sabres defenders were a little tougher on Tavares but hey, they held Auston Matthews off the score sheet so I’m not complaining, well at least not after the Buffalo Sabres arrived in this game shortly before six minutes into the second period.

Brandon Montour kept the puck in the offensive zone on a failed Leafs zone exit and passed it to Johan Larsson. Larsson goes in and doesn’t see his shot, so he drop passes it to one of the best trailers in the league in my humble opinion: Jeff Skinner. Yes, Skinner on a line centered by Johan Larsson is some interesting strategy from Ralph Krueger and you probably have seen the roasts of the strange deployment. Me, well I’m going to save those roasts for the losses. Skinner ripped off an Eichel-esque wrist shot that Michael Hutchinson never responded to. Just right in. Funny part of this story as we go onto the flowering of the Sabres offense here: man-of-the-people new Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe asked the players what they thought of the difficult backup position they got up there and they wanted Hutchinson called up. Hutch must feel like he got the raw end of that deal, eh? Spoiler Alert: he let six goals in. After the Skinner goal both teams botched a powerplay and as the Leafs’ one expired Jack Eichel came out of the box to pick up a juicy stray puck that had wandered into the neutral zone. Him, Marcus Johannson and Conor Sheary go off to the races on a 3-on-1. Jack Eichel does a Jack Eichel Special and this game is tied. If you watch this team regularly you probably know what a Jack Eichel Special is: quick release wrist shot from the point, preferably on the rush. That’s yummier than Thanksgiving stuffing! The feast had just begun! Marco Scandella shot from the point and Casey Mittelstadt bats at it to create a redirect of the year candidate for the 3-2 lead. Now if you want to find some similarities between these two teams its not hard. One might be that both have enough skill guys to draw defenders out of their coverages. That’s what happened when another Leafs powerplay was ending and Jack Eichel had the puck. He has the puck behind the Leafs net along with 3(?) blue & white defenders… yeah, you know who that left open: Victor Olofsson. Goalofsson is no longer in an exclusive relationship with the powerplay, now he’s taking shots in all situations and he puts the Sabres up 4-2 to put a nice little bow on the first forty minutes of this game.

Almost seven minutes into the final frame Dmytro Timashov get a shot off through the woods and the Leafs are back within one. You can’t sit back in this league, the Sabres have learned that the hard way. But with the Leafs you can’t only not sit back, you need to bury them alive. You have to beat them so bad they’re thinking of their next opponent to beat these guys. The third period was a kind of touch-and-go experience as the Leafs closed in and the Sabres extended their lead. I was in a movie for this game and when I was looking at the scorers afterwards I saw Jimmy Vesey unassisted and thought to myself: three unassisted breakaway goals in the three games? What are the chances? I come to find out it wasn’t a breakaway, but it was one of those embarrassing goals you watch happen and think: “Yeah, that’s going to be showed in a Leafs video session.” They gave up the puck right in the slot and Jimmy Vesey takes it and hardly has to do the cotton eyed joe to get through the defenders right up to Hutchinson. When Vesey got there he put a goal that actually merits the name “Greasy Vesey”: five hole from point blank. Oh, this was the moment this game became cathartic. Not only is Jack Eichel roasting the Leafs, now its his BU drinking buddy tapping in five-hole stingers. Kasperi Kapanen closed the Leafs to within one again mere minutes later on another goal Ullmark probably wants back. And so it would be a one goal game for the last eight minutes until Jack Eichel got the puck in the defensive zone with a Leafs empty net and launched an ICBM all the way down ice into the open cage for the final score line of 6-4. That’s right, the Sabres didn’t just beat the Leafs, they did it in regulation like a bunch of Gs. If we could have a game like that every night a lot fewer fans would be calling Buffalo’s turkey roasted at this phase of the season.

The NHL gave three stars honors to Eichel, Vesey and Tavares but I’m going to change one of those. Jack Eichel was not only good on the score sheet; he literally had a perfect game in zone entries and breakouts. Those are the stats of a leader. If that behavior infects his teammates we won’t be talking about another lost season much longer. If we see players on this team at least showing Eichel’s drive to win each night then what could happen? The answer is beautiful things with the Eichel Standard. Star number two ought to be Linus Ullmark who has secretly been behind some of the Sabres recent almost success and tonight: actual success. Ullmark has a .913 save percentage, which is very much on the good side, having started five of the last seven games. Think about the last seven games, how many of them do you think the goalie came out looking that good? The tide might be turning on this tandem. The time is shortly before noon on Saturday I’m going to post this. A lot can change in the next 24 hours in this league, not to mention the outcome of a second game between these two teams tonight in Toronto; but as of right now the Buffalo Sabres sit in a playoff spot at third place in the division. Say what you will about this club wasting a fantastic October, or losing in spectacular fashion against lesser teams, or even the seeming inability of the GM to rotate out some defensive depth so his Coach can stop rotating good defenseman out of the lineup; this team is not out of it. Not yet. I did Thanksgiving Playoffs last postgame remembering that most of the teams in the playoffs on American Thanksgiving are in the dance come the end of the season. The playoff picture in the east right now is tight AF. No, frustrated we might be game to game this season has all the makings of not being over. Stop writing the epitaph while the body is warm. Being a Sabres fan sucks but you got to give it the space to not suck sometimes.

After the Leafs tonight we have the DEVILS who are just as bad as the last time we checked. After that the Sabres fly out on a Western Canada road trip I’m not too afraid of. I’m not telling you they’re going to create separation in the standings, we’ve watched this team enough to know opportunity is often squandered, but I doubt we’re as doom and gloom about this team when we see the Leafs again in three Tuesdays. Just an idea, I’ll probably be wrong, right? Tampa is also waiting to come alive like a loaded coil sitting outside the playoff picture so I should be more hesitant to get excited, eh? Like, share and comment on this blog to hop on board to remind me when I’m wrong. Happy Holidays, it seems as though we can be happy this holiday season just off Bills energy. Call me a fool but I’ve got some serious Sabres energy going on right now too. Let’s Go Buffalo!

Thanks for Reading.

P.S. The Tim Hortons Rivalry. Let’s make that a thing. Nobody outside Southern Ontario or Western New York knows wtf the QEW is so let’s not name the rivalry after a fucking highway. This is a sleeping giant of a rivalry that we are naming after a fucking road. Think about it. The more you think about “Tim Hortons Rivalry” the more it makes sense.

[minichicclothing]

I Proudly Admit I Rub My Meat Before I Stick It In Vintage T-Shirt

Victoria shink of yorkville il is the last unicorn screening tour’s october prizewinner selected at random from the 10 000 people who signed up as tour members at screenings she attended the 9 29 2014 show at the marcus orland park cinema as her prize victoria selected the deluxe 17 character last unicorn 35mm frame set she also sent the attached pictures and this story of her screening experience when I found out the last unicorn was going on tour I could hardly contain myself my first thought was I m so wearing my unicorn ears to this I immediately purchased two tickets just in case I found someone who wanted to tag along if I didn’t find someone I was going regardless of course this was a I Proudly Admit I Rub My Meat Before I Stick It In Vintage T-Shirt done deal the red bull himself couldn t stop me from attending shortly after scoring my golden tickets my husband found out that I had made plans to take myself on this last unicorn date I think it was because the unicorn ears came out and because I was just a little excited and endlessly raving about it he has seen this movie more times than he d like to admit because I watch it when I m sick when I m happy when I m sad when I m cleaning as background noise or when I just want to sit and watch one of my favorite movies I have been watching it like this since before I can consciously remember watching it at all needless to say he s too familiar with my last unicorn obsession supporting everything I m passionate about he proudly escorted me to one of the coolest experiences ever even though I never asked this of him he drove me in the rain bought me popcorn and candy slept through the movie in his typical last unicorn watching fashion carried all of my books I brought and bought held my purse while I waited in line for peter to sign my many requests and then continued to wait for me because I just didn t want to stop talking to peter s beagle who told me that he has a daughter named victoria bonus cool I have a true gentleman of a husband who put himself aside so his unicorn crazed wife could have a great night and that I did listening to peter speak was such a gift seeing the last unicorn on the big screen for the first time in my life displaced me and launched me back to my childhood I swear my jaw was on the floor and my eyes were lit up like christmas morning through the whole showing all of this over a movie I ve seen at least a million times I even won a rebekah naomi cox art print the harpy in the raffle and I believe a lucky lady got proposed to at this showing it was definitely a hallmark night for me and something I will never forget in his own way I think my husband actually enjoyed our unique date he did get to watch a 36 year old woman geek out over a cartoon while prancing around in unicorn ears thank you stephen shink for loving me the way you do congratulations victoria and stephen is a very lucky guy which he obviously knows. Why do you really need to do this don’t you make enough money already this is not cool I am a huge spender at your store for years no more I have already cut up my angel card shame on you victorias secret. Hanes is donating 50 000 to the national breast cancer foundation in 2014 since 2009 hanes has given more than 1 000 000 to breast cancer awareness charities show your support by sharing this post with someone who’s always been there for you

Source: I Proudly Admit I Rub My Meat Before I Stick It In Vintage T-Shirt

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Consider your search for the perfect smoothie recipe officially over brooklyn blonde whipped up a I Proudly Admit I Rub My Meat Before I Stick It In Vintage T-Shirt tasty new shake featuring our espira plant power protein banana spinach chia seed and unsweetened nut milk we put it to the test in our kitchen this am avonpartner reach out to your avon representative to shop espirabyavon. Esta noche todos somos una voz pa mi gente en puerto rico though you are an island you are not alone we know that there are those who are still in total darkness so I want everyone here to make light put on the flashlights of your phones raise them high show our country that we are beyond the illusion of our differences we are heeding the call to take action to aspire to our higher selves for our brothers and sisters around the world we are ready to be the light to shine never have we faced so many tragedies in such a short amount of time there are fires still burning on the west coast as we speak whether it be across the waters to the islands of the caribbean under the rubble of resilient mexico into the smoke filled skies of northern california let our light shine united as one voice one people one family there is one thing that rises above any storm more powerful than any earthquake flood or fire and that is love. Why is the orange with aloe hand sanitizer spray no longer an option I loved it and every time I used it people asked me what it was and where I got it the new grapefruit scent it pretty pungent and unpleasant any plans to bring back the much lighter and more pleasant and popular I believe orange scent please See Other related products: I Want For Christmas Is Cure Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Light Blue Ribbon Warrior T Shirt

[mandssisters]

Laditude - GOTR takeover Latitude 15th July 2017

The road to Latitude was a long road, the 8 hour drive made me feel like I should have been in the states travelling to a local gig!  Whereas in the UK…… a LONG DRIVE!

Arriving Thursday for the weekend, we set up basecamp amongst Waitrose shoppers! (Personally I am more Lidls)  (more Waitrose later)  A great pitch location within short walking distance for the Sausage Pork Shack (that’s breakfast sorted) and loo’s…. close but not too close!  Despite packing lite the load was indeed heavy!

Off to the main festival site for the afternoon evening.  Latitude had a character all of its own.  Delightful wooded areas, the river, the waterfront stage, comedy arena, lake stage, theatre and other music zones.  The main stage Obelisk Arena was set at the bottom of a natural hill so made a great arena, unlike other festivals at the back was a GA set of tiered seats.  Great idea.  

Lots of quirky stalls to spend one’s hard earned cash.  Merchandise purchased.    Finally I get my hands on a Garratt Tee shirt.  Can you ever have too many t-shirts?  We found a tasty food stall making great Tibetan cuisine, a real treat.  

The lockers.  When booking we selected the option of a secure locker, in the mind you see a gym locker, the reality was quite different.  All very organised and secure, but only the size of first edition Harry Potter!  The struggle was real to get all the newly purchased merch inside!  At the cost of the camera, latitude pint glass and knitted cactus…… cannot have everything in life.

Being a tad tired we head back to camp and attempt to sleep……….. The hours between midnight and 7 am can be long can’t they!!!!!    At least I rested!!!!  Such a relief the Scousers next door had a great time……festival life.  

Friday, exploring day.  Pink Sheep, Lakes, river banks, gondola rides, comedy, ballet, music.  We saw and heard it all.  Went to see Charlie Fink in the theatre a very touching play.  Another highlight being the BalletBoyz.

Demonstrating the high end nature of this festival, we browse a “living jewellery gemstone stall” tempted by the lapis necklace should or shouldn’t I spend money…. the lady next to me spots an amethyst lazer cut silver ring, the stall holder points out that it is indeed to most expensive item on the stand, her friend, what £200…. errrr no £2000.  Lady next to me, places it on the hand stares at it for around 30 seconds and says, I’ll take it.  The stall holder close to tears of joy can’t quite #believe.  She pays on her credit card saying I’ll tell the husband later he just bought me a pressie.  When in Rome the Lapis is indeed purchased!  Bargain.

The 1975 were headlining so we decided to sit on the back row, what a great view and great set.  This was the last date of the current tour, hardcore fans had been barriering it all day.  An emotional good bye until October 2018!  We’ve all been there.  It was a chilly evening many layers were on, I was as usual rocking the homeless look.  Back to basecamp to “warm up”.  #fail.

A much better nights sleep, the ear plugs working their magic.  Must have got at least a 6 hour snooze.  The weather looked ok for the day,  warm, but not hot, sunny but not on fire, but maybe light showers in the afternoon.  

Pack a sweater and poncho, don the wellies.

Mixing up the day with a cheese and baked bean toastie for breakfast.  Every night the festival ground itself is vacated and you camped off site.  Festival Gates open around 10am, so we head back down and wander to the Obelisk Arena.  The arena is taped off until the site is declared ready.  It is has been transformed overnight into a GOTR stopover/takeover.  With Willis flags flying proudly around the arena and new stage surround added.  We meet a Nanny that is paid to sit on site over the weekend to make sure her crew are behaving!  This was her 10th year!  Tempted by the offer of a £70k a year job in Dubai we refused!

B, G, S, and F arrive!  Yay!  The gang are here.   A very causal dropping on the tape and the cruise to the barrier is easy. Wot no bag search, hole punching of tickets, queueing for wrist bands, and steps, front row and never had been such a breeze!  

The stage is very high, I guess because of the hill,  also down the front there is an uneven layer of sand/gravel which makes for a messy seat!  Hiding cables I guess but ruining the arse of the trouser!

The very best sound check for a good 30 mins prior to their opening set.  Seye is working with Gorillaz on the Humanz tour.  I think his absence was definitely noted.  Wot no WE OK in Sight! They had a tough crowd, first up, early in the afternoon and to a bit of a lame crowd.  Maybe the Waitrose crowd don’t wake up until after the sun passes the yard arm.  Good set none the less.  

Ben appears on stage to announce Lucy Rose, this was indeed the largest audience she had ever played in front of.  I can’t remember much of her set as I was “struggling”, all I can say is thank god for Tang Tastics.  Never have I needed you more!  Lucy I am sure did a great acoustic set.  #tired.com

It suddenly gets really crushed and tightly packed down the front, all exit plans are now waived from the mind.  Milky chance, nope I hadn’t heard of them, but clearly Waitrose Kid shoppers had.  It was rammed down there with mosh pit circle dances gaps and barrier ramming being undertaken.  Oh it was fun!  They were very good.  Just what the soul need post L.R.

Glass Animals next,  again, crush fest, the stage dressing was a large golden pineapple, this brought a smile to my face…… party like a 🍍 #fondmemories they were really good, a great tonic.  Bashing out tune after tune.  Clearly they were having a great time as well.  The fan base of course bringing inflatable pineapples and pineapple sunglasses, said pair live on in DDD thanks to the careless actions of a fan!  But the careful squirrelling of said DDD fan!  

More peeps than ever now down the front for Two Door Cinema club.  Great stage graphics, great tunes, saw them at Glastonbury last month and they never disappoint.  Surviving all three of the last acts was a bit of a feat of endurance, but we did it.  

The teenage Waitrose shoppers had now dispersed by around 20% so we now had room to dance around again.  Leon Bridges was totally awesome and oh so talented, he had all the moves, very 50s rockabilly but with a modern twist.  Great soul in his voice.  It’s not every one who can carry off the cricket whites look!  He did a blinding set.  

By now it was 2045 hours and only 45 mins until Mumford!  

Throughout the day the stopover was old Skool and used linen fabric backdrops to showcase the artist.  Mumford indeed went old skool and had the same stylish graphic set up.  I don’t think we will see the May pyro stage set again.  

2130 and OMG the boys were right on the button.  They blew me away from the start. Opening with Snake Eyes,   I’m not sure where the bounce came from, (hula hoops) (Capri sun) (Tang tastics) (sesame bars), but it was there from the first chord. Loved this show.  

The tunes flowed, the chaps clearly having a blast and enjoying it as well.  Very much a festival set, mixing it up.  Hearing the songs from Johannesburg again, Baaba Maal throwing his shapes and the beauty that is Si tu Veux, Marcus taking lead on Wona, it was a real carnival set.  I will never tire of hearing those songs.  Love love love.  

Up and coming artist Maggie Rogers and fellow takeover artist joined them for Awake My soul.  Sounding beautiful.  

Too soon it was Ditmas, will he or won’t he risk the Waitrose run…. of course he did!  We did worry about the quantity of inflatable sofas, picnic blankets, camping chairs in the arena! NO one got hurt!  He made it back to the stage!  

Encore to Blind Leading the blind.  Then the gathering of friends and fellow performers for “With a little help from my friends”.  Another classic, spotting JQ, Leon Bridges, Maggie Rogers, The Very Best, Gill Landry. Marcus shaking the life out of a tambourine never fails to make one smile.  What a great takeover.  Latitude loves the Sons.

As per Marcus’s instructions we took the aftershow party to Jack Garratt.  That boy was at the top of his game.  It’s not many that can pull of a matching shirt and shorts combo, but he wore it with pride.  We sang, we laughed,  we dance the sole out of our wellies.  What an atmosphere.  Epic. Blinding. Outstanding!  Can’t wait for his formal return with album two.  I think it’s fair to say Jack loved it as well, doing his mini “celebratory Ditmas” run around the front pit hi fiving everyone.  

Still buzzing from Mumford and Jack, we head onwards to the GOTR bar and the Sunset Arena for a spot of chilling and lounging with HBOV.  It’s a lovely area to chill on a log and to reflect on a great weekend, well done chaps, you pulled off another blinder. High five. 🍹😎🌲🌳

Now nearly 3am we decide to call it quits for the day and head back to the comfort of the tent……. nope we didn’t find it.

Sunday… sorry to have missed you Fleet Foxes 🦊 but homelands beckons.  Thanks to the person who donated the freecycle tent ⛺️ other people’s waste! 🤓

[freebestbettingtips]

Burton Albion vs Manchester City

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Burton Albion vs Manchester City

Artwork by @chapulana

Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium hosted the reigning Carabao Cup holders Manchester City in the second leg of the semi-final. Holding a decisive 9-0 win from the first leg, City had arguably already booked their ticket to Wembley for the final. The second leg offered little to play for. With other objectives at hand, both managers could risk experimenting tactics that will be elaborated upon in this tactical analysis.

After piling big wins over Rotherham and EFL League One side Burton at the Etihad, City became the highest scoring side in Europe. City manager Pep Guardiola explicitly stated in the pre-match press conference that his objective was to diagnose his system’s weaknesses.

“Every single game can help us improve what we want to do. Depending on how they defend, we find the spaces and try to attack more fluently through our principles and methods.”

Burton manager Nigel Clough expressed pride that his supporters would enjoy seeing some of the best players in the world. This opportunity might not come to the Pirelli Stadium ever again. Little would he have envisioned that his very own Burton players would display one of their finest performances this season.

Guardiola’s experimentation

Clough and Guardiola shared an acquiescent relationship from the first leg. They virtually agreed on a gentlemen’s pact after the result of the first leg. Guardiola took big risks with his tactical experiment as a consolation to save Burton from another gigantic defeat.

source: sofascore

He chose Philippe Sandler, who had only played 23 minutes of first-team football, to partner Eric Garcia at centre-back. This decision was debatable, considering how last season’s “superman centr-back” Nicolás Otamendi has been complaining about his lack of minutes. Danilo was the most experienced of the back four, and this influenced City’s tactical set-up.

Guardiola picked 18-year-old Ian Poveda-Ocampo from the under-23 squad as the left winger in his standard 4-3-3. With Fabian Delph working alongside De Bruyne for defensive security, most of the attacking link-up rested on Phil Foden’s shoulders. In this set-up, the pressure to score was clearly on Riyad Mahrez, whose absence in the previous fixtures has raised eyebrows.

City’s (blue) shots during the game were focused only from the right and the centre where Mahrez and Agüero played.

City’s improvisation and multi-tasking

Kevin De Bruyne filled in the role of the holding midfielder traditionally played by Fernandinho. Although comparable in terms of experience, De Bruyne has a very different profile as a central midfielder. He likes to enjoy the freedom to position himself where he can impact the game the most.

With the responsibility of covering two inexperienced centre-halves, he was very limited and looked uncomfortable required to do the dirty job of a defensive midfielder. Nevertheless, he registered a brilliant key pass that culminated in the only goal of the game.

City’s overall shape was more of a 3-3-1-3 against Burton’s attacking 4-4-1-1.

During possession, City shaped up mostly as a 3-3-1-3 with Danilo, Delph and De Bryune linking up and offering defensive cover when required. Garcia was the only true centre-back of the improvised back-three as Zinchenko and Sandler often overloaded the midfield, joining the attack.

City’s defence formed a back three with De Bryune, Delph (not in picture) and Danilo in front of the three.

Guardiola was more focused on sticking to his principles of positional play during this game. He used the one-goal lead in the first half to fine-tune movements such as playing out from the back, and sitting in a stable attacking shape.

City often faltered taking these risks as very few progressions from the back were clean. Attempts to thrive in attacking phases were also in vain, as they found themselves rushing to transition defensively most of the time. Possession swapped hands frequently with both teams losing the ball an even 38 number of times.

Burton (orange) and City (blue) had very similar number of opportunities in each other’s halves. This shows us the clearances during the game.

Burton’s rising confidence

Burton Albion looked timid for the first 20 mintues, with flashes of the first-leg battering holding them back. As City’s experiment forced errors, however, Burton’s confidence steadily picked up. Stephen Quinn and Kieran Wallace applied greater pressure in central midfield, winning their duels and raising the bar for young Phil Foden.

Burton’s aggression increased through the game with a great attacking performance

There are two circumstances when an opponent naturally manifests dominance. Barcelona’s stunning 6-1 win over PSG was a prime example of when a side has absolutely everything on the line to win. The second example was Burton, coming off a 10-0 aggregate deficit at half-time with absolutely no pressure to lose. Clough instructed his players to press higher up and take bigger risks coming into the second half.

City’s (blue) attack was focused only around its experienced players, while Burton (orange) played more aggressively from both ends during the second half.

Marcus Harness and David Templeton stretched the play wider and pinned City’s back three. With William Miller playing second striker to Liam Boyce, Burton looked more of an attacking 4-4-1-1 in the second half. The risks did pay dividends as Arijanet Muric left his goal wide open on two instances with only Garcia coming in the way of Burton’s possible equaliser. Had Burton’s forwards been ever so slightly more clinical in their finishing, they would have created a spectacle at the Pirelli Stadium.

Divided objectives missing the mark?

Generally, sides that face City choose to sit deep, offering City the opportunity to meticulously unlock the low block. But Burton pressed high aggressively as the game progressed leaving themselves widely exposed to counters. Should Guardiola have concentrated on exploiting these opportunities to transition into attack rather than being rigid with his players adapting to his methodology?

Delph and Zinchenko were offered a big stage to raise their game with City’s tactical improvisation. Although Delph did a decent job by means of work rate and positioning, Zinchenko’s performance was a bit lacklustre. Considering the tremendous form that he has exhibited in last few games, expectations were higher.

Danilo deserved the man-of-the-match award for extensively covering the defence while playing as an inverted full-back. Sandler’s performance was commendable with Burton’s high press in the second half. But by comparison, Garcia enjoyed an outstanding game at centre-back, with many commendable moments.

Garcia’s heat map and rating showing his outstanding performance in the centre of City’s back three.

Conclusion

Manchester City indeed approached the game professionally with a plan in mind. They secured an early goal through a foresighted transition play from their experienced three and focused on rehearsing positional play. However, full points to Burton for their tenacious display to justify their spot in the semi-final and their incredible run as a third-tier outfit. Nigel Clough’s side indeed stood eye-to-eye with Guardiola’s City at the final whistle with their exciting football in what would have almost been a David versus Goliath recap.

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