Middlesbrough (a) Pre-Match Thread

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Only player who seems capable of changing and raising our game is Silva. So the main question for Guardiola must be whether to start Silva. He makes us play and brings players like Sterling or Sane into the game.

Huddersfield away, Sane and KDB came on 2nd half. made no difference. Against Stoke, both started. Aguero started. All quiet, then Silva comes on and City come to life. But can we play him every minute? Obviously limits.

Should be a good atmosphere. Small ground but will be full, and there'll be up for it. Against Stoke it was very quiet and that just added to the torpor. Good atmosphere should raise City as much as it raises Boro.
 
vmsuhail said:
This. Not going to win the CL, so FA Cup should be given priority. We already have a 2 goal cushion for Monaco, so that should be fine even with a slightly weakened team. But, then we also have Liverpool next week which is even more important. Pep has a real problem of team selection for the 3 games.
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We saw this week that a 4 goal cushion wasn't fine. I think you are being a tad naive to think we can afford to field a weakened team next Week
 
Marvin said:
Only player who seems capable of changing and raising our game is Silva. So the main question for Guardiola must be whether to start Silva. He makes us play and brings players like Sterling or Sane into the game.

Huddersfield away, Sane and KDB came on 2nd half. made no difference. Against Stoke, both started. Aguero started. All quiet, then Silva comes on and City come to life. But can we play him every minute? Obviously limits.

Should be a good atmosphere. Small ground but will be full, and there'll be up for it. Against Stoke it was very quiet and that just added to the torpor. Good atmosphere should raise City as much as it raises Boro.
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The fact Silva was on the bench on Wednesday says he'll start, i'd play him and KDB with Yaya, KDB needs to find some form, best way is to play games.
 
Watch us struggle for Top 4 for months, miss out on goal difference then win the UCL anyway. Typical City.
 
inchy14 said:
The fact Silva was on the bench on Wednesday says he'll start, i'd play him and KDB with Yaya, KDB needs to find some form, best way is to play games.
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We could field two teams. Two players for most positions. But the only player who you can pretty much guarantee to make a difference is Silva. Yaya used to be in that category as did Kompany and Aguero. I thought KDB would be another player of that standard but he has had a relatively poor season. He's created more chances than anyone in the league but his goals have evaporated. I think Sane, Sterling and Jesus will be in that category soon.

That's what makes the really good teams so hard to beat. They have enough special players so that at least one is likely to produce a match winning moment.
 
PEP: I feel we are better but we must improve. When you defend better you attack better, when you attack better you defend better.

PEP: We are thinking about tomorrow and trying to arrive in the semi-finals. The people tell me it’s beautiful to play a semi at Wembley.

PEP: This game is a final. We are not playing for one or three points. We have to win.

PEP: What we decide for Stoke was to win that game, not thinking about Boro but it is a final. We have to put the best squad as possible in

PEP: Boro is a very well organised defensive team, it is very difficult to score. Valdes is amazing

PEP: Kompany is already back. He trained three days, four days with us. He has already come back in the training sessions with the team
 
Middlesbrough full-back George Friend is likely to miss Saturday's FA Cup tie after aggravating a calf injury.

Daniel Ayala is out with a hamstring problem suffered last week, while Adlene Guedioura is ineligible having played for Watford in the fourth round.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could be available for the first time in six weeks.
 
I`m very optimistic that Pep will pick the strongest team available for this match.I accept we may see the odd change ie Zaba for Sagna and Stones/Kompany coming in at the heart of the defence and I suspect a change of goalie,other than that I think our midfield and forward line will not be affected.
 
oakiecokie said:
I`m very optimistic that Pep will pick the strongest team available for this match.I accept we may see the odd change ie Zaba for Sagna and Stones/Kompany coming in at the heart of the defence and I suspect a change of goalie,other than that I think our midfield and forward line will not be affected.
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I'd like to see Nolito and Garcia in for Sané and Yaya, those two have played nearly every game since just before Christmas.
 
aguero93:20 said:
I'd like to see Nolito and Garcia in for Sané and Yaya, those two have played nearly every game since just before Christmas.
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He may possibly play Garcia at the expense of Yaya and save him for the Monaco game.I can`t disagree with your thinking of Sane, who was way of his best in mid week but he wasn`t alone and yes maybe a rest will do him the world of good.
So from my original thinking of a few changes may now turn out to about half a fucking team !! Thanks for that. ;)
 
I believe that there is no replays from now on with extra time and then penalties, with no replays from this round onwards . Does anyone know if this is true, and if it is we've got to go out and win it in 90mins, especially with a huge Champions League game coming up on Wednesday. We could well do without the extra time, so I hope pep will play as stronger team as possible so as to win the game in normal time.
 
Bravo

Zabaleta
Stones
Kompany
Kolarov

Dinho
Garcia
Silva

Sterling
Aguero
Nolito

This is team is very strong and would get the win IMO Nolito to come in for Sane who missed numerous chances on Wednesday and needs a little rest, would be very surprised if he starts. Sane is also a great option to bring off the bench, potential game changer. Garcia played well in his last start and I think Pep will trust him again here. Yaya needs the rest. De bruyne another good bench option, who had an off game Wednesday, will hopefully get his head right in time for Monaco.
 
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