RB Leipzig (A) - Tue 7th Dec, 17:45 | Pre-match Thread

[cjn]

You get £2.5m for winning a single group game in the Champions League - that's more than winning the Carabao and FA Cup campaigns combined. I reckon that probably explains the strong side!

I seriously can't imagine anyone at City leaning on Pep to play a strong team for that reason. Unless I'm just being dense and missing the sarcasm?

 

[feelymcfeel]

Surprisingly strong team

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

I thought he had just come back from an injury recently, I could be wrong though.

Yeah, missed Villa and was hooked after 60 on sat.

 

[twosips]

I seriously can't imagine anyone at City leaning on Pep to play a strong team for that reason. Unless I'm just being dense and missing the sarcasm?

Course they would request it. Whether he'd listen to them or not, I don't know...but I've got no doubt that Ferran/Omar/Txiki would certainly remind him.

 

[kun]

I thought he had just come back from an injury recently, I could be wrong though.

He missed the Villa game wth a knock IIRC but he started vs Watford

 

[Del_Bosque]

Amazed at the team

Would at least have swapped Gundo and Foden for McAtee and Palmer

Maybe Peps thinking is we are putting a run together and wants us to be playing 100% every game

 

[BringBackSwales]

The gang destroys the academy.

Yeah, who needs that bald fraud in charge of team selection when we’ve got k fucking bo

 

[dromoreblue]

Pep knows best. Most of the time.

 

[jimharri]

A bit disappointed that two or three of the youngsters didn't make the XI. I thought Palmer and Mcatee would have got in, and possibly Lavia. It's the perfect game to pitch them into. Ah well.

 

[skillman]

Never underestimate the confidence that comes with maintaining a winning run. Last thing you want to do is throw a bunch of youngsters out and potentially disrupt a streak you're on. (Not saying we'll 100% win but this team gives us a better chance than the other)

They'll get minutes today, nothing to panic over there, just not from the start.

 

[MarsLlama]

Amazed at the team

Would at least have swapped Gundo and Foden for McAtee and Palmer

Maybe Peps thinking is we are putting a run together and wants us to be playing 100% every game

I imagine the McAtee absence is explained by the same kind of logic that's seen Foden mostly moved out wide. Midfield in this system is incredibly demanding, you need to have a certain level of physical strength as well as a load of other things that as far as I can tell our academy doesn't really prepare them for. They learn good technique in the academy, get to the senior side and discover they still have a few more years of development before Pep trusts them to play midfield.

 

[malg]

Very underrated team Leipzig. They'll be dangerous. I'd take 1-1 right now.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

Can't believe there's still people moaning, after all these years of Pep!
Just let him crack on he knows what he's doing.

 

[mosssideblue]

Never underestimate the confidence that comes with maintaining a winning run. Last thing you want to do is throw a bunch of youngsters out and potentially disrupt a streak you're on. (Not saying we'll 100% win but this team gives us a better chance than the other)

They'll get minutes today, nothing to panic over there, just not from the start.

Exactly

 

[Shaelumstash]

Gutted for McAtee, I don't think Foden and Gundogan need the minutes.

 

[WallyA]

My confusion is only on Walker and Gundogan who I thought definitely needed rest.

The rest I get.

 

[cjn]

Course they would request it. Whether he'd listen to them or not, I don't know...but I've got no doubt that Ferran/Omar/Txiki would certainly remind him.

Man, maybe...I just can't see it. Pep seems like the kind of guy who would be (rightfully imo) pretty offended if someone suggested to him a team for financial reasons!

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Last thing you want to do is throw a bunch of youngsters out and potentially disrupt a streak you're on.

A bunch? No, certainly not. You'd just be throwing them under the bus if we lost. But one or two is hardly a bunch. He brought Foden along very well, didn't give him too much exposure too early. Well aware of it. But if you're not getting game time in a match like this, where are you getting it? I imagine he'll bring them on at some point, but if it's only for ten minutes or less… Well, we'll see.

 

[WallyA]

Gutted for McAtee, I don't think Foden and Gundogan need the minutes.

Foden is coming back from a knock and needs to play in a row again to get up to speed, that makes sense.

 

[remember arthur mann]

If he feels the time is right, then he'll try the kids,if.