Arsenal (H) - Sun 31st Mar, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[alexmcity]

Hope your right.

Out of curiosity:

Is Gundo worse than Nunes/Kovacic?

Is Doku better than Marez?

Are Arsenal and Liverpool worse off than last year?

Were you the the one who was predicting 97 pts for Arsenal last season around February?

Such comparisons between players are a bit shit. Tell me why we have won about as many points as last season after 28 games, given that KDB and Stones missed most of the current season through injuries, Haaland missed nearly two months, and Rodri missed several games through suspension.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Were you the the one who was predicting 97 pts for Arsenal last season around February?

Such comparisons between players are a bit shit. Tell me why we have won about as many points as last season after 28 games, given that KDB and Stones missed most of the current season through injuries, Haaland missed nearly two months, and Rodri missed several games through suspension.

You failed to answer a single one of my questions.

Cheers that you're 100% for City - I am too (in spite of what you may believe). But I'm a realist. Our squad this year isn't nearly as good as it was last season - and Liverpool and Arsenal are better (and in the case of Liverpool... significantly better).

 

[alexmcity]

You failed to answer a single one of my questions.

Cheers that you're 100% for City - I am too (in spite of what you may believe). But I'm a realist. Our squad this year isn't nearly as good as it was last season - and Liverpool and Arsenal are better (and in the case of Liverpool... significantly better).

I told you what I think about your questions. Let's assume it makes sense to compare the squads from last and this season like that and that you are right that the players who left are better than the new signings. Now tell me why we have won as many points as last season after 28 games, despite the injuries to key players. In contrast to last season, KDB missed 5 months, Stones missed 4 months, Haaland missed 2 months. Yet the results so far are comparable to last season. If anything, we have won more games this season than last season at the same stage. What's your take on that fact?

 

[jimharri]

So; if what City Xtra have tweeted is reliable it looks like it may be "only" Walker and Stones who won't be available. Why did that tw@ play them? Surely, you use friendlies to try out new players, not fellas who you are more than aware of what their capabilities are.

 

[uwerosler28]

Let's not forget first choice back 4 for most of the treble season had no walker, he was only brought in against speed merchants, Stones is the big miss.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Play as we can and we will have not a lot to worry about. Arsenal are a good side of course but the home advantage, spring sunshine and the crowd creating a cauldron of noise I back City to take the 3 points. We are well capable of stepping up the gears as and when needed and if we play a high tempo attacking match then it'll be a very Happy Easter. Keep the faith, up the blues. 3-1 City. Foden, Haaland, Doku.

 

[bridgeno1]

For us this isn't even our toughest match left. We have to face the world's greatest midfielder, England's saviour Kobbie Mainoo at the Bear Pit that is Old Trafford. Rice will use the match against City and his duels with Rodri as a sparring session to get himself ready to face the might of Mainoo, and hopefully a good performance at the Etihad means we only ship 4 or 5 goals at the Swamp.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

At some point, the best sides in sport lose their reign. For me, the current Man City side is far weaker than last year - last year we had Gundo, Mahrez and an in-form Grealish. Now we have Nunes/Kovacic and Doku as replacements. Meanwhile we're playing Gvardiol at LB where he is struggling - whereas he was, past season, a world class center back.

Our team is worse than it was last year in these positions - and meanwhile Liverpool (especially) and Arsenal (somewhat) are better.

It's not clear to me that we're the best side in the P/L this year - and on top of all of the above, we have a tough run-in.

TBH - I think we'll end up 3rd in the P/L this year and will not win the Champions League. A draw v. Arsenal would be a great result - but as both sides are so close in ability I don't know who will win.

Our squad is arguably slightly weaker but our best team isn’t. Gundo is a miss but to incorporate him we have to play Foden wide. Foden is playing the best football of his career in that Gundo position so I would argue that injury-free we are as good as last season and maybe even better. Mahrez was only a bit part player by the end.

The big miss for tomorrow will be stones because only he can do that job: a tactical innovation that will forever be known as the “John Stones position”.

I also believe we won’t win all three this year but it will be down to injuries and fixture congestion and not quality. Last year everything aligned, we could ease up in the title race, we got an easy semi final, and all these things affect freshness and injuries. This season feel like the opposite, especially when you throw in the extra games.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Our squad is arguably slightly weaker but our best team isn’t. Gundo is a miss but to incorporate him we have to play Foden wide. Foden is playing the best football of his career in that Gundo position so I would argue that injury-free we are as good as last season and maybe even better. Mahrez was only a bit part player by the end.

The big miss for tomorrow will be stones because only he can do that job: a tactical innovation that will forever be known as the “John Stones position”.

I also believe we won’t win all three this year but it will be down to injuries and fixture congestion and not quality. Last year everything aligned, we could ease up in the title race, we got an easy semi final, and all these things affect freshness and injuries. This season feel like the opposite, especially when you throw in the extra games.

Cheers - disagree though. I'd much rather have last years squad over this.

Gundo is better than our replacement mids.
Mahrez is better than Doku.

I agree with you about Foden - other pluses to our squad are the performances of our youth players: Lewis and Bobb are up-and-coming stars.

I'm hopeful that we'll win one of the following trophies: league title, champion's league, fa cup. I think we have a great shot at the fa cup - I think it's iffy that we'll win either of the other two trophies.

 

[jimharri]

For us this isn't even our toughest match left. We have to face the world's greatest midfielder, England's saviour Kobbie Mainoo at the Bear Pit that is Old Trafford. Rice will use the match against City and his duels with Rodri as a sparring session to get himself ready to face the might of Mainoo, and hopefully a good performance at the Etihad means we only ship 4 or 5 goals at the Swamp.

 

[skillman]

Where's Bernardo? Is he injured, too?

Pep hasn't played Gvardiol at CB all season but will put him there against Arsenal of all teams? Not likely to happen.

Forgot about Bernie, strangely.

Gvardiol - no other option unless he starts Rico at RB and keeps Akanji central. He’s not the best 1v1 defender and Arsenal’s main threat is width, notably Saka. I know which I’d rather.

 

[alexmcity]

Forgot about Bernie, strangely.

Gvardiol - no other option unless he starts Rico at RB and keeps Akanji central. He’s not the best 1v1 defender and Arsenal’s main threat is width, notably Saka. I know which I’d rather.

Think Pep will go with Gvardiol at LB because he knows what Pep wants from him in that role. Ake to help him playing as our LCB. Ideally, Ake is the best option to play vs Saka, but Gvardiol has zero experience as a CB in a Pep system. Might be too risky to play him there vs Arsenal.

 

[BerkshireBlue]

At some point, the best sides in sport lose their reign. For me, the current Man City side is far weaker than last year - last year we had Gundo, Mahrez and an in-form Grealish. Now we have Nunes/Kovacic and Doku as replacements. Meanwhile we're playing Gvardiol at LB where he is struggling - whereas he was, past season, a world class center back.

Our team is worse than it was last year in these positions - and meanwhile Liverpool (especially) and Arsenal (somewhat) are better.

It's not clear to me that we're the best side in the P/L this year - and on top of all of the above, we have a tough run-in.

TBH - I think we'll end up 3rd in the P/L this year and will not win the Champions League. A draw v. Arsenal would be a great result - but as both sides are so close in ability I don't know who will win.

3rd??? we'll either be 1st or 2nd behind Liverpool have you seen Arsenal's fixtures there's zero chance of them finishing 2nd never mind 1st

 

[johnny crossan]

Where's Bernardo? Is he injured, too?

Pep hasn't played Gvardiol at CB all season but will put him there against Arsenal of all teams? Not likely to happen.

Quite right, if you don't see them walking about on camera they are probably dead.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

3rd??? we'll either be 1st or 2nd behind Liverpool have you seen Arsenal's fixtures there's zero chance of them finishing 2nd never mind 1st

To me, 2nd is just as bad as 17th, anything other than 1st is failure (yeah, yeah, CL spots, blah blah). I hope we finish first - but it's going to be much harder this year than last.

 

[Rammy Blue]

I fully expect one of Stones or Walker to make the bench, we will be fine.

Bigger decision for me is whether Pep goes with Kova alongside Rodders for control; or a quartet of Doku, Phil, Kev and Bernie behind the Viking.

 

[Sale Moor Blue]

Hope Pep calls out the waistcoat wanker tomorrow in his presser.
Its on Southgate if we lose the game.
Utter twat.

 

[SWPISHOME]

I fully expect one of Stones or Walker to make the bench, we will be fine.

Bigger decision for me is whether Pep goes with Kova alongside Rodders for control; or a quartet of Doku, Phil, Kev and Bernie behind the Viking.

It's a must that we go double pivot of Rodri and Kovacic, Clear as day we are a better team with Rodri and Kovacic playing together.

Plus Kovacic has been excellent on recent months.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Hope Pep calls out the waistcoat wanker tomorrow in his presser.
Its on Southgate if we lose the game.
Utter twat.

As much as I hate Southgate and International Football, It's clearly not down to Southgate if we lose against Arsenal.

The only thing stopping us beating Arsenal is ourselves! If we take our chances on Sunday we will win this game.

 

[Withnail]

Hope we turn up defensively. Arsenal will leave gaps to exploit going forward but will be dangerous themselves too.

Having Jonny Boulders and Walker would've eased my nerves tenfold. Especially Stones, he doubles as protection at the back as well as midfield when we force teams deep. Think he'll be a massive miss and I'm that gutted that he's missing, I've partly convinced myself it's some sort of major bluff. Same with Walker.

Presuming they're out, though, I'd go with:

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake

Kovacic
Rodri

Foden
Haaland
KDB
Grealish (or Doku if not fully fit)


Ake at LB rather than Gvardiol given their dangers are wide (Saka, Martinelli) and not particularly central and Ake is a better 1v1 defender. He pocketed Saka twice last season.

I just hope we win. Shut those fuckers up. The game at their place was abysmal, genuinely terrible but then we didn't have Rodri or KDB. They're back and we should be putting some sort of marker down.

Do what we did last season. Win but while doing that, batter the bastards. Should've been 6 or 7 that game. Would love to see Captain Thunderbird fume on the sideline again. COME ON CITY!

I agree Gvardiol was one of the most sought after cb's in Europe last season, but I don’t think Pep has played him in the cb role yet. Gvardiol doesn't fill me with confidence playing at lb, where as Ake has on the whole performed well in the role.