Crystal Palace (H) - Sat 12th April, 12:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[malg]

Hopefully the boss knows more than us. Can't see what KdB brings to the team at present, but hopefully Omar will make some decent runs for him to pick out. What's wrong with yer man Khusanov?

I'm out for a meal in Stockport so will miss the Matchday Thread but I'm sure Lewis, Kovacic, Gundogan and KdB will be front and centre on comments.

I'm being positive here, 1-1.

 

[Don Karleone]

 

[Micky Blue]

I’m looking at the line up and wondering where’s the pace.

Kova, Gundo and KDB all starting, it’s like we don’t want top 4.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Pep knows we arent a team with legs...regardless of who we play in the available starting 11.....

He wants possession and lots of passes...

Its not the team Id want to see or play (esp Rico and KDB) but there is little other choice as far as midfield options are going

That’s true although of all the midfielders Grealish is best at not giving the ball away. It’s puzzling to say the least why he isn’t selecting him. Not many other options though.

 

[mosssideblue]

Pep's looking for a way out, has to be

Don’t be so fucking stupid

 

[Bluearmy]

I rarely comment before a match these days but all I can say is that we need to have one hell of a summer in the transfer window if we are going to compete for honors next season.

Correct. We have issues at GK, RB, LB, AM, LW, RW, SS….

Huge rebuild required!!

 

[simon23]

There is not one argument for Gundog ahead of Ghoulish, not a single one

Going a step further, there are very few arguments for Lewis ahead of Nunes either. Nunes has been amongst out best players last couple of games and seemed to be settling into the full back role

Agree on NUnes

Dont agree on Grealish

Gundo has the odd goal in him here and there....Grealish doesnt really (please dont try and argue with the Leicester goal!! - they are the most passive team Ive ever seen)

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I needed to read this lineup 3x

I did too. I need to get a proof reader.
Only realised Lewis was in on my 3rd viewing.

 

[Damien10]

Pep must of watched PSG midweek.

 

[eastmanc]

Come on you Dolly Blues. Such a weird side.

 

[supercity88]

Not sure what the plan is here other than to yet again ignore what we have seen all season and trust the players he has picked to keep the ball and make things happen. Lots of more dynamic players on the bench at least, but very strange 11 again.

We will still get the job done today. Blue sky, City at home. 3pts in the bag.

 

[simon23]

That’s true although of all the midfielders Grealish is best at not giving the ball away. It’s puzzling to say the least why he isn’t selecting him. Not many other options though.

Is he though....Grealish does a lot of falling over....did you see when he came on at the swamp...gave possession away twice...fell over looking for a foul and it wasnt given....didnt track back...

 

[Cambo]

What has Khusonov done to not get in the 11?

 

[havefaith]

Clutching at straws, but maybe the plan is to wear them out by keeping possession in the heat, then bring up Doku and Savinho in the second half when the game is stretched.

It will be our luck the etihad will be clouded in shade for 90mins, so that's plan out the window :-)

 

[mancboy]

Citys team photo for today

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

Read out that team and let out a sigh.

Grealish for De Bruyne
Savinho for McAtee
Doku for Kovavic
Nunes for Lewis

It’s not hard

 

[Claytop]

He's so slow now that the ice cream would have melted all over his hand by the time he had got around to sticking the flake in.

Ffs had coffee in my mouth when I read that…

 

[TheThirdDeano]

I thought people were begging for Mcatee, O’Really and Lewis?

Its been a while and I’m starting to think a large portion of posters on this forum now want pep to fail and enjoy having a go more than they’d enjoy him doing well.

 

[King Jay]

Nunes and Grealish are definitely out. No mater how good they do Pep won’t play them. It’s just stubbornness. Nunes would make sense here to give some pace on the outside. I will never get what Lewis actually gives us.
Bernardo instead of McAtee would’ve been the only way to make this XI look even worse

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Line up could be all good. Peps sure Crystal Palace gonna sit deep, so Doku and Savinho gonna have not so much of an impact. O'Reilly gonna play wide on the left and Lewis gonna play mostly in the middle. We should see Gundogan and Kovacic arriving into the box more frequently. Hoping for KDB to register some numbers.

People crying out for Doku and Savinho just do not want to notice, that as long as they are a great threat to the opposition, they are the main reason for most dangerous turnovers too.

We do not need the pace when we are controlling the game.

2-0 for City