Nottingham Forest (N) - Sun 27th April, 16:30 | FA Cup | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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Damocles said:
Feels like their head has fell off a bit and they're stumbling to the end of the season at Forest.

The loss to Villa hurt then Everton did them and they got away with one at Spurs after getting absolutely battered the whole game.

If we knock them out of the FA Cup, with some tough games like Chelsea and awkward ones like Brentford coming then they could drop out of the top 5.
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I remember a few years ago Leicester were right up in the top 4 until the last handful of games and fell away right at the end.

Despite being up there all season, just like Forest, they ended up losing their spot after the last couple of games.

IMG_3176.jpeg
 
In recent press conference, Pep described how for a period his squad was besieged by injury and fatigue and he had about 13-14 fit players who he could call upon. The result was a period of terrible results in November and December.

It appears that our January window was in part a reaction to this and it has been very successful. All the new signings look like they will be strong players for the future. The emergence of O'Reilly has also been very significant, and we should given a lot of credit to the mental strength of Nunes. He made some very bad mistakes, but he kept working in a position that is probably not his favoured position. Now he is playing well and O'Reilly and Nunes are the key to our current play. Instead of using Savinho and Doku we are relying on width from the full-backs. We are more solid like this, although I think we do struggle to create chances. I don't think Pep wants to play like this but it is his pragmatic solution to get the results we need.

I have noted that at Bournemouth in the FA Cup, away at Everton, and at home to Palace and Villa, we have showed much more resilience than we did earlier in the season. We are more aggressive in our pressing. I am interested in why this is. I wonder whether this change is down to improved fitness, the addition of Marmoush and the emergence of O'Reilly or whether it's a mental thing. Are City players just working that much harder because we are in the business end of the season. In a way I don't like that. I want our players to be on it at all times but perhaps there was a period of mental exhaustion earlier in the season when City players just stopped working. They were certainly under considerable physical pressure at the time with a reduced squad size.

Even though our form has improved, I don't think we are at the level we were and we need to add a midfielder.

For the semi-final I think we are very likely to play the team and set-up vs Villa. This is about the first time this season that we have had a settled line-up, and I don't think Pep will want to make many changes.
 
youngbob said:
Ortega
Nunes Dias Gvardiol O'Reilly
Gonzalez, Kovacic
Bernardo, Foden, Grealish
Marmoush

Think we can do this if the occasion gets a bit much for Forest. Will be tight and tricky, though.

Doku on 70 mins if it's tight.
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I can't see Grealish starting ahead of De Bruyne
 
Ric said:
Can't see there being many changes from Tuesday night. Possibly Doku, Savinho or Foden in for McAtee but that's about it. We seem to have stumbled upon a fairly settled back four, and Guardiola clearly trusts his most senior midfielders for the big games.
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I agree mate, I’d say only change will be McAtee out. Problem is although Doku deserves to start I’d say he’s the least likely of the 3 to replace James, as Marmoush is more effective inside left and I reckon Pep will want a left footer out on the right.
 
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Rammy Blue said:
I agree mate, I’d say only change will be McAtee out. Problem is although Doku deserves to start I’d say he’s the least likely of the 3 to replace James, as Marmoush is more effective inside left and I reckon Pep will want a left footer out on the right.
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It seems we will see out the season with the 4222,with width from full backs so doubt either Doku or Savinho start any games now. Wouldn't be too surprised if we use it into next season too.
 
blueparrot said:
It seems we will see out the season with the 4222,with width from full backs so doubt either Doku or Savinho start any games now. Wouldn't be too surprised if we use it into next season too.
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That’s why you’d think Phil is favourite, it’s who I’d have started out there on Tues as well.
 
Since the second half v Bournemouth we've looked very solid and I can only see a very strong finish to the season. There will be the usual grim moans when an experienced line up is announced and calls for Khusanov etc, but these players know what it's about at the business end of the season.
 
I know this is a long shot but I don’t suppose anyone has tickets to the game at Wembley that they won’t be using? Happy to pay for them. My boys are big city fans but haven’t seen them play yet so was wondering if I might be able to do Wembley as we are located near there. Thanks I’m advance
 
Marvin. said:
In recent press conference, Pep described how for a period his squad was besieged by injury and fatigue and he had about 13-14 fit players who he could call upon. The result was a period of terrible results in November and December.

It appears that our January window was in part a reaction to this and it has been very successful. All the new signings look like they will be strong players for the future. The emergence of O'Reilly has also been very significant, and we should given a lot of credit to the mental strength of Nunes. He made some very bad mistakes, but he kept working in a position that is probably not his favoured position. Now he is playing well and O'Reilly and Nunes are the key to our current play. Instead of using Savinho and Doku we are relying on width from the full-backs. We are more solid like this, although I think we do struggle to create chances. I don't think Pep wants to play like this but it is his pragmatic solution to get the results we need.

I have noted that at Bournemouth in the FA Cup, away at Everton, and at home to Palace and Villa, we have showed much more resilience than we did earlier in the season. We are more aggressive in our pressing. I am interested in why this is. I wonder whether this change is down to improved fitness, the addition of Marmoush and the emergence of O'Reilly or whether it's a mental thing. Are City players just working that much harder because we are in the business end of the season. In a way I don't like that. I want our players to be on it at all times but perhaps there was a period of mental exhaustion earlier in the season when City players just stopped working. They were certainly under considerable physical pressure at the time with a reduced squad size.

Even though our form has improved, I don't think we are at the level we were and we need to add a midfielder.

For the semi-final I think we are very likely to play the team and set-up vs Villa. This is about the first time this season that we have had a settled line-up, and I don't think Pep will want to make many changes.
Click to expand...
We won 4 championships on the spin. In this league that is a monumental effort mentally and physically.
That's why it was so important to refresh the squad last summer.
But, we didn't and it fucked us.
I agree, though. The emergence of O'Rielly and the new signings have freshened the group. Even if the new chaps aren't playing that much at the moment.
 
GaudinoMotors said:
Save Doku for his 10 min cameo v tiring or newly introduced defenders.
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This is basically the perfect strategy for every match. I get it that guys want to start but Doku is unplayable if he can just air it out for 10-15 minutes. If City need a goal he can get behind basically any defender and if they're leading he can be an outlet to take possession into the offensive half and hold up play.
 
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