Crystal Palace (N) - Sat 17th May, 16:30 | FA Cup Final | Pre-Match Thread

[SWPISHOME]

Alot of comments about the games Saturday and Tuesday regarding what Pep will go with line up wise.

The fact of the matter is we have a Cup Final and that's the priority, If Pep doesn't go full strength for a Cup Final then there's an issue.

We've played Wolves on Friday 2nd May, Then we've played Southampton on the 10th May and our next game is this Saturday 17th May there's absolutely no excuse not to go full strength on Saturday and go with near enough the same team on Tuesday.

Lessons should have been learned from that shit show against Southampton on Saturday. Play the strongest team available against Palace and Bournemouth and go for the throat.

Come On City!!

 

[chesterbells]

City sold out about 35 minutes ago by the way.

I have this concern that Pep will prioritise the Bournemouth game and pick a mix and match team based on Tuesday. I’m not saying he is wrong to do that as I agree with Pep when he says CL qualification is “much much more important”
It’s just that I normally vote for us win pretty much every game but I chose lose on this one just because of the club’s priorities. Palace can afford to throw the kitchen sink at this while we have a balancing act to do.

We cannot afford extra time.

Yeah, extra time wouldn’t be ideal.

 

[stonerblue]

I’ve still got a paper license

Me too. it's about a foot long and in 3 pieces.

 

[stonerblue]

City sold out about 35 minutes ago by the way.

I have this concern that Pep will prioritise the Bournemouth game and pick a mix and match team based on Tuesday. I’m not saying he is wrong to do that as I agree with Pep when he says CL qualification is “much much more important”
It’s just that I normally vote for us win pretty much every game but I chose lose on this one just because of the club’s priorities. Palace can afford to throw the kitchen sink at this while we have a balancing act to do.

We cannot afford extra time.

After last seasons horror final i expect everyone, and especially Pep, to be well up for it this time.

 

[Marvin.]

Thanks for letting me post. There's been talk on here about how familar City are with Wembley. Thing is Palace have played there 9 times in the last few years...mostly in play offs or semi finals. Now the players may not be that familiar, but they have a fair few internationals that have played big pressure important games...One thing for sure, the fans are. Palace fans really love going and think they do Wembley well...As good and maybe better than most.. expect a decent show on Saturday. Good luck to all. Expect very loud, the fans certainly won't be overawed. 12th man and all that :) Personally I'll be watching from here in Aus.. along with at least 100 in 'our' pub in Melbourne at 1.30 in the morning... that will repeated around the country. See you Saturday...

I am so excited about the FA Cup Final. I don't like London, but I love Wembley stadium and Cup Final day. City were criticised for not selling out the semi-final but this will be my 3rd trip to Wembley this season and it's not so easy or affordable when you are travelling from Manchester.

I rate this Palace side highly, particularly Wharton, Eze and Mateta. I think it's going to be a very difficult game. In the last Cup Final we played de Bruyne and Man Utd dominated our midfield. That should have been the end of de Bruyne's career at City but he had a year left on his contract so what can you do? Nothing. This season is one of transition but huge credit should go to Pep for finding a way to make City competitive again, unfortunately it is a bit boring but it's better than losing games. Next season, City will be back because we have completed half the re-building and only have to make 2-3 signings. I am afraid that their will be clubs like City looked at Wharton, Eze, Guehi and Mateta but that's a good place to be.

 

[Kippax77]

After last seasons horror final i expect everyone, and especially Pep, to be well up for it this time.

Me too.
The only shitter is, we're playing a better team than the rags this time

 

[Marvin.]

Yeah, extra time wouldn’t be ideal.

No it wouldn't but possibly for the first time this season we have considerable scope to rotate players. Ake, Akanji, Khusanov, KDB, Gundogan, Foden, Bobb, Gonzalez might not start at Wembley but wouldn't be considered as reserves.

 

[Bluemart]

If Pep plays a shit team full of old men and we lose, then I hope he pays me back my ticket, travel & accommodation cost back. It’s also x 4!

 

[Marvin.]

If Pep plays a shit team full of old men and we lose, then I hope he pays me back my ticket, travel & accommodation cost back. It’s also x 4!

We played a younger, high energy side against Forest and dominated that game. I want City to use KDB's experience and talent as a sub. against tiring opponents. KDB can win another Cup Final but we should use his intelligently. We started him in the last Cup Final and it was a mistake.

 

[asahartford1]

We played a younger, high energy side against Forest and dominated that game. I want City to use KDB's experience and talent as a sub. against tiring opponents. KDB can win another Cup Final but we should use his intelligently. We started him in the last Cup Final and it was a mistake.

Did you fail to see the critiscm our Coach received for playing Lewis ,before the game that day.
Especially the one's who didn't go.

 

[Axel Freed]

I am convinced of one thing. We shall know within the first five minutes — ten at the outside — whether we're going to win or not. That is, whether we're giving ourselves the possibility of winning. Because if we play our dozy side-to-side let-the-opposition-all-run-back-and-comfortably-regroup game, charitably called “patient build-up, probing for openings”, then Palace will soak it up (as everyone now does, because absolutely everyone has now cottoned to it), wait for the turnover, and burn through our midfield and back four.

Our last ten opponents haven’t cottoned on to it

Maybe their highly paid coaching staffs don’t have the piercing tactical insight you and others on here have

 

[Axel Freed]

What elite players do you think would want to sign for us if we are not in CL.

Yaya did
Spanish Dave did
GazBaz did

 

[citymad]

I have a nine-word message for Pep .................

PLEASE DO NOT TINKER WITH THE TEAM OR TACTICS

Trouble is he's tinkered so much we don't know what team not to tinker with.

 

[BringBackSwales]

I am convinced of one thing. We shall know within the first five minutes — ten at the outside — whether we're going to win or not. That is, whether we're giving ourselves the possibility of winning. Because if we play our dozy side-to-side let-the-opposition-all-run-back-and-comfortably-regroup game, charitably called “patient build-up, probing for openings”, then Palace will soak it up (as everyone now does, because absolutely everyone has now cottoned to it), wait for the turnover, and burn through our midfield and back four.

I am convinced of one thing too. Pep Guardiola knows a lot more about football than you do. 4 titles on the run, trebles twice, trophies galore, an absolute fucking genius, I’ll trust him before you. TEN games unbeaten since first away, not exactly symptomatic of everyone cottoning on to how shit we’ve become

 

[Father Paul]

And I bet they have been training all week, practicing set pieces.

Meanwhile City coach and players. Certainly not at the CFA. I bet they only came back from their jaunts yesterday.

I hope i am wrong and we turn in a good performance. Palace are no pushover.

What jaunts?

 

[Marvin.]

I am convinced of one thing. We shall know within the first five minutes — ten at the outside — whether we're going to win or not. That is, whether we're giving ourselves the possibility of winning. Because if we play our dozy side-to-side let-the-opposition-all-run-back-and-comfortably-regroup game, charitably called “patient build-up, probing for openings”, then Palace will soak it up (as everyone now does, because absolutely everyone has now cottoned to it), wait for the turnover, and burn through our midfield and back four.

Our pick up in results came when Pep decided to de-risk and play more conservative football using fullbacks for width. You can disagree. I don't think Pep actually likes the way he has set City up to play this season but he has done it to get results.

 

[IronsideKozuch]

I am convinced of one thing too. Pep Guardiola knows a lot more about football than you do. 4 titles on the run, trebles twice, trophies galore, an absolute fucking genius, I’ll trust him before you

its funny how people call for full strenght team, best line up, going full force, to not tinker etc! So populistic really.

In reality what is our full strength first 11 at the moment is very debatable. Is O'Reilly or Nunes a full strength piece or its Akanji whose coming back from injury? Savinho has most assists for us, but couldnt finish. Would you put Foden or McAtee there or miss Haaland? Does Nico deserves a chance? Or Grealish who been one of our best players against Forest.

Its obvious that Pep and staff see people at the daily basis, during trainings, have all the data, sometimes info about off field issues.

Its natural we guessing the starting line up with better or worse arguments, but at the end of the day you have to trust our personel, who achieved so so much.

 

[JamesMCFC]

its funny how people call for full strenght team, best line up, going full force, to not tinker etc! So populistic really.

In reality what is our full strength first 11 at the moment is very debatable. Is O'Reilly or Nunes a full strength piece or its Akanji whose coming back from injury? Savinho has most assists for us, but couldnt finish. Would you put Foden or McAtee there or miss Haaland? Does Nico deserves a chance? Or Grealish who been one of our best players against Forest.

Its obvious that Pep and staff see people at the daily basis, during trainings, have all the data, sometimes info about off field issues.

Its natural we guessing the starting line up with better or worse arguments, but at the end of the day you have to trust our personel, who achieved so so much.

Akanji isn't part of our best team in my opinion

I don't know what it is he isn't always the culprit but he is always at the scene of the crime.

 

[Marvin.]

Almost every interview with Pep or our players is preceded by journalists telling us what a disaster our season has been. In some sense this is understandable but in another, City managed to turn around a really disastrous period of results without making fundamental changes to personnel. Pep did what all his critics said he couldn't do and take a poorly functioning side and managed them to get better results without the cheque book.

You can say he bought heavily in January but of those signings only Marmoush is playing regularly. City's change in form is the result of changing the shape of the side and using O'Reilly. City are not a title-challenging side at the moment. We are not who we were, but we are a good side. And this is just a stop-gap fix for this season. In my opinion. You will have your own.

 

[chesterbells]

No it wouldn't but possibly for the first time this season we have considerable scope to rotate players. Ake, Akanji, Khusanov, KDB, Gundogan, Foden, Bobb, Gonzalez might not start at Wembley but wouldn't be considered as reserves.

Agreed.