Bournemouth (H) - Tue 20th May, 20:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[The Black Shed]

I've changed my mind about the result.
We all love a nail biting must-win don't we?

City 3-2 Bournemouth

 

[Streetsweeper]

Gvardiol is plainly our best CB. Why is Pep moving him?

That spell he had as a centre-back coincided with the most solid at the back we’ve looked all season. This ‘no specialist full backs’ stuff is really getting on my tits.

 

[YatesA]

He's a good player, look at what he's won and where he's played. You can't buy experience like that. Well you can, City did, but not for huge amounts.

Pep did kovacic a massive disservice persisting having him as a lone 6. Since he's put bernardo and even Rico alongside him it's allowed kovacic to roam and do his game. Kovacic is a good player, he just has poor positional sense and needs someone covering in behind.

 

[HypnoticBlue]

Is that the oldest midfield in PL history?
Kovacic, Gundogan, KDB, Bernardo.
31. 34. 33. 30.

 

[kunaguero10]

Why did we buy Gonzalez,Riess and Kushanov?????

Txiki players, the only explanation

 

[the-ecstacy-of-eight]

Kev was always going to start, who would you put in instead?

Grealish.

 

[YatesA]

Makes me laugh how Gundo is given a free pass by many here based on what he’s done in the past.

He will jog on the spot and play backwards balls for 80 minutes at least.

Ye at least kev has shown moments of brilliance and works his arse off. Gundo has been a straight passenger for 95% of this season. Shouldn't be playing at all

 

[Damien10]

I can’t wait for the season to close. And I hope I don’t see 70% of this starting lineup start for this club again.

 

[Gabriel]

Remember last summer when the fixtures were announced and thinking, that's a kindly run in to the campaign, there'll be no need for nervy last games this time.

 

[whp.blue]

Long night Akanji and Nunes that's at least 2 goals shipped both of these are pure liabilities.
Pep is blind where these two clowns are concerned.

 

[Platt Lane 59]

Is that the oldest midfield in PL history?
Kovacic, Gundogan, KDB, Bernardo.

Bring back "Skip" as full back ?

 

[CityDean]

Another depressing looking team. Only positive for me is Nunes back at right back. At least its another decent provider for Erling.

Why hasnt Oscar been started? He has been fit for months no? Keeps persisting with the grandpas. Pep really has lost it. Proof no matter how big you are a woman can ruin you

 

[mosssideblue]

Come on lads.

 

[YatesA]

With Nunes playing i'm hoping Bernie stays tucked in and plays the right half role.

Bernardo is needed to protect kovacics wandering. Never am i trusting gundogan or kev to do that role. Would also be a total waste of kevs last lingering bits of his legs

 

[The Black Shed]

Pep did kovacic a massive disservice persisting having him as a lone 6. Since he's put bernardo and even Rico alongside him it's allowed kovacic to roam and do his game. Kovacic is a good player, he just has poor positional sense and needs someone covering in behind.

For Croatia he basically just breaks the play up and looks for Modric, who then orchestrates the next phase. It works well.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

They didn't shock the majority of City fans who've watched us play all season. We knew they'd probably hit us on the break then defend in depth. No great tactical minds needed for that one.

Both before and after that sixteenth minute, actually. Otherwise, Palace offered very little. I was surprised by their long balls forward. Not that there's anything wrong with that, if it's actually mixed up with a passing midfield game. Such was not the case. And a lot of those long balls were not accurate. Just vaguely launched upfield. Several of them went straight out into touch.
This is really not sour grapes. I just thought they were a better footballing team than that. I've just steeled myself to watch the final moments and the final whistle on the BBC website — had not done so till now, too painful — and I'm genuinely moved to see Palace supporters in tears. It reminded me of us (and myself) in 2011, and in 2012.

 

[theholysmurf]

Is Echeverri not allowed to play in the Prem, is it a case of him not being registered or something?

 

[KS55]

Pep did kovacic a massive disservice persisting having him as a lone 6. Since he's put bernardo and even Rico alongside him it's allowed kovacic to roam and do his game. Kovacic is a good player, he just has poor positional sense and needs someone covering in behind.

Kova has perfected that falling down shot and scored more this year than ever before.

 

[Claytop]

Feel like it’s going to be a slog, could have to be patient similar to the Everton & Villa games.

 

[Legal Alien]

Gvardiol is plainly our best CB. Why is Pep moving him?

With the 'experienced' midfield we've got playing we need some width. O'Reilly needed a rest imo so it makes sense to move everyone over and play Nunes at RWB, to me at least