Napoli (H) - Thu 18th Sept, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Pep wasn’t in a chatty mood today. That might have been his most pointless press conference yet.

 

[Goater101]

Full strength for this first game and hope we get off to a flyer, not ideal with Arsenal on Sunday but hey ho. Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O,Reilly, Rodri, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Yeah get the game won early hopefully then make changes on 60 mins

 

[ninjamonkey]

Pep really couldn't be arsed today could he?

 

[Lavinda Past]

Pep wasn’t in a chatty mood today. That might have been his most pointless press conference yet.

They're all pointless in my opinion. I find it quite bizarre that fans are so desperately in need of fragments of information in advance of a match.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

They're all pointless in my opinion. I find it quite bizarre that fans are so desperately in need of fragments of information in advance of a match.

They are, but this was another level.

 

[lionheart]

Yeah get the game won early hopefully then make changes on 60 mins

You must be joking. We are not playing Huddersfield.

 

[B\connellblue]

Full strength tomorrow and worry about Sunday after that. Realistically we have a better chance of winning tomorrow than Sunday anyway.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Yeah get the game won early hopefully then make changes on 60 mins

Get the game won early...? If only life was so simple. We'll be more than happy with a scrappy last-minute 1-0 winner.

 

[Ghostofmerlin]

I worry that Kev will have a big day. I’m sure he will be up for it as it was clear he wanted to stay, if possible.

2-2 draw.

 

[Gray]

Yeah get the game won early hopefully then make changes on 60 mins

I would have said we must make sure we don't lose the game early.

 

[Skrastins]

 

[Ethan23]

I'm not sure that it's even worth persevering with Sav - I just don't think that he has it in him.

Think we should adopt a more ruthless approach, generally.

The thing is if he doesn't get minutes we won't anything for him in January or the summer - I can't see spurs coming back in for him now.

 

[WickyWain]

Get the game won early...?

Yep! That will allow us to go to Arsenal on Sunday and do the same, 6-0 up at the Emirates after 20 minutes then bring the kids on. Piece of piss.

 

[noseve]

The thing is if he doesn't get minutes we won't anything for him in January or the summer - I can't see spurs coming back in for him now.

In the old days clubs would play somebody like him every week in the combination league (for those below a certain age who don't know, this was like a Premier League for reserve teams) and big-up everything they did that was any good

Club scouts would be able to get a look at them - the way you allude to - without compromising the first team lineups.

I'm not sure that Savinho's performances are likely to improve his price anyway?

 

[noseve]

Pep wasn’t in a chatty mood today. That might have been his most pointless press conference yet.

Funny how all coaches, including Pep, would have you believe that they don't care about pundits/critics' opinions, but then betray themselves simply by using using the word 'apparently'. :-)

 

[noseve]

Full strength tomorrow and worry about Sunday after that. Realistically we have a better chance of winning tomorrow than Sunday anyway.

Agree - we saw last year that it was hairier than it should have been, largely down to our lack of intensity in games when we seemed to assume that we'd qualify easily from the group stage.

I hate to say it, but where we are at the moment I'd treat Arsenal as a free hit in the way that many teams became used to treating games against City.

 

[Ric]

Looks like Stones is back in training.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

I thought Doku was really energized and strong last weekend. It might be best to keep him playing while he is on a roll. Play the strongest side possible....winning is infectious....when the lead is achieved then give a few a rest, play the ball around be that backwards, sideways, forwards or to the corner flags. Up the blues...keep the faith...3-1 City....Haaland, Savinho, Reinders.

 

[oddfellows]

Any news on Kova ? We’ve really missed him.

Presser today;

Mateo Kovacic is "coming back soon", says Pep Guardiola.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Yep! That will allow us to go to Arsenal on Sunday and do the same, 6-0 up at the Emirates after 20 minutes then bring the kids on. Piece of piss.

Three seasons ago, I would have expected that to be a perfectly reasonable expectation....