Sunderland (H) - Sat 6th Dec, 15:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Dax777]

Kick off time 15:00 (GMT).

Another Saturday 3 o'clock game which is nice.

Going to a tough game if their start and our last 2 games are anything to go by. They'll be physically with us and get at us with pace.

Think Pep has to find a way of tweaking it whilst still keeping the defence pretty solid. Got Real (A) on Wednesday, so got to have that in mind too.

------------Donnaruma
Stones---Dias--Gvardiol--Ait-Nouri
-------Gonzalez---O'Reilly
------------------Cherki
------Foden--------------Doku
----------------Haaland

............Donnarumma.........
Lewis... Stones . Dias... Ait Nouri
........Nunes....Gonzalez........
Cherki.. ..Foden.......Marmoush
..............Haaland.............
.

Pep won't, but id seriously consider this

 

[its a Barm]

Trying to think of a reason why no one has picked Savinho to start Saturday

 

[Dax777]

Sunderland are all long throws, set pieces, breaking the game up with fouls. More like Brentford than Fulham.

City need their tallest team possible.

..................Donna
Nunes..Stones .. Dias... Gvardiol
........ Gonzalez....NOR ...............
Foden.........Tijjanni...........Marmoush
.......................Haaland...............

That's the tall team

 

[Dax777]

Trying to think of a reason why no one has picked Savinho to start Saturday

I think he will. Coz i doubt Pep wants to start him against Madrid

 

[TurboDuo]

 

[TurboDuo]

View attachment 176573

 

[Zenmanc]

Honestly wouldn't mind seeing Gvad back at LB for this one.

 

[Sam69]

Donnarumma

Khusanov
Stones
Días
Gvardiol

O'Reilly
Nico Gonzalez

Foden
Cherki
Doku

Haaland

 

[Dax777]

View attachment 176573

This is going to be complicated

Move Cherki to O'Reilly's position

Move O'Reilly to Gonzalez position

Move Gonzales to Stones position

Move Stones to Khusanov's Position

Replace Khusanov with Nunes

Move Nunes to Cherki original position

Play 3 at the back with Nunes as a RWB

That's the magic team.

That said, i currently don't rate Nico O's ability to play in a congested middle. I think he is not as comfortable as mist presume he'll be

 

[Father Paul]

Sunderland to go 3 up by half time and to City win 4-3. Pep is just playing games with us all

Well we certainly have a collapse in us. I am going for a win on the basis that they will struggle in the later stages considering they have a game tonight against the dippers. I predict a scrappy low scoring game which will be enough to send us off to Madrid happy.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

6-5 victory for city after being 7-0 up at half time.

 

[super_city_si]

View attachment 176500

This for me too. I think we need to see O'Reilly in the middle. Sunderland are physical and if we go with Bernardo and Reijnders we'll get bullied like v Newcastle. Cherki is also a must.

 

[super_city_si]

I just worry about our LB play if Nico moves to midfield. RAN has looked very shaky.

You also have to wonder what Nico thinks about it given he's on his way to play LB for England in the WC.

Could put Khusanov or Stones in CB and push Gvardiol there. Or play Ake there.

 

[super_city_si]

Don't think he's at the required level of fitness yet. I think he's more effective coming on as a sub at the moment.

May have a point but if thats the case then we need to see him way earlier. If hes not fit to play then I'd bring him on at half time. We're good first half but collapse as soon as the ball is kicked for the second half. He will give us possession and bravery. He's wants the ball.

 

[HorlocksWalk]

Play the top players we have then, when we have put the game to bed, which will be 8-0 with 6 minutes to go, sub them off so they are fresh for midweek.

 

[Leeky]

Playing Tuesday and Saturday is going to make a big difference against Sunderland. Whereas Sunderland playing 3 tough fixtures in a week 2 away from home with one less day rest, won't be easy but confident.

 

[hilts]

Got to get back to a 4-2-3-1 to seal up that midfield

I've been very tolerant of Nunes and O'Reilly but my patience has run out with both
On Saturday I'd play Ake or Gvardiol at left back and Stones at right back

Sunderland play a similar style to Fulham and it's a free hit for them

Let's suck them in and smash them on the break

The legs of stones and ake against an energetic side, madness

 

[oldius]

Donnarumma in goal, of course.

 

[Tevez City]

______________Donnarumma______________

Nunes_____Dias____________Gvardiol_______O'Reilly

_____________Nico________Tijjani___________

Cherki___________Foden____________Marmoush

_______________Haaland__________________

 

[Xhavenjoe]

The legs of stones and ake against an energetic side, madness

The legs of Stones.
Makes me think of Roberto Duran