Borussia Mönchengladbach (A) | Pre-Match Thread

[Manchester33]

Strongest possible XI please.

Ederson

Cancelo
Stones
Dias
Laporte

Rodri
Gundogan
Bernardo

Foden
Jesus
Sterling

KDB looked a bit rusty v Arsenal hence why I'd leave him out - maybe bring him on after 60 mins. Try and keep a clean sheet and if we score a couple of goals it means we can rotate players in the second leg (if necessary).

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Eddie

Walker (rested)
Garcia (rested)
Laporte (rested)
Mendy (totally fresh)

Rodri (rested)
KDB (part rested)
Foden (rested)

Torres (Fresh)
Gabby (part rested)
Sergio 45/60 mins (fresh)

Insurance policy
Stones
Zin
Mr Whippy (he could possibly start with his knowledge of the Bundersliga)
Raz
Marez
Kids

Will be interesting to see if he rests Dinho

Do you think we are playing fucking Cheltenham again?

One of the worst teams I have ever seen.

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Pep will go full strength, no doubt about it. BM beat Bayern last month and have beaten Leipzig and drew with both Inter and Madrid this season so aren't the pushovers many posters seem to make them out to be.

I would have:

Ederson

Cancelo
Stones
Dias
Zinchenko

Rodri
Bernardo
Gundogan

Foden
Jesus
Sterling

They will come out and attack us which will suit Foden as he usually plays best when the game is stretched and he has space to dribble in to.

There are strong arguments for the inclusion of Walker and KDB but I think the above is our best XI at the moment.

 

[Withnail]

It's often said "take one game at a time", but with the 3 hour flight and the Saturday morning fixture against an in form West Ham, who have no midweek fixture, I would give serious consideration to leaving some players behind to rest and prepare for West Ham? We risk injury to players if they are not sufficiently recovered.

Whilst taking nothing for granted the League is nearly won imo. Pep should play his strongest team on Wednesday, get the tie won in the first leg if possible. The CL is the trophy our owners and Pep really crave and I want us to go all out to try to win it.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Eddie

Walker (rested)
Garcia (rested)
Laporte (rested)
Mendy (totally fresh)

Rodri (rested)
KDB (part rested)
Foden (rested)

Torres (Fresh)
Gabby (part rested)
Sergio 45/60 mins (fresh)

Insurance policy
Stones
Zin
Mr Whippy (he could possibly start with his knowledge of the Bundersliga)
Raz
Marez
Kids

Will be interesting to see if he rests Dinho

Smack or crack?

 

[Rammy Blue]

I don't think Pep will take many risks with it being CL, and we'll play our strongest possible line-up. Think we're more likely to rotate for the West Ham game personally. Only question mark for me is if whether or not De Bruyne starts ahead of Jesus.

Ederson
Cancelo
Stones
Dias
Zinchenko
Rodri
Gundogan
Bernardo
Foden
Sterling
De Bruyne/Jesus

I’d be astonished if Pep doesn’t start Kev, and Jesus. Consequently one of Phil, Bernie or Gundo will miss out, imo.

 

[Mike N]

Bernardo has been superb lately but he looks like he needs a rest. I’d leave him at home.

 

[RandomJ]

Really hope he doesn't piss around with the defence. Stones and Dias at the back.

 

[CityEssex49er]

-----------------------------Edi-----------------------------
----------Kylinho-Little Eric-Big Eric------------Benny

-------------------------Rodders---------------------------
-------------Phil---------------------------Zincho---------

---------Ferran------Sergio------Gabby-----------------

 

[jrb]

Tim Vickery on Talk Shite.

Said BMGB are currently in flux after it was announced their manager is moving to Dortmund next season.

He still rates them highly. And said they have some very good individual players.

Said they did really well in their CL group ,and could have won it bar conceding some late goals, which is their achilles heel.

They lost to Mainz 2-1 this Weekend. Conceding a late goal.

Said City should beat BMGB, but City need to be careful. Or words to that effect.