Chelsea (H) - Sat 17th Feb, 17:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[GaudinoMotors]

Doku and Alvarez! NURSE!!!

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

City to win 6-3. Haaland hatrick, Foden, Alvarez & De Bruyne.

 

[Haaland94]

Today’s confirmed team: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku, Alvarez, Haaland

If fit, I always prefer John Stones and Bernardo in there.

 

[axlgod]

Come On City!!!

I’m working my last night shift tonight, don’t want to be there all depressed and that.

 

[phargrave]

I see the fanny wipes have been back, dampening down the chances of the in-form world champions - who're playing at home - against the shandy supping Chavs.
3-1 for City; come on you blue-boys!

Do we always have to concede…

 

[Franknorgrovesnephew]

Today’s confirmed team: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku, Alvarez, Haaland

Is Ake not out then ?

 

[TrentGrisham]

I like that XI for the most part. My worry is inverting our fullbacks and giving their wingers(Sterling and potentially Jackson these days) that's full of pace, too much space and time when we turn it over. I'd have liked Pep to stick a midfielder full-time next to Rodri to help him defensively. I assume Bernardo is hurt because it's hard to believe he's been benched for Alvarez.

Edit: I see Bernardo IS in the squad... Hmmm.

 

[Nour]

Pep always find a way to accommodate Akanji in the line up.

 

[Haaland94]

Pep always find a way to accommodate Akanji in the line up.

I can only assume John Stones is not 100% fit. Otherwise, it makes no sense.

 

[MCFC1993]

Today’s confirmed team: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku, Alvarez, Haaland

Shame Bernardo couldn't quite make it, still good enough to tear then apart.

 

[TrentGrisham]

Pep always find a way to accommodate Akanji in the line up.

Alvarez* for me.

Akanji's pace is invaluable to us for a backline with little pace in it, bar Walker(who is not nearly as quick as he once was IMO).

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Team is a bit iffy I can’t lie, but if we play well it should be fine.

 

[kaz7]

Hoping twitter is wrong , dont like that team

 

[ojeme]

You may be right with this one. I’d have Bernardo in and Alverez out with Phil central but I get a strong feeling that Alvarez has been made promises of starts. I suppose we’ve a game Tuesday so he can come back for that one.

i pray for the day this alvarez midfield bullshit stops, i cannot stand it

I understand and my preference would be for Alvarez to sit out and for Foden in the center but I’m sure Pep will do this

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Team is a bit iffy I can’t lie, but if we play well it should be fine.

Out of their skin more like.

 

[waspish]

Our players and pep know what they have to do to win the league Win every game

 

[mosssideblue]

Pep always find a way to accommodate Akanji in the line up.

And?

 

[Nour]

Alvarez* for me.

Akanji's pace is invaluable to us for a backline with little pace in it, bar Walker(who is not nearly as quick as he once was IMO).

That game they started last weekend was the worst no creation in the mid , and he played Akanji in the stones role when stones is playing

 

[KingGeorge]

Shame Bernardo couldn't quite make it, still good enough to tear then apart.

I wish we had Grealish. His control of the ball is nice against bigger sides.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Out of their skin more like.

Akanji stepping into midfield and too many players that give the ball away often. It could be a problem. Chelsea will have spells where they’re on top, as this particular City XI is not one for control.