Chelsea (H) - Sun 8th Jan, 16:30 - FA Cup | Pre-Match Thread

[birchwoodgingerste]

1.ortega
2.walker
3cancello
4.stones.
5.laporte
For defence..
Then...
SIlva foden gundog mid 3
Then
Grealish haaland alvarez up top ..

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Me and the old man taking my lad to his first ever game for this. Already warned him Haaland may not play! Come on City

 

[alexmcity]

Players who should be rested but could be subbed in if necessary: Ederson, Stones, Ake, Rodri, KDB and Haaland.

If Laporte is not available:

Ortega

Cancelo
Walker (CB)
Akanji
Gomez

Phillips
Bernardo
Foden

Mahrez/Palmer
Alvarez
Grealish

 

[sh249]

I’d go something like this:

————--——-Ortega————
Walker—Akanji—Ake—Cancelo
————Phillips—-Gundogan——-
———————Foden—————
Palmer——-Alvarez—-Grealish

Walker and Cancelo need game time in their proper positions. Might also be tempted to switch Foden with Palmer, so he gets some time on the right (don’t think he’ll be starting as a 10 in any meaningful game this season).

 

[alexmcity]

I’d go something like this:

————--——-Ortega————
Walker—Akanji—Ake—Cancelo
————Phillips—-Gundogan——-
———————Foden—————
Palmer——-Alvarez—-Grealish

Walker and Cancelo need game time in their proper positions. Might also be tempted to switch Foden with Palmer, so he gets some time on the right (don’t think he’ll be starting as a 10 in any meaningful game this season).

Gundogan played the whole game vs Chelsea. Bernardo is more likely to start, for he was subbed both vs Everton and Chelsea. Also, Ake should get a rest. Gomez (and/or Rico who played only 45 min vs Chelsea) is likely to start.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Should be a disrespectful performance incoming, apparently we'll be playing their under 14's as poor old Chelsea haven't got anyone fit.

 

[waspish]

Ake stones Rodri Kdb Haaland need a rest..


__________ortega_____________

Walker_akanji_laporte_cancelo

____Philips___Gomes________

Mahrez_____Foden___palmer

________Alverez____________

 

[BringBackSwales]

Should be a disrespectful performance incoming, apparently we'll be playing their under 14's as poor old Chelsea haven't got anyone fit.

There’ll be ok they can just keep spending, ffp clearly doesn’t apply to them

 

[sh249]

Gundogan played the whole game vs Chelsea. Bernardo is more likely to start, for he was subbed both vs Everton and Chelsea. Also, Ake should get a rest. Gomez (and/or Rico who played only 45 min vs Chelsea) is likely to start.

Agree that Ake could do with a rest. But a back four of Cancelo, Akanji, Walker (at CB) and Gomez is too weak for my liking. Ideally, Laporte would be available, but it doesn’t look especially likely.
Gundogan is just a personal preference, in that I consider Bernardo more important for the run of games we have coming up. I think he’s crucial to our balance in midfield, even when he’s not playing especially well.

 

[alexmcity]

Agree that Ake could do with a rest. But a back four of Cancelo, Akanji, Walker (at CB) and Gomez is too weak for my liking. Ideally, Laporte would be available, but it doesn’t look especially likely.
Gundogan is just a personal preference, in that I consider Bernardo more important for the run of games we have coming up. I think he’s crucial to our balance in midfield, even when he’s not playing especially well.

Agree about Bernie, but he could be rested vs Southampton. Pep doesn't seem to be very impressed with Gomez either, but he'll give him chances. He's likely to get a start vs Chelsea and/or Southampton.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Yes push for Wembley in the Coca-Cola can cup.

The FA Cup is just going to get in the way of other stuff.

It's heresy, but I share some of these sentiments.

Pep likes the Caravan Cup....he feels its good timing to get a trophy in March.

We should've had more FA cups but through a combination of timing,Pep brain farts and poor performances we've underachieved.

Beating the rags in the Caravan final will be fun with the PL & CL the next priority.

 

[FantasyIreland]

--------------Ortega
Lewis---Stones---Akanji---Ake
------------Philips
------Bernardo---Grealish
Foden----Alvarez---Palmer

 

[Stelea]

No reason for Walker and Cancelo not to start in their proper positions to regain match fitness and confidence.
KDB, Rodders, Gundo and Haaland must not play are they are burnt out.
Stones should not be risked and Lewis should be protected
Ederson
Walker
Cancelo
Akanji
Laporte (if fit, if not Ake)
Phillips
Bernie
Grealish
Palmer
Foden
Alvarez

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

No reason for Walker and Cancelo not to start in their proper positions to regain match fitness and confidence.
KDB, Rodders, Gundo and Haaland must not play are they are burnt out.
Stones should not be risked and Lewis should be protected
Ederson
Walker
Cancelo
Akanji
Laporte (if fit, if not Ake)
Phillips
Bernie
Grealish
Palmer
Foden
Alvarez

Not sure Haaland is burnt out

Agree a few should be rested but not Haaland

 

[Fordyboy46]

Ortega, Walker, Cancelo, Akanji, Ake, Phillips, Bernardo, Gundogan, Palmer, Foden, Alvarez

 

[Alcatraz]

Difficult choices with the scum looming - need be at full strength for the OT toilet. Short turnaround from trip to Southampton, but then that is arguably more important than Chelsea.
Guess that is what Pep is paid for ….

 

[BringBackSwales]

RIP Vialli, really good bloke, very sad

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Pep likes the Caravan Cup....he feels its good timing to get a trophy in March.

We saw the feelgood effect it had during our Pellegrini title-winning year. Yaya and Nasri's worldies seemed to lift the whole team.
Didn't appear to be quite so efficacious for the dippers, though ;-)

A propos of Nasri. Hadn't seen him for a while. He was working for French tv (Canal +) last night as a commentator. Was out on the pitch at half time. By God but he's slung on weight! Bloated…

 

[mancityvstoke]

beat them twice in a week? How sweet would that be?

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

beat them twice in a week? How sweet would that be?

One of their title-winning seasons, forget which (2006?), we were the only team to beat them home and away. We were chugging along, not going anywhere in particular as a team or club — solid mid-table fare. I remember I hugged that to myself as a kind of trophy.
How far we've come. Them too!

Edit: I overstated that. We were the only team not to lose one or other match, either home or away. Seems amazing, but it's true. 2004-5, Mourinho's first season. David James was particularly brilliant in the match at Stamford Bridge. It was real Alamo stuff.