City v Liverpool (Home) Pre-Match Thread

[RICK SLICK]

I'd rather Bernardo start on the bench than seeing him as a winger. Even if he cuts insid, he is not going to give near his best there. Not the same as when he plays as a center/attacking mid.

I'm afraid he is going to be played there too often and people will start to question his overall capacity. Please, don't do this to him Pep.

 

[GeorgeHeslop'sTackle.]

I don't think we'll really get going for a few matches yet. Hate to say it but I'm expecting a dippers win.

If we go gung-ho we've had it. Their pace on the counter, against the arse, was frightening. Bugger entertaing football our only chance is to start with 2 DM's, invite them on, and hope to catch em on the counter.
As Pep will, no doubt, do completely the opposite, I, like you, fear we're f*cked :-(

 

[Tevez City]

______________________Ederson_____________________

Walker________Otamendi______Kompany__________Mendy

________________Fernandinho_____Yaya___________

Bernardo__________________Silva____________KDB

___________________Jesus____________________

 

[hutton who blue]

I daresay first massive game of the season between two giants. An opportunity for Pep to clip Klopp.

 

[Armaan]

They have played several games more than us due to us starting our pre-season so late,we are not even warmed up and they are in peak condition

Our south americans are not back till thursday evening,we won't win this game

This was my concern even before the season began, we played 2 games too less in pre season imo. We've not hit form yet still a few games more to go till we do and the fact that dippers had two games against hoffenheim as well as more pre season games than us suggests they're a lot closer to their peak than we are.

Really hope we can dig this one out, if we beat them I see us gaining tremendous confidence and going on a run.

 

[himalayan_blues]

why are people keeping walker in the team. Isn't he suspended?

 

[himalayan_blues]

..............Ederson
Danilo....kompany....otamendy...Mendy
bernardo...ferna...yaya......Sane
..............Debruyne
..............Jesus
we need protection in the middle so yaya and fernandinho starts. otherwise the team is obvious. we should choose the obvious formation 4 4 1 1. I think in 3 5 1 we will get exposed by their wingers. in the same time we will have our wingers in sane and bernardo creating havoc. i also want debruyne playing in no 10 position. We need his goal scoring quality in front. otherwise our no 10 like silva and serling cannot sore goals. He is the best no 10 we have who can score goals.

 

[BlumerMooner]

why are people keeping walker in the team. Isn't he suspended?

It as a second yellow so just a one match ban.

 

[cibaman]

I'd rather Bernardo start on the bench than seeing him as a winger. Even if he cuts insid, he is not going to give near his best there. Not the same as when he plays as a center/attacking mid.

I'm afraid he is going to be played there too often and people will start to question his overall capacity. Please, don't do this to him Pep.

Initially, until he's settled in, he should play as close to his Monaco role as possible

 

[KCblue]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the players on international duty are: Sterling (irrelevant for the next match), Stones, Walker, Aguero, Otamendi, Jesus, Fernandinho, Ederson, Kompany, De Bruyne, Bravo, Bernardo, and Silva. The last game of WC qualifiers for each are as follows:

Sterling, Stones, & Walker: 4 September
Jesus, Fernandinho, & Ederson: 5 September
Aguero & Otamendi: 5 September
Kompany & De Bruyne: 3 September
Bravo: 5 September
Bernardo: 3 September
Silva: 5 September

So possible late arrivals back for the South Americans. Meanwhile; Danilo, Mendy, Mangala, Toure, Gundogan, Delph, and Sane should be training in Manchester all week. Assuming they're fit I think Ederson, Walker, Mendy, Kompany, De Bruyne, and one or both of Bernardo and Silva should all be locks to start. Most of their players will also be returning from national duty so they could be in a similar situation with later arrivals. I think we'll either line up:

3-5-2: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero, Jesus; or,
4-3-3: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi/Stones, Mendy, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Jesus/Bernardo, Aguero/Jesus

I don't know what's going in with Yaya in regards to not playing yet this season, but I see the pros and cons of playing him against Liverpool. I think it may still be too early to start Gundogan but it will be interesting to see which formation Pep decides to start with. The 3-5-2 should keep them from scoring early but would also probably stagnate our attack; whereas the 4-3-3 should make for a much more open game but also makes us more vulnerable to the counter.

Still sticking with an entertaining 3-2 win.