City v Southampton pre match thread.

[mosssideblue]

But they are not fit enough to be able to play Real, Saints, Real. In just game 1 of those 3, half our team looked dead on their feet. They simply can't play Southampton and then perform at Real. There should be at least 6 changes, maybe 7

Agreed

 

[mosssideblue]

In an ideal world our team selection would depend on the Rags result against Leicester , if they fail to get 3 pts , we can afford a draw or defeat at Southampton and still comfortably secure a top 4 spot , as we will still only need 4 pts from the goons and swansea games . But if the rags win , we will have to go for the 3pts at Southampton ,which will mean likes of sagna,clichy,vinny,dinho,kdb,aguero will all have to play. A top 4 finish is every bit as important as Wednesday's semi-final.

I don't agree. Yes they are our star names and best players, but you just have to read these last few pages and you will see many claiming that playing them could seriously backfire for Southampton and again on Wed. They are knackered, and playing them on Sunday will not necessarily mean they will deliver what they are capable of. Asking them to play in their game of their life the following Wed, is asking for trouble.

 

[Newman Noggs]

which is what?

A matter of opinion of course, but, for me, the same team that started against Madrid less Silva. The only question would be who to replace him with and my preference would be Sterling.

 

[sam-caddick]

vs Southampton

Hart
Zabaleta Otamendi Mangala Kolarov
Navas Fernando Delph Sterling
Aguero Iheanacho

vs Real Madrid

Hart
Sagna Kompany Mangala Clichy
Fernando Fernandinho
Navas De Bruyne Sterling
Aguero

this for me.

 

[mosssideblue]

Still think our biggest problem is that some players are off this Summer and know it. Playing them in matches that we need results from to get top 4 is inevitably going to risk them not being 100% in the fight for something that they personally know they will not benefit from next season.

So we need players in these last three games that will decide if we get top 4 who will be here next season and so will have a deeply personal motivation to win Sunday.

You only had to see Hart after the RM game and how he was already fired up for Sunday and knew how vital it was to realise that playing him (and others like him) will give us that competitive edge we are going to need.

So the idea of resting him for Willy (as someone suggested earlier) needs to pause and remember that Willy likely will be gone and Joe will not. And see who really knows the importance of a result Sunday in terms of securing CL next season.

That is the edge - not that we might indeed have some reasonable squad players.

Conversely, surely those who know they won't be here next season will want to shop window themselves rather than advertise they don't give a feck - unless they are retiring that is.

 

[mosssideblue]

vs Southampton

Hart
Zabaleta Otamendi Mangala Kolarov
Navas Fernando Delph Sterling
Aguero Iheanacho

vs Real Madrid

Hart
Sagna Kompany Mangala Clichy
Fernando Fernandinho
Navas De Bruyne Sterling
Aguero

Curious as to why, after their performance on Tuesday, you have selected Mangala over Ota for the second leg

 

[DClarkMiamiU]

In addition to seeing how things look at the half between the rags and the foxes...
Real Madrid plays mid-table Sociedad on Saturday.

Seeing what their squad looks like, and then how things are going with the Rags... i hope Pellers has a Plan A (need a result- possibly at the cost of UCL fitness) and a Plan B (we can afford a draw or even a loss)

Make the call at the half of the Rags game...

 

[cibaman]

In addition to seeing how things look at the half between the rags and the foxes...
Real Madrid plays mid-table Sociedad on Saturday.

Seeing what their squad looks like, and then how things are going with the Rags... i hope Pellers has a Plan A (need a result- possibly at the cost of UCL fitness) and a Plan B (we can afford a draw or even a loss)

Make the call at the half of the Rags game...

No, no, no. Change the game plan an hour before kick off? It doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[kaz7]

In addition to seeing how things look at the half between the rags and the foxes...
Real Madrid plays mid-table Sociedad on Saturday.

Seeing what their squad looks like, and then how things are going with the Rags... i hope Pellers has a Plan A (need a result- possibly at the cost of UCL fitness) and a Plan B (we can afford a draw or even a loss)

Make the call at the half of the Rags game...

No way,changing things late is asking for trouble,the players need to prepare mentally to play

 

[Andouble]

vs Southampton

Hart
Zabaleta Otamendi Mangala Kolarov
Navas Fernando Delph Sterling
Aguero Iheanacho

vs Real Madrid

Hart
Sagna Kompany Mangala Clichy
Fernando Fernandinho
Navas De Bruyne Sterling
Aguero

we would not score a goal with no KDB, Nasri, Silva, AND Toure.

For our sake let's hope Nasri and Toure are fit for Sunday.