City v Southampton pre match thread

[kaz7]

This will be an open game,ideal for dave and kev so they should play,all the important players will get next week off

 

[Andouble]

no way I risk Kompany for this match.

 

[cadds92]

I think we'll win this comfortably. It's the park-the-bus sides we've struggled most against. I was going to say since Pep got here, but thinking about it, it's been an issue ever since Mancini was here, after his honeymoon period at least. I remember how we were crying out for pace and width, to try to break teams down. Struggling to break down well organised defences has been a theme for the past 7 or 8 years.

Anyway, I digress. Southampton will try and play football, and we'll win comfortably as a result. (I hope!)

Maybe. I do think we are going to see more and more teams parking the bus against us now.

Look at Feyenoord. They are a team that plays but shut up shop last week.

Even Arsenal went with 5 at the back if I recall.

 

[Newman Noggs]

Thought Charlie Austin was a real threat in the Saints game against Everton. They threw in some great crosses. Mind you, he looked injured near the end of the game so not sure if he'll be fit.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Fernandinho is one booking away from suspension. If he doesn' get booked against Southhampton I'm sure he Will be rested against West Ham as it's the rags the following game.

I will be amazed if he cannot find a way to get booked against Southampton!!

 

[cadds92]

Fernandinho will play.

It will be the West Ham game he misses.

Yaya better start looking sharp as he will be needed for two games next week against West Ham and Shakhtar.

 

[Fred_Quimby]

Southampton will be no different than any other club that comes here. They will shut up shop and park the bus, call it what you will. This is one of the reasons I nearly didn’t get a season card for this season, got tired of it last year.

 

[foggy1974]

Like to see Aguero and Jesus up front. Felt it was the decision to bring Jesus on that got the second on Sunday.
Although saints play good football, they can be toothless upfront. If Austin plays he will score against us, he always does.
Everton on Sunday were awful, gutless and arent playing for Unsworth. 2 defenders going off injured didnt help but they werent even chasing back.

 

[Bluview]

------------------Ederson-------------------
Danilo---Kompany---Otamendi---Delph
----------------Fernandinho----------------
----------Gundogan-----D.Silva-----------
Sterling----------Jesus---------------Sane

Bench: Bravo, Walker, Zinchenko, Mangala, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Aguero

Walker has played a lot recently and i feel we can switch in Danilo without disrupting things too much. A lot of Southampton's threat comes down that side with Boufal and Bertrand and Danilo might be better suited to being a bit more cautious and defensively minded in that role anyway.

Jesus comes in for Aguero as there's little to choose between them at the moment and continuing to rotate keeps both players fresh and making their case to start against Utd.

I'd start De Bruyne on the bench. It's pretty inevitable that both sides will tire in the second half, especially Saints given they've had to travel. Gundogan can help us keep the ball moving and do a lot of the hard running in the first hour. De Bruyne could be especially effective from the bench as the pace drops and defensive gaps start to appear.

If we do happen to find ourselves a couple of couples ahead in the game, i'd take the opportunity to have another look at Zinchenko in the back-up left-back role. Hopefully some more minutes will either help him grow into a viable option there or let us know for sure that we need to be looking to bring in a specialist left back in January and find Zinchenko a loan move. I personally thought he showed promise against Wolves. We won't get many better opportunities than the next two home games to find out a little more.

I agree with these changes. I hope zinchenko has worked on his fitness as he was running in treacle in extra time. Probably due to lack of first team game time however he looks neat and tidy on the ball not dissimilar to Delph so worth a try.

 

[schfc6]

3 days rest, then 3 days rest then a week off for most of them.

For me. Southampton.

...............Ederson............
Danilo..VK....Otamendi...Delph.
.............Fernandinho...........
.........Silva.....Bernardo........
Sterling.......Jesus......Sané

West Ham.

................Ederson.......
Walker Otamendi Mangala Danilo
...............Gundogan..............
..........Bernardo...De Bruyne....
Sterling........Aguero....Sané