City v Sunderland pre-match thread (13/8/2016)

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

The big question for me is what is going on with; mangala, otamendi, sagna, denayer? All would be considered experienced cb's! Are they not fit or not rated. I would be amazed if kolarov starts ahead of any of those players, even knowing how pep operates.

As we don't really know guessing the team is hard, the only starters I'd bet on would be; aguero, kdb, nolito, fdinho, clichy.

Looking good for Delph, zinchenko and sterling as all played well in pre season.

 

[super_city_si]

The big question for me is what is going on with; mangala, otamendi, sagna, denayer? All would be considered experienced cb's! Are they not fit or not rated. I would be amazed if kolarov starts ahead of any of those players, even knowing how pep operates.

As we don't really know guessing the team is hard, the only starters I'd bet on would be; aguero, kdb, nolito, fdinho, clichy.

Looking good for Delph, zinchenko and sterling as all played well in pre season.

Is there anything physically wrong with mangala and denayer? They can not be as bad a partnership as Kolarov and Fernando.

Ps. Yay football is back :)

 

[Viridian]

I'd personally go with:

Hart
Zabaleta - Sagna - Otamendi - Clichy
Fernandinho - Delph
Navas - Silva - Nolito
Aguero

Caballero, Kolarov, Sterling, Fernando, Yaya, De Bruyne, Kelechi.

 

[Chrisdunk]

It has to be either KDB or Silva this season. They can't play together.

Pep likes to have his wingers strong 1v1 out wide which neither Silva or Kev are. Question is will he favour Silva who's a master of possession or Kev who's an end product machine? I'm leaning towards the former especially since Kev's a defensive liability.

Gundogan Fernadinho
Sane Silva Raheem
Kun
​

imo, when everyone's fit again.

 

[malg]

It has to be either KDB or Silva this season. They can't play together.

Pep likes to have his wingers strong 1v1 out wide which neither Silva or Kev are. Question is will he favour Silva who's a master of possession or Kev who's an end product machine? I'm leaning towards the former especially since Kev's a defensive liability.

Gundogan Fernadinho
Sane Silva Raheem
Kun
​

imo, when everyone's fit again.

If everyone's fit I'd never have Silva ahead of KdB.

It's going to be interesting to see the line up this weekend.

 

[cibaman]

Hart
Zabaleta
God Knows
No Idea
Clichy
Fernando
Fernandhino
Silva
Sterling
Aguero
Nolito

 

[Academica]

Is there anything physically wrong with mangala and denayer? They can not be as bad a partnership as Kolarov and Fernando.

Ps. Yay football is back :)

It's a strange one for sure not playing any of our recognised centre backs, are they really that bad.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Think Spanish Dave will start ahead of kdb in this game as much to do with fitness but I expect lots of rotation this season behind Kun.

 

[Gabriel]

Could see yesterday that the fullbacks bombing forward leaves us terribly exposed when they lose the ball. Players are, as yet,unaware of what they should do and where they should be in such circumstances. Guardiola could opt for safety and play recognised players in their trusted positions and a safe system until everyone is fit, but what likelihood everone ever being fit? No, instead he will persist with the system, as those who are picked will learn it faster the more they play it. I'd expect the same eleven that started against Arsenal to reappear against Sunderland, albeit Nolito might make way for Sterling and shift Navas right.

Keep hearing the ping you get on planes before the 'we're entering some turbulence' warning. Interesting times ahead.

 

[Marvin]

I don't think the Arsenal game told us much because it was massively undermined by our defensive options. I would have used it as preparation for Sunderland and played Mangala even if we want to sell him. However if a move for him is close that is understandable. Mangala and Sagna central defence looks a good option to me, but if we were going to use it, why not play them? We should be patient. A lot to do.