Crystal Palace (A) - Sat 7th Dec, 15:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Ric]

Guess Pep knows the fitness of the players better than the rest of us, and has probably got one eye on Juventus, but feeling a bit less optimistic after seeing that line up.

 

[ufo]

genuinely and i have already said this i would play simpson - pusey and play gvardiol at left back, pep has a real hard on for lewis but he has been tried in so many positions and he doesnt excel in any of them

Disagreed strongly!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Exactly, was just wondering, if the OP knew better ,seeing as he believes the sensible reason to be bullshit.

he either knows better than Pep and our entire fitness team or he’s another internet football clown.

 

[heslops barnet]

Wouldn’t have Walker anywhere near the team today with Palace speed up front….just please don’t go over the halfway line as you add nothing to the attack

 

[clarion]

Anyone who expected Akanji to play today after being taken off at h/t midweek was delusional, the only reason he would have been replaced at h/t was injury.

We also need a team for midweek against juve, so can see why others aren't playing from the start.

That’s never a reason when it comes from Pep. If that was the reason he would drop Bernardo or even Gundo.

He is just sticking to his tactics from this terrible run.

 

[blueste41]

Anyone who expected Akanji to play today after being taken off at h/t midweek was delusional, the only reason he would have been replaced at h/t was injury.

We also need a team for midweek against juve, so can see why others aren't playing from the start.

I don't think anyone has said they expected him to play just disappointed to see it confirmed he won't.
Jack and Doku on the other hand....

 

[TinFoilHat]

That team is about solidity and control.

Might change my prediction to a boring as fuck 0-0

 

[pudge]

He’s obviously not fit enough for 3 full games in a week. Pep plays the long game. Why can’t people see this?

If Gundogan is deemed fit every week then Pep might reckon Bell could start at Juventus

 

[Claytop]

Bernie or Nunes in the middle?

Going to be a rough one today..

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I'll never get Pep at times, Grrlish and Kev parynered well behinfld haaland, and berny had a better game on the wing than recently the 4 attacking midfielders look in harmony not the messy unbalanced one recently, why mess with it

because of fitness. FFS.

 

[JTFactsPlz]

So Kevin, who looked like he could do with a rest after the Forest game, starts (so he'll be exhausted for the Juve game), but Jack and Doku, who clearly still had plenty of legs and played great, are benched.

Anyone who still doesn't see that Pep is fucking up City's season with his shitty lineups needs an appointment at Specsavers.

 

[mancboy]

Disagreed strongly!

and thats fair but where have you seen lewis excel honestly?

 

[marco]

calm down Doku and Grealish will be playing a part at somepoint in the game

 

[Blue and true]

People! jack and doku are both just recovering from injury. You just can’t force them to start after coming back from long layoff

I don't understand this logic? He played a full 90 midweek so why exactly is he no longer fit for another 60 or so? He's a professional athlete for Christ's sake.

 

[skillman]

Good rewards for Doku and Grealish there then.

 

[bluenova]

I never moan about Pep but Grealish and Doku were both brilliant against Forest and I can’t for the life of me understand why they’ve been dropped.

Grealish, Doku, and De Bruyne were all making their first start after being injured. We don't know if they're 100% fit, or if they need to have a break.

Considering we just lost 2 of our defenders in one game, who were also playing while not being 100%, and we have a more important game on Wednesday, it makes perfect sense.

 

[Gumzy97]

We might need a defender in January. That defence is not solid.

 

[clarion]

So Kevin, who looked like he could do with a rest after the Forest game, starts (so he'll be exhausted for the Juve game), but Jack and Doku, who clearly still had plenty of legs and played great, are benched.

Anyone who still doesn't see that Pep is fucking up City's season with his shitty lineups needs an appointment at Specsavers.

Dropping Kev or Bernardo would mean resting.
Dropping Jack and Doku is the new level of overthinking farts.

 

[OldhamBlue94]

Can only think he’s resting them for Juve and rags

 

[heslops barnet]

So Kevin, who looked like he could do with a rest after the Forest game, starts (so he'll be exhausted for the Juve game), but Jack and Doku, who clearly still had plenty of legs and played great, are benched.

Anyone who still doesn't see that Pep is fucking up City's season with his shitty lineups needs an appointment at Specsavers.

Obviously Pep knows better…..