Current First XI and formation with no injuries Dec 2025

It is often mentioned that the current team is no match for the treble winning side. True. But I'd argue that not many would get in the 2012 title winning side. Team vs QPR

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Lescott Clichy
Toure Barry
Silva. Tévez. Nasri
Agüero

Maybe Dias instead of Lescott. Donnarumma for sure.and for me Haaland and Kun is a draw.
 
Marvin. said:
We are 3rd after rebuilding. It's not a total write-off. Leverkusen was on Pep and we should ignore the result when it features a 2nd XI. Newcastle was very close.

Add a fit Rodri to what we have, and it's all systems
Hgblue2 said:
Donnarumma

Nunes
Dias
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Gonzalez
Rodri
Foden

Savinhp
Haaland
Doku
Click to expand...
Just say No!
Click to expand...
 
ChicagoBlue said:
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
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Definitely a shout for that as our best shape. The 3-2 has been the basis of all our best teams under Pep - whether a fullback becoming part of the two, or Stones from centre half. Don‘t see any reason why you couldn‘t try it with two proper No. 6s. Gives us back the four in the centre of midfield too.
Personnel is trickier. Maybe switch Cherki and Reijnders. Bernardo or Nico G, not sure. Or Nico O‘ - who of everyone doesn‘t deserve to come out of the team (ok, Haaland and Donnarumma too).
 
The Light Was Yellow Sir said:
Why does Gvardiol continually get a free pass? I’m not Dias’s biggest fan either, by the way, but this feller doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Continually gives the ball away, often in highly dangerous positions, wears lead boots which stops him jumping and, worst of all, is passionless and seemingly unable to tackle. And he’s not been booked (mind you, only CH booked is Khusanov and he was playing RB). Worst of all though, why he didn’t take Martinelli down at the Emirates. Red card for sure but 3 points almost guaranteed.
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I think Gvardiol has been a bit up and down this season but Martinelli's goal isn't the example to hit him with.

Him and Donnarumma did everything you're supposed to do in that situation, it was just an outrageously good finish. Gvardiol forced Martinelli wide of his original starting position and got him onto his weaker foot, while Donnarumma closed the angle down from in front.

Nine times out of 10, Donnarumma just smothers the ball and the game ends 0-1, but Martinelli somehow manages to get his stronger foot back on the ball to flick it into the corner. And even then it's the luck of the bounce that takes it into the goal. It's not something you can really come for Gvardiol and Donnarumma for.

EDIT: Just watched the goal back. By the time Martinelli gets his shot away, he's already in the penalty area. If Gvardiol clatters into him and brings him down, that's a penalty and maybe a red card. Plus, Gvardiol is only behind Martinelli because he's held the line properly. Martinelli is offside according to Gvardiol's position.

The criticism surely lies with Ake who was deeper than everyone else for the Eze pass and played all the Arsenal attackers onside. Martinelli's already got the jump on Gvardiol by the time the ball lands because Ake hasn't done his job. Martinelli is Ake's man and it's only because of Ake's error that he becomes Gvardiol's concern at all.
 
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youngbob said:
I think Gvardiol has been a bit up and down this season but Martinelli's goal isn't the example to hit him with. Him and Donnarumma did everything you're supposed to do in that situation, it was just an outrageously good finish. Gvardiol forced Martinelli wide of his original starting position and got him onto his weaker foot, while Donnarumma closed the angle down from in front. Nine times out of 10 Donnarumma just smothers the ball and the game ends 0-1, but Martinelli manages to get his stronger foot back on the ball to flick it into the corner. It's not something you can really come for Gvardiol and Donnarumma for.
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You might be right but, Otamendi would have been sent off and we'd have won
 
youngbob said:
Think it's

Donnarumma
Nunes Dias Gvardiol O'Reilly
Rodri Gonzalez
Cherki Foden Doku
Haaland

which leaves

Trafford
Khusanov Stones Ake Ait-Nouri
Kovacic Bernardo
Savinho Reijnders Bobb
Marmoush

Kovacic and Rodri both being injured is hurting us a lot at the moment.
Click to expand...


I do wonder if our team away to Arsenal or Liverpool should different from home fixtures.

For example at home should we be playing Nico and Rodri together or substitute one for Bernardo or possibly Reijnders. Away, especially in the big games, then play the two of them.

Equally I’m not sure about Cherki in big games yet, he can be quite cavalier and give the ball away cheaply.

Finally I wonder if Khusanov will play ahead of Nunez when we need to defend more.
 
youngbob said:
I think Gvardiol has been a bit up and down this season but Martinelli's goal isn't the example to hit him with.

Him and Donnarumma did everything you're supposed to do in that situation, it was just an outrageously good finish. Gvardiol forced Martinelli wide of his original starting position and got him onto his weaker foot, while Donnarumma closed the angle down from in front.

Nine times out of 10, Donnarumma just smothers the ball and the game ends 0-1, but Martinelli somehow manages to get his stronger foot back on the ball to flick it into the corner. And even then it's the luck of the bounce that takes it into the goal. It's not something you can really come for Gvardiol and Donnarumma for.

EDIT: Just watched the goal back. By the time Martinelli gets his shot away, he's already in the penalty area. If Gvardiol clatters into him and brings him down, that's a penalty and maybe a red card. Plus, Gvardiol is only behind Martinelli because he's held the line properly. Martinelli is offside according to Gvardiol's position.

The criticism surely lies with Ake who was deeper than everyone else for the Eze pass and played all the Arsenal attackers onside. Martinelli's already got the jump on Gvardiol by the time the ball lands because Ake hasn't done his job. Martinelli is Ake's man and it's only because of Ake's error that he becomes Gvardiol's concern at all.
Click to expand...

For me the goal that goal is on Donarumma. He doesn’t need to come that far and entices Martinelli into the shot. Brilliant finish but our keeper is in no man’s land.
 
3421 formation or 5221 defensively

Donna
Khus Stones Gvardiol
Nunes Gonzalez Bernardo OReilly
Cherki Doku
Haaland

I think our weakest position is our wingers so Doku and Cherki become roaming 10s. I think Doku has a lot to offer coming a bit more central and we've seen it a bit this season. Foden, Bobb and even Reijnders would suit this role for rotation. Some might argue that Foden should be ahead of Cherki.

Nunes and O'Reilly offer width and creativity as widebacks and are strong defensively when required. Ait Nouri also suits a wide back role for rotation.

Rodri in for Bernardo when fit but the central midfield should feel more secure with 3 defenders behind them. I think a pairing of Rodri and Gonzalez has the potential to be world class.

Khus in for pace in defence and I don't think he's anywhere near as bad on the ball as some on here suggest. Think he needs a run in the team and will suit a back 3.

Stones is still out best defender when fit in my opinion. Yes, I know he has lost a yard but he doesn't make the errors our other CBs at regularly making. Gvardiol over Dias was a toss up because they are both in poor form. Gvardiol gets in for being left footed and needing a left footer in his position

No place for Marmoush in this formation because he's a support striker. I think he's a good player but unsuited to us.
 
youngbob said:
Think it's

Donnarumma
Nunes Dias Gvardiol O'Reilly
Rodri Gonzalez
Cherki Foden Doku
Haaland

which leaves

Trafford
Khusanov Stones Ake Ait-Nouri
Kovacic Bernardo
Savinho Reijnders Bobb
Marmoush

Kovacic and Rodri both being injured is hurting us a lot at the moment.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

We need both Rodri and Gonzalez to make us more stable defensively and strong in midfield. Give Rodri the freedom to join the attacks, he's quite capable of contributing goals/assists.
 
-----------Donnarumma
Nunes--Dias--Gvardiol--O'Reilly
--------Rodri---Gonzalez
----Foden--Bernardo----Doku--
--------------Haaland

I think Cherki and Stones are legitimate options too.

Play the narrow formation that was dicing through teams.

We pretty much have to stay unchanged through December, we've got a great fixture run but anyone not mentioned has to prove they're good enough to play for City. I'm including Brentford in the League Cup too which is a trophy we should try to win this year, we need some hope.



If I was to rank the players like a league table:

---Nailed on, good enough to have us competing for major trophies.---
-----------Haaland
-----------Rodri
-----------O'Reilly
-----------Gvardiol

---Have all been world class at one point, can help us compete, all got a bit to prove (either new or hit and miss over the last 1-2 years).---
-----------Donnarumma
-----------Foden
-----------Dias
-----------Bernardo
-----------Stones

---Solid options, potentially good enough to start, all at key points in their City career, it could go either way.---
-----------Doku
-----------Gonzalez
-----------Cherki
-----------Nunes
-----------Ake

---Not good enough to start for City. Got a lot more to do to earn starts. Got a lot more to prove than those in the category above. Future looks more negative than positive at the moment.---
-----------Marmoush
-----------Ait Nouri
-----------Reijnders
-----------Trafford
-----------Ortega
-----------Kovacic
-----------Bobb
-----------Lewis
-----------Khusanov
-----------Savinho

You could separate out that bottom category even further as there are 5 or 6 in there that aren't even good enough to be at the club in my opinion.

That's where I'm at with it, looks incredibly harsh as some are new, some are blues through and through and some are still very young but I think that's the way Viana will be looking at it. 1 or 2 can probably move up and down.
 
Donarumma
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
Doku
Haaland

Subs
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
O’Reilly
 
robbieh said:
It is often mentioned that the current team is no match for the treble winning side. True. But I'd argue that not many would get in the 2012 title winning side. Team vs QPR

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Lescott Clichy
Toure Barry
Silva. Tévez. Nasri
Agüero

Maybe Dias instead of Lescott. Donnarumma for sure.and for me Haaland and Kun is a draw.
Click to expand...
I disgaree. On their day I'd have:

Donnarumma
Zabaleta, Kompany, Dias, Clichy
D. Silva. Yaya Toure, Rodri, Foden
Aguero, Haaland

6 players from 2012, 5 players from 2025.
 
youngbob said:
Think it's

Donnarumma
Nunes Dias Gvardiol O'Reilly
Rodri Gonzalez
Cherki Foden Doku
Haaland

which leaves

Trafford
Khusanov Stones Ake Ait-Nouri
Kovacic Bernardo
Savinho Reijnders Bobb
Marmoush

Kovacic and Rodri both being injured is hurting us a lot at the moment.
Click to expand...
Actually, just based on this B-team, in terms of incomings/outgoings in the summer:

secondxi.jpg
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After the summer, I want our first XI looking like this:

first xi 2026.png
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And our second XI looking like this:

second xi 2026.png
Click to expand...

OUT: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Bobb, and Lewis. FIVE homegrown players leaving.
IN: Livramento, Gibbs-White, Wharton, Semenyo. FOUR homegrown players coming in.

Non-HG over-21 players would be: Donnarumma, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Gonzalez, Cherki, Doku, Haaland, Ortega, Nunes, Khusanov, Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Marmoush (14)

HG or u-21 players: Livramento, O'Reilly, Foden, Reis, Gibbs-White, Wharton, Semenyo, Mukasa (8).
 
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Donnarumma
Nunes dias Gvardiol O Reilly
Nico G Rodri
Cherki
Foden Haaland Doku
 
There are 2-3 unanswered questions about our squad:

1) Does O'Reilly stay at left back? Is there an option of playing him further forward?

2) How do we use Marmoush? He's a good player who we are not harnessing at the moment.

3) Who plays on the right? Cherki / Bobb?
 
Marvin. said:
2) How do we use Marmoush? He's a good player who we are not harnessing at the moment.
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Marmoush is an interesting one. Granted I saw nothing of him in Germany but based on his time with City I can't work out what he is. He's not really an out-and-out striker, or a winger, so he's one of those players we call a "forward".

He's clearly a very good player so I want him in the team but I'm just not sure where.

I'd play him buzzing around Haaland somewhere as part of a fluid three behind him, and have full backs that provide the width, especially on whichever side Marmoush starts on. Marmoush can also deputise for Haaland as our striker but feels to me like he'd be more of a false 9 option in that regard.
 
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