Everton (Away) C1 SF 1st Leg : Pre Match Thread

[Ric]

Good little concise write up, @Ric

Thanks mate. Just hope my prediction is wrong!

 

[SWP's back]

If the man city team show the same sort of arrogance toward team's. It's no wonder your away form is shocking...

By the way Everton are nowhere near crap and you could be in for a nasty surprise tonight...

They are in 11th no?

 

[leth]

It's an interesting dilemma to now have more of our squad fit to play. We need to get some returning players back involved this week and try to reduce the workload on the certain players who have clocked up a lot of minutes over the last couple of months. All the while without weakening the team too much with players who are bound to be a bit rusty or limited by the amount of minutes they can contribute.

Everton will be a tough game. On one hand we don't strictly need to win - not losing would be okay. On the other, it would be a real bonus to take a significant advantage into the second leg. Looking ahead to the weekend, Norwich should be an easier proposition. They will have the advantage of having not played in mid-week, but perhaps they might still rest some players with one eye on the league games next week. With a chance to get some quick revenge for recent defeats against Liverpool or Stoke at Wembley seeming so close, i feel like tonight's game is the one to prioritise. If we do well tonight i'd be happy to take a few more chances with the line-up on Saturday. If we did lose against Norwich then at least we avoid a fixture pile-up and while i would obviously prefer to avoid a replay, so would Norwich and i'd strongly fancy our chances at home. Going a little weaker for Saturdays' game is a risk worth taking.

So, for Everton (A) i'd go with:

Hart
Sagna
Clichy
Otamendi
Mangala
Fernando
Fernandinho
Navas
Silva
Aguero
Sterling

Bench: Cabellero, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Toure, Delph, De Bruyne, Iheanacho

Then, for Norwich (A) i'd go with:

Cabellero
Zabaleta
Kolarov
Demichelis
Mangala
Fernando
Delph
Toure
De Bruyne
Iheanacho
Sterling

Bench: Hart, Clichy, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Aguero

Obviously, i highly doubt Pellegrini will start Hart tonight, or indeed not have Demichelis on the bench to see out the last minute. I would really love to see Kelechi get 30 minutes tonight and a start on Saturday. I expect Manuel has other ideas though.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

We will do these tonight 2-0

 

[DJBusinesscake]

We will do these tonight 2-0

Love your confidence, im goin 1-1 or 0-0

 

[supercity88]

The three games against Everton in quick succession will be a real test. There aren't many teams out there that we struggle to beat and though we've been better in recent times against them, they're always a struggle, particularly at Goodison where the fans still remain bitter against City.

Tonight is a must not lose rather than a must win. I think the fact it's away plays into our hands really well. Everton will want to make the most of home advantage so I think they'll attack more than usual and we will probably play on the counter and can then pick them off. It would be ideal to win big but I think there will only be one or two goals in it but that City will win.

It's hard to tell with Pellegrini as always. He might play Navas and Sterling so we have pace on the counter. Or he might go for more possession and play Delph and Dinho with Yaya, Silva and De Bruyne.

Win this one and beat Norwich and we'll be in a great place. Our squad is nearly all fit now, Kompany, Nasri and Bony are out but we've got enough to get through January unbeaten. Tonight is a must not lose and then we need to win on the weekend. A replay would be horrific with so many games already.

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

Can't wait for this game it feels like it could be a classic.

Both teams can be irresistible going forward but neither can defend to save their lives.

4-2 City

 

[Marvin]

We should be looking to bench Aguero and Silva in the second half. Very good chance Kelechi will get an appearance tonight. Could be made for him. Quick player against tiring opposition

 

[Chi-town blues]

Navas and Clichy must be in starting 11.

 

[york away to this!]

I predict a riot...