Everton (H) | Pre-Match Thread

Result Prediction

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cibaman said:
Must admit I expected Pep to play the fringe players at Brighton and give the CL starters a run out against Everton. But having played a very strong team in midweek in a game which, because of the red card, turned into one of the most tiring of the season, it doesn’t really make sense to play them again at the weekend.

Reuben Dias has played 61 games this season, for City, Portugal and Benfica. He also played 9 games in the summer when football re-started. It will be 5 days between the Brighton and Everton matches which would normally be adequate recovery time, but after such a tough midweek match at the end of a gruelling season the chances of muscle injuries must be relatively high.

If we play a strong team on Sunday it will mean that Monday and probably Tuesday will be about rest and recovery. If we give the CL starters the weekend off we dont have that constraint, can prepare for Chelsea as the coaches would like.

I also think that Chelsea will be buggered because they’ve had such a tough end to the season, physically and mentally. We ought to try to capitalise on that advantage
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Yeah on reflection I agree mate. And as I said, I stalked how he has approached finals with Barca and he did rest players leading up to the game. Form dropped off considerably too, which has been a concern for some blues.

But a one off game like the CL final will see every single player naturally want to give it their all mentally and physically because it is the pinnacle. Especially for a side that has won everything else domestically. And you would rather go into that having had more rest and less pressure leading up to it.

Regardless of how much pressure Chelsea have had on each game this month due to top 4 push and FA Cup, you can't take that and then be ready for the CL. If they make the top 4 that will be a huge relief but they then just go straight into 6 days of focus on something even bigger and it probably will take its toll.

We have had whole seasons with pressure, fighting for trophies but Chelsea are early in their development and it is relatively new to a lot of them.
 
Signalling problems on the West Coast line for any coming by train like me. Fingers crossed....
 
I'm one of the lucky 10k and I really can’t wait to get back in to the stadium. I had no chance of Champions league tickets but delighted and privileged to be there to say goodbye to another legend and see the team lift the trophy. Also the first game back with supporters since Colin Bell passed away so expecting a tribute /mark of respect to the king
 
I don't think it's a given that Agüero will start but I think he'll get at least twenty minutes. Pep's a guy with a lot of respect for what club legends mean to fans. He'll want Sergio to get his moment in the final game.
 
Champions again in 2012 said:
I'm one of the lucky 10k and I really can’t wait to get back in to the stadium. I had no chance of Champions league tickets but delighted and privileged to be there to say goodbye to another legend and see the team lift the trophy. Also the first game back with supporters since Colin Bell passed away so expecting a tribute /mark of respect to the king
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I'm hoping to hear a fair few renditions of "We'll drink a drink a drink to Colin the king the king the king" around the stadium today, especially when his son walks out with the trophy. I've noticed in stadiums with fans some appear to gather closer together to sing, I'm hoping the stewards employed aren't too fanatical with the rules today given we are outside with plenty of fresh air.

Edited to add........stadium announcers don't drown us out with ear splitting noise, let us salute the players our own way for a while.
 
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HelloCity said:
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First time I’ve seen that and I got a bit choked up. Remember being with my dad in the Legends lounge and him totally starstruck and so happy to be able to chat with his idol Colin Bell, never seen him like that with anyone. Very happy memories. Wish I could be today. Enjoy it everyone, amazing time to be a Blue, just chill out if you’re on the match day thread. Every City player is one of us.
 
Sadly we didnt get tickets, have a great day all bules that were lucky enough to get some. Give Sergio the send off he so richly deserves.
 
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