Juventus away 25th November - pre match thread

[mancity1]

What's wrong with Zaba now?

Incredible how many players out of the side for more than one injury this season.

All I heard is that he is unavailable for this match but no comment from MP as to whether he will be right for Southampton which given the situation with our central defence and the fact that Sagna at 32 is not in a good space at present and Kolorov offers little defensively might be a very important player for us as at least he offers some grunt in the tackle.

He apparently did train with the first team in the lead up to this game but unlike Mangala whose situation was only described as not being available for Southampton without the detail on the nature of his situation it was not made clear about Zaba at all.

Anyone know if its his knee that has flared up again?

 

[Marvin]

What's wrong with Zaba now?

Incredible how many players out of the side for more than one injury this season.

All I heard is that he is unavailable for this match but no comment from MP as to whether he will be right for Southampton which given the situation with our central defence and the fact that Sagna at 32 is not in a good space at present and Kolorov offers little defensively might be a very important player for us as at least he offers some grunt in the tackle.

He apparently did train with the first team in the lead up to this game but unlike Mangala whose situation was only described as not being available for Southampton without the detail on the nature of his situation it was not made clear about Zaba at all.

Anyone know if its his knee that has flared up again?

Don't know.

Could just be that like Silva, if he's not going to start then it's best he stays at City and trains and prepares for the weekend.

Turin away on a Weds, and then Premiership on a Saturday is going to be difficult so maybe there will be some rotation involving Zab and also Bony. The Zabaleta we saw before the latest injury was looking very rusty so I think it will be quite a while before he's back to the player we know

 

[Silva_Spell]

Hart
Sagna Demichelis Otamendi Clichy
Fernando
-Navas--Toure--Dinho -Sterling
Aguero

Caballero, Maffeo, Evans, Kolarov, Delph, De Bruyne, Roberts


Hopefully Demi looks more assured next to Otamendi because we need to defend well and play on the counter. Could see Clichy at RB again if a CB gets injured.​

 

[mancity1]

Don't know.

Could just be that like Silva, if he's not going to start then it's best he stays at City and trains and prepares for the weekend.

Turin away on a Weds, and then Premiership on a Saturday is going to be difficult so maybe there will be some rotation involving Zab and also Bony. The Zabaleta we saw before the latest injury was looking very rusty so I think it will be quite a while before he's back to the player we know

Not sure Silva will be available for Southampton to be honest.

We all know that Zaba is past his best but he still can put in a shift and given that Clichy hasn't played all season and Sagna and Kolorov are looking dicy as well he becomes an important player in the current set up which we all know is shaky as best given the last 8 games in the premiership compared to the first 5.

The situation with the full backs ( a thread on it own ) both short and long term is a glaring weakness in our set up and I have said for sometime now we need to replace all four and should have been active over the summer and the previous window in finding replacements for four players that will not or should not be part of the mix going forward.

We haven't and will probably pay the price for this but hopefully it will be addressed properly in the next two windows along with the other areas we need to improve on , namely midfield and a class striker.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Hart
Sagna Demichelis Otamendi Clichy
Fernando
-Navas--Toure--Dinho -Sterling
Aguero

Caballero, Maffeo, Evans, Kolarov, Delph, De Bruyne, Roberts


Hopefully Demi looks more assured next to Otamendi because we need to defend well and play on the counter. Could see Clichy at RB again if a CB gets injured.​

Is Evans back from his loan at Walsall?

 

[cibaman]

Hasn't he got a clause in his contract to start every game?

I'd play him at Centre half, can do no worse.

Hart
Sagna Yaya Otamendi Clichy

Fernandinho Delph Fernando
De Bruyne Aguero Sterling

I think its more of a club rule - If Silva doesn't play, Yaya must.

The 2 Ferns + Delph trio will undoubtedly be very industrious, but don't we need at least some passing ability in midfield? Especially if MP persists in playing De Bruyne so far forward. How will our trio compare to the Juve midfield in terms of keeping the ball and creating chances? Who will make the passes to get Aguero and Sterling behind Juve's defense?

 

[Marvin]

Not sure Silva will be available for Southampton to be honest.

We all know that Zaba is past his best but he still can put in a shift and given that Clichy hasn't played all season and Sagna and Kolorov are looking dicy as well he becomes an important player in the current set up which we all know is shaky as best given the last 8 games in the premiership compared to the first 5.

The situation with the full backs ( a thread on it own ) both short and long term is a glaring weakness in our set up and I have said for sometime now we need to replace all four and should have been active over the summer and the previous window in finding replacements for four players that will not or should not be part of the mix going forward.

We haven't and will probably pay the price for this but hopefully it will be addressed properly in the next two windows along with the other areas we need to improve on , namely midfield and a class striker.

Zabaleta might be struggling now, but he can come good again. He's never been really quick. He just needs games.

Don't agree about a striker. If you have wide forwards and Aguero down the middle, then this class striker will like Bony never play, and then when he is needed he wont be ready. This has happened with Bony, Dzeko and Jovetic so unless there is a place in the team then it wont work

Barca have 3 world class forwards, and it works because they all play regularly.

The most important thing now is to get one of Kompany/Mangala back (so we don't have to play Demichelis) and Silva. I'm hoping Silva makes the bench against Southampton.

 

[Marvin]

Hart
Sagna Demichelis Otamendi Clichy
Fernando
-Navas--Toure--Dinho -Sterling
Aguero

Caballero, Maffeo, Evans, Kolarov, Delph, De Bruyne, Roberts


Hopefully Demi looks more assured next to Otamendi because we need to defend well and play on the counter. Could see Clichy at RB again if a CB gets injured.​

Cant see Clichy making a start in the Champions League after his lengthy absence. Would be very risky. That midfield looks lightweight too. I'd put Delph in for Navas, and let Toure release the passes for Sterling and Aguero. We have to give them something to worry about at the back.

I'd be much more confident had we not had to play Demichelis.

 

[The Black Shed]

Pack the midfield, one up front and play for a draw.

 

[lancs blue]

Hart
Sagna Demichelis Otamendi Clichy
Fernando
-Navas--Toure--Dinho -Sterling
Aguero

Caballero, Maffeo, Evans, Kolarov, Delph, De Bruyne, Roberts


Hopefully Demi looks more assured next to Otamendi because we need to defend well and play on the counter. Could see Clichy at RB again if a CB gets injured.​

No Evans or Roberts - we've taken 6 youngsters in a 21-man travelling party with all the injury problems, only three of them will most likely be on the bench but good experience for all of them - Maffeo, Tosin, Bryan, Celina, Glendon and Ambrose.