Juventus away 25th November - pre match thread

[lancs blue]

I think there's every chance that Yaya will be played because, supposedly, he's a man for the big occasion. And also, leaving him out for a game this big would be a pretty clear sign along the lines of "You're on your way out — it'll be gradual, but it'll happen". You never know, Yaya may surprise us. He's done it before. I can't work him out, I admit it. When he looks interested, he can boss a game on his own. On the other hand, when he can't give a toss, you get last Saturday (not all down to him, I know, far from it…)
Whatever, doing anything else than picking the two Ferns alongside him would be downright suicide. I hope everyone's agreed about that.
I'm uneasy about Demichelis and Otamendi playing together. How many times have we had that pairing this season? Never? Well, we've got no choice, given the injuries. Our front row still looks bloody good, the performance against the dippers notwithstanding. Whether it's KDB, Sergio, Sterling, or KDB, Sergio, Navas, we can hurt them.
A draw would do me just fine. Thing is, though, we don't really do draws. I think it's win or bust, tonight.

Spurs away, though at least it isn't Willy in goal this time.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I think there's every chance that Yaya will be played because, supposedly, he's a man for the big occasion. And also, leaving him out for a game this big would be a pretty clear sign along the lines of "You're on your way out — it'll be gradual, but it'll happen". You never know, Yaya may surprise us. He's done it before. I can't work him out, I admit it. When he looks interested, he can boss a game on his own. On the other hand, when he can't give a toss, you get last Saturday (not all down to him, I know, far from it…)
Whatever, doing anything else than picking the two Ferns alongside him would be downright suicide. I hope everyone's agreed about that.
I'm uneasy about Demichelis and Otamendi playing together. How many times have we had that pairing this season? Never? Well, we've got no choice, given the injuries. Our front row still looks bloody good, the performance against the dippers notwithstanding. Whether it's KDB, Sergio, Sterling, or KDB, Sergio, Navas, we can hurt them.
A draw would do me just fine. Thing is, though, we don't really do draws. I think it's win or bust, tonight.

Spurs away, though at least it isn't Willy in goal this time.

Gulp!

 

[Chippy_boy]

By the way, how is Nasri's leg amputation doing? I presume he has had a leg removed, he's been out for so long.

 

[Silva's Magic Boot]

Gulp!

They also both started against Gladbach, and our defence was all over the place in that game. Though we did only play a 2-man midfield

 

[Father Paul]

Silva is by far our most influential player giving space and time which aids others .however as much as i would have loved to have had him available tonight ,he doesnt now need to be risked. Worryingly this injury is similar to the one he received two years ago it proved to be a constant niggle throughout

Silva is a huge worry to be honest. It has been suggested long ago that an peration was required on his ankle. If that was the case it should have been dopne last April with a view to getting him back in Sept/Oct. To be honest I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of fitness of key players at key times. Kompany is currently perhaps the major worry. Each year over the last five seasons he has made less appearances. A record he is well on course to keep this season. Add to this Kun's frequent injuries and Ya Ya's rapid decline you see we have serious problems. I fear that this is likely to cause us the league this year. As for winning the CL no chance what so ever!! If we play eithe Munich or Barca we will be doing well to avoid humiliation. The gap between these clubs and what we can offer on a good day is way to large to bridge. On a bad day like Saturday pen in a Brazil WC semi final trashing. The new manager who ever he is, may well have a very tough job.

 

[mancity dan]

This is the U19 squad for this afternoons match so might give us an idea about which kids we will have on the bench this evening.

Gunn
Oliver
Humphries
Duhaney
Smith-Brown
Bullock
Kongolo
Garcia
Nemane
Ambrose(C)
Roberts

Subs
Grimshaw(GK)
Coverney
Wood
Patching
Fernandes
Nmecha
Faupala

 

[Stoned Rose]

If we want to win the group this is a must not lose game.

If MP goes with a 3 man central midfield (hopefully with Fernando or Delph as the more defensively positioned of the trio) I feel we should be ok. Personally I'd go with Delph as he was excellent in the Liverpool game.

If he goes with a 2 (regardless of personnel) I feel we run the risk of being very severely bum raped. Juve will have been all over the 1-4 and wlll fancy their chances big time v an 'arrogant' midfield should we go with a 2.

 

[lancs blue]

This is the U19 squad for this afternoons match so might give us an idea about which kids we will have on the bench this evening.

Gunn
Oliver
Humphries
Duhaney
Smith-Brown
Bullock
Kongolo
Garcia
Nemane
Ambrose(C)
Roberts

Subs
Grimshaw(GK)
Coverney
Wood
Patching
Fernandes
Nmecha
Faupala

With Ambrose starting in the U-19s it will likely be 3 from Maffeo, Bryan, Tosin, Celina and Glendon who all travelled.

 

[mancity1]

Silva is a huge worry to be honest. It has been suggested long ago that an peration was required on his ankle. If that was the case it should have been dopne last April with a view to getting him back in Sept/Oct. To be honest I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of fitness of key players at key times. Kompany is currently perhaps the major worry. Each year over the last five seasons he has made less appearances. A record he is well on course to keep this season. Add to this Kun's frequent injuries and Ya Ya's rapid decline you see we have serious problems. I fear that this is likely to cause us the league this year. As for winning the CL no chance what so ever!! If we play eithe Munich or Barca we will be doing well to avoid humiliation. The gap between these clubs and what we can offer on a good day is way to large to bridge. On a bad day like Saturday pen in a Brazil WC semi final trashing. The new manager who ever he is, may well have a very tough job.

Despite the additions this year we still give the impression that we are 4-5 key players away from closing the gap the gulf enjoyed by the top Euro sides.

As for the premiership its of a poor standard so far illustrated by the fact that the points gap from 1-10 is far less than last season after 13 games.

Our form combined with injuries suggest we are in for a real struggle to win the title again this season and our management are doing us few favours to give us optimism it will be nothing but a grind to the title at best.

We are one point worse off than last season having lost two games at home in seven already and last year having played 7 away in our first 13.

We have not improved at all in fact we have gone backwards so far.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Demi & Otamendi were diabolical in Gladbach, getting fucking sick of these injuries.