League cup - Crystal Palace pre-match thread

[supercity88]

If he played the kids tonight and we lost then he'd get castigated by plenty on here too. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Hopefully there's a compromise whereby a couple of youngsters (say Iheanacho and Roberts) could start, with others on the bench.

It's definitely a tough one for Pellegrini. I'm not sure what I want either! I don't want any injuries but equally I don't want City to get knocked out of the tournament as it was a big confidence boost when we won it a couple of seasons ago. I think the compromise is to protect the players that have played a lot of football or are just back from injuries (maybe give them a 60 minute run out), have some more experience on the bench and start a few youngsters. It would be nice to rest Kolarov but I don't see who we would play at left back if we did. Equally with only Fernando and Yaya as fit central midfield options we will probably have to play both and maybe bring Garcia on in the second half. Zuculini and Evans now out on loan. Nacho and Roberts have to start in my opinion.

 

[Bell_Boy]

Call me petty, but this provides a great opportunity for some Argie retribution for Dann's assault on Sergio. Maybe Zabman, Ota, MDM(or even Caballero)could do a tag team job on this clogger.

 

[Gabriel]

With Arsenal and Chelsea already out, I cannot see anything other than a very strong team and, hopefully, a repeat of what happened at Sunderland in the last round. If the game can be sewn up early, Pellegrini can introduce a couple of youngsters and play out the second half as a training game, but if we fail to take our chances, he'll stick with the senior players.

 

[frasermcfc]

He played 2 youngsters. It was a very strong side - on paper

But Wenger said the level was "too high" for the younger players he selected.

Midfielder Glen Kamara and forward Alex Iwobi - both 19 - made full debuts in the last-16 tie, while 17-year-olds Ismael Bennacer and Kristian Bielik came off the bench.

"They are not ready to play at this level," said Wenger. "We lost two players and after that I had Gabriel and Nacho Monreal on the bench but I couldn't bring them on because I couldn't afford to lose any more players."

From BBC Website

 

[G-Star Medium Rare]

Willy
Zab Vinny Otti Kolarov
Fern Yaya
Navas Sterling
KDB
Nacho

 

[jamesha]

Call me petty, but this provides a great opportunity for some Argie retribution for Dann's assault on Sergio. Maybe Zabman, Ota, MDM(or even Caballero)could do a tag team job on this clogger.

I kind off agree with you in some ways but the best revenge would be to give them a hiding on the pitch. However if one of our guys is in a 50:50 with Dann then I would not mind seeing him getting some of his own medicine.

 

[George Hannah]

It's definitely a tough one for Pellegrini. I'm not sure what I want either! I don't want any injuries but equally I don't want City to get knocked out of the tournament as it was a big confidence boost when we won it a couple of seasons ago. I think the compromise is to protect the players that have played a lot of football or are just back from injuries (maybe give them a 60 minute run out), have some more experience on the bench and start a few youngsters. It would be nice to rest Kolarov but I don't see who we would play at left back if we did. Equally with only Fernando and Yaya as fit central midfield options we will probably have to play both and maybe bring Garcia on in the second half. Zuculini and Evans now out on loan. Nacho and Roberts have to start in my opinion.

I'm pleased we finally agree ;)

 

[jamesha]

The Arsenal article on the BBC website is interesting as it lists their injuries:

Aaron Ramsey (hamstring - end of November return)
Tomas Rosicky (knee - unknown return)
Jack Wilshere (leg - unknown return)
David Ospina (thigh - January return)
Danny Welbeck (knee - Christmas)
Theo Walcott
Mikel Arteta (ankle - unknown)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Wenger's "too many senior players" comment was about Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain picking up injuries against Sheffield Wednesday.

I think Manuel would be saying much the same if, for example, Sterling and Bony were to get crocked this evening.

 

[G-Star Medium Rare]

Call me petty, but this provides a great opportunity for some Argie retribution for Dann's assault on Sergio. Maybe Zabman, Ota, MDM(or even Caballero)could do a tag team job on this clogger.

Actually that's quite a sound idea.
What's the Argentinian for "99"?

 

[BucksBlue]

The Capital One Cup is a complete no win situation for any manager. Wenger getting a slating this morning for playing the kids.

if MP plays the kids and we lose, he will share a similar fate. If he plays the likes of KdB and he gets injured, he'll be drawn and quartered.

At the end of the day, this club is in no position to pick and choose which trophies it wants to win. Pick a strong team and win the game. If players get injured, they get injured, that's football.

Caballero, Zabba, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Yaya, Fernando, KdB, Sterling, Navas, Kelechi.

I'd be looking at getting KdB and Yaya off the pitch at the earliest opportunity however. Shame Delph and Nasri aren't fit.

Pardew's Newcastle and Palace teams have set out to kick lumps out of our players notable victims being Nasri and Aquero. The ref needs to be strong from the start tonight and if Pardew kicks off on the touchline Ruben could meet him for a quite word (twat) in the tunnel afterwards.