Leyton Orient (A) - Sat 8th Feb, 12:15 | FA Cup | Pre-Match Thread

[Semper aggressus]

We can’t be complacent, Orient aren’t just going to let us play. We can’t afford to concede early and get them more up for it, or our arses will be twitching the way we’ve defended lately.

Need a solid back line then see if a mix of youngsters and experience can score enough to make up for our guaranteed defensive error.

…………………Ederson
Nunes….Stones…..Akanji….Gvardiol
………………Kovacic
..McAtee…….Gonzalez…..Grealish
………………Foden
…………..Marmoush

 

[shevtheblue]

Ortega (assuming Ederson is unfit)

Khusanov - Reis - Dias (believe he should be fit) - O'Reilly

Lewis - Gundo

Grealish

McAtee - Mubuma - Bobb (if fit)

 

[urban genie]

Sure Lewis could play RB but then who plays LB? Someone is going to have to play out of position.
It's Leyton Orient. Main focus is to just win and then Real Madrid. Who cares if anyone plays out of position against League 1 opposition, just start the players that wont be starting in CL a few days later in whatever position that is available.

O'Reilly spent a few years in the youth sides as a left back, Gvardiol, McFarlane

we have LB Rico never needs to play there

 

[urban genie]

Not sure what your point is. Yes, O'Reilly played out of position against Salford and might do it again. Which is what I said, someone is likely going to have to play out of position.

was a left back at youth level then moved central attacking in the EDS

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

Ortega (assuming Ederson is unfit)

Khusanov - Reis - Dias (believe he should be fit) - O'Reilly

Lewis - Gundo

Grealish

McAtee - Mubuma - Bobb (if fit)

Not sure about that defence as they’ve never played together.

 

[moomba]

Got to bed in the new players leading up to the next league match.

 

[bondsman]

Surely González needs to play ahead of Madrid? We need to let the new lads play if they’re likely to start the RM game AND we absolutely have to beat LO and really go for the FA Cup. I’d go
Ederson
Nunes khusanov Akanji Gvardiol
Gonzalez Bernardo Kovacic
Savio Marmoush Grealish

 

[schfc6]

We can’t be complacent, Orient aren’t just going to let us play. We can’t afford to concede early and get them more up for it, or our arses will be twitching the way we’ve defended lately.

Need a solid back line then see if a mix of youngsters and experience can score enough to make up for our guaranteed defensive error.

…………………Ederson
Nunes….Stones…..Akanji….Gvardiol
………………Kovacic
..McAtee…….Gonzalez…..Grealish
………………Foden
…………..Marmoush

Absolutely zero chance Stones or Kovacic start. Next to no chance Akanji, Gvadiol or Foden start.

 

[Winchester]

Surely González needs to play ahead of Madrid? We need to let the new lads play if they’re likely to start the RM game AND we absolutely have to beat LO and really go for the FA Cup. I’d go
Ederson
Nunes khusanov Akanji Gvardiol
Gonzalez Bernardo Kovacic
Savio Marmoush Grealish

Yes I'd go with that

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

We just don’t have the players to risk over top 5 plus we ain’t winning fa cup

? Why not?
Look at the clubs who have won it over the decades. Were they the best in the country? Were they even close to it? We're not winning the league. That's settled. We're not winning the CL. I'd say that's pretty much settled. With a benign run, we could win the F.A. Cup. Personally, having missed out on ’69 (too young to be present), having been present at ’81 (first match), and at 2019 and at 2023 (a shining moment in all my years of following City), I'm still excited by the prospect of being at Wembley to lift it again. We should go for it with everything we've got.

 

[Vester]

O'Reilly spent a few years in the youth sides as a left back, Gvardiol, McFarlane

we have LB Rico never needs to play there

In Peps own words after Salford "he played for the first time in his life at LB and did really, really good", I have not found any information saying he was spending years in the youth sides at LB (doesn't necessarily mean there is none, I just couldn't find any). On the other hand Vitor Reis was described as a "right-footed CB who can play RB as well" when we signed him.
I have to say I find the whole argument that Khusanov/Reis cant play RB because and have to play CB since its their "natural" position, but at the same time you have no problem with playing an attacking CM as LB, a bit contradictory.

 

[bondsman]

We can’t be complacent, Orient aren’t just going to let us play. We can’t afford to concede early and get them more up for it, or our arses will be twitching the way we’ve defended lately.

Need a solid back line then see if a mix of youngsters and experience can score enough to make up for our guaranteed defensive error.

…………………Ederson
Nunes….Stones…..Akanji….Gvardiol
………………Kovacic
..McAtee…….Gonzalez…..Grealish
………………Foden
…………..Marmoush

Only player I’d rest out of that would be stones mate. I’d have him ready for Madrid game and drop Nunes.

 

[lionheart]

This has a Halifax or Shrewsbury written all over it.

I went to both of those defeats so will give this one a miss.

 

[lionheart]

Surely González needs to play ahead of Madrid? We need to let the new lads play if they’re likely to start the RM game AND we absolutely have to beat LO and really go for the FA Cup. I’d go
Ederson
Nunes khusanov Akanji Gvardiol
Gonzalez Bernardo Kovacic
Savio Marmoush Grealish

No way that Akanji, Gvardiol and Bernardo should play as their fitness will be fully tested by Real Madrid.

 

[mosssideblue]

We need to be asking players where they will be most comfortable (and most effective) playing, and do our absolute level best to accomodate that .... only then will we see the best of them.

You might be on to something there. Wonder if Pep and his team have given that a thought

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

It's Leyton Orient. Main focus is to just win and then Real Madrid. Who cares if anyone plays out of position against League 1 opposition, just start the players that wont be starting in CL a few days later in whatever position that is available.

Taking Orient for granted is both foolish and arrogant. If we take them lightly by playing kids in unfamiliar positions they can cause an upset. Pep won't take them for granted, thankfully.

 

[its a Barm]

I went to both of those defeats so will give this one a miss.

Ha ha me too very bad memories

 

[Vester]

Taking Orient for granted is both foolish and arrogant. If we take them lightly by playing kids in unfamiliar positions they can cause an upset. Pep won't take them for granted, thankfully.

We have a team, especially our defenders, that is completely knackered from injuries and players being forced to play every game, and we have our biggest game of the season 3 days after facing League 1 opposition. Anything but giving us the best possible opportunity to win against Real Madrid is wrong (in my opinion). If Pep is worried about if one of our 30-40m CB reinforcements is able to handle playing FB against Leyton Orient he is worried about the wrong things (again, in my opinion). Doesn't necessarily mean I say they should play there, but if resting say Gvardiol against Leyton Orient gives us a better opportunity to win against Real Madrid, he should obviously be rested and just play someone else at LB even if we have no other LB available.

 

[YatesA]

We can't rest all senior defenders. Dias may play 45 minutes if he is fit enough. If he can't play vs LO, maybe he won't play vs Real either.

Btw, O'Reilly played at LB vs Salford.

Ye we can, it's Leyton orient.

 

[YatesA]

Taking Orient for granted is both foolish and arrogant. If we take them lightly by playing kids in unfamiliar positions they can cause an upset. Pep won't take them for granted, thankfully.

Who would be playing in unfamiliar positions? Khusanov and reis are Cbs, Rico Lewis has played everywhere. Nico? Is that the only one?