Manchester City vs Everton pre-match thread

[GaudinoMotors]

As SWP says - "we should win" - but how many games should we have won that we haven't!
Before the Spurs game I'd have been confident about this, but after some of the individual performances in that match, the tired legs and with KDB out....not so sure.

 

[simon23]

SO wrong? We will see when he is picked ahead of clichy in every single big game this year
Hence the derby, Spurs etc.

Short memories, Kolarov produced probably the best CB display in recent memory on the ball against Bournemouth. You'll mock that and say oh its only Bournemouth, but various papers and pundits gave him a genuine 10/10 for his play and positioning. He will be absolutely essential against teams that put 10 men behind the ball this year. I think he will play against barcelona and his diagonals will give us an outball against digne who will probably play at full back for them.

Dont get what you see in Clichy, he is abysmal on the ball nowadays and he is the weak link, as poor as Kolarov was against spurs. How many teams overload clichy with long balls and take advantage of the fact he is so passive? Every single one we play. Again, its opinions and yours is different to mine, but the manager will pick kolarov over clichy when it matters this year, and he knows more than us both

Quoting know-nothing pundits and papers gets you nowhere...they Know less than your average man on the street. I know why he is played against very defensive teams (for his passing ability out of defence in central areas) and Im not disagreeing with that....but against better teams he is a very weak link...teams that will attack us.. He has directly cost us two goals in two games cause he simply cant kick a ball with his right foot. He is woefully slow, gets caught out positionally and in no mans land cause he is slow or he hesitates. Clichy gives us less going forward i absolutely agree but he is better defensively at fullback. Kolorov is better at centre half cause he doesn't get the opportunity to be out of position so much as he does at full back...being better in a posttion that isn't your main one should tell you how poor he is at fullback.....

When he plays he directly costs us goals....we need two better fullbacks not he left hand side as I agree that clichy isn't as good as he needs to be for Pep but he is the better option in my opinion.....i think you will see them both get rotated till we have someone better.

His performances have been vastly overrated.....yes he has improved but that was from such a woeful level where nearly everyone on this forum wanted him gone over the summer (and he was on the verge of leaving but the deal collapsed...and not cause we wanted him to stay - that tells you what Pep really thinks in that he was happy to let him go.) Pep in all sense and purposes is just making do with what he has for the moment

 

[simon23]

I get a sense of what you're saying when hearing Pep but what I was touching on is whether you feel Pep sees Kolarov as a weaker option to Clichy, and whether playing him as first choice left back is purely to sell Kolarov.

No I don't think that.....i think Pep is making do with what he has and trying to get the best out of Kolorov (playing him centre half due to his passing ability and his over the top recognition of Kolorov in interviews - trying to build Kolorovs confitdence)

 

[hihosilva]

Bearing in mind the injury's & Barca mid week I reckon Pep could start with this team Saturday.
Bravo
Maffeo, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy
Fernandinho
Sana, Silva, Gundogan, Sterling
Iheanacho

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Bearing in mind the injury's & Barca mid week I reckon Pep could start with this team Saturday.
Bravo
Maffeo, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy
Fernandinho
Sana, Silva, Gundogan, Sterling
Iheanacho

If true that zab and ota have returned early due to suspension then they have to start! Be intresting to see what kind of reception stones gets of the everton fans?

 

[aguero93:20]

If true that zab and ota have returned early due to suspension then they have to start! Be intresting to see what kind of reception stones gets of the everton fans?

I'm guessing a slightly less venomous version of Sterling's reception at klanfield last year. Scousers do hold a grudge after all.

 

[schfc6]

If true that zab and ota have returned early due to suspension then they have to start! Be intresting to see what kind of reception stones gets of the everton fans?

Out of interest, why do you feel Zaba has to start? I think he's been the player off the pace the most this season.
I think sadly it's time we realise his now obvious physical limitations should restrict his chances. I've been one of his biggest fans and sadly I also don't believe Maffeo has much of a future at City, he's good but doubt he'll ever be good enough for us. Really hope I'm wrong. I love his tenacity.

 

[kaz7]

Out of interest, why do you feel Zaba has to start? I think he's been the player off the pace the most this season.
I think sadly it's time we realise his now obvious physical limitations should restrict his chances. I've been one of his biggest fans and sadly I also don't believe Maffeo has much of a future at City, he's good but doubt he'll ever be good enough for us. Really hope I'm wrong. I love his tenacity.

Sagna is injured so no-one else if you don't rate Maffeo

 

[aguero93:20]

Sagna is injured so no-one else if you don't rate Maffeo

Navas and Dinho.

 

[kaz7]

Navas and Dinho.

Neither have played there and dinho is wasted not in his proper position