Newcastle United (H) - Sat 16th March, 17:30 | FA Cup | Pre-Match Thread

[JGL07]

and you wonder how tourists get tickets.

No doubt you would prefer empty seats?

When I started watching City, we often had crowds of less than 10,000. I was at two League matches with just over 8,000.

There are some right snotty people on here!

 

[Gorbachev]

_______________Ortega______________

Rico______Dias_________Gvardiol_____Gomez

_________Nunes_______Kovacic________

Hamilton________Foden_________Doku

______________Haaland___________

It will be the first XI mate.

I can't see that many changes, we have had a week off.

 

[phargrave]

_______________Ortega______________

Rico______Dias_________Gvardiol_____Gomez

_________Nunes_______Kovacic________

Hamilton________Foden_________Doku

______________Haaland___________

Really…..????

 

[urban genie]

ortega
lewis
akanli
dias
gvardiol
kovacic
kev
nunes/berny
foden
haaland
Alvarez/doku

Is my guess

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

ortega
lewis
akanli
dias
gvardiol
kovacic
kev
nunes/berny
foden
haaland
Alvarez/doku

Is my guess

Can't see Rodri not starting.

 

[sh249]

Mulling over possible line-ups brings home the slight problem we have this year with balance, I think.

For me, our ‘best’ side would probably be:

—————Ederson——-
—-Akanji—Dias—Ake—-
——-Stones—Rodri—
Bernardo-KDB-Foden-Grealish
————Haaland———-

Big game, everyone fit, that’s what I’d hope to see. Not quite the same as last year, but a decent balance between controlling players who rarely lose the ball (Stones, Rodri, Bernardo and Grealish) and the more high risk, high reward players (KDB, Foden, Haaland).

Take Grealish out of that and replace him with any of Doku, Alvarez, Nunes, even Bobb, and it feels like the balance tips too far towards those riskier players who want to make things happen, but are susceptible to losing the ball and inviting counters.

Alternatively, you bring Kovacic in and play him alongside Rodri. That gives us a more solid look, but then we end up with six more defensive players, which can make us look much less threatening going forward (and goes against Pep’s preferred 5/5 split). Meaning we end up committing one of (or both) the fullbacks higher up, which (in Walker’s case particularly) is largely a waste of time in an attacking sense, and leaves big gaps down the sides of the centre halves.

Feels like the squad does need a tweak in the summer - a top class Gundogan replacement who can control games (and be creative and score goals, ideally!) and maybe a proper attacking full back that Pep fully trusts.

None of which has much to do with the weekend’s game, which I reckon we’ll win comfortably.

 

[LesBleuMiserable]

Can't see Rodri not starting.

I think he is rested. Another yellow and he is banned for 2 games which includes Arsenal right?

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

I think he is rested. Another yellow and he is banned for 2 games which includes Arsenal right?

I thought he had 2 to go. Either way I don't think Pep will be looking past this game. International break to come with no knowing if he'll be fit on his return.
He plays for me.

 

[LesBleuMiserable]

Just realised he is on 8 cards. 2 more cards before 32 game and he is on two game ban. We need him for Arsenal and Villa. Can easily see a yellow v Arsenal and Villa. Not as essential v Palace or Luton.

 

[SWPISHOME]

I think he is rested. Another yellow and he is banned for 2 games which includes Arsenal right?

He had still two yellows to pick up. Either way even if he had 9 I'd reckon Pep would play him and rightly so in my opinion.