Nottingham Forest (H) - Wed 4th Dec, 19:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[kiddo]

Kick off time 19:30 (GMT).
I think this is the round of fixtures on Amazon?

Just need to get back to winning football games again. Try and find an XI that will work. Really looking forward to this though.

I'd like to see:
----------Ortega/Ederson
Walker--Dias--Gvardiol--Ake
----------------Akanji
-------Bernardo--Grealish
Savinho---Haaland----Doku

Not sure where some of them are at fitness-wise.

3 points of any description will boost confidence no end at the moment

 

[youngbob]

He doesn't get tight on people that's his weakness imo. First time I noticed it was when Rashford got that bloody late winner at the swamp and I thought hecshould have got a block in. He's not our biggest problem and good when not under the cosh but I don't think he instinctively gets in good defensive positions.

This is something I noticed about him basically straight away in the treble season. He seemed to always be the player standing and watching as the opposition striker put it in the net. Always roughly in the right area but never in the right spot. Brentford at home before the World Cup was probably his worst game for City.

But then, I remember very specifically the night against Bayern in the Champions League, the 3-0 win. He got completely done by Leroy on about 20 mins and I thought "Oh god, here we go again". But the rest of that game he was impeccable, was rock solid on the way to winning the lot with us, and kept up a really high standard of performance in the 23/24 season too.

Sadly, I think he's slipping back into some old habits. Probably down to fitness issues - hopefully anyway. Once he gets back to how he felt before the Spurs cup game we should be able to trust him again. I'd give him a run at full-back, to be honest, especially with all the doubts over Walker. But I think we'll only see improvement from a handful of players once we're into January.

 

[chesterbells]

He's NOT "technically accomplished" - needs too many touches + passing range very limited.
Offers little in attacking areas, often caught sleeping in defensive duties.
He is in the side because he shows a bit of energy - which we are sorely lacking, but he is getting way too much game time at present

You’re being very generous “in attacking areas”. He couldn’t score in a brothel.

 

[Jazzyblue]

Genuinely can't understand why Rico is getting so much grief on this forum. It's puzzling, and it's dismaying. He's one of the best players to come out of the academy. He's technically accomplished, he's a fine reader of the game. His weakness — and I will not deny it — is that he gets physically bullied, and I think he always will be. If he's played in the right position, I think that will be attenuated. I'd just as soon see him in the team as anyone. Nobody's playing particularly well.

Agree, Rico is quality. Yes he needs to bulk up a bit but the fact Pep trusts him more than any other academy product since Foden (who has been pretty much invisible this season) speaks for itself. Rico's performances were better last season than they were this season but that applies to the whole squad. Our issues go beyond Rico, Kyle, Gundo or any individual who it's fashionable to have a go at at the moment. I am going into this Forest game with totally low expectations, and to be honest I'm not optimistic about the Rags either. We have all seen worse either way. Roll on January.

 

[chesterbells]

Agree, Rico is quality. Yes he needs to bulk up a bit but the fact Pep trusts him more than any other academy product since Foden (who has been pretty much invisible this season) speaks for itself. Rico's performances were better last season than they were this season but that applies to the whole squad. Our issues go beyond Rico, Kyle, Gundo or any individual who it's fashionable to have a go at at the moment. I am going into this Forest game with totally low expectations, and to be honest I'm not optimistic about the Rags either. We have all seen worse either way. Roll on January.

But mate it’s only “fashionable” because they’ve been making mistakes / playing poorly.

 

[Jazzyblue]

But mate it’s only “fashionable” because they’ve been making mistakes / playing poorly.

I'd say that's true of most of the side though. Is Phil at his best, is Haaland, is Bernie, is Gvardiol? No chance. Will Stones EVER be fully fit again? It's a collective problem we've got right now, mistakes are happening all over the shop.

 

[chesterbells]

I'd say that's true of most of the side though. Is Phil at his best, is Haaland, is Bernie, is Gvardiol? No chance. Will Stones EVER be fully fit again? It's a collective problem we've got right now, mistakes are happening all over the shop.

Yep, it’s a wider malaise for sure. I just felt by using a word like fashionable which has negative implications here, to my reading anyway, you were suggesting or inferring the criticism of those players wasn’t/isn’t valid.

For me the difference with Lewis over many of those others, is that they have had times in the past when their play has been sublime, world class. Lewis on the other hand, yes he’s a younger, but he’s never shown that level to me, and I don’t take great pleasure in saying it, but I don’t think he ever will.

I’ve said before, he does have his qualities, and is a good, premier-league standard professional, who deserves and I’m sure will have a decent career in the game somewhere. What he is isn’t, is someone who should be anywhere near the first XI of a team aspiring to be crowned World Champions at the end of the season.

 

[Nevizade]

Looking forward to this one. Reminds me of West Brom in 2012 and Villa last season (both Wednesday nights, both 4-0 wins for the record). Can't see the same scoreline tomorrow but think the lads will show us a response. Looking forward to seeing Grealish in the middle as much as anything.

 

[Jazzyblue]

Yep, it’s a wider malaise for sure. I just felt by using a word like fashionable which has negative implications here, to my reading anyway, you were suggesting or inferring the criticism of those players wasn’t/isn’t valid.

For me the difference with Lewis over many of those others, is that they have had times in the past when their play has been sublime, world class. Lewis on the other hand, yes he’s a younger, but he’s never shown that level to me, and I don’t take great pleasure in saying it, but I don’t think he ever will.

I’ve said before, he does have his qualities, and is a good, premier-league standard professional, who deserves and I’m sure will have a decent career in the game somewhere. What he is isn’t, is someone who should be anywhere near the first XI of a team aspiring to be crowned World Champions at the end of the season.

Perhaps. But there's been other academy players who the same has been said of - Palmer - who many feel we should have been a bit more patient with now...

 

[CityEssex49er]

Edi

Manny Josko Ruby Nate

Matty N.

Bernardo Jack

Phil

Savvy Viking