Pre Match Thread: Chelsea vs City

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Manuel gets paid an awful lot to make these decisions and will have picked Sagna over Zabs for a very valid reason.

Zabs isn't playing as well as we know he can and is prone to giving silly free kicks away. Pairing him with Vinnie today (who also is not in top form), may have been a step not worth taking in Pellers eyes
 
Sagna has at least been pretty solid defensively, he's just a wet fart going forwards, so if he can mark Hazard out of the game then it will be a masterstroke. I'm not that optimistic of that happening though. Going to need a big game from Navas, as otherwise I can't see how we'll break them down. With Milner and Clichy on the left, it will be easy for them to crowd the middle and keep David away from the ball, like Arsenal did, so Navas is going to have to be the one to make the difference.
 
pudge said:
Mcfchamps said:
pudge said:
Leaving on of our best players, let alone defender, on the bench for a player who has played like his free transfer was too much to pay is very odd; Especially as they'll be up against Chelsea's best player.

Unless of course he has lost his marbles.
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shall we allow you to manage Manchester City FC?
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No, but can you allow me my opinion?
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He always responds to everyone with that exact same phrase. Little insight, just simplistic retort.
 
I fully understand putting in Sagna over Zabaleta, interestingly read that Sagna was picked for both Bayern games this season too.

Zaba hasn't been up to his best this season, especially defending. Though our right side is so predictable and will be shit.
 
LoveCity said:
Chelsea's bench is strange. Are they that short on depth or is it Mourinho up to one of his tricks (aka buy me more players)?
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I am thinking mind games, getting our players complacent
 
pudge said:
Mcfchamps said:
pudge said:
Leaving on of our best players, let alone defender, on the bench for a player who has played like his free transfer was too much to pay is very odd; Especially as they'll be up against Chelsea's best player.

Unless of course he has lost his marbles.
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shall we allow you to manage Manchester City FC?
Click to expand...
No, but can you allow me my opinion?
Click to expand...
You're opinion is one I agree with mate. Dropping Zabaleta for this game stinks of trying to be a smart arse. Sagna has showed nothing since his arrival that warrants a starting place in front of Zabba. Reading a few journalists trying to put forward the argument that Sagna deals with tricky wingers better, Im not convinced. Our forward play suffers as well as he never overlaps.
I guess we'll find out one way or another soon enough.
 
Zaba does tend to struggle one on one when it comes to dealing with players with pace, directness and trickery. But it is still a big call to make in such a game considering the fact that Sagna has not really impressed since his arrival.

This is a defensive choice because Sagna should.......should be better when it comes to set pieces and is not as skilled going forward when it comes to making runs in behind , something Zabaleta is one of the best in the world at doing.

So lets see. Perhaps Sagna will sit back and be that extra body to nullify the Harzard threat and Clichy also may sit back only going forward sporadically

Just hope we can get the three points..
 
prestonibbo_mcfc said:
Right, let me say, the same as last week. Can we see how any of the players actually play this week before slagging them off.
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Nope, not going to happen, and you know that.
 
J_Bow said:
I fully understand putting in Sagna over Zabaleta, interestingly read that Sagna was picked for both Bayern games this season too.

Zaba hasn't been up to his best this season, especially defending. Though our right side is so predictable and will be shit.
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The issue, as I see it, is that an off form Zab is level with Sagna defensively and still much better in attack, so I do not quite understand the move.
 
I get the feeling that MP wants to keep it solid for the first hour, Sagna will stay back to keep an eye on Hazard, plus he's bigger and better in the air.

Looking at the benches I'd be satisfied with being level at 60 mins and then go for it.
 
prestonibbo_mcfc said:
Right, let me say, the same as last week. Can we see how any of the players actually play this week before slagging them off.
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Thank you sense at last.

This thread morphs into a losing post matchthread before a ball is even kicked.

Somepeople get very agitated because their favourite player isnt selected and then believe we will lose before the team bus arrives - amaizing mentality shown here, and every week is the same.
 
SebastianBlue said:
J_Bow said:
I fully understand putting in Sagna over Zabaleta, interestingly read that Sagna was picked for both Bayern games this season too.

Zaba hasn't been up to his best this season, especially defending. Though our right side is so predictable and will be shit.
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The issue, as I see it, is that an off form Zab is level with Sagna defensively and still much better in attack, so I do not quite understand the move.
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It's clear Pellegrini feels Zaba struggles against nifty, dangerous wingers if he picked Sagna for both Bayern games. I personally agree with you about an off form Zaba still being better than Sagna.
 
BufordUSABlue said:
MeatnSpudsMCFC said:
Keep the ball away from Navas and we'll be fine.
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So effectively play with 10 men against the league leaders at their place ....... H'mmmmm
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Better for us to keep possession of the ball than hitting the first man and winning us a pointless corner.
 
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