Prioritise Barcelona or Chelsea?

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

I think we all need to calm down and stop panicking !

The concern is legitimate given the absence of fernandinho. It's the biggest blow to our season so far at exactly the wrong time.

Flap flap flap

We'll win or next 4!!!!!

 

[blueyorkie]

A lot will depend on who has recovered, hopefully Milner and Rodwell will be OK which could relieve some of the pressure from midfield. Signs are that Sergio and Samir might be back for Barca, if Ferna were to be fit too giving us a more or less full squad that would be a massive boost.
I think we won't have the luxury of prioritising, it will depend upon who is fit.

 

[bobmcfc]

Throw the cup, beat Barca, draw us in the next round.

Hmm

So confident

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

I get the impression both Kun and Fernandhino will be back for Barca first leg so only 3 players in Kompany, Zaba and Yaya to play the 3 games and fingers crossed they stay fit.

V Sunderland

Hart
Zabaleta
Kompany
Nasty
Kolarov
Yaya
Rodwell
Milner
Silva
Dzeko
Negredo

V Chelsea
Pantimillon
Zabaleta
Kompany
Lescott
Clichy
Rodwell
Milner
Yaya
Lopez
Jovetic
Dzeko

V Barca
Hart
Zabaleta
Kompany
Nasty
Kolarov
Yaya
Fernadhino
Navas
Silva
Aguero
Negredo

 

[Castiel]

Throw the cup, beat Barca, draw us in the next round.

Hmm

So confident

It'd just be ironic. I'm not confident of beating you at the Etihad again, hoping for a replay. That is unless you do actually throw it for the sake of Barca.

 

[Ric]

My view is we play the strongest available team to win all games. If that means we get past Chelsea and get undone by Barca, so be it.

I agree with this. It's a risky stategy, given the impact it could have on our title challenge in terms of fatigue/injuries etc, but a necessary gamble in my eyes.

We could prioritise the Barca game over the Chelsea one, and plausibly lose both which would be disastrous.

The problem with this approach is that playing your strongest team against Chelsea will guarantee that they will no longer be your strongest team against Barca. They'll be knackered from playing 3 times in 6 days. There has to be some sort of rotation in there somewhere.

We could get away with some rotation, but Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Toure, and Silva in particular have to start all three games.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

My view is we play the strongest available team to win all games. If that means we get past Chelsea and get undone by Barca, so be it.

I agree with this. It's a risky stategy, given the impact it could have on our title challenge in terms of fatigue/injuries etc, but a necessary gamble in my eyes.

We could prioritise the Barca game over the Chelsea one, and plausibly lose both which would be disastrous.

The problem with this approach is that playing your strongest team against Chelsea will guarantee that they will no longer be your strongest team against Barca. They'll be knackered from playing 3 times in 6 days. There has to be some sort of rotation in there somewhere.

We also risk further injuries which would derail the league campaign. Lose silva, vinny or yaya now and we are in the shit.

 

[bobmcfc]

Dave, I've sent you a tweet, heed my warning !

 

[greasedupdeafguy]

Can't be doing with losing to Chelsea again, strongest team for both matches.

 

[bobmcfc]

Throw the cup, beat Barca, draw us in the next round.

Hmm

So confident

It'd just be ironic. I'm not confident of beating you at the Etihad again, hoping for a replay. That is unless you do actually throw it for the sake of Barca.

If we beat barca I will need a month to recover