Southampton (N) - Sat 25th April, 17:15 | FAC | Pre-Match Thread

[denTTony]

Considering the rotation, surprised Savinho not starting

 

[normskih]

It’s a cup game and Guardiola makes changes in the cup. I’m really surprised Savinho isn’t in the starting eleven, even more surprising is Kovacic when he’s not played much football. Anyway COYB.

 

[M Gaudino]

4 champions league winners in the team: we should really be able to beat a championship side

 

[jimharri]

Fucking hell; some of the comments on here. Try being a Spurs fan. Or Leicester. Or Bury. Or, or, or. The team looked shattered the other night, so there was always going to be wholesale changes today. I have confidence in that XI to get the job done. Radical, I know.

 

[Gray]

Two great central defenders but both are match rusty. A left back who can’t defend. A midfielder who has been injured most of the season, one who strolls about and one of our own who has lost his mojo.

Bit silly to throw all our eggs into the PL basket?

 

[youngbob]

Southampton in their yellow strip.

 

[come-on-barney]

An

This has to be the most embarassing meltdown in Bluemoon history. Look at the fucking players on that teamsheet ffs.

Yes look at them !!

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Disagree, full strength, then take players off. Never seen such a confident opposition here,
they expect us to rotate. Full strength or we deserve what we get.

On a stretcher?

 

[noseve]

If that City team played in the Championship week in week out, you'd expect it to be 20 points clear - but it doesn't.

I can't remember when 'rest some, bring the big guns on if necessary' was ever, regularly, successful? Anecdotally - like Gundo - obviously there are exceptions, but I'd never have too much faith in a bench rescuing a situation.

Mind you, Newcastle was a terrific performance and result with a supposedly reserve side, so hopefully there'll be enough there today. Saints aren't full-strength, either.

If I could just make one change, though - Khus. How can you leave him out?

 

[SWP's back]

CITY XI: Trafford, Nunes, Stones (C), Ake, Ait-Nouri, Nico, Kovacic, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Marmoush.

Subs: Donnarumma, Haaland, Doku, Guéhi, Bernardo, Savinho, O'Reilly, Khusanov, Lewis

Strong bench that. Come on City.

 

[bitterblue78]

What a disgrace of a line up.

 

[YaYa's Left Peg]

Leverkusen>Southampton

True but vibes are vibes mate. Especially against a team that has been unbeaten for over 20 matches!

 

[phargrave]

Cherki starts-what's not to like.

No Kushnov….

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Big moment for a lot of our players, can show if they have a part to play in the last 5 league games.

& if they want to stay at City.

 

[youngbob]

Two great central defenders but both are match rusty. A left back who can’t defend. A midfielder who has been injured most of the season, one who strolls about and one of our own who has lost his mojo.

Bit silly to throw all our eggs into the PL basket?

Conversely, seven of the lads who won away at St James Park not six weeks ago, with the added bonus that Cherki's in for Savinho from that day.

 

[pudge]

Considering the rotation, surprised Savinho not starting

We'd not be that disrespectful to be fair

 

[pbueno16]

Considering the rotation, surprised Savinho not starting

Would’ve preferred him over Reijnders

 

[Cobwebcat]

What a disgrace of a line up.

?

 

[youngbob]

No Kushnov….

He's a kid. Can't just run him into the ground. Got to be careful. See Yamal at Barca.

 

[Sam69]

I would have preferred Khusanov instead of Stones to add some pace to the defensive line.
Otherwise, the lineup isn't bad.

After the emotional, mental, and physical strain they endured against Arsenal and Burnley in 72 hours, the risk of injury is very high...