Stoke vs. City Pre Match Thread

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Maybe its Mangala who you should blame. Getting booked five times from ?? appearances.

He does commit some stupid fouls that can only ever be bookings and is often lucky not to get straight reds

 

[MadchesterCity]

MDM is well off the pace and Stoke away is no place to find form as a CB! However Mangala was going to get a booking at some point, resting him would have just been delaying the inevitable. At least he is one player we know will be fit and rested for M’Gladbach.

Stoke (Swansea) are more important game than Monchengladbach
Even if we win we have no guarantee we will win group as relying on results elsewhere.

 

[Ric]

Hope Hart will be available for this. Caballero has done OK in the last two games, but with Kompany and Magala out we could be susceptible to crosses. Hart is much more commanding in the air than Caballero. Suspect Aguero won't be risked, and Navas and Fernando are doubtful with knocks.

I'd go for the following (if available):

Hart
Sagna
Demichelis
Otamendi
Kolarov
Delph
Fernandinho
Toure
De Bruyne
Silva
Bony

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Hope Hart will be available for this. Caballero has done OK in the last two games, but with Kompany and Magala out we could be susceptible to crosses. Hart is much more commanding in the air than Caballero. Suspect Aguero won't be risked, and Navas and Fernando are doubtful with knocks.

I'd go for the following (if available):

Hart
Sagna
Demichelis
Otamendi
Kolarov
Delph
Fernandinho
Toure
De Bruyne
Silva
Bony

The elephant in the room is that while that is a very good team it is quite narrow and would be much better balanced by dropping Yaya and playing Sterling or Navas.

 

[Ric]

The elephant in the room is that while that is a very good team it is quite narrow and would be much better balanced by dropping Yaya and playing Sterling or Navas.

True. Can't see Toure not being picked though after being rested against Hull. Maybe he won't risk Silva against the likes of Charlie Adam, and opt for Sterling or Navas?

 

[Father Paul]

Hope Hart will be available for this. Caballero has done OK in the last two games, but with Kompany and Magala out we could be susceptible to crosses. Hart is much more commanding in the air than Caballero. Suspect Aguero won't be risked, and Navas and Fernando are doubtful with knocks.

I'd go for the following (if available):

Hart
Sagna
Demichelis
Otamendi
Kolarov
Delph
Fernandinho
Toure
De Bruyne
Silva
Bony

I worry about that defence. Accept that little can be done to improve matters but I might be inclined to include Clichy. Also too narrow up front and I fear Bony
may end up resembling a statue.

 

[Ric]

I worry about that defence. Accept that little can be done to improve matters but I might be inclined to include Clichy. Also too narrow up front and I fear Bony
may end up resembling a statue.

Personally I'd play Iheanacho, but there's little or no chance that Pellegrini will.

 

[Jackson]

I think Pellegrini will select Yaya for Silva to rest Spanish Dave. I am not sure what to think about this, if he does. On the one side I like our set up without Yaya, on the other I would like that we protect Silva from the Stoke Bastards like Charlie Adam.
Further I am also thinking Pellegrini might give Fernando a run out, not sure whether it will be for Fernandinho or Delph.
I'd probably also go with Bony for this one, as I'd rather keep Aguero fit for Mönchengladbach.

I'd go:
Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Delph, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Bony
Subs: Wright, Clichy, Toure, Fernando, Navas, Iheanacho, Aguero

But I wouldn't be surprised to see Toure instead of Delph

Bcos Yaya Toure is better than Delph. We had many British players before:- Rodwell, Milner, Lescort, Sinclair, Micah Richards. Delph doesn't have the winning mentality

 

[lasereyes]

Not being funny, but when was the last time you saw Yaya leap and head the ball?

I remember him scoring a headed goal off a corner against the Scousers in our first title season. Those were the days when he still had an afterburner.

 

[mosssideblue]

Bcos Yaya Toure is better than Delph. We had many British players before:- Rodwell, Milner, Lescort, Sinclair, Micah Richards. Delph doesn't have the winning mentality

You cannot say who is better as Delph is significantly better that Yaya at other aspects. Horses for courses.

 

[Marvin]

Bcos Yaya Toure is better than Delph. We had many British players before:- Rodwell, Milner, Lescort, Sinclair, Micah Richards. Delph doesn't have the winning mentality

Surprised anyone would try and generalise based on nationality. There are good players and bad. We'll see how Delph does, but I really like his attitude and he was Captain at Villa and I wouldn't be surprised if he captains City in a couple of seasons.

 

[Marvin]

You cannot say who is better as Delph is significantly better that Yaya at other aspects. Horses for courses.

Toure still has a good range of passing, but he should be a squad player now. I don't think he brings enough attacking ability into the team now to justify his position. Obviously I hope he proves me wrong

I'd like to see a midfield 3 of Fernando, Fernandinho and Delph behind 3 of Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva. No one would ever out compete us again. At the moment we lose the ball in an attack, and Toure is a gaping hole around which the opposition run rings

 

[mosssideblue]

Toure still has a good range of passing, but he should be a squad player now. I don't think he brings enough attacking ability into the team now to justify his position. Obviously I hope he proves me wrong

I'd like to see a midfield 3 of Fernando, Fernandinho and Delph behind 3 of Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva. No one would ever out compete us again. At the moment we lose the ball in an attack, and Toure is a gaping hole around which the opposition run rings

I agree. Toure has been great but all things come to an end. The future has to be without him.

 

[Durham Blue]

I think Delph has some Fire in his belly which is more than anyone can say for YaYa at the moment. some great positive, attacking runs from Delph versus Hull and I know Stoke will be tougher but YaYa slowed the Liverpool match to a standstill with more passes back than forward, and I for one think Delph can add more value right now , maybe indeed Toure has has his day (look at his brother now !)

 

[ninjamonkey]

What i'd like to see

-----------Hart

Sagna MDM Otamendi Clichy

----Fernandinho Delph

KDB -----Silva------ Sterling

--------Aguero(kelechi if Aguero isn't fit)

Don't expect that from our manager though. Kolarov will probably come back in and we'll see a return to the weekly rotation at fullback now we've got the players to do it. Yaya will start and captain the side and Bony will start upfront if Aguero is injured. Interesting to see what he does in midfield. He seems to have at the very least realised we need 3 in midfield if Yaya plays but he hasn't had the selection headache of having Silva available before now so will he push Silva out wide where he's much less effective just to shoehorn Yaya into the side? I certainly wouldn't put it past him.

Wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if he lined us up like this with KDB dropped purely on his rotation policy.

-------Fernandinho Delph
----------------Yaya
--Silva-----------------------Sterling
------------Aguero/Bony

 

[dickie davies]

Caballero
Sagna
Demichelis
Otamendi
Kolarov
Fernandinho
Toure
Sterling
De Bruyne
Silva
Bony

Is what Manuel will pick
Toure and Adam can have a "who can be the most static" competition

 

[pavelsrnicek]

True. Can't see Toure not being picked though after being rested against Hull. Maybe he won't risk Silva against the likes of Charlie Adam, and opt for Sterling or Navas?

I saw a match preview earlier with a picture of Silva and thought the same thing, do we want to risk him against Stoke's more "robust" tackling.

 

[Ireland_for_pm]

If stoke go with a two in midfield with whelan and Adam. Against de bruyne, silva, delph and fernandinho they don't stand a chance.

 

[sam-caddick]

Yaya will start. Energy wise he might not be like he used to but technically he is still our best central midfield player.

I would like to see a front four of Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne and Sterling, that for me is out best front line so hopefully Sergio will be fit.

Fernandinho didn't play mid-week so I think it's likely he will start.

 

[PaulMoulden'sRecord]

Bcos Yaya Toure is better than Delph. We had many British players before:- Rodwell, Milner, Lescort, Sinclair, Micah Richards. Delph doesn't have the winning mentality

You know about Delph's mentality from hours of indepth conversation with him as his psychiatrist I assume??