Stoke vs. City Pre Match Thread

[PragueBlue]

Heavy list of absentees once again.

Hart
Sagna Demichelis Otamendi Kolarov
Dinho Delph
KdB Silva Sterling
Bony

Looks the most likely team though I'd be tempted to go with Clichy and Navas for Kolarov and Sterling.

 

[bellsouth]

You need someone to get the ball to these creative players though and Yaya is often that player. I wouldn't play him as far forward as he has been played recently though. He's better in a deeper role.

I agree completely with you, but I don't think the loss is such a blow as it once was. As for playing deeper, its a nice idea but does he have the discipline to hold there?

 

[Jazzman]

How about playing Fernandinho in front of Delph and Fernando, in order to save Silva from the cloggers?

 

[Father Paul]

I think it was a major reason we fell behind and that we struggle in the league without him. We were flying early on in the season with him in the team so I don't think it's really him that's the problem. He links so much of our play and we often look disjointed without him.

Regardless of the above, I really don't get people rejoicing that one of our most influential players is out.

Anyway, we know he's out for Stoke so we'll see how that goes. I'd personally be more confident if he was playing.

Thats the thing about YaYa hes both a blessing and a curse these days. I think he still adds value to the team but that value is starting to diminish.
Personally I would use him more sparingly now and perhaps look at the possibility of springing him from the bench a bit more for the last 25 mins. He could be used either to calm things down or as a forward threat as required. The main reason we started the season so well was not the presence or absence of YAYA but rather we were sound as a pound at the back. No one could score against us in those early weeks sadly that is no more and until that defensive solidity returns we will struggle I fear.

 

[mancityscot]

just a wee kick on the heel for aguero aye? didnt realise they kept a guy out for 2 weeks

 

[Champions2012!]

just a wee kick on the heel for aguero aye? didnt realise they kept a guy out for 2 weeks

Well this is kun we're talking about

 

[meeesh]

Think we might have to settle for a point now,with so many being out,but my gut still says we win 2-1

 

[Ethan23]

Kompany, yaya, aguero. I swear there are way more injuries this season, not only for us but arsenal and united as well. It seems a draw is most likely now. That Arsenal game on the 21st is going to be massive

 

[Father Paul]

Well this is kun we're talking about

Frustrating really ,apart from Chelsea and his solo demolition of the Bar Codes he has not really contributed this year. Last year he missed six crucial weeks and never really
regained form in the later part of the season. The previous year he got injured at a crucial stage of the season and we were bailed out by the much maligned Dzecko. He then went on to play a peripheral role in Argentina's world cup campaign. One of the very best in the world at his job but not unlike VK is becoming far from reliable. Absolute shame.

 

[stablemcfc]

Looks the most likely team though I'd be tempted to go with Clichy and Navas for Kolarov and Sterling.

Yeah I'd take Clichy over Kolarov also, but guessing he'll rotate a little from the midweek game hence why Sterling & Kolarov. A little worried Delph/Dinho partnership may be dismantled and we could see Nando/Dinho - which is still OK but feel Delph deserves the start.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Think we might have to settle for a point now,with so many being out,but my gut still says we win 2-1

I think we'll score, definitely. As long as Delph and Fernandinho both start, we shouldn't be lacking urgency in the way we move the ball around, even more so now that Silva's back. But the big worry is Demichelis. We will concede.

 

[gazinho]

Yeah I'd take Clichy over Kolarov also, but guessing he'll rotate a little from the midweek game hence why Sterling & Kolarov. A little worried Delph/Dinho partnership may be dismantled and we could see Nando/Dinho - which is still OK but feel Delph deserves the start.

Any other game this week id go Clichy aswell but Kolarov's extra height means he'd probably get the nod for me here, id play Clichy against Monchengladbach.

 

[Blue Smarties]

We have to start Iheanacho over Bony if Aguero is injured. We can't continue saying Bony "needs time" or "he's getting there", this is football, you play your best possible hand whenever you can, and at this moment in time that means Iheanacho over Bony.

 

[stablemcfc]

Any other game this week id go Clichy aswell but Kolarov's extra height means he'd probably get the nod for me here, id play Clichy against Monchengladbach.

Why height? Whoever plays left back is going to be up against Shaqiri most likely, can honestly see him tearing Kolarov up so Clichy would definitely get the nod for me.

Stoke aren't as big as they once were.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Why height? Whoever plays left back is going to be up against Shaqiri most likely, can honestly see him tearing Kolarov up so Clichy would definitely get the nod for me.

Stoke aren't as big as they once were.

I'd have Kolarov for the link up with Silva. I've lost count of the number of times Silva rolls a pass to Kolarov's overlap that he can ping into the box first time. Just need Bony to fucking move and get on the end of it. Kolarov's attack goes to a new level when Silva is with him, such is the genius of David Silva.

 

[gazinho]

Why height? Whoever plays left back is going to be up against Shaqiri most likely, can honestly see him tearing Kolarov up so Clichy would definitely get the nod for me.

Stoke aren't as big as they once were.

Missing Kompany and Mangala, I dont for 1 second believe Stoke are the cloggers they used to be but defending set pieces, Kolarov has been used as 1 of our 'markers' for want of a better word all season. Demichelis isnt great in the air and Bony does the near post, Toure whilst being useless in the air is also missing.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Why height? Whoever plays left back is going to be up against Shaqiri most likely, can honestly see him tearing Kolarov up so Clichy would definitely get the nod for me.

Stoke aren't as big as they once were.

Agree with that. Walters is a lump but the rest of the front line is small attacking players. They play very direct with Walters holing it up and with pace of him. Clichy is probably a better fit in terms of pace and holding back in position more. With Bony up front we will play in a similar way although we have much more quality through the midfield and should be able to dominate this.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Well this is kun we're talking about

I'm getting sick of this approach, he was kicked in the air and no card was given. He keeps getting injured because he is getting zero protection from the referees

 

[bluemoon98]

I'm getting sick of this approach, he was kicked in the air and no card was given. He keeps getting injured because he is getting zero protection from the referees

He was injured because he landed on his ankle awkwardly. No tackle at all just jumped up to get the ball or avoid the keeper (can't remember) and he landed on his foot

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I'm getting sick of this approach, he was kicked in the air and no card was given. He keeps getting injured because he is getting zero protection from the referees

Even if a card had been given, he'd still be injured. It's not a magic card! It's bad luck that he's injured again, not the referee's fault.