Huge game on Sunday for me. Interesting to see what side Pep goes with. In his shoes i'd be loathed to make many/if any changes. How do you put in Kun in when you have to take out one of Sterling or Sane (or Jesus) - all three of whom were instrumental to the West Ham win. Similarly i'd love Vinny to get 90 minutes in a PL game but how do you take anyone out of a back 4 which has just kept a clean sheet away in the PL and looked relatively secure for the first time in ages. Even Toure vs Fernandinho. Right now Toure's playing at such a high level that bringing Ferna in would feel like a step backwards in terms of what we are as an attacking unit.
So my guess. Of the decisions Pep's gotta make, he'll change in one area. So either Vinny for Stones/Ota, or Toure for Fena, or Kun for Jesus. Can't see chances in all three positions.
Swansea are much improved and will be a test. They're very well organised under Clement and good/strong/fast on the break. Early goal though and it'll be floodgates opening like West Ham IMO.
Final score prediction. 4 - 0 City with goals from each of the wing wizards whoever plays up top and another one from renaissance man Yaya.
I'd drop De Bruyne for Ferny for one reason - Gylfi Sigurdsson. He's a key cog in Swansea's play and he'll look to get into space behind our midfield and in front of the defence. With Yaya on his own in there he'll find more opportunities to influence the game. Swansea will not look long as often as Palace/West Ham do, they'll look to get the ball into Gylfi and he'll try and find space between the lines.
For that reason you keep the front three who will chase all game still, you keep Silva in for his ability to control the pace of the game. You allow Yaya the role to dictate play from deep without having to cover too much ground by getting Fernandinho (or Delph) on to make sure Sigurdsson is marked out of the game. Stop him and you stop Swansea in my opinion. We've got plenty of attacking threat to win the game still. Ideally we can be a couple of goals up and make some changes around 60 minutes.
Defensively it's tough. Kompany is too good not to play regardless of the mid week result, but it depends on doctors orders. I don't trust Clichy at all so perversely I'd play him in this one, rest Kolarov as Clichy just can't seem to cope at all with defending or passing these days.
I would never ever for any reason in any game drop De Bruyne. I find the notion pretty ridiculous to be honest (and I know Pep's done it before).
Dropping De Bruyne because of Gylfi Sigurdsson is just the daftest suggestion I’ve heard. They should drop Gylfi Sigurdsson and play a DM then to stop Super Kev!
I'd drop De Bruyne for Ferny for one reason - Gylfi Sigurdsson. He's a key cog in Swansea's play and he'll look to get into space behind our midfield and in front of the defence. With Yaya on his own in there he'll find more opportunities to influence the game. Swansea will not look long as often as Palace/West Ham do, they'll look to get the ball into Gylfi and he'll try and find space between the lines.
For that reason you keep the front three who will chase all game still, you keep Silva in for his ability to control the pace of the game. You allow Yaya the role to dictate play from deep without having to cover too much ground by getting Fernandinho (or Delph) on to make sure Sigurdsson is marked out of the game. Stop him and you stop Swansea in my opinion. We've got plenty of attacking threat to win the game still. Ideally we can be a couple of goals up and make some changes around 60 minutes.
Defensively it's tough. Kompany is too good not to play regardless of the mid week result, but it depends on doctors orders. I don't trust Clichy at all so perversely I'd play him in this one, rest Kolarov as Clichy just can't seem to cope at all with defending or passing these days.