United (A) - Sat 14th Jan, 12:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[Eric Hitchmough]

Keeping everything crossed that Stones is fit

 

[deegee33]

Wasnt Cancelo. It was Gomez.

The second one was Cancelo's.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

If we see no reaction here, which I personally think we will then I think Pep might consider his future.
This isn't the City we know of late, wtf has happened I don't know but the style of football bar a good 20 or 30 minutes here and there is absolute garbage.
This new coaching set up we have may be the problem, has Pep lost his best members of staff over the years?
Just fucking play the best 11 on Saturday and in their right fucking positions, it really shouldn't be that difficult

Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland

You are the most consistently and relentlessly negative poster on the whole forum

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

If we see no reaction here, which I personally think we will then I think Pep might consider his future.
This isn't the City we know of late, wtf has happened I don't know but the style of football bar a good 20 or 30 minutes here and there is absolute garbage.
This new coaching set up we have may be the problem, has Pep lost his best members of staff over the years?
Just fucking play the best 11 on Saturday and in their right fucking positions, it really shouldn't be that difficult

Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland

Appreciate you’re as frustrated as the rest of us but I really can’t see Pep considering his future so soon after extending his contract.

That said, totally understand why you’re pissed off. Gundo’s frank admission last night has set hares running.

 

[butlerkb]

I remember in 2003, we lost to lower league Wigan in the league Cup. A shocking performance. Next up was the last Derby at Maine Rd, nobody gave us a chance. Tell me, how did that one pan out ? I genuinely think the whole club(not just the team) have had more than one eye on Saturday and last night almost became an irrelevance. If we play to our strengths and our best 11 then we'll smash these vile horrible bastards!!! C'MON CITY !!!!!

Just frustrating that if we did have one eye on the derby, the players picked for this game should be up for it,having a chance to impress, put the club in the semis of the cup and proving they are trustworthy if needed.Most looked scared in possession or casual and slow with the ball.Missed a chance to promote themselves, should have run themselves ragged , not swan around like they were too good for Southampton.I’m sure our “first team” will be up for the rags

 

[chickaroon]

I know the team now pep will pick after watching that and if stones is fit..

____________edserson__________

Walker___stones__laporte___Ake

________sliva__Rodri___________

Mahrez______kdb______Grealish

_________Haaland____________

That's the team. I think he took Walker and Grealish off saving their legs for this game. Those he brought on got 30mins in their legs and Stones and Bernie and Mahrez got complete rest. Stones was not in the squad, just hope there is no injury. If there us then Akanji will play. I have a feeling there maybe a problem with Stones and that is why he used Walker at CB because he couldn't take a chance losing another CB. My opinion of course.

 

[Silvas Left Peg]

Yep a lot of players seem to be having a slump in form including our manager

Maybe a derby game is just the right game to be having right now

Ake has to be LB with walker or Lewis on the right

The issue is attacking left for me - not fodens best position

I'm stumped

It will make a change seeing a team not go 7 at the back (hopefully)... id like to see grealish get on the ball and torment their RB as he should have the space to do so, we have seen glimpses what he can do now its time for consistency.

 

[John Wayne]

I remember in 2003, we lost to lower league Wigan in the league Cup. A shocking performance. Next up was the last Derby at Maine Rd, nobody gave us a chance. Tell me, how did that one pan out ? I genuinely think the whole club(not just the team) have had more than one eye on Saturday and last night almost became an irrelevance. If we play to our strengths and our best 11 then we'll smash these vile horrible bastards!!! C'MON CITY !!!!!

Cheers mate, I feel better after reading that.

The reality is that the League Cup is the lowest priority for the club and, like the FA Cup, if it comes at a time when big CL and PL fixtures collide, it will be devalued. I remember coming back from Atletico last April, we all knew we'd go weak in the FA Cup semi-final. With hindsight, can we say it was the wrong decision? We got over the line in the league.

City fans rightly like the traditions of the domestic cups, but unfortunately we live in a world whereby nobody outside of the finalists really cares who wins them. We know that they mean very little because Antonio Conte and Louis Van Gaal were both sacked after winning the FA Cup.

Looking at our very difficult next five weeks, I think two additional games against a very physical and motivated Newcastle would have added a big strain on the squad. So whilst I'm not happy with how we shaped last night, some good might come from it. It will be a vastly different side that starts at Old Trafford and, I believe, one that will be wounded by events last night.

 

[TFC]

Hardly ideal prep, but I'm confident that rockets will be sent up arses this week. If the lads turned up with that kind of insipid shite in a derby, I fear this place would spontaneously combust.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Can’t really see how he picks anything else bar maybe Lewis as he’s actually in form.

Foden / Cancelo / Gundo all in painful form and Alvarez looked knackered and poor tonight.

Lewis has no pace, we must play Walker against Rashford.