Watford (H) - Tues 24th Sept, 19:45 | EFL Cup | Pre-Match Thread

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Don't expect to see any of our first XV anywhere near this - hence the vote for a loss.
Ortega and then any other 10 we can cobble together - couldn't care less about this competition

 

[MarsLlama]

Time to experiment with a few things we haven't tried in a while. Stones back as the lone DM, Foden false 9, Nunes starting?

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Ortega,
Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Esbrand
Kova Nunes
Mcatee Foden Doku
Haaland (1st half) Grealish (2nd Half)

at a wild guess.

 

[alexmcity]

Time to experiment with a few things we haven't tried in a while. Stones back as the lone DM, Foden false 9, Nunes starting?

And who is going to play at CB then? Rico?

Pep won't risk any senior players who played most of the game yesterday. Possible exceptions for Gundo, Doku and Savinho: they may play 45 minutes or so.

Ortega

Rico
Stones
EDS
EDS/Wilson-Esbrand

Nunes
Nico/EDS
McAtee

Grealish (left)
 Foden
Doku/Savinho

 

[TinFoilHat]

Tempted to just say sack this match off but knowing the club and Pep and our mentality, they will want to win. Hard to pick a team but Ortega will start, Stones and Foden need game time, Lewis can play, Nunes, Doku again (can't be any poorer than Sunday), McAtee...jeez...still 4 to go...4 youth players, Wilson-Esbrand, O'Reilly..and any other 2...job done

Let's keep the home record intact then lose when we're drawn away to the Dippers/Arsenal/Spurs next round.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Are the kids playing on the same night? I can't seem to find the fixtures? I can see a fair few of em playing in this and 5 or 6 of the subs bench from yesterday. It'll be nice to witness a game of football after yesterday's none football event.

 

[ismysixplaying]

hello blues, word on the grapevine from inside sources is that Rodri is fine, nothing serious and will be back after the next Int'l break with Ake.. lovely news to start the week :))

 

[MarsLlama]

And who is going to play at CB then? Rico?

Pep won't risk any senior players who played most of the game yesterday. Possible exceptions for Gundo, Doku and Savinho: they may play 45 minutes or so.

Ortega

Rico
Stones
EDS
EDS/Wilson-Esbrand

Nunes
Nico/EDS
McAtee

Grealish (left)
 Foden
Doku/Savinho

It’s definitely possible that Pep goes with Simpson-Pusey next to either Dias or Akanji, maybe gives them a half each. It’s not ideal to play them twice in 50 hours but that doesn’t mean he won’t do it. And Stones may need the practice - he could be the closest thing we have to a DM for the rest of the season.

 

[alexmcity]

It’s definitely possible that Pep goes with Simpson-Pusey next to either Dias or Akanji, maybe gives them a half each. It’s not ideal to play them twice in 50 hours but that doesn’t mean he won’t do it. And Stones may need the practice - he could be the closest thing we have to a DM for the rest of the season.

Stones is not the closest thing to a DM in our squad, this myth needs to die. Thought Pep tried him there once: at Villa last season. Our team performance was the worst under Pep ever.

Stones can play well next to a DM but he doesn't complete enough passes to do what Pep requires from his DM, namely receiving the ball under pressure and complete many, many passes, about 80 per game or more. Stones is not that player. And he can't run as much as Kova or Gundo. Rodri covers 12-13 km per game, CBs cover about 8-9 km per game. It's another level in terms of running.

Given that Ake is injured, we are not likely to risk Dias and Akanji in the least important competition this season. Imo, of course. Would be completely pointless to risk them vs Watford.

 

[Cobra]

Are the kids playing on the same night? I can't seem to find the fixtures? I can see a fair few of em playing in this and 5 or 6 of the subs bench from yesterday. It'll be nice to witness a game of football after yesterday's none football event.

No, their EFL Trophy game has been rescheduled. It's not that hard to find their fixtures though - https://www.mancity.com/fixtures/eds