World Cup and the impact on the squad

[shemnel]

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Netherlands: Ake - has been starting for Netherlands on left of back 3 this year.

Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
England: Foden, Grealish, Stones, Walker, Phillips - will all feature in some regard

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Argentina (prov): Alvarez - bench if he makes the cut

Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Spain: Rodri, Laporte (??) - Rodri rotated, Laporte bench
Germany: Gundogan - might be rotated

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Belgium: De Bruyne - will play

Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Brazil: Ederson - probably bench
Switzerland: Akanji - likely to play

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Portugal: Dias, Cancelo, Silva - all likely to play

In the pub: Haaland, Ortega, Carson, Mahrez, Gomez (plus Lewis & Palmer)

Of the 16 likely to go, most should progress. That means a good chunk will be away to at least the 2nd round (3 - 6 Dec). Given a few players are down in groups E to H, a few could be knocking each other out early on, which would help the squad prep for the season restart.

from the players not going, we've got a decent half-team.

 

[supercity88]

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Netherlands: Ake - has been starting for Netherlands on left of back 3 this year.

Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
England: Foden, Grealish, Stones, Walker, Phillips - will all feature in some regard

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Argentina (prov): Alvarez - bench if he makes the cut

Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Spain: Rodri, Laporte (??) - Rodri rotated, Laporte bench
Germany: Gundogan - might be rotated

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Belgium: De Bruyne - will play

Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Brazil: Ederson - probably bench
Switzerland: Akanji - likely to play

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Portugal: Dias, Cancelo, Silva - all likely to play

In the pub: Haaland, Ortega, Carson, Mahrez, Gomez (plus Lewis & Palmer)

Of the 16 likely to go, most should progress. That means a good chunk will be away to at least the 2nd round (3 - 6 Dec). Given a few players are down in groups E to H, a few could be knocking each other out early on, which would help the squad prep for the season restart.

from the players not going, we've got a decent half-team.

I reckon the majority will be back two to two and a half weeks before we play Leeds away on the 28th. They'll have played 5 or 6 games in 6 and a half weeks assuming they don't play before that game and are rested for the league cup game. That's fuck all considering how much we usually play and have played up to this point. Don't see the WC as an issue until later in the season, barring injuries.

If we get the majority back by w/c 12th December they can have a bit of rest and those that were back earlier can get some minutes in the league cup.

 

[simmo]

Few if any players will have a complete break as there are at least a few weeks of friendlies of countries who did not qualify.

 

[Fordyboy46]

It's a given that every prem side will drop loads of points in the second half of this season, City included

 

[madloaf]

England (senegal or Netherlands) and Portugal (Brazil if they finish 2nd) get knocked out in the 2nd round and 8 of our important lads will get 2 weeks holiday. I'd like England to win the world cup but if not the above would be the next best thing.

 

[Andouble]

Are players who play late into the tournament given a 1-2 week break after (missing club games) or straight into the mix?

 

[Phil1]

Good post and I respect the thought that’s gone into it but honestly,, I’m not arsed. Injuries are my only concern. We get out of there with the majority of our squad fit then we win the league.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Are players who play late into the tournament given a 1-2 week break after (missing club games) or straight into the mix?

Depends on the player

 

[Keeper!]

Our brilliant first half of the season has been huge and will be the foundation of our title challenge, I am certain there will be a drop post WC but that applies to all clubs.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

The impact was there, clear as day, today.

I think it’s been there all season so far.

I don’t think we’ve started playing consistently well yet. We've been good (by our standards) in the odd performance or the odd half here-and-there and we’ve not followed it up with another straight away yet.

Let’s see where we are come the end of the World Cup, but I just can’t wait to get this fucking tournament out of the way… I never want to see another Winter World Cup ever again!