*** Champions v Chelsea - Official Match Thread ***

[AG7]

Two hours to team announcement, three to kick-off ...

Here's my lineup prediction:

Hart
Zaba, Kolo, Nasti, Clichy
Yaya, Barry
Milner, Tevez, Silva
Aguero

Score prediction: 2-0 (although hoping I am wrong and we thrash them 5/6-nil)

C'mon City!

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I think we'll take a narrow lead into the last 20 minutes and then bang 2 or 3 past them. 4-1.

[Green & Blue]

I have to say i'm very nervous for this game.I never imagined a month back that we could be facing a battle for second place but it's now a reality.

The pressure is really on and this could easily be considered our biggest test of the season so far and will go a long way to showing us what kind of character the team has.

[ant london]

I hope Dzeko's playing, he's a smashing player and one of my favourites.

[AG7]

I have to say i'm very nervous for this game.I never imagined a month back that we could be facing a battle for second place but it's now a reality.

The pressure is really on and this could easily be considered our biggest test of the season so far and will go a long way to showing us what kind of character the team has.

Spot on ... same here, nervous a bit, anxious a bit ... and sure enough this is the litmus test for team's togetherness and collective character.

We have collected just the 2 points off possible 9 in last three games ... a win is a must!

[ant london]

I don't know what it is about the side mentally but just as I was in the shitty old days I was/am often less pessimistic about our chances against one of the big teams than our "equivalents" (at the time....or the "relative" smaller teams as they are/should be now)....as us really turning on an unexpected performance against the big boys and then capitulating meekly against teams we should have been capable of beating.

I think previously it was real underdog/cup final syndrome against the big sides and now it seems that the team/players just can't get it into their heads before a game against a smaller team that they have to actually turn up and turn it on, they seem to think that they can stroll through and quality will tell. Sometimes it does but often they get made to look like cunts....Sunderland just post new year last year....QPR last day of the season for 80+ minutes.....Southampton.

When we play one of our "peer" sides it's tangible that they all know they have to properly dig in and then our true quality really does show through...we do need new personnel in the summer but most of the issues this season for me have been around mentality and that needs to be addressed in the summer in some way.

[Green & Blue]

Whats the feeling on Nasri today?

We all know now that Mancini feels like many of us do that Nasris just not putting in the shift.

I know he played well against Chelsea last season when he it really mattered but can we count on him today?

[ant london]

What I don't get about Nasri is why he is not being played with very specific instructions and coached in the week running up to a match in line with that.

As lots of us have moaned about....he slows our attacks 90% of the time. Gets the ball, cuts back, goes crossfield, passes it back. I don't get it and why he is not under some fairly specific instructions to attack some specific areas. He is often too static when he gets the ball, not moving into areas where he can do some damage. He is guilty, IMO, of trying to play like Silva and when David is on the pitch that is not what we need. We need players moving off and and around our little Spaniard, not standing around trying to do the same thing.

Nasri seems like one of the brighter footballers we have to so I honestly don't get it with him and/or the coaching staff/Mancini

[Crossie]

I think we will bottle it 0-1

[Douglas Higginbottom]

What I don't get about Nasri is why he is not being played with very specific instructions and coached in the week running up to a match in line with that.

As lots of us have moaned about....he slows our attacks 90% of the time. Gets the ball, cuts back, goes crossfield, passes it back. I don't get it and why he is not under some fairly specific instructions to attack some specific areas. He is often too static when he gets the ball, not moving into areas where he can do some damage. He is guilty, IMO, of trying to play like Silva and when David is on the pitch that is not what we need. We need players moving off and and around our little Spaniard, not standing around trying to do the same thing.

Nasri seems like one of the brighter footballers we have to so I honestly don't get it with him and/or the coaching staff/Mancini

We obviously don't know how Nasri will have taken the direct criticism.The papers like to tell us it is all out war in the dressing room but that is total garbage I am sure.Mancini will have decided it was the way to go with him hence the comments.Maybe he will start with him today to get the right reaction but I doubt it and expect a midfield including Rodwell and neither of Barry or Garcia,both of whom have missed plenty of training this week.Didn't Mancini say that Barry won't make it?.

We have to come out quickly today and be very busy.I do hope Yaya isn't given one of the central sitting midfield roles as we need him further forward like he was against Leeds.If we play well we will win,if not just a draw.

[ant london]

We obviously don't know how Nasri will have taken the direct criticism.The papers like to tell us it is all out war in the dressing room but that is total garbage I am sure.Mancini will have decided it was the way to go with him hence the comments.Maybe he will start with him today to get the right reaction but I doubt it

Mancini doesn't often do the public criticism of individual players thing but IMO when he does it he often is pretty smart about it. It's a lot of stick often followed by an immediate carrot (of a start). He did it with Mario a lot....it's pretty smart man management IMO so although agreed I wouldn't expect Nasri to start...I wouldn't be at all surprise to see him feature for 30 mins.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Mancini doesn't often do the public criticism of individual players thing but IMO when he does it he often is pretty smart about it. It's a lot of stick often followed by an immediate carrot (of a start). He did it with Mario a lot....it's pretty smart man management IMO so although agreed I wouldn't expect Nasri to start...I wouldn't be at all surprise to see him feature for 30 mins.

Well it really worked well with Mario!

[Beefymcfc]

If Nasri doesn't get a game today it will be clear that Mancini has lost all faith in him.

[ant london]

Mancini doesn't often do the public criticism of individual players thing but IMO when he does it he often is pretty smart about it. It's a lot of stick often followed by an immediate carrot (of a start). He did it with Mario a lot....it's pretty smart man management IMO so although agreed I wouldn't expect Nasri to start...I wouldn't be at all surprise to see him feature for 30 mins.

Well it really worked well with Mario!

Anything was worth a try with Mario! He's done it with others to better effect! ;-)

[AG7]

TEAM NEWS

Hart
Zabaleta (C), Kolo Toure, Nastasic, Clichy
Garcia, Milner, Rodwell
Silva, Yaya Toure, Aguero

4-3-3?
or 4-5-1?

[Lee_R]

Gudetti on the bench please.

edit: HOLY FUCK RODWELL!! *YIKES?!*

[AG7]

TEAM NEWS

Hart
Zabaleta (C), Kolo Toure, Nastasic, Clichy
Garcia, Milner, Rodwell
Silva, Yaya Toure, Aguero

4-3-3?
or 4-5-1?

So it is one up front (Aguero) with Yaya and Silva in support. Interesting tactics ... going to be busy in midfield!

Hart
Zaba, Kolo, Nasti, Clichy
Silva, Garcia, Milner, Rodwell, Yaya
Aguero

[Duckman]

well, aint this weird?

maybe its like this:

joe
zaba kolo nasty gael
milner javi jack silva
yaya
kun

[Beefymcfc]

TEAM NEWS

Hart
Zabaleta (C), Kolo Toure, Nastasic, Clichy
Garcia, Rodwell
Milner, Yaya Toure, Silva,
Aguero

4-3-3?
or 4-5-1?

That team seems a little confusing. We seem to be missing somebody?

[Luke11993]

Barry kompany? Seems a strange line up tbh, he obviously thinks rodwell can do a job glad he does cause I don't!