***Champions v Rags (A) | Official Match Thread***

[Beefymcfc]

Grealish doesnt deserve to play

Doesnt mean id play sterling based on a good 10 mins.. id go with kev or mahrez

It’ll be interesting to see how we set up.

[johnny crossan]

Aye, JC, I agree but the forum and members change. It’s also about superstitions for some.

On the game, I honestly think I’d accept a draw. Yes, they are an inferior team but they have a day extra rest, we are away from home to a top 6 side and they’ve done us a few times over the last couple of years. On the plus side I think we have done well at the Swamp since the sick-swan and with a far more organised team we have what it takes.

Looking at a stalemate but hoping for a win, isn’t that what the Derby dread brings?

Ederson
Walker Stones Dias Cancelo
Bernardo Rodri Gundogan
Jesus Foden Grealish (F/L)

Bench: Steffen, Zinchenko, Ake, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Palmer, Lavia

City win 1-3​
Nailed on

This might sound lunacy but I’d be tempted to play Sterling on the right, Foden left and Jesus in the middle, matching them up with a defensive shape to stop their counter/longball tactics. I think they will go completely against the grain and come at us early but either way, a speedy technical front 3 would drag their dodgy rear guard apart and allow for the likes of Gundogan and Bernie to exploit the space.

I changed my predicted team to swap Grealish for Sterling who was originally included for that precise reason - but the gossip about Sterling going straight down the tunnel after Wednesday's CL game and Pep's curious post match remarks about him convinced me he's going to play the £100m man tomorrow and sacrifice the extra pace Raz would give us.

It may have been media whataboutery but Sterling wasn’t straight down, others went before him. He had a look of absolute relief when he scored and many players would’ve done the same.

As for Pep, he knows where his bread is buttered and you don’t alienate any player who could bring you a few bob in or score you a goal. He needs him, just like all the other players.

You've convinced me I'm gonna reverse my changes - you do know I'm top of the Guesss The Team table

[Nick]

Hope mcatee makes the bench after the derby. Cant be losing him

[Dimples]

Logic says we win this one.
We will own the ball and their defence is rubbish.
A comfortable 3-0 it is.

Mind you the same logic applied for the previous two seasons.

Very apprehensive.

[Mase]

Grealish doesnt deserve to play

Doesnt mean id play sterling based on a good 10 mins.. id go with kev or mahrez

Grealish is statistically our best attacker this season. He’s created more goal scoring opportunities than anyone.

What makes you think he doesn’t deserve to play?

I’m getting Goater vibes here..

[PeterParker]

it's just good manners really, 'official' match threads posted on match days in time honoured ***format*** with the name of the opponent in an identifiable form.

JC, you are a good poster and I respect your opinions in many moments because they are fair, but you really need to grow up a bit. If you consider a thread title to be “infantile”, “ignorant” and you talk about “common sense” (even if the infantile remark was not about the thread, but about me). We are on a football forum, in a football world when 99% of the clubs want us to crash and burn.
I was fair convinced you were taking the piss that is why I ignored, but now I see this really irks you for a reason you needed to talk about “muppets” with every chance you had.
I really scratched my eyes a few times to see if I read this right, but again, you knew my PM, you could have written and I would have responded like in the past if this was really an issue for you, instead of a remark here, a remark there.

PS: Like Mase said the other day, as a City fan I do not respect anyone. I did when we were shit, but hard to do it when the last 13 years everyone tried everything to stop us.

Moving forward on today, hope the fuck Sterling does not start.

[Beefymcfc]

Pep looks very focussed for this game while the Hobbit throws cheap jibes around like him ‘Thinking they’re the best team in Manchester … and the world’.

Then, there’s Sky Sports who don’t ask our guys about ‘Our’ stuff but request a statement about the likes of Ronaldo. You can see why Pep gets so pissed.

Need to set a marker today, stay focussed and try to counter their low bloc’s and quick longball counters.

Come on City!

[johnny crossan]

it's just good manners really, 'official' match threads posted on match days in time honoured ***format*** with the name of the opponent in an identifiable form.

JC, you are a good poster and I respect your opinions in many moments because they are fair, but you really need to grow up a bit. If you consider a thread title to be “infantile”, “ignorant” and you talk about “common sense” (even if the infantile remark was not about the thread, but about me). We are on a football forum, in a football world when 99% of the clubs want us to crash and burn.
I was fair convinced you were taking the piss that is why I ignored, but now I see this really irks you for a reason you needed to talk about “muppets” with every chance you had.
I really scratched my eyes a few times to see if I read this right, but again, you knew my PM, you could have written and I would have responded like in the past if this was really an issue for you, instead of a remark here, a remark there.

PS: Like Mase said the other day, as a City fan I do not respect anyone. I did when we were shit, but hard to do it when the last 13 years everyone tried everything to stop us.

Moving forward on today, hope the fuck Sterling does not start.

You're a good poster too PP - just respect the forum traditions on here and be careful of rebounds

[Beefymcfc]

I’d take a rebound today, I’d take anything!

[johnny crossan]

[Nick]

Mase all this stats balls hes had some very anonymous games recently - hes not working stood on the left wing.

Says it all when alot want sterling back for - foden jesus sterling which id be up for over grealish.

Also fodens best position is left.... so we lose alot accomodating him at the mo. I want to see him tried central (but not today).

[blues2win]

I went to the matches against Palace and Brugge. Grealish had a lot of the ball and did very little with it. Foden should start on the left. He offers a lot more going forward in that position and tracks back quickly which will be needed if Cancelo plays on the left. Jesus is our best option in the middle and should play there. A choice between Mahrez and Sterling on the Right but perhaps keep the latter to run against a tiring defence. As much fluidity among the top three as possible though. I’d keep Rodri Gundogan and Bernardo in midfield. They played very well on Wednesday. Dias for Laporte and that’s it. We’ve had one days lests preparation time and substitutes will be needed. Sterling and De Bruyne should play an important part in the match.

[Mase]

Mase all this stats balls hes had some very anonymous games recently - hes not working stood on the left wing.

Says it all when alot want sterling back for - foden jesus sterling which id be up for over grealish.

Also fodens best position is left.... so we lose alot accomodating him at the mo. I want to see him tried central (but not today).

Literally no one is asking for Sterling back mate Let’s not talk about Foden’s best position, the guy couldn’t hit the target with a penalty, as a professional footballer, so he’s untouchable from criticism from our fans because he’s a local lad.

We can leave the Grealish shit here though. Some of our fans really are fuckin pathetic bellends. I saw some old cunt on Cheesy’s video moaning about Grealish. The guy couldn’t stand straight!

Like I say, some of our fans think we’re saints. We did the same shit when we bought Goater and people got on his back. I can’t wait until we buy someone else and the spotlight is off Grealish for a bit.

[Kippax Sean]

Foden Jesus Mahrez attacking bernie has to start Dias back, the rest I can live with whoever Pep puts out. Come on City!

[sheblue]

2nd guessing a pep team? Bust of luck with that.

For me the back 4 picks itself, middle should be Bernie, Rodri and Gundo.
It's the front 3 where it all gets a bit messy.

[Nick]

Are you on a windup lol foden has been several levels above everyone

Im not getting on grealish' back im merely saying he doesnt deserve to start today.

Just because he costs 100 mill doesnt mean he starts every game.

If you are playing grealish.. 1) where do you play foden? 2) who do you play up front/ false 9?

He will come good. But he needs to improve. We will play better without him at the mo IMO.

I think hell play kev which might fuck the balance up esp if he drops gundo.

[Nick]

Do you actually love these pretty boys lol nobody is getting on his back at all - some fans are sayibg he needs to do more. The lad cost 100 mill and we didnt actually need him. Its ok to say someone needs to do more.

[Dimples]

I expect Gundo to play and be told to do what he is excellent at, arriving in the box, sniffing out goal chances in the box and putting them away.

[sheblue]

Do you actually love these pretty boys lol nobody is getting on his back at all - some fans are sayibg he needs to do more. The lad cost 100 mill and we didnt actually need him. Its ok to say someone needs to do more.

Can't jump to this conclusion. He will possibly change position in the future.
Far too early for judgement.

[johnny crossan]