***Champions v Leicester Official Match Thread***

[Nigels Tackle]

Palmer isn’t going to make it with us. McAtee has more of a chance.

sad to say that i agree with you 150%
he looked lost yesterday and has done in most of the minutes he’s been on this season

[johnny crossan]

I suppose with these first choice players missing in the second half there is going to be a significant drop off

Stones, Ake,
Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne,
(Foden) Haaland, Grealish

but since these established internationals should be able to cover with a couple of youngsters from the chorus line

Walker, Akanji, Laporte,
Bernardo, Phillips
Mahrez, Alvarez

the scale of the decline in the last half hour invites an explanation.

So when Kalvin says modestly he had "a bit of a stinker"
and Akanji is clearly not an adequate replacement for Stones
and Laporte is repeatedly chugging back 20 yards behind the play watching their forwards close in on goal
and Mahrez is in a shisha bar on the halfway line
and Walker gives a virtuoso display of his inability to control a football
and Gomez openly admits he is totally out of his depth at City
and Palmer is regressing at the speed of light

all leaving Alvarez making runs for no purpose and Bernie overwhelmed as our solitary functioning midfielder

it means that Phillips, Laporte, Walker, Mahrez, Gomez and Palmer should never be allowed on the pitch together - but we all knew that already .

[Mase]

Not sure what Rico has done to not deserve a chance to come on when the players that came on yesterday were awful. I’d rather have been Lewis in DM than Phillips.

[johnny crossan]

Not sure what Rico has done to not deserve a chance to come on when the players that came on yesterday were awful. I’d rather have been Lewis in DM than Phillips.

Truth is Rico didn't sustain his form after an impressive first team debut, he can't make the England U-19s currently but still only 18!

We just stop playing when Rodri's not there and have no replacement for Ake. Perilous for our hopes if either of those gets crocked - similar with Stones.
Phillips' signing as backup DM could turn out very costly - too easy to blame just Bielsa tho'.

[Mase]

Not sure what Rico has done to not deserve a chance to come on when the players that came on yesterday were awful. I’d rather have been Lewis in DM than Phillips.

Truth is Rico didn't sustain his form after an impressive first team debut, he can't make the England U-19s currently but still only 18!

We just stop playing when Rodri's not there and have no replacement for Ake. Perilous for our hopes if either of those gets crocked - similar with Stones.
Phillips' signing as backup DM could turn out very costly - too easy to blame just Bielsa tho'.

I honestly couldn’t name you a match where Rico didn’t impress me. I’ve never seen him have a poor game

[salford city]

Not sure what Rico has done to not deserve a chance to come on when the players that came on yesterday were awful. I’d rather have been Lewis in DM than Phillips.

Truth is Rico didn't sustain his form after an impressive first team debut, he can't make the England U-19s currently but still only 18!

We just stop playing when Rodri's not there and have no replacement for Ake. Perilous for our hopes if either of those gets crocked - similar with Stones.
Phillips' signing as backup DM could turn out very costly - too easy to blame just Bielsa tho'.

Rico will be back I've no doubt about that. Rodri is simply irreplaceable for us which means unless we have a youngster who is willing to be a constant understudy or a much older experienced option happy to sit on the bench. When fit, Rodri plays every game. Phillips for whatever reason is not up to the task so I can see him going and Bellingham coming in. That still leaves us short if both gundo and bernie go

[carl_feedthegoat]

Phillips absolute donkey (OD rates him though )

I do??

I know fuck all about him mate.

But let this sink in....















You don't rate pep

We ( as in most of us on here ) wanted Phillips gone after a few games as it was clear as day he was going to be shit —- well , it was clear to most of us , just not you .

Ah so I didn't say I wanted him gone after a few games? You're able to spot so much stuff so early on. Except spelling and grammar obviously.

And you hate pep, so you haven't much credit in the bank unfortunately mongo.

Spelling correctly on a fucking fan forum might be a big turn on for a weirdo like you but it’s certainly not important for me.

Weird little oik .

[johnny crossan]

Not sure what Rico has done to not deserve a chance to come on when the players that came on yesterday were awful. I’d rather have been Lewis in DM than Phillips.

Truth is Rico didn't sustain his form after an impressive first team debut, he can't make the England U-19s currently but still only 18!

We just stop playing when Rodri's not there and have no replacement for Ake. Perilous for our hopes if either of those gets crocked - similar with Stones.
Phillips' signing as backup DM could turn out very costly - too easy to blame just Bielsa tho'.

I honestly couldn’t name you a match where Rico didn’t impress me. I’ve never seen him have a poor game

He's dropped out of the PL picture since February, his performance in our defeat at Tottenham was not good. Think they are wanting him to beef up, his dad owns a boxing gym so maybe that will help.

[KinkyKinkladze]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't pep do the same when foden graduated? Played games at a time then generally found himself benched on the run ins. Means he gets the game time but then the outwards-looking-in on what he will be part of.

Two years time i expect Rico to be first choice at right back.

[stupot]

Foden never started a league game at 17/18 years old. Came on as sub a lot.
The only poor game Rico has had for me was when we played him on the left. I imagine he's going to start at Wembley

[Dubciteh]

Lewis should always start ahead of gomez even if he has one leg. At least him, palmer and Phillips have shown glimpses of ability and able to play at this level. Gomes has never done that.

Our best hope is vinny spunks 20m on him in the summer.

[johnny crossan]

Lewis should always start ahead of gomez even if he has one leg. At least him, palmer and Phillips have shown glimpses of ability and able to play at this level. Gomes has never done that.

Our best hope is vinny spunks 20m on him in the summer.

on the Phillips scale of scouting error, another real disappointment in sky blue

[Mase]

Lewis should always start ahead of gomez even if he has one leg. At least him, palmer and Phillips have shown glimpses of ability and able to play at this level. Gomes has never done that.

Our best hope is vinny spunks 20m on him in the summer.

on the Phillips scale of scouting error, another real disappointment in sky blue

Phillips was recommended by Pep’s hero, Bielsa and Gomez by Kompany.

Maybe we should start only trusting people from within City that we employ, it would probably make more sense.

[john@staustell]

Palmer isn’t going to make it with us. McAtee has more of a chance.

sad to say that i agree with you 150%
he looked lost yesterday and has done in most of the minutes he’s been on this season

I knew you guys would come around to see it. But fuck me it's taken a long time

[Nickyboy]

I'm forever blowing bubbles

Everton got a very important draw against United that gave us the initiative in the title race when Moyse was manager, let's hope he repeats that tomorrow

Called it

[salford city]

I'm forever blowing bubbles

Everton got a very important draw against United that gave us the initiative in the title race when Moyse was manager, let's hope he repeats that tomorrow

Called it

Loads of tinkers in my local with Arsenal shirts on today enjoyed the craic with them especially when Bowen scored

[Indianablue]

I suppose with these first choice players missing in the second half there is going to be a significant drop off

Stones, Ake,
Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne,
(Foden) Haaland, Grealish

but since these established internationals should be able to cover with a couple of youngsters from the chorus line

Walker, Akanji, Laporte,
Bernardo, Phillips
Mahrez, Alvarez

the scale of the decline in the last half hour invites an explanation.

So when Kalvin says modestly he had "a bit of a stinker"
and Akanji is clearly not an adequate replacement for Stones
and Laporte is repeatedly chugging back 20 yards behind the play watching their forwards close in on goal
and Mahrez is in a shisha bar on the halfway line
and Walker gives a virtuoso display of his inability to control a football
and Gomez openly admits he is totally out of his depth at City
and Palmer is regressing at the speed of light

all leaving Alvarez making runs for no purpose and Bernie overwhelmed as our solitary functioning midfielder

it means that Phillips, Laporte, Walker, Mahrez, Gomez and Palmer should never be allowed on the pitch together - but we all knew that already .

Can't fault this. Out of the second stringers, Palmer hasn't developed to merit a place, he could benefit from a loan spell, Gomez is not a genuine full back and hasn't shown too much in his attacking runs considering he started out as a forward and Phillips i just don't know, still seems way off the pace - hoped he be a Nigel De Jong but he's a long way off

[johnny crossan]

I suppose with these first choice players missing in the second half there is going to be a significant drop off
Stones, Ake,
Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne,
(Foden) Haaland, Grealish
but since these established internationals should be able to cover with a couple of youngsters from the chorus line
Walker, Akanji, Laporte,
Bernardo, Phillips
Mahrez, Alvarez
the scale of the decline in the last half hour invites an explanation.
So when Kalvin says modestly he had "a bit of a stinker"
and Akanji is clearly not an adequate replacement for Stones
and Laporte is repeatedly chugging back 20 yards behind the play watching their forwards close in on goal
and Mahrez is in a shisha bar on the halfway line
and Walker gives a virtuoso display of his inability to control a football
and Gomez openly admits he is totally out of his depth at City
and Palmer is regressing at the speed of light
all leaving Alvarez making runs for no purpose and Bernie overwhelmed as our solitary functioning midfielder

it means that Phillips, Laporte, Walker, Mahrez, Gomez and Palmer should never be allowed on the pitch together - but we all knew that already .

Can't fault this. Out of the second stringers, Palmer hasn't developed to merit a place, he could benefit from a loan spell, Gomez is not a genuine full back and hasn't shown too much in his attacking runs considering he started out as a forward and Phillips i just don't know, still seems way off the pace - hoped he be a Nigel De Jong but he's a long way off

Feels wrong to write off any City player, they are Blues after all. De Jong is a good call on what we might have hoped for in Phillips. He did impress many while playing at a high level by showing agility, bite in the tackle, good quality long & short passing - all the things conspicuously absent on the rare occasions he's turned out for us. Seems slow, passive and too fearful of losing possession without the self-confidence to break forward - the shadow of Rodri may be just too big. Strange really.