Arsenal on Tuesday

[DoomMerchant]

We're four games away from a trophy, we'd be stupid not to take it seriously.

We will get a reward of possibly a two game semi final v the rags if we win. That will give them the opportunity to kick fucking lumps out of our best players & even out the title odds if we take it seriously.

i'm starting to feel like this year is a glorious, and precious, chance to win the league, and anything, anything we do to distract ourselves from it is really senseless.

I'm all for winning trophies, but honestly we could win the next 5 milk cups and the next 5 Europa Leagues and it would mean fuckall compared to winning the League, wouldn't it? that's how i feel about it at least.

We need a CB and a striker in Jan...no joke. Mancini is probably not going to sleep well for a few weeks. Banana skin with Norwich City as well i believe. We've got to get back to staunch defending and taking our chances. Put out a team to play the Arse but don't take silly risks and give some first teamers a rest for sure. Aguero should have a big ice pack on his bollocks all week i think. Give the kid a break...he's not looking solid. And if it's not injury, then send him to a shrink or get him laid or something.

cheers

[Biamp]

Pants, Onuoha, K Toure, Savic, Zabba, NDJ, Hargreaves, Johnson, Kolorov, Nasri & Dzeko. The bench should be part first choice & part kids, such as Rekik, Suarez, Razak + ST, WB YT & JM, with the intention of not using Yaya & Milner. Doubt that Arsenal will risk their main players either so a chance to test our back up squad

Great team, here we rest the key lads. And bring the youngsters who need playing time, or other players who lack playing time.

[Biamp]

Can't say I'm that arsed tbh. Just do whatever is neccessary to keep the players sharp for the league. If Bob things Dzeko will benefit from a runout, then play him. AJ, DeJong, possibly [highlight]Barry[/highlight]should be ok as they've not played too much. Could play half a game each with Hargreaves & Razak. Kolarov & Zabba should be fresh. Savic & Kolo should play & hopefully it won't be against arsenal's 1st team strikers, or we're fucked. Kolo got a few mins today & even in that short time, managed to give Andy Carrol a free header.

Aguero to me, looks like he's been carrying something for weeks. I don't think he's been 100% since very early in his City career. I recon we'll see a lot more from him if we get him fully fit so I wouldn't play him at all midweek. We need him & Dzeko fit as we don't know what Balotelli will do as the season goes on.

Think he's banned for 5 yellows.

Indeed. Barry is banned.

[phips]

Can't say I'm that arsed tbh. Just do whatever is neccessary to keep the players sharp for the league. If Bob things Dzeko will benefit from a runout, then play him. AJ, DeJong, possibly [highlight]Barry[/highlight]should be ok as they've not played too much. Could play half a game each with Hargreaves & Razak. Kolarov & Zabba should be fresh. Savic & Kolo should play & hopefully it won't be against arsenal's 1st team strikers, or we're fucked. Kolo got a few mins today & even in that short time, managed to give Andy Carrol a free header.

Aguero to me, looks like he's been carrying something for weeks. I don't think he's been 100% since very early in his City career. I recon we'll see a lot more from him if we get him fully fit so I wouldn't play him at all midweek. We need him & Dzeko fit as we don't know what Balotelli will do as the season goes on.

Think he's banned for 5 yellows.

Indeed. Barry is banned.

Good. Rest Barry, he looked gassed today.
Rest Silva for the full 90 and ffs rest Yaya for the full 90 too.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

What sort of team do the Arse put out? They haven't won a carrot for way too long and the title has all but disappeared already. Any trophy win would be a relief to them I'm sure but is staying top four and on the CL gravy train more important?

[Dubciteh]

Id go:

Pantillimon

Onouaha-Savic-Toure-Kolorov

De-jong-Zabba- hargreaves(milner if not fit)

Johnson-nasri

Dzecko

[brite blu sky]

Looking at the fixtures and when we need our best players and when we could get away with resting

CC Arsenal 29th
H Norwich 4days later - good team but should be space to play here - could rest Silva and Yaya
H Bayern 4days later - good team or best team? to try and get the result just in case Napoli... er...
A Chelsea 5days later - best side out for this one.

[Ted Hughes]

Id go:

Pantillimon

Onouaha-Savic-Toure-Kolorov

De-jong-Zabba- hargreaves(milner if not fit)

Johnson-nasri

Dzecko

Milner deserves a rest.

I should imagine Razak will play as he's been recalled from loan.

[Goaters 103]

Reserve Keeper and back 4 - Zab, Richard Ashrcoft, Kolo and Kolarov pick themselves. Onouha hopefully wont be anywhere near.

Barry is banned, Ya Ya and Milner need a rest, Hargreaves is only just back from his latest injury so that leaves De Jong and Razak in the hold spots with Razak coming back from loan a big clue to his inclusion.

The line of three ahead of them is where we will be left guessing - AJ definately plays, then poss Nasri though Im not sure that would be wise as he may play against Arse like Barry does against Villa, ie shite.

Dzeko plays up top.

Bench will prob be strong, but that said with the prospects of a two-legged semi-final plonked into an already crowded January, Im not sure Mancini will cry any tears if we lose. Personallty Id love to win The Carling but to have to play 50 hours after walking off at Anfield is madness. Wednesday would have been fine and may have seen a slightly different City selection.

Arsenal will mix and match too no doubt, but given our awful record at The Emirates, and the way we are defending of late, I can easily see us going out.

[Chinners]

We're four games away from a trophy, we'd be stupid not to take it seriously.

We will get a reward of possibly a two game semi final v the rags if we win. That will give them the opportunity to kick fucking lumps out of our best players & even out the title odds if we take it seriously.

It can also give us the opportunity to beat them again! I'd love to see us win another trophy, we've got a big enough squad, especially now that were 80% out the CL imo.

Totally agree, we should be going for this in the same way we should go for the UWAFFER if we end up in it. Winning shinny pots is what its all about imo and we are not exactly oversubcribed to shinny pots at present so the more the better

[DoomMerchant]

We're four games away from a trophy, we'd be stupid not to take it seriously.

We will get a reward of possibly a two game semi final v the rags if we win. That will give them the opportunity to kick fucking lumps out of our best players & even out the title odds if we take it seriously.

It can also give us the opportunity to beat them again! I'd love to see us win another trophy, we've got a big enough squad, especially now that were 80% out the CL imo.

Totally agree, we should be going for this in the same way we should go for the UWAFFER if we end up in it. Winning shinny pots is what its all about imo and we are not exactly oversubcribed to shinny pots at present so the more the better

we are not oversubscribed, but is winning either of the pots you mentioned really anything worse risking league form for? not for me it isn't.

cheers

[Chinners]

I suppose we could just concentrate on the Prem ..... and then whinge like feck if we blow it and blame Mancini for putting all our eggs in one basket (he strikes me like the kinda guy that will want to win them all anyway). I'm not saying we should put out our strongest 11 for every CC game but we should be playing squad players and not players from the EDS (unless we are 3-0 up and want to give them a bit of gametime).

[sheblue]

aguero, silva, milner and yaya need to be rested for this one...we have a very tough december ahead when they will be needed more.

[Ted Hughes]

I suppose we could just concentrate on the Prem ..... and then whinge like feck if we blow it and blame Mancini for putting all our eggs in one basket (he strikes me like the kinda guy that will want to win them all anyway). I'm not saying we should put out our strongest 11 for every CC game but we should be playing squad players and not players from the EDS (unless we are 3-0 up and want to give them a bit of gametime).

Imo the only thing that can stop us winning the league is injuries. If we were to pick up a couple in the League Cup & end up missing key players in the league, we would never forgive Bob.

[Chinners]

Thats fair enough Ted but imo we have one of the best squads ever assembled and it should be more than capable of handling the CC and/or CL/Uwaffer cup matches ... it would just be bonkers not to try

[getdressedmctavish]

I don't think Bobby Manc listens much to our advice, lol

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I just think the opportunity to go to Wembley with 30,000 blues to see us lift a trophy would be amazing. I understand why others want to prioritize the league but it's only four games! We can win both.

[lyons07]

full-ish team no silva,yaya,barry or aguero.

panti, zab kolo savic kolarov milner nasri johnson de jong rusnak/suarez dzeko

No point putting a shit team out because of being scared of injuries, players can get injured in training, plus I dont really wanna go at 1, get home at 4am to watch a reserve game with 5200 other city fans.

[mcfc1632]

I think that people may be surprised just how strong a team is put out - and in particular how many top players there are on the bench in case we need them - Mancini wants to win this (IMO)

[Alex Sapphire]

hasn't he said he'll make 11 changes.
Mind games?