Next : Stoke (Away)

[freshie]

Yaya playing off the front man Negrado with Jovetic and Navas/Nasri as wide players. Rodwell and Fernandinho as the central holding midfield players.Nasti and Lescott in central defence with Zaba and Kolarov as full backs. Easy :)

Kolarov? Is Clichy injured?

[Colin the King]

I'd go with Lescott and Nasti at centre-half, I know people have talked about Boyata and he does deserve chances but I'd wait until the cup game to get him involved as he hasn't played in the Prem in a long time. There's obviously a bit of an imbalance with two left-footed CBs but that's the hand we've been dealt. Zabs and Clichy at full back seem straightforward choices.

Might be a little controversial, but I'd actually leave Ferna out for this one. He's shown good qualities in the games so far but also has had a bit of a tendency to go missing for periods and I think Stoke away is one game where you need more grit and less silk. I'd go with Milner and Rodwell in the middle, Touré pushed ahead behind Negredo with Navas and...here's the other divisive one, Kolarov. He's an appalling defender but pushed further forward he can concentrate on whipping crosses into Negredo. Nasri to me is a luxury player and great for pretty, possession footbal but we need a bit to be more direct, and more aggressive on Saturday.

[Saul Goodman]

i seen 11 outfield players, and no goalkeepers name

Count again. A slash means "or"

[Beefymcfc]

If it comes down to it then I'd take a draw but I feel we've got the guns to take it.

Come On City!!!

[Green & Blue]

Ah Im looking forward to the return of proper football after the internationals.I think Stoke will have a different approach under Hughes so not dreading this as much as when Pulis was at the helm busy draining the life out of football matches.If the team can click or come anyway close to doing so I think we will take home 3 points.I think anything less would be disappointment.Even though Pulis is gone it will still be a bit of a battle as the majority of the Stoke team have a physical presence.

[phips]

great. just found out that this isnt on TV for me....again.

[Goaters 103]

Would like to see Milner getting a game here so we have some mobility in cent midfield. So far Ya Ya and Fernandinho have been lead footed and when you have only 2 cent midfielders who largely sit on top of the back 4, it creates a problem in maintaining possession up the pitch and in the oppositions half.

The Shitannia isn't the biggest pitch in the land so we may see Navas rested here; hopefully Negredo gets an overdue start. I fear for us greatly in this game. Stoke remain a danger at set pieces, which are things we've defended as though all 11 men are still pissed from the previous evening.

[Breks]

Count again. A slash means "or"

Woooooooo

[Green in blue]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone have a spare ticket for this one?

Ive to head to stoke for business and this could be the one shining light of it all

cheers

[gillie]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone have a spare ticket for this one?

Ive to head to stoke for business and this could be the one shining light of it all

cheers

PMd you mate.

[Wonderwall]

worked in stoke for a while, the main thing that struck me about the place was how ugly the women were...strange but true!

[Blue Since 76]

worked in stoke for a while, the main thing that struck me about the place was how ugly the women were...strange but true!

Not that strange - looking at the men, you'd hardly expect their mothers to be models. I suppose it's what years of inbreeding does.

[Green in blue]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone have a spare ticket for this one?

Ive to head to stoke for business and this could be the one shining light of it all

cheers

PMd you mate.

Still looking guys so if you hear anything plz give me a shout

[gillie]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone have a spare ticket for this one?

Ive to head to stoke for business and this could be the one shining light of it all

cheers

PMd you mate.

Still looking guys so if you hear anything plz give me a shout

This is the tweet i sent him mate.
michael conway ‏@GillieMCFC 6h
@CityTicketX I know someone on http://mancityfans.net who is looking for a stoke ticket mate.

[Feed The Goat]

Where can we go for a drink if we are getting the train?

[gillie]

Where can we go for a drink if we are getting the train?

http://www.awaygrounds.com/stoke-city-b ... a-stadium/
If you look on here it will tell you the away friendly pubs.

[AG7]

I have a funny feeling about this one ... as in I'd rather have had a West Ham or Norwich at home at this stage ...

This was always a tricky away trip, add Hughes to the other end and he probably knows some of our players better than Pellegrini at this stage. The most I am worried about (and an hour before kick-off we'll all know) is the fact that this game has just two days in between till our CL campaign kicks off. With a day to travel and just a day there for training before Plzen game, I am afraid Pellegrini might rest a few of them for this one, especially all those coming in from internationals from far flung places. His team selection would be telling if the Sheikh and Khaldoon has told Pellegrini to take a season building his team on domestic front but keep CL at the forefront and show progress there instead. If that's the case ... well, we'll know soon I guess.

[Herb]

I have a funny feeling about this one ... as in I'd rather have had a West Ham or Norwich at home at this stage ...

This was always a tricky away trip, add Hughes to the other end and he probably knows some of our players better than Pellegrini at this stage. The most I am worried about (and an hour before kick-off we'll all know) is the fact that this game has just two days in between till our CL campaign kicks off. With a day to travel and just a day there for training before Plzen game, I am afraid Pellegrini might rest a few of them for this one, especially all those coming in from internationals from far flung places. His team selection would be telling if the Sheikh and Khaldoon has told Pellegrini to take a season building his team on domestic front but keep CL at the forefront and show progress there instead. If that's the case ... well, we'll know soon I guess.

That's a shared concern and you've voiced it better than I could have. . . the team selection in this will perhaps show where the emphasis is going to be for this season.

[phips]

anyone able to upload this game when it finishes? looks like the only way ill be able to watch it...id appreciate it.

[Breks]

What would be peoples preference playing our strongest team against stoke and making changes against plzen or vice versa?