Match Thread: Stoke v Man City (FA Cup replay)

[btajim]

CTID etc.

Good preview on here: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1193530_fa_cup_preview_stoke_v_city
Free coverage here: http://www.itv.com

City to choose from: Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Toure, Lescott, Boyata, Garrido, Sylvinho, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Barry, De Jong, Ibrahim, Bellamy, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Kompany.

Jim says:

[center]Given
Richards Lescott Kompany Bridge
Wright-Phillips Barry De Jong Bellamy
Adebayor Santa Cruz[/center]

Respect to anyone going tonight.

[ScapeGoat]

Zabba can't be dropped tonight, regardless of tactics or opposition, it would send the wrong message to the rest of the squad.

[Wonderwall]

Zabba can't be dropped tonight, regardless of tactics or opposition, it would send the wrong message to the rest of the squad.

agree, zabba must play

[avoidconfusion]

I'd drop SWP for Zabba. :)

[btajim]

Zabba can't be dropped tonight, regardless of tactics or opposition, it would send the wrong message to the rest of the squad.

agree, zabba must play

I disagree. I think the physical presence of Richards is important when you're going to Stoke. Zabaleta has done nothing to warrant being dropped - but i've always been a supporter of Horses for Courses.

Besides, it's MY Team and not necessarily the one I think we'll see tonight.

[ryanmjo]

Team News:
Given
Richards Onouha Lescott Bridge
Ireland Zabaleta Kompany Barry
Bellamy Adebayor

No idea what formation that is going to be

[andeez nutz]

we better win today.

C'mon CITY.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Team News:
Given
Richards Onouha Lescott Bridge
Ireland Zabaleta Kompany Barry
Bellamy Adebayor

No idea what formation that is going to be

Nice attacking team there.....rolls eyes.

[Florida Blue]

Is de Jong hurt?

If he is not, why not play him, Boyata and Garrido, and just close up shop. So glad I do not have to watch this, I would rather watch the rain here in Florida fall then see our smothered attack. WHY????

[Elvistheblue]

I think he will play...

Given
Richards Lescott Ned Bridge
Bellamy Zab Kompany Barry
Ireland
Adebayor

more like this I think.

Given
Richards Lescott Ned Bridge
Ireland Zab Kompany Barry Bellamy
Adebayor

[btajim]

[center]Given
Richards Onuoha Lescott Bridge
Ireland Zabaleta Kompany Barry Bellamy
Adebayor[/center]

Surprised at no DeJong in the starting XI.

[BmoreBlue]

my guess is the diamond midfield with 3 CMs and Ireland in the hole behind Adebayor and Bellamy.

Given
Richards-Ned-Lescott-Bridge
Zabs-Kompany-Barry
Ireland
Adebayor-Bellamy

[Dubciteh]

doug called it right, sort of glad i cant see the game to be honest.

Silly breaking up our solid defence we need to work on it, not break it up when it starts to look good.

is this a more frustrating period than the pearce period?least we were shit then now we have quality players but i duno.....

Anyway hope we romp home and i eat my words but it aint going to pretty...

[Florida Blue]

doug called it right, sort of glad i cant see the game to be honest.

Silly breaking up our solid defence we need to work on it, not break it up when it starts to look good.

is this a more frustrating period than the pearce period?least we were shit then now we have quality players but i duno.....

Anyway hope we romp home and i eat my words but it aint going to pretty...

Well Toure had a late fitness test, so the hand may have been forced to play Ned.

[carl_feedthegoat]

12 LAMB CHOPS (BABY CHOPS FROM PATAGONIA I MIGHT ADD) A BOTTLE OF ANDULUN MALBEC 2006...READY IN 10 MINS.
MRS MASSAGING MY FEET.
CITY ON THE BOX IN 25 MINS.
THE SUN IS SHINING.

WHAT COULD FUCK THIS PERFECT DAY UP??????? CITY BETTER WIN AND THEY BETTER WIN PLAYING SOME GOOD FOOTBALL.

[btajim]

doug called it right, sort of glad i cant see the game to be honest.

Silly breaking up our solid defence we need to work on it, not break it up when it starts to look good.

is this a more frustrating period than the pearce period?least we were shit then now we have quality players but i duno.....

Anyway hope we romp home and i eat my words but it aint going to pretty...

Well Toure had a late fitness test, so the hand may have been forced to play Ned.

Kompany and Lescott would have been fine in Defence with DeJong patrolling the Midfield.

[citytilidie]

zzzzzzz i can't wait for this one...

[avoidconfusion]

To be honest I would have done the same. De Jong won't be useful tonight because Stoke just surpass the midfield with their long ball shit and he is too small. Smart move moving Kompany there imho. He can pass the ball better than De Jong too.

[The Brazilian Genius]

So its only the 7 defensive minded players today then? lol

Understand it will be a battle today...but would anybody else have gone a little more attack minded than that with what is available?

[btajim]

To be honest I would have done the same. De Jong won't be useful tonight because Stoke just surpass the midfield with their long ball shit and he is too small. Smart move moving Kompany there imho. He can pass the ball better than De Jong too.

I'd prefer to have Kompany in at Centre Half as he's looked good there with Lescott. I understand the point about De Jong - but he's such an effective player in holding Midfield that he should be clever enough to deal with Stoke's "hoof it" policy.