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07.12.11 B.Munich (H) 19:45 Champions League
12.12.11 Chelsea (A) 20:00 Premier League
18.12.11 Arsenal (H) 16:10 Premier League

After seeing us drop two points in the Scouse game largely due to the fatigue I would put out the Carling Cup team against Munich so that we have a fully fit and fresh squad to keep our headway up in the Premier League, that could be 6 points lost for the sake of a game that is most probably irrelevant.

We have a crazy two months now and both Spurs and United are now both out of a cup competition and so have less games ahead of them.

Also Liverpool and Arsenal are beginning to find their form?

Tough call but I don't think so mate.

The champs league throws up some funny results and if it turns out there's a draw at Villareal and we've fielded a weakened side I'd lose it.

We're not out until its confirmed and we need to try and win that game against Bayern IMO.... if there's a chance of reaching the knockout stages, then anything can happen after that, particularly if you've scraped out of the toughest group in the competition!

Original Dub wrote:Tough call but I don't think so mate.

The champs league throws up some funny results and if it turns out there's a draw at Villareal and we've fielded a weakened side I'd lose it.

We're not out until its confirmed and we need to try and win that game against Bayern IMO.... if there's a chance of reaching the knockout stages, then anything can happen after that, particularly if you've scraped out of the toughest group in the competition!

I believe the Chelsea and Arsenal games could define our season, we could be anything between 3rd place and 10 points clear after them? (assuming that Spurs beat Everton in their game in hand)

Also what if any important players got injured against Bayern?

I am far too cautious to do a job like Mancini has, but i'd win the Premier League at all costs.

I will be fucking spewing if we play a weak side and Napoli draw.

Well firstly the Sheik just said winning the PL is priority.

But then we play on Saturday, then we dont play Chelsea until the Monday after. Injuries aside we should be able to play our strongest team against Chelski and Bayern. He may just rest someone against Norwich, but I still think they should all be able to play those 3 games.

in any case there may well be tactical changes depending on the oppo's way of playing.

We have to go for the Chumps until we're out of it.

Not the question, but I wouldnt mind dropping the Europa if as is probable we drop in. But then I guess it's all revenue. We should have a big enough squad and so far we are pretty lucky with injuries, so I reckon we will keep battling for every sniff of glory

I was convinced we were out straight after the Napoli game but hope has grown that Villareal can pull something off.

We can't afford to give anything less than 100% in the Bayern game.

I would LOVE IT if we went unbeaten in the league. so that's a yes from me

Don't we get like an 800k win bonus if we win this game, regardless of the other result?

As it stands, we've earned about 27 million Euros from this competition, from prize money and TV rights alone.

There is sufficient time between these games , barring injuries for the manager to pick the best team for the occasion.
I see absolutely no reason to start playing mind games about permutations. I think we have to take each game as it comes and try to win it and build / plan a strategy to win the next game.

I have a sneaky suspicion that we might just get the CL qualification.

Also we need to go down to Chelsea to get three points. If scouse 1 can tonk them twice on their patch surely City can.

Btw, I thought we were unlucky to concede tha goal against Scouse 1 and I'm sure if we could have held out after going ahead until half time , i think we would have got the three points, Scouse 1 were starting to get panicky when they luckily equalised.

Nah. Maybe rest a few again on Sat with a strong bench just in case. Strongest team possible against Munich (don't like the way Rummenigge has been spouting about stopping us so would love to shut him up). It's then 5 days til we play Chelsea and a 6 day gap after that til Arsenal. Fatigue shouldn't be a problem. The big guns have just had best part of a week off.

Also if we are taking it that our illustrious neighbours are our only competition, they have 8 games between Sat and 4th Jan. 5 are away including 18th at QPR (not easy as we know) then 21st at Fulham. The last game in that spell is Newcastle away. We know after the palace game that their squad isn't that strong. Bacon's got a dilemma now. He may have to play his strongest team in all those games to keep pace. Can see them dropping points though the way they are playing.

Priority Prem yes, but to answer the OP there is no need. There is only need to rest certain players at certain times.. there isn't a definate 1st team and 2nd team... just tweaks. So if req yes rest someone for Chelsea.

Outside that I agree with zurich. No need to big up the Scouce or others imo, if they hadn't got the lucky goal they could have been on the ropes in that game. Arsenal and Spurs are on form but are only an injury or two from problems again.

zuricity wrote:Btw, I thought we were unlucky to concede tha goal against Scouse 1 and I'm sure if we could have held out after going ahead until half time , i think we would have got the three points, Scouse 1 were starting to get panicky when they luckily equalised.

I look at this the other way: Had liverpool not scored when they did, after going a goal behind, they'd have fought more, and a later goal may have put them on the crest of a wave to nick it late in the game...

Villarreal have lost 5 in a row, including once against Napoli when they still had something to play for.

Where is the back bone!! Im getting pissed off with people thinking we need to pick and choose what we should go for. Our players are more than capable of playing two games of football a week!! and too right !!

We should get used to going for everything 100% !!! from champ league to league cup.

We don't write it off but it's out of our hands for qualifying - so we play Bayern for pride after the previous defeat. I want to see us turn them over.

Whatever XI we're thinking of fielding, I hope Kolo plays at Norwich. He seems to really need game time to keep his fitness up. Regular football at this time could mean we get the best out of him before ACN, and the best once he comes back.

BlueinBosnia wrote:Whatever XI we're thinking of fielding, I hope Kolo plays at Norwich. He seems to really need game time to keep his fitness up. Regular football at this time could mean we get the best out of him before ACN, and the best once he comes back.

BiB, I take your point about the Liverpool game. However, surely it would be in Kolo's interested to comeback from the ACN
fitter. He can use this as a means to get himself back to fitness, rather than City risk his 'wobbling/waffling' at the back.

Dazzacity wrote:Where is the back bone!! Im getting pissed off with people thinking we need to pick and choose what we should go for. Our players are more than capable of playing two games of football a week!! and too right !!

We dropped two points at Liverpool due to fatigue from midweek.