Next: Sunderland | CapitalOne Cup Final

[AG7]

CapitalOne Cup (League Cup)
FINAL

Manchester City v Sunderland
Wembley Stadium, London

Sunday 2 March 2014
Kickoff: 1400 GMT

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants : Steve Child & Simon Long
Fourth Official: Neil Swarbrick


TV Coverage in UK: Sky Sports 1 HD (Sky 401), Sky Sports 1 (Sky 407) and Sky 3D (Sky 170)
Coverage starts at 1230 GMT
As part of the build-up, The Sunday Supplement also airs live from Wembley at 1130 GMT

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The Final

I would love for someone to start a new thread here at the full time whistle ... titled "One down, three to go" ... but wait, we still have to win this first. We must not do the mistake of last year, FA Cup Final against Wigan, where we were the 'sure bet' ... I guess everyone thought that and even our players that we just need to show up to receive the trophy and medals ...

Sunderland is no Wigan ... this is going to be a tougher test than Wigan last year, that much is for sure ... and we certainly need to turn up more than we did last year, or else it'll not only be heartbreak for the Cup but a defeat here could potentially derail us on all fronts.

It is a cup final, a one off, a 90 minute game between 11 v 11 ... and anything can happen out there. Sure we have more quality on paper, sure we are in better form than the opponents (on the whole season, not just last month), but still all that needs to be translated onto the pitch that day ... and if we execute this one nicely, we'll be all set for a push on the remaining three fronts. Who knows, a win here and a win in the FA Cup Quarter Final (against Wigan) could help us build huge confidence ahead of the Barca return leg ... and as I just said, anything's possible.


The Opposition

Sunderland has been pretty up and down all season. Gus Poyet has certainly done better than Di Canio and they find themselves in the Final of one domestic cup and the Quarter Finals of the other one (FA Cup) ... but their league form has been a real mixed bag and they remain in the bottom three (albeit with one game in hand, but then that's against us at the Etihad) ...

While we took the (relatively) easy route to the final ...

Round 3: Home, City 5 - Wigan 0
Round 4: Away, City 2 - Newcastle 0 (after extra time)
Round 5: Away, City 3 - Leicester 1
Semi Final: City 9, West Ham 0 (over two legs)

They have taken the hardest possible route ...

Round 2: Home, Sunderland 4 - MK Dons 2
Round 3: Home, Sunderland 2 - Peterborough United 0
Round 4: Home, Sunderland 2 - Southampton 1
Round 5: Home, Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 1 (after extra time)
Semi Final: Sunderland 3 - Scum 3 (won 2-1 on penalties)

Now, they might have played most games at home in the run-up but the opposition certainly was no joke ... an in-form Southampton, then Chelsea and then the Scum ... and surely this must have toughened them up for the Final challenge.

Their form right now is a mixed bag ... their last five fixtures in all competitions read (newest first) LWLWW ... but then who are we to judge from that alone, as our last five read WLWDL ...

As I said up front, the biggest mistake any of us (fans, or players) can make is consider them beneath us in any way ... and last year's FA Cup final defeat should serve as a good reminder in preparing for this.


Team Selection

For us, the biggest question as also going on in a separate poll is Panti or Hart ... everyone else picks themselves up. I'd go with Panti in the goal, him being our Cup keeper and he deserves the spot as well after playing four times in the cup and keeping four clean sheets ... the only goal we conceded in the cup run was when Hart was in the goal.

Zaba and Komps are automatic picks and all agree. Next is Demi, not a fans first choice, but he remains Pellegrini's first choice and it's him who'll be putting that team sheet out not us, so I guess Demi it is ... (although Lescott has been starting in League cup games, so you never know). Finally between Kola or Clichy, I think Kola will retain his place ahead of Clichy as he has done all season, especially in bigger games.

Ferdy and Yaya ... full stop.
Garcia will be on the bench to come on should Yaya needs to be pushed further up, in case the guys up top keep misfiring.

Silva and Nasri to start and Navas and Milner on standby should a change be required as they both would offer a different attacking shape.

Finally, for the guys up top ... I have no doubt that the gaffer will retain his 4-4-2 here and will start with two strikers. With Jovetic back injured (sigh), I don't see him as a starter and depending on how fit Aguero is (whether to start or to come off the bench) will dictate which two start. If Aguero starts, he should do so with Negredo, and if he is on the bench then inevitably Dzeko and Negredo will start.


Starting XI Prediction

Panti
Zaba - Komps - Demi - Kola
Nasri - Ferdy - Yaya - Silva
Aguero - Negredo

Bench: Hart, Richards, Clichy, Garcia, Milner, Navas, Dzeko


Score Prediction

Manchester City 4 - 0 Sunderland

If we score early, we'll go on and win it by 3/4 goals (which is what I think will happen and thus my prediction). If however we don't score in the first half, the second will become unbearable to watch ... with tension and doubts creeping in and the ghosts of last year casting shadows all over that big pitch ... we might still nick it in the end by a goal or two though; we are better than last season in a lot of ways.

[Beefymcfc]

[scroll]Wemberleeeeeey, Wemberleeeeeey, We're the Great Man City and We're Going To Wemberleeeeeey ........[/scroll]

[Twobob]

Propper looking forward to this now, the build up has now started!

(Plus managed to change her-in-doors' Sat meal in London from a bloody expensive afternoon tea to Pizza Express, with vouchers, and more drinking time - win win!)

[South Stand Balti]

If Aguero does not start I would like to see Yaya behind Negredo with Jimmy playing alongside Fern. I would also play Lescott instead of daft Martin. If all things are set fair we should win this so why pick a player as reckless as Demich? But as AG says, MP will pick him.

[ashton287]

I would fucking love to get down there and see lescott and kompany starting.

My lad won't be happy with another trip to wembley to see us lose and Sunderland are a team that can beat us without that spastic Demi helping them out.

Also what are the chances of aguero playing? Anyone know?

[AG7]

I would fucking love to get down there and see lescott and kompany starting. My lad won't be happy with another trip to wembley to see us lose and Sunderland are a team that can beat us without that spastic Demi helping them out. Also what are the chances of aguero playing? Anyone know?

I believe he is ... at least a he is starting full training with the whole squad tomorrow so that's gives him what, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat ... five full training sessions with the squad, should be up and ready for that starting place ...

Would people here like him to be on the bench and come on for the last 30 if we haven't score yet or are 1-1 ... OR would you rather he started, played the first 60, scored his brace or hat-trick, games in the pocket and then he can go rest the last 30 off minutes?

There are pros and cons both ways ... I'd rather if he can, then was started ... but then I think about Watford and then he got injured again after pushing on for the full 90 straight back from injury ...

[AG7]

In tomorrow's MEN, some strong words from our kaptain fantastic:

Kompany vows to avoid second Wembley heartbreak

The Belgian says he will not allow City's League Cup final clash with Sunderland to go the same way as their FA Cup showpiece defeat to Wigan last season.

Vincent Kompany looked like a man bereft after City’s shock FA Cup final defeat by Wigan last May.

But the Blues skipper has taken all the heartache and regret and channelled it into becoming a new, improved defender.

And this time, if Kompany has anything to do with it, the Blues will not be making the mistake of going into a Wembley cup final at less than 100 per cent.

The City skipper has revealed how losing to a late goal by Latics, who went on to be relegated, has driven home a valuable lesson.

“In the back of my mind, I still have the defeat against Wigan last season,” said Kompany, looking ahead to Sunday’s Capital One Cup final clash with Sunderland.

“It’s not a negative, it has been my drive and may be the best thing that has happened in that it has given me even more hunger.

“You realise how precious it is to you and your people. It’s alright saying the FA Cup is this, or the Capital One Cup is that, but it really matters.

“And it doesn’t feel nice to go all that way and then, just before the end, you see it taken away.

“There are no hard feelings in the sense that we didn’t deserve it that day, but obviously with the talent we have in this squad, you just want to make sure everyone puts in a performance on the day.

“All I know is that it will be a football game like any other, and I just want the whole team to be at its best on the day.”

Kompany has tasted defeat and disappointment in big games with City before, but that was his first defeat in a final. Even so, he puts it into a context which Blues can identify.

“If you know the history of City, you can’t say that reaching a final is the low part of your career,” he said.

“Emotionally it’s tough, and it was something I took on board. I learned a lot from it, and that day was all about realising that if your hunger becomes even a little bit less ... and on that day it became multiplied.

“After that game, I have never wanted to win trophies so badly.

“I can’t afford to lose time. I want to win everything, which is obviously not possible. I don’t want to leave anything to chance, mess about, and then suddenly it has gone.

“If I don’t achieve something now, I can’t blame myself because I know I am always giving my best. Whenever I play badly, I still give my best.

“I am in the prime of my career and really need to make the most out of it. Every performance that is a little bit below, or every trophy you miss out on, you know is something you will not recover.

“I have realised that, and want to be the best, at the best time of my career.”

Kompany’s drive, and his push for excellence, has made him a hugely important figure at City in recent seasons, and established him as one of the world’s best defenders, as well as being a motivating factor for the rest of the team.

That was evident as he put in a top-class display against Barcelona in the Champions League last week, including a couple of magnificent tackles on Lionel Messi.

Kompany relishes facing the big-name players, but he says that the secret to success is taking the same attitude whether you are marking Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, or Peter Crouch.

“I live for those games, and whenever I have played against a top player in the Premier League, or anywhere in the world, I have always raised my game,” he said.

“I enjoy nothing more. If it was up to me, I would love to play those guys every single day. But you saw on Saturday the name is not always what makes the performance – every single team has good strikers, and there is always a danger somewhere.”

Kompany has moved to another level this season, and has an extra incentive after Belgium qualified for this summer’s World Cup.

Now he wants to complete a successful season with City by lifting some silverware, and then head to Brazil with a talented national squad.

There have been sportsmen who have been swallowed by their own quest for perfectionism, but Kompany has learned to temper expectations.

“It’s not always ideal but I am very demanding of myself and always expect the best from myself,” he said. “But then again, we are in a good team – everyone makes mistakes, and we will all make mistakes in the future, and it’s about how you react when you have made that mistake.

“Mentally, I have improved a lot, and it is not as much of a factor any more in whether I go on to play a good game or not.

“I am pretty confident of what I can do, and feel great at the moment.”

Kompany had a relatively quiet time of it on Saturday, as the league clash with Stoke developed into a siege, as City tried to find a way through an 11-man Stoke defence.

In the end a Yaya Toure goal broke the deadlock, and City gained the three points despite an uninspired performance.

Some seemed to see that as evidence that City’s champagne football has finally gone flat, but Kompany saw it as the natural consequence of the physical and mental demands of the last fortnight.

“It was a big win,” he said. “Stoke are a well-organised team, and on the back of a very big week with two tough games against Chelsea and Barcelona, it was always going to be a bit harder.

“Ultimately we did the job right.”

Kompany can complete his collection of English winner’s medals if his team can overcome Sunderland on Sunday, having lifted the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League in 2012.

The Blues can also end a 38-year wait for a third League Cup trophy, but Kompany is not allowing himself to dream of following in the footsteps of Tony Book in 1970 and Mike Doyle in 1976 by lifting the cup at Wembley.

“I am not going to visualise anything,” said Kompany. “I just hope the guys have a good week, because it’s the first clear week we have had for a long time.

“It would be perfect to just work and live up to that day. It’s a big day, and a big competition, and it is also a good habit to get to those finals.”

[gillie]

I would fucking love to get down there and see lescott and kompany starting. My lad won't be happy with another trip to wembley to see us lose and Sunderland are a team that can beat us without that spastic Demi helping them out. Also what are the chances of aguero playing? Anyone know?

I believe he is ... at least a he is starting full training with the whole squad tomorrow so that's gives him what, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat ... five full training sessions with the squad, should be up and ready for that starting place ...

Would people here like him to be on the bench and come on for the last 30 if we haven't score yet or are 1-1 ... OR would you rather he started, played the first 60, scored his brace or hat-trick, games in the pocket and then he can go rest the last 30 off minutes?

There are pros and cons both ways ... I'd rather if he can, then was started ... but then I think about Watford and then he got injured again after pushing on for the full 90 straight back from injury ...

And that is why Pellers get's his wages to make these sort of calls.

[phips]

no way should Aguero play 90 so id rather have him come off the bench

[Twobob]

He'll get 30 mins in the 2nd half

[Breks]

He'll get 30 mins in the 2nd half

Have you picked the starting 11 yet? Mr Pellegrini

[Twobob]

Have you picked the starting 11 yet? Mr Pellegrini

Shhhhhh don't let everyone know

[Breks]

Shhhhhh don't let everyone know

Damn I hope I haven't blown you're cover. Sorry

[Herb]

I would fucking love to get down there and see lescott and kompany starting.

My lad won't be happy with another trip to wembley to see us lose and Sunderland are a team that can beat us without that spastic Demi helping them out.

Also what are the chances of aguero playing? Anyone know?

This fearful and almost tearful angst ridden success junkie missive will be meat & drink to the rags who score through forums like this looking for stuff just like that.
And there was I thinking that City fans were full on City fans through thick and thin - not all of us it seems huh?

[city9_4eva]

Finally got my tickets!! Very excited now!! Come on City!!! We all on the roundabout again?!! Anyone know how try delegate ends for these final and how come we always get the west end?! Not complaining though!

[Wonderwall]

anyone travelling by train will not be able to drink beer on the way home!

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ns-6743482

[Twobob]

Miserable sods - suppose they have to think of other non-football travellers though.

Good excuse to get a few more in before getting the train home then...

[Blue Since 76]

Since there's no official match thread yet (what's that about, it's a CUP FINAL ffs), thought I'd stick this here. For those going, there will be a round of applause 4 minutes in in memory of Mike Doyle. And hopefully in appreciation of our second goal.

[city9_4eva]

What sort of time is everyone rolling in? Ill be at green man from half 10, be good to meet some of you!? Good idea about the applause for mike Doyle by the way!!

[Wonderwall]

What sort of time is everyone rolling in? Ill be at green man from half 10, be good to meet some of you!? Good idea about the applause for mike Doyle by the way!!

I personally dont think its a good idea about the applause, its sitting on the coat tails of the villa, or even the scousers who always have something to mourn. Why dont we just carry on as normal? I am not being awful about it, I just think its stupid to continue doing all this type of shit all the time. At the time of any passing or tragedy its right and proper to show respect and also on the 1st anniversary. However, how long does it go on...Hillsborough and Munich are prime examples, I dont see the glasgow tragedy or Bradford fire getting the same coverage... anyway thats my whinge done, Bah Humbug