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Manchester City made light work of Steaua Bucharest in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier in Romania on Tuesday night but this is a much tougher test.

People have been asking for a while now whether a Pep Guardiola team could perform on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke, but we will have to wait for the answer because a warm Saturday afternoon does not count.

Even so, it will be an interesting experience for Guardiola and this is an occasion where City's long-serving assistant coach Brian Kidd, who is helping him learn about the Premier League, will earn his corn.

Kidd has to make sure Guardiola knows exactly what to expect at Stoke in his first away league game in charge.

Stoke started their season with a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough and I have not changed my opinion that they need a new striker before the transfer window shuts.

I remember the Potters won easily in this fixture last season and this is a hard one to call, but I think Pep's presence will see his team get the points, just.

Something I don't understand is Guardiola dropping goalkeeper Joe Hart, doing so because his distribution is apparently not good enough.

It is harsh on Hart because he is a much better keeper than Willy Caballero, and someone is going to get an absolute top-quality goalkeeper if, as expected, he leaves the club. Everton have been mentioned in the newspapers but, if I were at Liverpool, I would take him in a heartbeat.

City are looking for Hart's replacement now when they should be working on his perceived limitations but, in the meantime, they have to hope nobody causes Caballero problems with crosses, which he struggled with when he came into the team last season.

Lawro's prediction: 1-2

Stoke had a good first result at Middlesbrough, which is a difficult place to go on the opening day.

As for Man City, I didn't see anything different against Sunderland despite all the pre-match talk. It was the same team that didn't move the ball quick enough last year.

They were slow and I was disappointed with their general play, so I think Stoke will get something on Saturday.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)

nottsblue wrote:Not a 2-0 in sight. DC mustn't have watched the CL game. Makes me piss how Sky describe him as the "magic man"

nottsblue wrote:Not a 2-0 in sight. DC mustn't have watched the CL game. Makes me piss how Sky describe him as the "magic man"

john@staustell wrote:

nottsblue wrote:Not a 2-0 in sight. DC mustn't have watched the CL game. Makes me piss how Sky describe him as the "magic man"

I thought that. Clearly written before that match. Fool.

sheblue wrote:Lawro is right about Willy. I just hope he doesn't make too many blunders tomorrow.
What is Merson talking about, is he blind.

PrezIke wrote:Gather no one is going to run our own predictions this season, huh?

Not sure I can commit to doing so but crossed my mind.

Nigels Tackle wrote:

PrezIke wrote:Gather no one is going to run our own predictions this season, huh?

Not sure I can commit to doing so but crossed my mind.

i really fear that tim777, who stepped in when slim had to pass up his duties last season, has passed away... he was all over the predictions threads like a rash and then, following a post when he said he was in hospital, he just disappeared and hasn't logged in since. fingers crossed that my fears are unfounded.