***Official: City v Stoke Match Thread***

[South Stand Balti]

If Sterling's playing I hope he's not on the left!

Yes but Nolito on bench. Same team as Wed apart from that

[john@staustell]

I'm really looking forward to seeing where we are at. This is the first proper test and I expect Pep to learn much more than he realises today. I'm baffled though as to why he rates Willy above Joe and why Yaya is not involved. It tells me we have a long term plan but I'm not sure we have any plan for now. To answer the question I don't think we will do well at all today.

Pep has said Joe came back late because of the euros and Willy was training from the start so the decision was easy. Joe has made his bed here. Kdb came back early to try and impress and he is a starter.

Yaya has been training since the first session and still isn't fit enough to play in peps style.

Piss poor from both of these so called professionals.

I would have Yaya on the bench at least. He isn't high energy but I do think he would suit some games. His range of passing and control were missing last week against a poor Sunderland midfield. I don't know how fit he is but a few people did comment that he looked a little trimmer during pre season. It's all speculation as none of us know. I don't know what arrangements were made with Joe but Pogba only landed 10 days ago. I thought Willy was poor in pre season. Pep does nt have to rate Joe and has every right to replace him but I would be picking him until that happens.

Yaya can train as much as he likes and I don't think he'll be fast enough off the ball.

But he's still imperious on it .

Maybe Pep will use him

[CTID Hants]

No mention in CM's oppo supporters thread about that CUNT arnautovic but just seen he's been pronounced fit for selection. I've not forgiven him for last season when he picked on Navas the fuckin neanderthal, try picking on someone your own size CUNT.

It's going to be a tough one, impossible to call before KO but I'm hoping our lot settle my nerves early on.

If we lose, every single one of us will be sprung upon by some cunty gobble rag that we'd not heard from for the best part of two years.

[sheblue]

We need to get at given, plenty of attempts on goal, he is well past it.

[Mase]

Sterling playing well on the right and getting some confidence back....so move him to the left. Interesting.

[South Stand Balti]

No Shaqiri. I think Mike Dean has this one

[blues2win]

Unless he plays Navas on the left. Shaqiri failed his fitness test which is a huge loss for Stoke.

[Mase]

No Shaqiri. I think Mike Dean has this one

Ffs there goes my fantasy team haha!

[CTID Hants]

CITY XI | Caballero, Zabaleta (C), Kolarov, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero #stokevcity #mcfc

[john@staustell]

Sagna injured maybe?

Difficult to see the team at all on the os mobile even with my glasses on . No names and tiny pictures, I thought Navas was Nolito first off.

[sidSmith]

Sterling playing well on the right and getting some confidence back....so move him to the left. Interesting.

Yes. Most disappointing. Plus it's only to accommodate Navas. I think this formation is weaker than what we had midweek.

[sheblue]

Maybe navas will go left but that's very unlikely.

[CTID Hants]

[stevefromdonny]

COME ON CITY lets get 3 points today and put last year to bed

[john@staustell]

Sterling playing well on the right and getting some confidence back....so move him to the left. Interesting.

Yes. Most disappointing. Plus it's only to accommodate Navas. I think this formation is weaker than what we had midweek.

Nolito got kicked a lot in the week. Might be something to do with it

[Mase]

Sterling playing well on the right and getting some confidence back....so move him to the left. Interesting.

Yes. Most disappointing. Plus it's only to accommodate Navas. I think this formation is weaker than what we had midweek.

Nolito got kicked a lot in the week. Might be something to do with it

Would rather just keep Sterling right and throw Ian on the left.

[CTID Hants]

Nolito got kicked a lot in the week. Might be something to do with it

True but my immediate thought was he's chosen a team who know stoke and their physical game

[mr_nool]

Sterling moved to the left in the second period on Tuesday and did great. I don't see problem.

[london blue 2]

Jheeze looking at the highlights from last year we were awful.

Come on lads. No repeats.

[Mase]

Sterling moved to the left in the second period on Tuesday and did great. I don't see problem.

Pub team.