Page 1 of 18

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:26 am
by Beefymcfc
Is there any other games this weekend? You wouldn't have thought so, by the look of the media we finish the weekend when the Rags win.

Anyway, back to our game. How do you think we're gonna do?

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:32 am
by london blue 2
LFTCU

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:35 am
by Beefymcfc
A few match facts from the Beeb. And note SAMs score prediction. Confused me a little as there's a 46% probability of an away win yet the most probable score is 1-1?

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head


Stoke have beaten Manchester City in each of the last two seasons, having previously gone 10 matches without a victory (D5, L5).

Five of the last seven Premier League meetings between these sides in Stoke have ended in a draw, with one win apiece.

Stoke City

Stoke have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 11 league games. They have conceded 37 Premier League goals in 2016 - more than any other side currently in the top flight.

Their only win in the last five home matches came against West Ham on the final day of the 2015-16 season.

Mark Hughes has lost six of his 10 Premier League games against Manchester City since he was sacked as their manager. However, his two wins have both come in the last two seasons.

Peter Crouch has scored in three of his four Premier League appearances against Manchester City at the bet365 Stadium.

Manchester City

City have only won four of their last 16 Premier League away games (W4, D7, L5). Eight clubs have earned more points on their travels during the same period.

Pep Guardiola's side had 77% ball possession against Sunderland last week, the most by any team in the opening round of matches.

Sergio Aguero is the Premier League's top scorer in 2016 with 18 goals in 19 appearances. He has scored six league goals in as many games against Stoke.

SAM's verdict

Most probable score: 1-1

Probability of draw: 26%
Probability of home win: 26%
Probability of away win: 48%

SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:35 am
by Nigels Tackle
wonder how willy will cope in these conditions?!

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:38 am
by Piccsnumberoneblue
It will be a good gauge. This fixture was one of our most gutless efforts last season. Even the weather is similar. We have to better this time.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:53 am
by nottsblue
A scruffy 1-0 will do me. Nolito to score

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:23 am
by sidSmith
Interested to see how our new approach is coming on and how it works in this sort of fixture. Stoke will be busy around us and won't be short of effort. We'll need to be the same.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:04 am
by South Stand Balti
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.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:16 am
by Wonderwall
South Stand Balti wrote: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.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:21 am
by Dubciteh
South Stand Balti wrote: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.


You dont think pep has a plan for today???

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:22 am
by Mikhail Chigorin
nottsblue wrote:A scruffy 1-0 will do me. Nolito to score


Or even an O.G.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:26 am
by sheblue
A tough test that will tell us a lot about about our team.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:27 am
by South Stand Balti
Wonderwall wrote:
South Stand Balti wrote: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.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:33 am
by sheblue
Navas starts

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:35 am
by Mase
sheblue wrote:Navas starts


Whose been dropped?

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:35 am
by South Stand Balti
Dubciteh wrote:
South Stand Balti wrote: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.


You dont think pep has a plan for today???

I think Pep has a long term plan to overhaul the squad and introduce his methods. It's not an immediate plan. The best way to explain what I mean is the Rags have signed Pogba, arguably the best central midfielder in the world. They have also signed Ibra who has scored goals and won medals in several countries. We have invested in youth with Sane, Jesus, Stones etc still to establish themselves as world class. I'm sure Pep has a tactical plan for today's game but we are a long way from what he is aiming for. Under Mancini we went for an immediate plan by signing established world class players like Yaya, Silva, Kin etc.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:36 am
by Mase
If Sterling's playing I hope he's not on the left!

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:36 am
by Brad
It will be a tough match but I think we will get the 3 points, come on blues!

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:40 am
by Foreverinbluedreams
Mase wrote:If Sterling's playing I hope he's not on the left!


I hear you but the alternative is Navas there.

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

PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:40 am
by sheblue
Mase wrote:If Sterling's playing I hope he's not on the left!


Navas in so raheem left