First of all, apologies for missing half the season, I was working with an ipad and it’s just not possible to do this. Hope everyone is well though. I am glad nothing has been happening in City world! I thought it would be good to be back for the Derby, but it turns the Rags aren’t very chatty in the cafe. I also decided ages ago that this season is done, and I just take it one game at a time now. This is the Derby though, so nothing but a humiliating defeat will do. I wonder if Pep can sort that out?
COME ON CITY!!!
Referee: John Brooks
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan
Fourth official: Tony Harrington
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Tim Wood
Team Selection
Onana
Mazraoui De Ligt Yoro
Dalot Ugarte Casemiro Dorgu
Garnacho Bruno
Zirkzee
And the rest…
Tough one. We’ll probably lose 2-0.
Rest players for Europa.
With our frontline and city missing Haaland, I can see a dire 0-0.
I’d rest the few indispensable players we have for Lyon that we can’t afford to risk with injuries. That tie is our season. Yes this is a derby but this isn’t normal circumstances.
City will be fully focused on this having no European games and having to finish in top 4/5. Our defence dealt fine with Haaland last 2 times but he won't be playing now and kinda worried that Marmoush fella will cause us more problems.
Could see us winning 2-0. They aren’t as good defensively as Forest and we should have won today. We had our rest last week. Full strength for me.
You don’t rest players for a Derby , no never ever, we have to go all out for a win. Yes the next game is important, but it’s a Derby , full strength or what’s the point.
We need to channel our inner Crystal Palace and game raise for this one. Not much to enjoy in this season but if we can in some way contribute to City finishing 6th or lower and missing out on next seasons CL it will be a job well done.
I presume we'll give de bryune a going-away gift of a goal.
8-1-1 formation
8 at the back
bruno in midfield
Hojlund waiting up top for the through ball.
Has there ever been less buzz for a derby game than this match thread?
Going draw. The form book goes out the window when we play them and we have had surprisingly some good results against them. 2-2