***Champions v Sheffield FACup Semi Official Match Thread***

[nottsblue]

Back to Etihad South.

Seems we make this trip every year! It's 6 semi finals in the last 7 years and we have a very poor record in them. Time to change this.

Apparently we have met Sheffield United 4 times in the cup and they have won all previous meetings. Law of averages says that will change!

Obviously one eye will be on Wednesday's game but we have enough quality to see us through. But as ever, the line up is anyone's guess.

2-0
Foden

[john@staustell]

Revenge for Balloongate

[blues2win]

Rumours Gomez is starting. Crikey. Looks like Ederson Stones Ake Dias Rodri Grealish all rested. Gundogan defensive midfield Alvarez and Haaland start. Foden doesnt.

[Paul68]

I can't make it today have to be in Southsea will stop off at Southampton and say thanks!
Safe trip blues who are going enjoy the game!

[Mase]

Rumours Gomez is starting. Crikey. Looks like Ederson Stones Ake Dias Rodri Grealish all rested. Gundogan defensive midfield Alvarez and Haaland start. Foden doesnt.

Grealish looked knackered towards the end of the Bayern match. He deserves a rest.

[blues2win]

Having said that I misread the supposed leak. Grealish starts. I presume Foden isn’t quite fit for 90. I’d be surprised he doesn’t come on for half an hour. Pretty obvious Pep doesn’t trust Phillips otherwise Gundogan would surely be on the bench.

[Mase]

Having said that I misread the supposed leak. Grealish starts. I presume Foden isn’t quite fit for 90. I’d be surprised he doesn’t come on for half an hour. Pretty obvious Pep doesn’t trust Phillips otherwise Gundogan would surely be on the bench.

Phillips is shite. The sooner we accept we fucked up the better. I’ve not mentioned it before but we actually sold Lavia and bought Phillips. I know it’s hard to believe, I only just realise this week that it happened.

[john@staustell]

Having said that I misread the supposed leak. Grealish starts. I presume Foden isn’t quite fit for 90. I’d be surprised he doesn’t come on for half an hour. Pretty obvious Pep doesn’t trust Phillips otherwise Gundogan would surely be on the bench.

Phillips is shite. The sooner we accept we fucked up the better. I’ve not mentioned it before but we actually sold Lavia and bought Phillips. I know it’s hard to believe, I only just realise this week that it happened.

You sure you didn't say that on Wednesday?

He does look that way but then I've heard exactly the same about Mahrez, Grealish, Rodri, Ake to name but 4, in the first season under Pep.

We're an impatient lot - he cant get decent till he gets game time and he can't do that because Rodri is the best in the world

[Mase]

Having said that I misread the supposed leak. Grealish starts. I presume Foden isn’t quite fit for 90. I’d be surprised he doesn’t come on for half an hour. Pretty obvious Pep doesn’t trust Phillips otherwise Gundogan would surely be on the bench.

Phillips is shite. The sooner we accept we fucked up the better. I’ve not mentioned it before but we actually sold Lavia and bought Phillips. I know it’s hard to believe, I only just realise this week that it happened.

You sure you didn't say that on Wednesday?

He does look that way but then I've heard exactly the same about Mahrez, Grealish, Rodri, Ake to name but 4, in the first season under Pep.

We're an impatient lot - he cant get decent till he gets game time and he can't do that because Rodri is the best in the world

I’ve never mentioned it, I only just realised we made this mistake..

All the players above at least showed some sort of indication they’d fit in and give us another option eventually. Mahrez for example as getting grief when he was scoring on the final day against Brighton. Phillips is either injured or fuckin up.

Would Tommy Doyle have been a worse option to have as back up for cup games? Doubt it.

[john@staustell]

Someone else said it I think. And I always rated Lavia.

I think sometimes Pep's a bit charitable to players he thinks deserve to play but hasn't got room for

[dazby]

Can someone tell me what Mase thinks about Phillips? I'm not sure where he stands.

To be fair mate, you are pretty much spot on with this.

[john@staustell]

Can someone tell me what Mase thinks about Phillips? I'm not sure where he stands.

To be fair mate, you are pretty much spot on with this.

Worried about Mase lately. He's even started to realise Cole Palmer will never be a decent player as long as he's got a hole in his arse!

[dazby]

I still want to see Cole get a goal in the Prem and see what that does for his confidence.

He always comes on with the remit to keep it tidy and maintain possession which he does with aplomb. He never comes on when we need a goal.

I hope he gets that opportunity so we can really see what he's made of.

[CTID Hants]

XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish, Haaland

SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

Hays Worldwide

[PeterParker]

Are we one up yet?

[KinkyKinkladze]

A fancy 442. Who'd have thought it.

[blues2win]

As rumoured.

[nottsblue]

XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish, Haaland

SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

Hays Worldwide

Take that line up

Looks like we will try and get the game won then sit back. A bit like Leicester last week

[john@staustell]

Gomez

One can only hope he's been told to stay up near Jack, out of our half

[Mase]

Can someone tell me what Mase thinks about Phillips? I'm not sure where he stands.

To be fair mate, you are pretty much spot on with this.

Worried about Mase lately. He's even started to realise Cole Palmer will never be a decent player as long as he's got a hole in his arse!