***City v Sunderland Official Match Thread***

[nottsblue]

2pm KO for this one

Last game for ages due to another utterly pointless and far too long International break

A right bonus though yesterday with Arsenal getting gubbed. Unless we completely fuck it up today we will be top going into said break.

Hope there’s room for Samba on the bench after his debut against Norwich the other night. Would just give him a massive boost knowing he’s part of it.

Otherwise, I imagine we will go as strong as possible. Maybe Doku be on the bench? Or maybe we don’t pick him and keep him back as still injured do Belgium don’t fuck him up in the break.

City to win

3-0 Haaland Fernandez Semenyo

[Kippax Sean]

6 -0 City. With them clowns losing we need to stick in the knife and give it a good twist.

[salford city]

A chance to put 3 points between us and improve the gd. Be a tough game though even if all Sunderland team played on Thursday. No Foden so Cherki will start. No idea on the lesser spotted Doku but he needs to not play for Belgium this break and be fit for a return against the murderers and psg.Agree it would do no harm for Samba to be on the bench. Be surprised if Bouaddi starts after playing Thursday.

[carl_feedthegoat]

A chance to put 3 points between us and improve the gd. Be a tough game though even if all Sunderland team played on Thursday. No Foden so Cherki will start. No idea on the lesser spotted Doku but he needs to not play for Belgium this break and be fit for a return against the murderers and psg.Agree it would do no harm for Samba to be on the bench. Be surprised if Bouaddi starts after playing Thursday.

I can see Bouaddi becoming 'undroppable' sometime this season.... IMO, he has a Rodri mentality.

[Swales4ever]

Don't expect a walk in the park, as Sunderland have proved to be a fierce side and try to take on us as much as they can.
Once said that, our boys have shown their commitment, quality is beyond dispute and will come out even more spurred by yesterday's results.

Again, personally I just can't wait when Maresca will assess Bouaddi's apprenticeship is over and start our most lethal set up:
Bouaddi deep lying, which in turn would unleash the whole box to box potential of Anderson, with Enzo "close to the edge".
That will be a true prog symphony

3-0 Haaland, Enzo, Anderson.

[CTID Hants]

Lining up for City this afternoon!

XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias (C), Guéhi, Gvardiol, Anderson, Fernández, Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland

SUBS | Rulli, Kovačić, Doku, Aït-Nouri, Bouaddi, O'Reilly, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis

[Sideshow Bob]

good lineup.

[john@staustell]

Not much to complain about there.

Can't help thinking he would've played Foden if he could. He seems to watch a different player to me

[Nickyboy]

Id have OR in for Dias and shuffle Guehi and Gvardiol across and it would probably be our strongest team.

Theres a place for Dias but not in games like this that wed be expecting to dominate.

Doku probably in for Ndiaye if fully fit, but again all depends on the opposition.

This team is more than capable to win this comfortably. Just need to get out there, be professional and get the job done ahead of the international break.

[nottsblue]

Seems we have to get used to the fact Dias is going to be first choice and the captain

Surprised Lewis and Doku to a degree, are on the bench. Doku because he could be considered fit for international duty and Lewis because he offers very little

That said, strong XI and am quietly confident of a win

[sheblue]

Strong team, pretty close to our strongest. And a good strong bench as well.
After yesterday we just have to get the 3 points.

[john@staustell]

Good point about Doku. Depends on the injury, he might want him to get a couple of run outs. I think it was a kick (Arsenal!) so shouldn't 'break down'

[CTID Hants]

Seems we have to get used to the fact Dias is going to be first choice and the captain

Surprised Lewis and Doku to a degree, are on the bench. Doku because he could be considered fit for international duty and Lewis because he offers very little

That said, strong XI and am quietly confident of a win

Lewis frustrates too many, gets to the 18yd line and turns to jelly 99 out of a 100.

The problem is I don't see that ever improving.

[john@staustell]

Seems we have to get used to the fact Dias is going to be first choice and the captain

Surprised Lewis and Doku to a degree, are on the bench. Doku because he could be considered fit for international duty and Lewis because he offers very little

That said, strong XI and am quietly confident of a win

Lewis frustrates too many, gets to the 18yd line and turns to jelly 99 out of a 100.

The problem is I don't see that ever improving.

Worst thing is, he can't defend or mark to save his life

[Beefymcfc]

Come on City!

[nottsblue]

COME ON BLUE BOYS

[nottsblue]

Haaland has faced 25 PL opponents
He has scored against 24 of them with Sunderland being the exception

Let’s hope he rectifies that anomaly today

[stevefromdonny]

COME ON CITY

[Sideshow Bob]

Started like shit

[nottsblue]

Get in Enzo F