Clear favourites for the Carling Cup

[Wonderwall]

If he's fit I'd give him a run out against Brum, but only if he's fit, and have Razzak on the bench to back him up.

It will be a completely different squad out there but nothing like last year at West Brom. This will not be a bunch of kids with Vieira but rather the back up squad players trying to force their way into the first team.

Pantillimon, Alex, Kolo, Savic, Zabba, Ballo, Owen, Milner (if fit), Nasri or Yaya (to be replaced after an hour/big lead for a kid), AJ, Tevez.

Crazy to start hargreaves. He should ne a 65 - 70 min, first or second sub in case he breaks down. He needs easing in

[john@staustell]

If he's fit I'd give him a run out against Brum, but only if he's fit, and have Razzak on the bench to back him up.

It will be a completely different squad out there but nothing like last year at West Brom. This will not be a bunch of kids with Vieira but rather the back up squad players trying to force their way into the first team.

Pantillimon, Alex, Kolo, Savic, Zabba, Ballo, Owen, Milner (if fit), Nasri or Yaya (to be replaced after an hour/big lead for a kid), AJ, Tevez.

Crazy to start hargreaves. He should ne a 65 - 70 min, first or second sub in case he breaks down. He needs easing in

That's one way of looking at it WW. But think of this - if a starter breaks down after 6 minutes he can be subbed. But if your sub breaks down when all 3 are used..............................................

Starting him would seem the lesser risk, in the long run of the game.

[Wonderwall]

That's one way of looking at it WW. But think of this - if a starter breaks down after 6 minutes he can be subbed. But if your sub breaks down when all 3 are used..............................................

Starting him would seem the lesser risk, in the long run of the game.

Which is why i said first or second sub

[brite blu sky]

Will be interesting to see who gets the places. There are some obvious ones, Kolo, Tevez, Balo, AJ. Then some who need to prove themselves in a team. Lemonpants , Razak, Savic.. then some more problematic choices i think. Who to have in advanced mid/playmaking and who to do the holding. Milner if fit advanced, Hargreaves and Razak defensive, if OH is deemed able to take on starting. Otherwise Zabba is the obvious choice if he is not at RB.

ALL the players who played Napoli and Fulham need sending to bed, with no supper and no teddy bear!

[phips]

Lord Marwood said we were going for 4 trophies. If we 'try out the kids' and lose I will not be too chuffed.

Hart

Zaba Kolo Savic Kolarov

AJ Yaya Milner (fit?) Razak Balotelli

Tevez

That 'fringe' enough?

i wouldve really liked to see Yaya get a rest but unfortunately he cant (apparently) as Hargreaves isnt
fit enough and can only go for 30-45 mins...

[Crossie]

PantyTampons needs a game.

So does Balotelli, Kolo, Kolarov, AJ and Hargreaves, start them all and see how long they last imo.

[Plain Speaking]

Doug's training report will give a clue to the team. Most of the team from Fulham were rested. Onouha and Bridge trained! You would assume Tevez will get a good run out.

[john@staustell]

Out to win:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... ast-season

Micah Richards insists Manchester City will be going out to win the Carling Cup after admitting they took the competition "a bit lightly" last season.

City went out to West Brom at the same stage last season and have more competition from the West Midlands in the third round this time in the shape of Birmingham.

City's chief football operations officer Brian Marwood has insisted the club will go all out for all four trophies and manager Roberto Mancini, who fielded a very young side last year, is likely instead to select a starting line-up made up of those senior players who have not featured much or at all this season.

Owen Hargreaves and Kolo Toure are likely to be among those who will start against Birmingham.

Richards, one of those who may be rested, told the club's website: "Last year we took it a bit lightly. I think this year we want to do something and there are a lot of quality players who weren't involved at the weekend who will be looking to get a start.

"We believe in our squad and are confident we can go through."

Marwood has insisted that the club have built a squad capable of mounting a challenge for all four trophies.

He told Press Association Sport: "The Carling Cup is an important competition for us, there is a European place on offer, there is the potential to go back to Wembley again.

"One of the reasons why we have built the squad in the way that we have done is to try to be competitive in every competition that we play in."

Mancini said he will change "seven or eight players" from the side who drew at Fulham but that any youngsters are likely to be on the bench rather than in the starting line-up.

That means the likes of Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson, who have not played as much as they would have wanted in the league, are likely to start.

Mancini said: "I will change many players because we need to rest some. I will change seven or eight players but we want to get through to the next round.

"We know that last year against West Brom we had a chance and we lost so it's very important that we play well."

Nigel de Jong (foot) is still out but James Milner, who missed last week's draw with Fulham after a clash of heads, could return

[Wonderwall]

Doug's training report will give a clue to the team. Most of the team from Fulham were rested. Onouha and Bridge trained! You would assume Tevez will get a good run out.

One thing about Dougs training reports is, you can never guess the team from what he says, he is an expert at it.

[steveo_88]

If he's fit I'd give him a run out against Brum, but only if he's fit, and have Razzak on the bench to back him up.

It will be a completely different squad out there but nothing like last year at West Brom. This will not be a bunch of kids with Vieira but rather the back up squad players trying to force their way into the first team.

Pantillimon, Alex, Kolo, Savic, Zabba, Ballo, Owen, Milner (if fit), Nasri or Yaya (to be replaced after an hour/big lead for a kid), AJ, Tevez.

Crazy to start hargreaves. He should ne a 65 - 70 min, first or second sub in case he breaks down. He needs easing in

I expect a fit Owen to still be slow like Barry so if he's fit play him the real problem is if Milner is not fit because he will be the engine in midfield. If not Razak would play instead of OH and you either play YaYa or Zabba in centre midfield with a new right back. The right back could be Savic because that's what he's described as, a right centre back/full back, and also where he made his debut. Onouha would be an option but like Bellamy, before he left, the boss has fallen out with Neds after his conduct off of the pitch.

[stommy]

get owen in, at least for 10 mins, even if he ends the game crawlin over the field:)))

It came out much better than I thought:)))

[john@staustell]

If he's fit I'd give him a run out against Brum, but only if he's fit, and have Razzak on the bench to back him up.

It will be a completely different squad out there but nothing like last year at West Brom. This will not be a bunch of kids with Vieira but rather the back up squad players trying to force their way into the first team.

Pantillimon, Alex, Kolo, Savic, Zabba, Ballo, Owen, Milner (if fit), Nasri or Yaya (to be replaced after an hour/big lead for a kid), AJ, Tevez.

Crazy to start hargreaves. He should ne a 65 - 70 min, first or second sub in case he breaks down. He needs easing in

I expect a fit Owen to still be slow like Barry so if he's fit play him the real problem is if Milner is not fit because he will be the engine in midfield. If not Razak would play instead of OH and you either play YaYa or Zabba in centre midfield with a new right back. The right back could be Savic because that's what he's described as, a right centre back/full back, and also where he made his debut. Onouha would be an option but like Bellamy, before he left, the boss has fallen out with Neds after his conduct off of the pitch.

Ah, the beauty of hindsight.

By the way we are now equal favourites with Scum at 4/1. Chelski 5/1. Dippers 6.

That may all change with the draw of course.

[Slim]

Next Round
Aldershot
Arsenal
Blackburn
Bolton
Burnley
Cardiff
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Liverpool
Man City
Man Utd
Newcastle
Southampton
Stoke
Wolves

[stommy]

If he's fit I'd give him a run out against Brum, but only if he's fit, and have Razzak on the bench to back him up.

It will be a completely different squad out there but nothing like last year at West Brom. This will not be a bunch of kids with Vieira but rather the back up squad players trying to force their way into the first team.

Pantillimon, Alex, Kolo, Savic, Zabba, Ballo, Owen, Milner (if fit), Nasri or Yaya (to be replaced after an hour/big lead for a kid), AJ, Tevez.

Crazy to start hargreaves. He should ne a 65 - 70 min, first or second sub in case he breaks down. He needs easing in

I expect a fit Owen to still be slow like Barry so if he's fit play him the real problem is if Milner is not fit because he will be the engine in midfield. If not Razak would play instead of OH and you either play YaYa or Zabba in centre midfield with a new right back. The right back could be Savic because that's what he's described as, a right centre back/full back, and also where he made his debut. Onouha would be an option but like Bellamy, before he left, the boss has fallen out with Neds after his conduct off of the pitch.

Ah, the beauty of hindsight.

Think we're all happy to be wrong

[Goaters 103]

Aldershot, Burnley, Cardiff or Palace at home pleaase.

[Moonchesteri]

Aldershot, Burnley, Cardiff or Palace at home pleaase.

agree, a home match against one of the championship/lower league teams would be fantastic!
and toughest possible draw for scum please. either at Stamford Bridge or Anfield.

[irblinx]

My bank balance would quite like us to get a couple of away games on the way to Wembley please, these cup schemes could get very expensive :-)

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

My bank balance would quite like us to get a couple of away games on the way to Wembley please, these cup schemes could get very expensive :-)

Yep that's pretty much my feelings on it.

[CTID Hants]

My bank balance would quite like us to get a couple of away games on the way to Wembley please, these cup schemes could get very expensive :-)

Yep that's pretty much my feelings on it.

Perhaps my own preference would do you a favour!

I am hoping for an away draw to Aldershot!! Then me and my 7 yr old lad would be able to have tea and pop 4 miles down the road.

Hopefully he'll get to see City NOT throw away a 2 goal lead like we did at Wembley!

That said, I would have to hope that we got tickets as the ground only holds about 6 or 7k and whenever a big club comes knocking they always sell out.