Thoughts on City line-up v Arsenal

[Mark Garrett]

My disappointment is beginning to subside after yesterday, time to move on and look forward to a vital game for the club on Wednesday night against Arsenal in the League Cup quarter-final, full house and a great opportunity to reach a semi-final of a major cup competition for the first time since 1981.

We've had quite a few quarter finals since then -

08/09 Hamburg - Uefa Cup
07/08 Tottenham (h) - League Cup
06/07 Blackburn (a) - FA Cup
05/06 West Ham (h) - FA Cup
00/01 Ipswich (h) - League Cup
94/95 Crystal Palace (a) - League Cup
92/93 Tottenham (h) - FA Cup

My team would be:

----------------------Given

Zabaleta--------Toure---Lescott-------Bridge

--------------Ireland--De Jong---Barry

SWP-----------------Adebayor----------Bellamy

[Lee_Kinda]

Given
Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge
De jong
Ireland, Barry
Tevez - Ade - Robinho

SUBS LATER ON >>>>
Swp for Tevez
Bellamy for Robinho
Maybe johnson on for one of the mids depending on the game!

[Goaters 103]

My disappointment is beginning to subside after yesterday, time to move on and look forward to a vital game for the club on Wednesday night against Arsenal in the League Cup quarter-final, full house and a great opportunity to reach a semi-final of a major cup competition for the first time since 1981.

We've had quite a few quarter finals since then -

08/09 Hamburg - Uefa Cup
07/08 Tottenham (h) - League Cup
06/07 Blackburn (a) - FA Cup
05/06 West Ham (h) - FA Cup
00/01 Ipswich (h) - League Cup
94/95 Crystal Palace (a) - League Cup
92/93 Tottenham (h) - FA Cup

My team would be:

----------------------Given

Zabaleta--------Toure---Lescott-------Bridge

--------------Ireland--De Jong---Barry

SWP-----------------Adebayor----------Bellamy

You forgot 2 more Q-F defeats to add, 87/88 League Cup lost 2-0 at Everton, and then 87/88 FA Cup 4-0 to Liverpool - its 9 omn the spin.

[shawzy]

I know it aint gonna happen for the full 90,but would like to see a combination of Robson,Barry,Ireland and Weiss in the MF.Id like to see Johnno get at least 30mins runout.
Id like to pick a settled squad but we havnt got one :-/

[avoidconfusion]

I definitely would not start SWP he simply does not deserve one at the moment.

[Blueboylewis]

Given

Richards Kolo Lescott Bridge

De Jong.......Barry

Bellers.....................Weiss

Ade........Robinho

Subs-
Taylor
Ned
Zabba
Johnson
RSC
Ireland
Tevez

[Grob]

If the formation and pattern of play are the same as saturday, it doesnt matter who we send out there.

[Colin the King]

Not optimistic about Wednesday, we seem to have a problem with getting through quarter finals, and Arsenal's kids are incredible...they'll come and play without fear.

Team-

Given
Zabaleta Touré Lescott Bridge
---------de Jong----Barry---------
SWP---------Ireland-----Bellamy
--------------Adebayor------------

Ireland is most effective at the top of a 4-2-3-1 midfield, where he's allowed to play with freedom. When we played this system last season he was nearly always a threat. It's vitally important that if Bridge bombs forward he's covered so Barry needs that drilled into him. Robinho and Tevez as substitutes to be utilised if needed, but I think that's the most effective XI for this game.

[Tokyo Blue]

Same as Saturday but with Bellamy for Tevez and Barry for de Jong.

[aristation]

De Jong has to play we need him to break up their play and remind them that they are at Eastlands with a welcoming kick.

[CityFanFromRome]

Team-

Given
Zabaleta Touré Lescott Bridge
---------de Jong----Barry---------
SWP---------Ireland-----Bellamy
--------------Adebayor------------

Agree with the formation but I'd put Tevez in SWP's place and Robson in Bellamy's, and use SWP and Bellers for subs. Basically the opposite of what you'd do there on the flanks, lol.

[Crossie]

given

zabs toure lescott bridge

ireland kompany barry

Tevez ade robbie



Not arsed if its 4-3-3 or fucking 4-1-1-2-2-2 but those 11 players should be able to beat Arsenal's 2nd choice team.

[Bingo Lewis]

--------------------Given

Onouha----Toure---------Lescott------Bridge

-------------------De Jong

---------Ireland-------------Barry

Tevez-------------Ade------------Robbie

[Martinez]

----------Given-----------
Zabs--Toure-Lescott-Bridge
----NdJ-------Barry-------
Tevez---Ireland---Robson
---------Adebayor---------

Not sure if Barry and Zabaleta are ok to play, but if they are, they should play. I'm hesitating over Tevez or SWP on the right, I actually thought SWP was one of our more dangerous players on saturday. Scored one, got a yellow card out of Dawson and could' ve had a penalty

[lets all have a disco]

Rather not think about it yet.

[ant london]

--------------------Given

Onouha----Toure---------Lescott------Bridge

-------------------De Jong

---------Ireland-------------Barry

Tevez-------------Ade------------Robbie

I'd play that

Might have Micah in for Nedum....depending on Ned's fitness but with Ireland and Tevez sitting in front of him Nedum would be fine and dandy just "defending" and leaving the other two to bomb on

In fact on reflection I'd rather that than have daydreambeliever Richards wandering out of position or pulled there by Arsenal's movement

We just fucking HAVE to win this game, I'm gonna go spasticated if we lose....proper chicken oriental

[CITYSTEVEDON]

--------------------Given

Onouha----Toure---------Lescott------Bridge

-------------------De Jong

---------Ireland-------------Barry

Tevez-------------Ade------------Robbie

i think i would go with this, then put swp/weiss for carlo and bellers for rob. might even go for johnson to come on for 30 mins/ barry

[Mark Garrett]

I've noticed a few people picking Tevez on the right, why do people think he is a better bet than Shauny for this game??

[bluechester]

I've noticed a few people picking Tevez on the right, why do people think he is a better bet than Shauny for this game??

guessing due tto shaunys poor distribution in recent games

[london blue 2]

--------------------Given

Onouha----Toure---------Lescott------Bridge

------------De Jong-------------Barry

Tevez----------------Ireland---------Robbie
--------------------------Ade------------

Id go with this but more like