Enjoy your holidays CuteMancs ... in his absence I'll pick up the tab for sifting through the away forums (for the next two games, Palace and Swansea) and continue what has been an interesting addition to the forum ... and then he can pick it up when he returns for the FA Cup tie (vs Blackburn Rovers).
Right, here we go then ...
If City are to score that magic 10 in a game this season then I guess this'd have been the favorite candidate ... were we to play our strongest XI which would have rested a whole week and no other games to come for another week coming, and Palace was still under Holloway I myself would have predicted a 10-0 drubbing ... but given this game comes less than two days after a big game for us and also their revival of sorts under Tony Pulis and of course not forgetting Tony's record against us at Stoke, we should certainly keep our expectations in check ...
Their fans however don't agree and still expect the worst ...
Away Team Selection
Speroni
Mariappa - Gabbidon - Delaney - Parr
Jedinak - Ward
Bolasie - Chamakh - Bannan
Gayle
My Favorite
Is it possible to give us a 5 goal start?
And the Rest ...
Is there any chance the CPFC team bus can park in front of whichever goal they are defending?
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Even without Aguero I can't see us getting anything but a mauling up there!
That said, we haven't had a pasting this season yet and are much improved the past few games, but even so it would be a miracle if we got a point at City, never mind three.
I think they will win the league this season btw. United are nowhere, Arsenal will fall away and Chelsea aren't anywhere near their best. It's a shoo-in for them I reckon.
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Making a banner that says "Man City for the title this year, all I ask is please don't score six or seven against us!"
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This is the game that worries me. So far we've been respectable away from home against the big sides but this city team if they're in the mood.. I dont think we can alter our game really and cede them any more possesion than they will inevitably have, just pack in tight and look to hit Chamakh and Bolassie as an outlet. Gayle starting could be a good shout to show his strengths and run at the last man. Either way I'll be happy to keep it down to 3. A point would be sensational.
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I am not a fan of squad rotation but given the chances of taking something from the game at the Etihad being very slim would you treat it like a cup game and rest players in light of the huge must win game against Norwich on New Year's Day?
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Goal difference can be worth a point at the season end. We can't afford a pasting.
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We could get a point there.
Despite a big difference in class West Brom went to United and won earlier this season. While beating the teams down the bottom is key - you still need to nick points against the big teams to stay up which we haven't been doing yet. City is as good a place to start as anywhere.
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We need every point we can get and it's not impossible for us to get a draw there.
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Forget this game I say. Although playing the devils advocate chasing shadows for 90 minutes will arguably affect our chances of a victory against Norwich on Wednesday. The Xmas programme does take its toll. A flat New Year's Day performance and defeat against Norwich is a scary prospect.
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I don't buy this. We've just had an away win, we need to build on that momentum. There's no reason at all why we can't come away from Man City with a point, which will give us even more confidence going into the Norwich game. Playing a weakened side will probably result in a heavy defeat, which will affect the confidence of the first choice players who do line up in that game. We need to be scrapping for every single point if we're going to stay in this League, not roll over and die before a ball has been kicked. Having said all that I think we will still lose by 3/4 goals.
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I get the way you are thinking, however Norwich is far more likely to yield points, and would hate that further injuries occur in key positions. However no harm in starting Philips for this one ? Moxey back in for Parr? Kebe in for Puncheon or Bolasie?
A few changes possible from the team to play Norwich without it really badly weakening the team.
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What is the point in being in the Premiership if you are not going to pit your wits against the best? I understand the long term strategic views, but it's a definate lesson coming for our boys.
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Nil all couple of mins to go. Pulis makes a time wasting substitution and brings Philips on. We get a pen. Philips smashes it in. We win. What a way for him to sign off his short but important Palace career.
I can but dream.
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I think Tony Pulis has improved the fitness of the team overall - so fatigue will not be a problem.
A bit more ball retention against City would mean not getting so tired. If we only have 35% of the ball there, we could be in trouble. And I am being generous about 35% frankly.
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Dear God please Man city could get a player sent off after 10 minutes etc. and another after 20? You listed to Sunderland fans, why not us? Pretty Please??
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I should have thought we will see a fair number of their reserves. Dzeko, Milner, Rodwell, Clichy, Nastasic. It'll be easy!
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City have won 9 out of 9 and are averaging over 4 goals a game at home.
Set up nicely for a famous win for Palace :D
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Whatever the scoreline, considering the amount of goals they have scored against teams at The Etihad, their transfer pot compared to ours, getting a point would be an amazing acheivement, hope we don't get to despondent if we end up with a hiding as there will be no shame in conceding 5 or more goals.
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Goal difference is vital we should play 11 defenders.
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Amazed to see bet365 & betVictor both offering 28-1 against us winning.
Even the draw is 17-2.
Am I wasting my money trying ?
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There is no question the facts state we cant compete, but I do feel if there is any hope then it must be to have a go at the heart of their defence, their one area where you can hurt them if you are brave enough.
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"There is no question the facts state we cant compete " what a load of Sh*t !! Take a look at their games so far...even sunderland have beaten them. Of course we can to. What a joke some people are,,,
Having said that - this is football. Literally anything can happen.... We almost beat the invincible Arsenal side. We are at our most dangerous when we look our most vulnerable - that will never change.
Cue 5-0 defeat.
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Let's play the stiffs at city
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Obviously many(all?) fear the worst for us vs the firepower of citeh at their home on sat.
A point would be incredible, but most of us are just hopeing our goal difference does not get truly buggered.
I'd take a 2-0 / 3-1 defeat,just damage limitation.
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At least the players will have goal difference to play for! We should set up and play for a nil nil. Its not going to happen though!
Man city will tear us apart. it will be like lambs to the slaughter
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A 0-1 will definitely feel like a point gained re:goal difference.
Anything lower than 0-5 will not be a disaster.
This lot beat Bayern Munich away a few weeks ago.
We should be rightly sh1tting ourselves.
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It's the perennial David vs. Goliath theme. Sadly, we don't have a slingshot!
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Whilst it is a huge ask for any team to go to City and come away with something, we have shown against Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea that we can play against these boys and not get turned over.
The only teams to outplay this year are Swansea and Newcastle, Fulham in around 60 minutes of the game. Now it says something for our big game mentality. We will go there with a game plan, keep tight as a unit and play for the draw. Bodies will go on the line and I will say, if we do indeed lose, it will be a tight 1-0 or 2-0 type game.
Keep the confidence up for Norwich when our boys can get behind the team and see them to another 3 points. COYP!
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City must be due a damp squib of a game at home sometime soon. Let us all pray it be Saturday.
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A Palace win! Nothing else will do! Don't give up before the game even kicks off!
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The reason City keep hammering teams is because teams keep attacking them. Typical Pulis football kick lumps out of them park the bus be aggressive and make the game scrappy and anyones for the taking. You never Know COYP!!!!
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City 2 Palace 3
First Half: Chamakh scores after 2 minutes while City are busy underestimating us. They then wake up and have 39 shots, 22 on target, scoring twice. Half time 2-1.
Second Half: Bannan scores a screamer from the halfway line straight after kick-off to make it 2-2. The pattern of the first half is then repeated with City having a further 41 shots, 27 on target, but this time they cannot put the ball in the net. Then in the 12 minutes of injury time the ref has added on for City to find a winner, supersub Gayle tricks his way past 3 defenders to slam an unstoppable shot past Hart. 2-3.
The Jack Daniel’s is very, very good, by the way.
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And finally ...
I would just like to see Palace score. Ideally at "our" end.
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