***official city v palace match thread***

[Tokyo Blue]

CITY XI: Hart, Boyata, Kompany (C), Nastasic, Clichy, Garcia,Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Milner, Dzeko

From OS

What does Rodwell have to do!?

Get a Spanish passport.

[aaron bond]

CITY XI: Hart, Boyata, Kompany (C), Nastasic, Clichy, Garcia,Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Milner, Dzeko

From OS

There's always a risk of conceding when Nastasic or Garcia start, but that side should still have too much attacking prowess for Palace.

[Nick]

CITY XI: Hart, Boyata, Kompany (C), Nastasic, Clichy, Garcia,Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Milner, Dzeko

From OS

i love it when we change half the defence every week..

both garcia and dzeko start. Bet Fernie and the others are thrilled.

[Beefymcfc]

A few match stats from the Beeb. Also, we are currently riding high in the form table, 16 from a possible 18 points.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

•Crystal Palace have lost their last three trips to Manchester City and are winless in seven attempts since a 2-0 top-flight victory on 22 December 1990.

Manchester City

•City are the only team in the Premier League this season yet to drop a point at home. They have also scored in each of their last 59 Premier League home games.

•If they score on Saturday, City will break their own Premier League record of 53 goals from the opening 19 games, set in 2011-12.

•They are unbeaten in their last seven league matches (W6, D1) but are attempting to earn four successive wins for the first time under Manuel Pellegrini.

•City are unbeaten in their final game of the year since returning to the Premier League in 2002-03 (W5, D6).

•Alvaro Negredo has scored in each of his last nine appearances at the Etihad Stadium.

Crystal Palace

•Tony Pulis has won nine points from his six Premier League games in charge of Crystal Palace - two more than Ian Holloway and Keith Millen won combined from 12 matches.

•The Eagles have kept five clean sheets in their last eight league fixtures.

•They have only taken one point from their nine games against top-half opposition.

•Palace have scored the fewest goals in the division (12) and failed to recover any points from losing positions.

[Mike J]

Garcia over Rodwell. I just do not get it.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Get a Spanish passport.

Sure looks like it.

[Beefymcfc]

CITY XI: Hart, Boyata, Kompany (C), Nastasic, Clichy, Garcia,Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Milner, Dzeko

From OS

Well, that's fucked my FFT then. Cheers Pellers you plum!

Not too sure about the line-up and would normally be worried with so many changes to our defensive areas but eh, this is Palace we are playing.

Surely that team should beat Palace, at home?

[Hutch's Shoulder]

CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Lescott, Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Rodwell, Nasri, Negredo.

[john@staustell]

I know what - lets all criticise the manager, he knows nothing

Then again maybe Rodwell still has twinge! And maybe he'll play on NYD? And maybe Rodders spends most of his time at the other end of the field whereas Garcia will sit and hold against this lot?

But then what does Pelle know?

[sheblue]

Where's Jovetec? Not even on bench.

[South Stand Balti]

Where's Jovetec? Not even on bench.

Pulled his hamstring on Boxing Day

[Hutch's Shoulder]

CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Lescott, Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Rodwell, Nasri, Negredo.

I expect to see Fernandinho replaced by Yaya or Rodwell and Silva by Nasri in second half.

[Beefymcfc]

I know what - lets all criticise the manager, he knows nothing

Then again maybe Rodwell still has twinge! And maybe he'll play on NYD? And maybe Rodders spends most of his time at the other end of the field whereas Garcia will sit and hold against this lot?

But then what does Pelle know?

Yeah, but what does he actually do?

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Half these guys beat Bayern away so should be enough for Palace at home, plus strong bench if needed.

[Beefymcfc]

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini: "I repeat it is not normal to play twice in 48 hours, I think it's a risk for the players so I made the changes.

"The team is doing very well at home so far, but I always say we have a squad. At right-back, Pablo Zabaleta is a risk, Micah Richards is injured and Dedryck Boyata normally plays in the week in that position."

[Slim]

I am fine with DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDRYK being right back against Palace, Zabs job was done against Liverpool where he was needed.

[Nick]

Where's Jovetec? Not even on bench.

Pulled his hamstring on Boxing Day

is this for real?! now i smell a fish

[Slim]

OMG, I am so sad.

JoJo should be pushing for a place in our strongest 11, I sense we've made a terrible mistake in signing him.

[DoomMerchant]

is this for real?! now i smell a fish

Someone did say he got a hammy twinge in the boxing day warmdowns but I've no idea if it was a wind up or not.

[South Stand Balti]

is this for real?! now i smell a fish

This has been stated