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[AG7]

Manchester City v Chelsea
Etihad Stadium, City of Manchester

Monday 3 February 2014
Kickoff: 2000 GMT

Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: J Collin & J Brooks
Fourth Official: Chris Foy

TV Coverage in UK: Sky Sports 1 HD (Sky 401), Sky Sports 1 (Sky 407) and Sky 3D (Sky 170)
Coverage starts at 1900 GMT

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Looks like no one will start the Next thread if I won't ... sorry people, am still travelling, can someone please add an intro or preview in here ...

Here's my quick team and score prediction ...

Starting XI

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Demi - Kola
Ferdy - Yaya
Navas - Jovetic - Silva
Beast

Score Prediction

Manchester City 4 - 0 Chelsea

[Saul Goodman]

Starting XI

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Demi - Kola
Ferdy - Yaya
Navas - Jovetic - Silva
Beast

This but, if fit, I'd like to see Milner in the side to help out midfield with Oscar and Hazard. That trio up there doesn't do much defensively and who knows if Jovetic is fit enough to start

[getdressedmctavish]

When Chelsea kick the fuck out of Silva in the first five minutes I hope the crowd give it loud and long to that coont of a hypocrite. Anyone near enough to the dugout, take some rotten fruit.Lets get after him from the first minute.

[sheblue]

Be very surprised if it was 4-0, they will attack more than most think and we will concede.

[Saul Goodman]

3-2 somebody

[Cit.revenge]

Really think that Jovetic is not yet ready to start in such a big game and Beast and Ed won all games since Aguero was injured and also like to see Milner in team.

[ant london]

Really think that Jovetic is not yet ready to start in such a big game and Beast and Ed won all games since Aguero was injured and also like to see Milner in team.

Edin has to start I agree 100%. Although some of his finishing has been crazily inconsistent at times he is 200% improved on the Dzeko of previous seasons. Effort, application and general team player contribution and attitude....esp over the last few months....has been fantastic.

Clearly he is a confidence player but I now feel this is not so much about him needing to always start but more that he needs to feel the confidence of his manager, the coaching setup and his teammates....I love how he, after having scored, immediately looks to go to who set him up. I'd love him to finish more easy chances as well as the more difficult ones he often scores but he is now a player i would be against the idea of selling...i never thought I would say that either.

Ed and Alvaro for this one. Another 25-30 mins for JoJo if all going well

[Luke11993]

Proper looking forward to this game don't get to many games living so far away but coming up with my brother who's a Chelsea supporter, he's already been warned that a good result for us will mean constant singing home for 4 hours after! Come on city!

[budfox]

I'm worried about the lack of Nasri and Sergio, so I doubt we'll smash more than five past them.

[Saul Goodman]

I'm kinda worried. Despite their draw last week, Chelsea are a good squad. They will probably end up being our only rival for the title as Arsenal have a backbreaking schedule coming up. This will probably be a draw.

Our defense has been suspect and with Willian-Oscar-Hazard they could really hit us. Yes we have been banging in goals but the pairing of Dzeko-Negredo means we will be a man short in midfield and Terry-Cahill should be fine dealing with our twin towers up top.

[blues2win]

Can Negrdo bully Terry? Possibly. I agree that Negredo Dzeko is potentially playing into Terry's hands. He would have been terrified at Sergio running at him. I'd be inclined to give Jovetic an hour playing off Negredo and then bring on Dzeko. But Pellegrini will probably start with the big two. I just think Chelsea won't be expecting a different challenge and Jovetic's cleverness might be just what's wanted to unlock Chelsea's defence. Our pressing game will have to be spot on otherwise we'll have Chelsea's midfield three running at Fernandinho and Yaya and we''ll be vulnerable.

[City64]

Let's get something straight here ....... Arsenal are a better team than Chelski and we twatted them ! Chelski under Maureen are negative in there tactics the very same tactics that got the cunt sacked last time he was manager at the bridge . Ignore the shite hype we are way too good for any team in the premier league at home , Negredo and Dzeko to both start for me lets do our thing and effectively end Maureen's and the chavs season .

Ps can't wait for this the Etihad will be rocking !

[Moonchesteri]

Let's get something straight here ....... Arsenal are a better team than Chelski and we twatted them ! Chelski under Maureen are negative in there tactics the very same tactics that got the cunt sacked last time he was manager at the bridge . Ignore the shite hype we are way too good for any team in the premier league at home , Negredo and Dzeko to both start for me lets do our thing and effectively end Maureen's and the chavs season . Ps can't wait for this the Etihad will be rocking !

I disagree with this. Chelsea maybe don't seem to be as "entertaining" as Arse are but I think they are a better and more solid team out of those two

[Ted Hughes]

I would expect them to score but I can't see any reason we shouldn't do the same, several times.

I would be surprised if Mourinho just parks the bus, as we score from set pieces etc these days, so inviting us into their penalty area is not the best idea. Our weakness is at the back.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I would expect them to score but I can't see any reason we shouldn't do the same, several times.

I would be surprised if Mourinho just parks the bus, as we score from set pieces etc these days, so inviting us into their penalty area is not the best idea. Our weakness is at the back.

Their weakness is in the dugout. Expect lots of diving and stamping, screaming and brandishing of imaginary yellow cards. All to no avail.

[MilnersJaw]

The mouthy is going to park the bus, which will be amusing since he is the first one to moan about it.

[Original Dub]

I'm kinda worried. Despite their draw last week, Chelsea are a good squad. They will probably end up being our only rival for the title as Arsenal have a backbreaking schedule coming up. This will probably be a draw.

Our defense has been suspect and with Willian-Oscar-Hazard they could really hit us. Yes we have been banging in goals but the pairing of Dzeko-Negredo means we will be a man short in midfield and Terry-Cahill should be fine dealing with our twin towers up top.

That is the most ridiculously pessimistic post of the season so far.

Wobble your head ffs.

[bayblue]

I'm kinda worried. Despite their draw last week, Chelsea are a good squad. They will probably end up being our only rival for the title as Arsenal have a backbreaking schedule coming up. This will probably be a draw. Our defense has been suspect and with Willian-Oscar-Hazard they could really hit us. Yes we have been banging in goals but the pairing of Dzeko-Negredo means we will be a man short in midfield and Terry-Cahill should be fine dealing with our twin towers up top.

I've got sympathy with this view.
I think that "cityitis" is a bit like shingles, never really goes away.
I so, so hope we win, and ideally win comprehensively. Actually, any win would do. I'd even really appreciate a 97th minute penalty with Terry sent off for what in retrospect is proven to be a fair challenge.......anything to see a 6 point gap in the papers the next day.

[Twobob]

I would expect this game to pan out similar to the Palace game, the boring one will keep all 11 behind the ball just like Pullis did and will try to catch is on the break - similar to how Palace did.

The only difference between the boring ones tactics and Pullis' are the quality of players available - we where often left exposed at the back to Palace's counters, we cant afford to do that against the likes of Hazzard and Osca. Ferdi needs to be on his game defensively to help shield the back four who all need solid and give us a platform to attack (like we ever need an invitation!)

It will be close, i'm plumbing for 2-1

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Want to smash them more than any other team. Most games I'd happily take any win offered to me, this game I really want us to show what we're capable of again and stick a hatful past them. The look on Mourinho's face would be priceless as would his excuses afterwords.

I honestly think we're stronger than them all over the pitch.