***Official City v Chelsea Match Thread-FA Cup 5th Round***

[Beefymcfc]

Really looking forward to this. There'll always be something about the FA Cup, something that takes me back when I was a kid. I remember the finals, screened for everybody to see. My dad would get the Party 7 out and we'd get a fizzy drink and some sticky bars. Mum would make some sandwiches and we'd all gaggle around the telly waiting for the whistle. Those were the days.

Anyway, I digress. The late KO will surely see the most anticipated game since the last time we played Chelsea. A very even game, if not the greatest, and one where it could've gone either way. Today we have to put that right.

Maureen has been a little quieter this time around and only really had a pop at the Yaya incident. He's tried to big-up an incident that should've been a yellow at the most and with his newfound mantra of 'We'll save players for the league and CL' he's give himself a shot of coming out of this smelling of roses. What's noticeable is that the majority of the players mentioned being saved are actually out through injury and wouldn't be able to play anyway. What's also noticeable is that he still keeps mentioning that we have the best team, knowing that 3 of our number 1 players are out injured as well.

Pellers, thank God, is having none of it this time and hasn't risen to the bate, which, in part, has kept Maureens comments a little more subdued. I'm sure he'd have had more to say if Pellers had bitten but by concentrating on our game it's left Maureen with little more to say.

No change from Pellers, is the mantra, and rightly so. Our formation has done us well all season and apart from a few hick-ups we've really gone on to show the PL what football is all about. 68 goals in the league and well over 100 in all competitions, City really are a sight for sore eyes. Our attacking football has brought a a real sense of entertainment back to the game and even without some of our star players at times, we've really shown what an attacking system can do. It brings a real smile to many and as long they are not fighting for the title, the fans of other clubs say the same too.

So what can we expect, can Pellers finally get one over is old foe or will Maureens devilish ways come back to haunt him? For me, I think it's the former, and to finally get the monkey of Maureen off his back will give him, and us, the confidence and fortitude to force our way to the very top.

Come On City!!!

[london blue 2]

Fucking hate Maureen of late. Hope we hammer them but I can see it being similar to the last game. Hopefully we have a much more mobile midfield this time around. And someone break Hazard nice and early ffs.

[Beefymcfc]

Fucking hate Maureen of late. Hope we hammer them but I can see it being similar to the last game. Hopefully we have a much more mobile midfield this time around. And someone break Hazard nice and early ffs.

I seen a headline where he's been having a go at Wenger as well. He reminds me of the school bully who got a good kicking. Uses the media in this country as his henchmen but I bet if left alone with another manager he'd be all smiles and giggles.

What's the weather like back in Manchester, any chance of this being called off? I suspect that because it's on TV, nobody will have the balls to cancel this game.

[Breks]

I seen a headline where he's been having a go at Wenger as well. He reminds me of the school bully who got a good kicking. Uses the media in this country as his henchmen but I bet if left alone with another manager he'd be all smiles and giggles.

What's the weather like back in Manchester, any chance of this being called off? I suspect that because it's on TV, nobody will have the balls to cancel this game.

It's bad enough but I think it won't be called off as it's on tv.

[Beefymcfc]

I seen a headline where he's been having a go at Wenger as well. He reminds me of the school bully who got a good kicking. Uses the media in this country as his henchmen but I bet if left alone with another manager he'd be all smiles and giggles.

What's the weather like back in Manchester, any chance of this being called off? I suspect that because it's on TV, nobody will have the balls to cancel this game.

It's bad enough but I think it won't be called off as it's on tv.

Ta pal. I'm off in to the office for a bit and would hate to come back in and see it's off.

[Twobob]

I seen a headline where he's been having a go at Wenger as well. He reminds me of the school bully who got a good kicking. Uses the media in this country as his henchmen but I bet if left alone with another manager he'd be all smiles and giggles. What's the weather like back in Manchester, any chance of this being called off? I suspect that because it's on TV, nobody will have the balls to cancel this game.

Its raining ...

He's a grade 'A' cunt of the highest oder and the Chav fans are following his example! Even BFS wouldn't have him round for a sarnie and a pie he's such an arrogant twat! God he really needs to be pegged back a notch or ten - he's back with the chavs because he know's they'll accept any low quality boring shite and haven't got the class to be embarrassed by his antics (unlike RM or Milan or anyone else).

Free kick from Yaya to open the fuckers up at 30 mins then 3-1 i'm hoping for!

Let drub this little fuck into the ground, use our rest to its full advantage and to fuck with using our heads, this is war! Take him out and throw him into the fucking canal!!!

[Beefymcfc]

From the Beeb:

Striker Sergio Aguero (hamstring) and midfielder Fernandinho (thigh) remain sidelined for Manchester City's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Chelsea.

Samir Nasri could return for City after five weeks out with a knee problem and fellow midfielder Javi Garcia is available after injury.

Chelsea's Gary Cahill joins fellow defender John Terry on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury.

Right-back Branislav Ivanovic may be deployed at centre-back in his place.

The last five FA Cup finals have featured either one of these two sides, with Chelsea winning all three of their final appearances (in 2009, 2010 and 2012) and City winning one (against Stoke in 2011) and losing one (against Wigan last season).

Manchester City won their first 11 home league games of the season before a superb counter-attacking performance from Chelsea earned them a 1-0 win at Etihad Stadium at the start of the month.

The result took Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's record when facing City manager Manuel Pellegrini to seven wins from nine meetings.

That period that covers the pair's previous stint together in Spain, when Mourinho was at Real Madrid and Pellegrini at Malaga.

But City's manager says his side will not be deterred from the attacking style that has brought them 68 goals in 25 league games.

"I think it'll be a very similar game as we have a style of play that we don't change, no matter who we're against," the Chilean said.

"From the other game, we know also that we have to try not to be very open on the counter-attack. And if we play well, there is no reason we cannot beat them."

Mourinho played down his personal record against Pellegrini, but conceded that playing the same opponents in the space of 12 days made devising tactics harder than usual.

"It's not easy to play consecutive matches against the same team, exactly because you try to read the previous game and try to improve things and try to analyse the mistakes and try to analyse the opponent again," he said.

"The game was very equal. Are we confident? Yes, but I believe they are confident.

"Are they worried? I believe so, but we are too."

MATCH FACTS

• This is the fifth meeting in the FA Cup, with Manchester City winning three times and Chelsea once.

• Manchester City have played in two of the last three FA Cup finals. They won the trophy for the fifth time when they beat Stoke in 2011, but were beaten by Wigan in the final last season. They first lifted the FA Cup in 1904.

• Chelsea have won the competition seven times, with all seven of their victories coming between 1970 and 2012.

[london blue 2]

Just realised my 5k post will probably be during the match today. I hope it's celebrating a city goal :)

[Slim]

Just realised my 5k post will probably be during the match today. I hope it's celebrating a city goal :)

"FFS Dzonkey" is not an acceptable milestone post.

[london blue 2]

"FFS Dzonkey" is not an acceptable milestone post.

how about a pellegrini out thread...

[Slim]

"FFS Dzonkey" is not an acceptable milestone post.

how about a pellegrini out thread...

Yeah, he's shite. Sooner we get rid of him the better.

[City64]

Two things .......

Maureen has become the most fucking intolerable loathesome egotistic arrogant disrepectfull gobshite , i want to smash his fucking face in !

Chav rent boys are full of shit aswell !

I have a train to catch into the city center on the piss then onto the Etihad ..........


COME ON CITY !!!!


Err weather aint too clever !

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Party 7 eh, Beefy? That took me back. Fancy us to beat them 3-1 today.

[bayblue]

Party 7 eh, Beefy? That took me back. Fancy us to beat them 3-1 today.

Their team potentially a little threadbare today. Big psychological game for us. Win this and the sky's the limit, at least until Tuesday. Looked at a couple of papers this morning and their team predictions for us are way different from each other. Only Kompany, Zab, Yaya, Samir and Dzeko appeared in both. So much for journalists getting any inside information from the club

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

I only just noticed, we haven't been moved from our South Stand seat. A long time since that happened. I'm surprised they can't fetch more fans for a big 5th round tie.

[dick dastardley]

Just heard theres a pitch inspection

[Slim]

How's the weather? Wouldn't want you lot of fannies to cry about a bit of wind again.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

How's the weather? Wouldn't want you lot of fannies to cry about a bit of wind again.

Raining but otherwise okay.

[Twobob]

How's the weather? Wouldn't want you lot of fannies to cry about a bit of wind again.

I've avoided sprouts and curry just in case

[Ted Hughes]

It's ugly, grey & miserable but not powerful enough to affect the game.

Bit like Ferguson.