Next up - Burnley

[Wonderwall]

Burnley are going well and have an amazing away record this season. They have been away to.
Chelsea
Spurs
Liverpool
Everton
And not lost any of those games.

Remember Liverpool last season had 80% possession and lost 2-0 to them. They will be very organised and if there was any game where an early goal is needed, then at this moment, this is it.

They are very comfortable surrendering possession and have very good organisation at the back.

Great piece on them here.

http://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41670800

I hope Pep does his homework for this one as it could be a frustrating afternoon.

[Justified logic]

Burnley are going well and have an amazing away record this season. They have been away to.
Chelsea
Spurs
Liverpool
Everton
And not lost any of those games.

Remember Liverpool last season had 80% possession and lost 2-0 to them. They will be very organised and if there was any game where an early goal is needed, then at this moment, this is it.

They are very comfortable surrendering possession and have very good organisation at the back.

Great piece on them here.

http://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41670800

I hope Pep does his homework for this one as it could be a frustrating afternoon.

Not only not lost, they beat Chelsea and Everton!

Here's hoping also for an early goal.

[South Stand Balti]

We had a big game on Tuesday and 50mph winds and some rain expected on Saturday. This won't be easy but after this one I'd give them the week off. Play the bench and 4 youngsters against Wolves. He may change it a bit though v Burnley. Maybe Danilo, Bernard and Gundo in. Perhaps a back 3 even with Mangala in. Never know with His Pepness.

[phips]

Danilo and Bernardo need to start. maybe Gundogan too. theres no point in having a deep squad if youre not going to rotate to keep things fresh.

[City64]

Same team as usual plus Aguero and Danilo they are fucking athletes that earn mega bucks FFS !!! Next week off and rest then , our 2nd eleven will comfortably see off Wolves ! And for those with short memories Pep is on record as saying he wants maximum league points from between the last international break and the next one in November !

[Wonderwall]

Same team as usual plus Aguero and Danilo they are fucking athletes that earn mega bucks FFS !!! Next week off and rest then , our 2nd eleven will comfortably see off Wolves ! And for those with short memories Pep is on record as saying he wants maximum league points from between the last international break and the next one in November !

We are unchanged in 3 matches and adding Aguero and Danilo will just be cheating. 13 v 12.

Athletes need recovery to ensure they keep their performances at the top level. Also, wolves are top of the table and flying, plus they have some decent players too. Take them lightly at our peril.

[City64]

Same team as usual plus Aguero and Danilo they are fucking athletes that earn mega bucks FFS !!! Next week off and rest then , our 2nd eleven will comfortably see off Wolves ! And for those with short memories Pep is on record as saying he wants maximum league points from between the last international break and the next one in November !

We are unchanged in 3 matches and adding Aguero and Danilo will just be cheating. 13 v 12.

Athletes need recovery to ensure they keep their performances at the top level. Also, wolves are top of the table and flying, plus they have some decent players too. Take them lightly at our peril.

Aguero and Danilo need some game time . Start same eleven v Burnley bring on Aguero and Danilo 2nd half , all good there is a title to be won . Prioritising Wolves makes no fucking sense whatsoever .......... Yaya and co can deal with them plus Aguero , Danilo , Gundogan , Bernado Silva . Fuck me how easy it ???? pmsl

[Sideshow Bob]

even if you subscribe to the idea that pro footballers should be able to handle 2 games/wk, the fact is we looked very tired in the 2nd half against napoli. KDB, silva and jesus clearly need a rest. maybe sane and fern as well.

[john@staustell]

We did look knackered.

[City64]

even if you subscribe to the idea that pro footballers should be able to handle 2 games/wk, the fact is we looked very tired in the 2nd half against napoli. KDB, silva and jesus clearly need a rest. maybe sane and fern as well.

But they get next week off after Burnley ?

[City64]

We did look knackered.

Pampered multi millionaire athletes Knackered after 9 weeks of the football season ? Give over !

[Sideshow Bob]

even if you subscribe to the idea that pro footballers should be able to handle 2 games/wk, the fact is we looked very tired in the 2nd half against napoli. KDB, silva and jesus clearly need a rest. maybe sane and fern as well.

But they get next week off after Burnley ?

tbh id bench them for both games. they can come on after 60 if needed.

[Swales4ever]

impressive stats by Burnley, indeed: didn't notice they have been so stunningly good away from home.

main concern, here, remains mind fatigue, as largerly debated in the napoli post-match.

rest dave (I very much would like start seeing bernie sharing trade with KdB in midpark, but would hardly happen so soon).
thus, I'd be confortable with Ilkay and Sergio (raz or leroy, usual conundurum on make way)

Lads shall still rock Eastlands again! confident.

EDIT: honest. still more concerned on 64 to make the seat at ko time.

[Wonderwall]

I hope to see the back pages on Sunday saying that Jesus crucified pope at the etihad.

[Swales4ever]

I hope to see the back pages on Sunday saying that Jesus crucified pope at the etihad.

that would be my personal take of heaven come to earth!
fascinating, Sir...

[sheblue]

Some are calling for wholesale changes for the Burnley game. I cant see Pep doing that. Pep surely will have learned that there are not any PL games that can be taken for granted, that and given their away from surely he will not change the team much. I expect to see a very similar side to the one that started on Tuesday and the previous two games.
The priority is the league. I am fine with him resting players mid week, of course that will supposedly 'weaken' the team. But playing the likes of Yaya, little Silva, Sergio, Danilo, Gundo ,Mangala etc wont weaken us sufficiently to get beaten by Wolves, well it should not anyway. Really our 2nd 11 should be dealing with Wolves easily, no disrespect intended.
Where is Vinny? Any chance of him ever playing a gain to give one of the other two a break.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

The defence is looking a touch more settled of late, so I wouldn't really want to see much changing there at the moment, which is hard news for Mangala, even though I'd like to see how he would fare alongside Stones.

As for the rest of the side, we've got a decent squad, with quality in depth, so rotation is the order of the day. We've got the players so it would be senseless not to use them.

Don't know where that leaves Kompany though ?

[Swales4ever]

The defence is looking a touch more settled of late, so I wouldn't really want to see much changing there at the moment, which is hard news for Mangala, even though I'd like to see how he would fare alongside Stones.

As for the rest of the side, we've got a decent squad, with quality in depth, so rotation is the order of the day. We've got the players so it would be senseless not to use them.

Don't know where that leaves Kompany though ?

Please don't get offended, MC, but i pretty much agree on the whole.
Mangala? I see You point, but also fear the "don't always start playing from the back" fraktion, resurrected on tuesday, might gain new adepts by that.
And I lost hope Pep will ever give a go to a Stones/Danilo partnership in the back 4.
resigned to live the scare of Otamendi until Pep will get his choosen CB (Dendoncker? anyone guess.)

Vinnie? we better ask Martinez, I fear.

but I also agree with SheBlue, never intended to take Burnley lightly, nor even before being enlightened by OP stats:
Would be curious to read what She makes of my proposed rotation (Berny/but probably Ilkay for Dave and Sergio back for make your pick on whether Raheem or Leroy.
Would You deem this too weakened? honestly curious, mate.

[Justified logic]

With their organised defence we'll need to be sharp against Burnley. I don't know how they play, but if we want to progress in the League Cup we'll need to show due respect to 2nd division leaders Wolves. I don't know how we'll rest our knackered midfielders and forward-midfielders during these two games ahead of WBA away and the return game in Naples, but then I'm not being paid £50m a year or whatever it is Guardioa gets.

[Nigels Tackle]

back 5 stays the same
rest the midfield...
swap silva for silva
gundog for kdb
danilo for fern
same front 3 - they are so fucking young, they could play every day