Man City Build Up Thread

[Kilteragh]

I think we'll **** them.

Somehow they have won 9/9 at home but I believe they're not that good.

Our defence should handle them and I can see us winning by two goals.

Oh and they play today as well against Blackburn's hackers, which is never good for your health.

This will test their strength in depth which will show up as lacking and will show the benefits of our rotation policy.

[BigChief]

My worry is that Rafa might take this opportunity to bench/rest Torres. His reasoning could be that Micah Richards will nullify any pace that Torres has so to conserve Nino's energy for next Weds.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Red_Al_77]

Torres can take a rest after the Wigan game. He'll not play against Luton and thus will get a 10day break. Torres has to play against Citeh and Wigan.

[Kilteragh]

My worry is that Rafa might take this opportunity to bench/rest Torres.

I think you're right. He'll be on the bench I'd say.

[Resu]

My worry is that Rafa might take this opportunity to bench/rest Torres. His reasoning could be that Micah Richards will nullify any pace that Torres has so to conserve Nino's energy for next Weds.

I hope I'm wrong.

I`D like to see Torers against a young player like Richards. Richards is a great talent, but I think Torres will outwit him. When a young defender that are used to relay on pace meets a more smart player with pace the cards often comes up.

[dww]

Torres can take a rest after the Wigan game. He'll not play against Luton and thus will get a 10day break. Torres has to play against Citeh and Wigan.

The worry for me at present is the talk that Sami picked up a knock. City are good coming forward so we need a strong defense for this game. I was in favour of playing Hobbs against Derby but I would be worried for him dealing with deep runs from Elano and Petrov, especially when combined with a confident striker in Bianchi.

I would back our midfield to dominate them and if that happens it could be like their game against Chelsea when their attacking intent left their defense sorely exposed.

[Armchairkopite]

Trickiest game of the Christmas period by far, imo this is a really big test for our title hopes and it will take nothing less than a win to keep us as challengers. If we hadn't dropped so many cucial points at home i'd have taken a draw here as a fairly decent result as it stands thats not the case and we have another must win game on our hands, this game is HUGE.

Thank God Stevie is back to his rampaging best, lets hope he keeps the shackles off.

[Kilteragh]

Thank God Stevie is back to his rampaging best, lets hope he keeps the shackles off.

He'll be benched too

[Rich]

I can see us starting with Alonso and Mascherano in the middle, and perhaps Gerrard on the right to nullify the threat from Petrov. The player we obviously need to watch is Elano, dropping deep and dictating play - I'd be tempted to use Mascherano as a man marker for this one game.

Richards and Dunne are decent at the back, so I really think Torres needs to play for us to get something from the game.

Citeh have been very impressive at home so far this year.

[5aq1b]

I'd put Gerrard on the right for this one also.

bit off the topic but yesterdays commentator, whoever the **** he was, says "We'd see a totally different Gerrard if he was playing in a Real Madrid or Barcelona side" (!!!!), after mentioning the fact that he'd scored 10 goals in the past 12 games for us a few minutes earlier!!! what a tw@t

[Nicey]

Yeah that Commentator was a complete an utter ****

[Armchairkopite]

Hahahahahah put after Rafa deciding to finally stick with Stevie in the middle everyone wants him out on the right.

[Nicey]

gaz but these posters to there credit have thought it through

[Matt]

Theres no way Rafa would play Torres against Derby and then rest him for Citeh.

[glynner]

I think Masher will stifle Elano, but it will be interesting to watch Didi try and do the same with Gerrard.

We have an extra day's rest than them, so I'd like us to play players with pace e.g. Babel to take advantage of any tired legs, especially on Citeh's big pitch.