City (a) match thread

[Exiled_red]

I'm surprised Babel starts up front, I would have thought he'd have played out wide

[ElRobbie]

I think he might play kuyt up top
with maxi and babel on wings

[Bender]

Dude what are you on about? Its a big game and we need Torres and Beni. Desperation to want your best players available? R u mad?
Especially since Ngog got injured late on thursday.

erm dude i merely stated that neither players are match fit .......to have them back straight away means what ? that we have no quality nor back up ....it wasn't criticising just sating the obvious

[-V-]

Adam Johnson and SWP will cause us problems down the wings, especially since Insua is playing

[Lee]

Blimey, wouldn't have guessed that team. Strong bench too - feeling confident on this.

Dunno if Ngog picked up a knock in the week but I think a rest would do him good anyway - he's had a lot of work to do recently being up top on his own. Shame Pacheco didn't make the 18. I've always said that if Riera is fit then he needs to start, but he was poor during the week, very poor.

I'm still not sure on Babel. I think that if Rafa is going to start him then now is the time after his performance in the week - but one good game isn't going to change my mind on him and that I think he needs to be one of the first to leave in the summer.

Anyway, c'mon lads

[Bender]

Not really, i think both will fit enough to play 15/20 minutes if required, more than enough for Torres to get a hat-trick. You don't to be 100% match fit to be on the bench.

well ideally prefer torres to have had a few games first

[erikolaf]

That bench looks mighty strong

[Shaggy]

I'm surprised Babel starts up front, I would have thought he'd have played out wide

How do you know he'll start up front? My guess is Kuyt up front, Maxi right, Babel left, Gerrard behind. Kuyt up front alone just doesn't work and I'd prefer Babel up there to be honest, but I can't see it.

[lickedlollipop]

last minute sub for torres!

[Guest]

Kuyt will start up front with Babel playing wide.

[Exiled_red]

Torres and Yossi being on the bench smacks of desperation from Rafa .......Neither player can being anything near match fit ....Aquilani on the bench not a good thing for a player of his rep/price tag

Why does putting your best players on the bench when they are coming back from injury smack of desperation?

Aquilani hasn't been on form he doesn't deserve a place in the starting lineup when Lucas has been playing well.

[Assassin]

How do you know he'll start up front? My guess is Kuyt up front, Maxi right, Babel left, Gerrard behind. Kuyt up front alone just doesn't work and I'd prefer Babel up there to be honest, but I can't see it.

I agree. I also think will see Maxi and Babel switching flanks

[Lee]

Torres and Yossi being on the bench smacks of desperation from Rafa .......Neither player can being anything near match fit ....Aquilani on the bench not a good thing for a player of his rep/price tag

Desperation? They're two key players mate and of course we want them back asap, but I think Rafa, the players and the physios know more about their conditions than we do - I'm sure they wouldn't be in the squad if they weren't fit enough to come on for 15 mins or so.

[Bender]

er well you give players a few reserve games to get match fit then first team football ......yeah well aquilani is a waste of money from what he has shown

[Bender]

Desperation? They're two key players mate and of course we want them back asap, but I think Rafa, the players and the physios know more about their conditions than we do - I'm sure they wouldn't be in the squad if they weren't fit enough to come on for 15 mins or so.

just my opinion ....... wasn't a dig at the manager