Man City buildup

[DannyMan2006]

I'd be shocked if Torres starts, when fit and on form him and Drogba are the best 2 strikers in world football but Rafa constantly rushed him back from injuries and played him when less than fit and he kept breaking down.

He's 3 weeks behind everyone else's pre season and doesn't have the durability of Kuyt. If he plays too much too soon he could break down and be out until Christmas again and if that happens and say we're struggling in 8th Torres will probably decide we're in terminal decline and leave.

Torres has been fit to start for a good two weeks now. Only reason he hasnt is because we didn't want to rush him back.

Only reason I would not start him is because I wouldn't want him to tire after an hour and then have to bring him off. That is the only situation where a player could get injured, tiring out and being left on because we are in need of a goal. I'd rather play him for the last 30, or for the second half. Then do the same v Trabzonspur and West Brom, then have him start away to Birmingham.

[Craig_H]

reina

johnson
skittles
carra
aurelio ( i assume agger wont play )

mash
ste
babel
kyut

jova
torres

Already been said that the team is Reina, Johnson, Aurelio, Carra, Skrtel, Mascher, Poulsen, Kuyt, Jova, Gerrard, Torres.

[Pablo]

I'd be shocked if Torres starts, when fit and on form him and Drogba are the best 2 strikers in world football but Rafa constantly rushed him back from injuries and played him when less than fit and he kept breaking down.

He's 3 weeks behind everyone else's pre season and doesn't have the durability of Kuyt. If he plays too much too soon he could break down and be out until Christmas again and if that happens and say we're struggling in 8th Torres will probably decide we're in terminal decline and leave.

Why shocked?

He's played 45 minutes the other day, his fitness is coming back.

He now needs a good 60min run out. I don't expect him to play the full 90 minutes, but I think it's reasonable to expect him to complete 60-70 minutes tonight and get his fitness and sharpness back.

[RedReet]

If this is the real team then I'm already impressed with Roy. He's dropped one of Rafa's inept favourites, Lucas, for a more skilful Poulson. I don't know what game the rest of you were watching but I remember seeing Poulson attempt a blaster with his right foot from more than 20 yards out. Then attempted a blaster with his left foot from nearly the same place. Both shots were not bad efforts. I don't think I've ever seen Lucas do anything of this sort. Granted Poulson is new to the league but he's been in these battles a lot more than we give him credit for.

I'm really looking forward to some decent distribution from Poulson to Gerrard/Torres which is often woefully lacking or just inept when Lucas usually plays.

I repeat, I salute you Roy. Though the same formation as Rafa's you've already improved its effectiveness which Rafa could never see beyond.

I really don't know what to say. So let me get this straight, Poulson has played one game for us, a home game against a relatively unknown and average Turkish team, and we only scrape past 1-0 at home. But you have imagined Poulson providing some decent distribution to Gerrard and Torres in your head in a game that is yet to take place, and you are 'saluting' Roy, I repeat 'saluting' Roy for being more effictive?

Ha ha, surely you must have other things to do for attention rather than make a fool of yourself on an internet forum.

[Fierce]

Lucas is more suitable for this game. Poulsen's still very rusty and yes needs game time, but i wouldnt be bedding him in away at City - we have the European game on Thursday which he can play in, and then WBA at home.

Lucas is more experienced for this type of game and we know he'll sit in front of the back four and break up play, which is what i'd be looking for him to do in this game.

Poulsen still looks a bit off the pace to me - and that was only against Trabzonspor.

Surely that's what Mascherano is there to do?!

I kind of agree in that I think it's early for Poulsen to play in a game against potentially our competitors for a top 4 slot, but we saw how ineffective the Lucas/Masher combo was last season. If Lucas suddenly turned into the Roy of Rovers player we thought we'd got from Gremio then maybe

[SB]

I'd be shocked if Torres starts, when fit and on form him and Drogba are the best 2 strikers in world football but Rafa constantly rushed him back from injuries and played him when less than fit and he kept breaking down.

He's 3 weeks behind everyone else's pre season and doesn't have the durability of Kuyt. If he plays too much too soon he could break down and be out until Christmas again and if that happens and say we're struggling in 8th Torres will probably decide we're in terminal decline and leave.

I agree and would prefer to see Nando come off the bench around the hr mark. Eggnog to start IMO.

[Vermilion]

I really don't know what to say. So let me get this straight, Poulson has played one game for us, a home game against a relatively unknown and average Turkish team, and we only scrape past 1-0 at home. But you have imagined Poulson providing some decent distribution to Gerrard and Torres in your head in a game that is yet to take place, and you are 'saluting' Roy, I repeat 'saluting' Roy for being more effictive?

Ha ha, surely you must have other things to do for attention rather than make a fool of yourself on an internet forum.

[Craig_H]

Surely that's what Mascherano is there to do?!

I kind of agree in that I think it's early for Poulsen to play in a game against potentially our competitors for a top 4 slot, but we saw how ineffective the Lucas/Masher combo was last season. If Lucas suddenly turned into the Roy of Rovers player we thought we'd got from Gremio then maybe

Mascher's there to do it, but we play two holding mids, so for a game like this, it's both their job to do that.

Lucas and Mascherano ineffective at what? Going forward, yes. Defensively, they're very effective as a pairing. And for an away game like this, keeping things tight is a priority.

[Shaggy]

Aye, the pairing isn't a total write off. We won 4-1 at United with those two in the middle.

I'd also go with Lucas over Poulsen, but otherwise I'm happy with that team. Aurelio needs to improve, he was woeful the other night.

[Craig_H]

Aurelio's just rusty, isnt he? I've no real worries about him, other than that he'll probably get to the point of 100% sharpness, and then be out for a month with a stubbed eyelid.

[BrianF80]

For some reason I can't remember but is Fabio one of those that typically needs a run of games?

[-V-]

So basically, the stand-out bet is unders

Yep looked at it but theres no value in 1.57 Bookies not giving anything away

[red g]

Mascher's there to do it, but we play two holding mids, so for a game like this, it's both their job to do that.

Lucas and Mascherano ineffective at what? Going forward, yes. Defensively, they're very effective as a pairing. And for an away game like this, keeping things tight is a priority.

I think Hodgson's worry is that Lucas could easily be bossed and bullied by the likes of toure/Kompany etc depending who they are playing and I am he is hoping Poulsen gives them a bit of a roughing up

[red g]

Yep looked at it but theres no value in 1.57 Bookies not giving anything away

while the likelyhood is that it will be a stalemate, with the amount of quality on the pitch it could also be a goalfest if someone gets an early goal.

[The Birdman]

Why shocked?

He's played 45 minutes the other day, his fitness is coming back.

He now needs a good 60min run out. I don't expect him to play the full 90 minutes, but I think it's reasonable to expect him to complete 60-70 minutes tonight and get his fitness and sharpness back.

Shocked because Torres is directly linked to our potential success this season and also Roy's own perceived success managing a big club.
Is losing away to Man City a big blow in potentially finishing in the top 4? not to me it isn't as the 'bigger 7 or 8' clubs will take points off each other so it's how we do home and away against the other 13 or so clubs that will define our season.

Now IF Torres is rushed back and breaks down again and we have had plently of examples of this in the last 2 seasons then that could masssively impact on our results which will impact our league position which ultimately could impact if Roy Hodgson stays as our manager.

That's why I'd be shocked because Torres staying fit is far far more important than playing from the start against Man City.


Also, you could tell that after the initial burst of excitment and enthusiam from Torres the other Thursday he faded in the last 15 mins or so which is perfectly normal and to be expected.
In the last 15 mins he didn't play or look like someone fully fit who had more to give because he had played less, he looked like a player short of fitness, probably short of a little confidence in his body not breaking down.