Manchester City - Carling Cup Build Up

[Buzzo]

You should leave the forum in protest aswell.

[BobTheCharmer]

I really fancy us to finish the job off. I do think it may be time to get sterling on the bench though. chuck him on for last 15 and let him run at them. i'd get enrique out though, becoming a liability at the moment. so sloppy.

I'd drop/rest Skrtel as well and replace with Carra or Coates.

The problem we have is, I really want us to beat the scum on saturday and we have a few players that won't make 90 minutes of both ie Bellamy & Gerrard. Yet we're one game from Wembley. decisions decisions.

[Craig_H]

You'd drop Enrique and Skrtel??

[cream]

Seeing Savic today has given me real hope for Wednesday.

And then you realised Carroll and Kuyt will be our strikers and Bellamy won't play.

[BobTheCharmer]

You'd drop Enrique and Skrtel??

Enrique has got worse and worse for me lately. He needs a rest. Appalling yesterday, child like mistakes. Always trying to shield the ball out all the time. When he gets close to the opponents goal he panics everytime. He has good atributes, speed and generally covers back well, but his form has dropped alarmingly from his early promise. So yes Craig I would rest him for the Utd game. Plus give him a kick up the arse. I'd also rest/drop one of the centre backs (or think Kenny will) and think Agger can play alongside any of sktrel, Carra or Coates whereas I'm not sure Sktrel can. There's no point having 4 centre backs if you don't use them. In a backs to the wall situation, I'd have Carra in there, but perhaps his lack of regular games has left him even less moible, he did look chunky the other day.

There will be changes Craig from Bolton and with Saturdays game in mind. So who knows how we'll line up.

[Craig_H]

Enrique was poor yesterday but i dont think he's had a run of bad games. Plus the alternative option would be Aurelio who couldnt probably manage an hour without getting injured. If he's even fit at all.

Playing Carra would ensure that the ball would be coming straight back at us everytime he has it (and hoofs it), so we'd be under regular pressure.

[Mr Darko]

What worries me is where our goals are going to come from especially without Suarez - in 270+ minutes they conceded two against us: one a very lucky deflection and the second a penalty due to ****e defending as Agger was going nowhere.

Also seems unlikely we'll keep them out for 90 minutes.

[Shanks]

What worries me is where our goals are going to come from especially without Suarez

Suarez isn't a prolific striker by any means but he can create chances, trickery, he has some pace, he can open up the game..

Downing should also have the ability to do this.. but you have to ask.. why did Fergie pick Young over Downing?

[Craig_H]

What worries me is where our goals are going to come from especially without Suarez - in 270+ minutes they conceded two against us: one a very lucky deflection and the second a penalty due to ****e defending as Agger was going nowhere.

Also seems unlikely we'll keep them out for 90 minutes.

Bellamy's the only definite goal threat, Gerrard could be if he's allowed to play an attacking role.

That's it.

[little dave hedgehog]

Suarez isn't a prolific striker by any means

not anymore. you did see what he did at ajax, right?

[Shanks]

not anymore. you did see what he did at ajax, right?

Ahhh but that was the Dutch league..

Things are different dontcha know..Just ask any of the scouts on here..
Babel & Kuyt can even score there....

[Vermilion]

So Balotelli dodged a bullet today, which means he plays at some point on Wednesday i expect.

Maybe it'll be highlighted in the media in the run up to the game how he got away with it today, and with a bit of luck the ref in our game will jump in with a Red card if Balotelli does anything that looks remotely like a sending off offence, even if it's not.

I really want to lift that trophy, and while it may be a mere bauble in terms of the silverware this club aspires to attain, it's still a final...and it's still a trophy, and we need something, it's been too long, and Wembley needs introducing to LFC and it's fans and shown what a cup final crowd is meant to be like.

[little dave hedgehog]

Ahhh but that was the Dutch league..

Things are different dontcha know..Just ask any of the scouts on here..
Babel & Kuyt can even score there....

he certainly found the net regardless. there are better defenders in england to be sure, but the goals are the same size. you don't score that many goals by shooting high and wide.

[The Birdman]

Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Spearing
Henderson Gerrard
Kuyt Carroll Downing.

Would pick Bellamy but we all know about his knees.
I never in a million years thought I would say these words but please Jay Spearing, please be fit, not because you yourself are actually any good but because we have no chance if Adam or Henderson plays defensive midfielder.

If Spearing isn't fit I would tell Gerrard to play there and orchastrate attacks from deep with Henderson and Shelvey supporting Carroll.
Either way don't pick Charlie Adam at the moment

[The Birdman]

Kenny likes springing a suprise selection in big games doesn't he, what do we think this one will be?
Shelvey starting perhaps?