Juventus

[brite blu sky]

People might be underestimating the value to us of topping the group. There is a high chance of Poznan getting another 3pts and some goals at Salzburg. If we want to make sure of topping the group we will have to take the Juve game with some seriousness.
Although i think Mancini is very pragmatic and dispassionate about decisions he is also going back to home soil, it would be difficult for that not to influence him in some way. My gut feeling at this point is he will be going to try and engineer a win... in Turin!

[Ted Hughes]

People might be underestimating the value to us of topping the group. There is a high chance of Poznan getting another 3pts and some goals at Salzburg. If we want to make sure of topping the group we will have to take the Juve game with some seriousness.
Although i think Mancini is very pragmatic and dispassionate about decisions he is also going back to home soil, it would be difficult for that not to influence him in some way. My gut feeling at this point is he will be going to try and engineer a win... in Turin!

He's not talking as if he's that arsed; more glad that he can rest players for Everton. I would have thought Juve will be resting players too though, so it should be our B team v their's.

[brite blu sky]

People might be underestimating the value to us of topping the group. There is a high chance of Poznan getting another 3pts and some goals at Salzburg. If we want to make sure of topping the group we will have to take the Juve game with some seriousness.
Although i think Mancini is very pragmatic and dispassionate about decisions he is also going back to home soil, it would be difficult for that not to influence him in some way. My gut feeling at this point is he will be going to try and engineer a win... in Turin!

He's not talking as if he's that arsed; more glad that he can rest players for Everton. I would have thought Juve will be resting players too though, so it should be our B team v their's.

I didnt realise it was Everton after Juve ! That makes a difference for sure. However i wasn't suggesting he will go to Turin with the prem side, simply suggesting we could field yesterdays team including Balotelli and be confident of a result.

[Ted Hughes]

People might be underestimating the value to us of topping the group. There is a high chance of Poznan getting another 3pts and some goals at Salzburg. If we want to make sure of topping the group we will have to take the Juve game with some seriousness.
Although i think Mancini is very pragmatic and dispassionate about decisions he is also going back to home soil, it would be difficult for that not to influence him in some way. My gut feeling at this point is he will be going to try and engineer a win... in Turin!

He's not talking as if he's that arsed; more glad that he can rest players for Everton. I would have thought Juve will be resting players too though, so it should be our B team v their's.

I didnt realise it was Everton after Juve ! That makes a difference for sure. However i wasn't suggesting he will go to Turin with the prem side, simply suggesting we could field yesterdays team including Balotelli and be confident of a result.

It worries me that if we play Balo there, some grizzled old Mafia thug type character from Juve's reserve team may kick his knees off.

[craigmcfc]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if we finish top then we'll avoid the 3rd placed Champions League teams? Therefore the Juve away game is not "a game that means nothing".

Are we really that bothered about facing the likes of Rangers, Basle, Rubin Kazan, Twente, Spartak Moscow, Benfica or Tel aviv, Ajax or Auxerre though? I don't understand all this "we want to avoid" theory. If we want to win the cup then we will have to beat the better teams and there is no one better than us in the competiton.

I don't want to be falling behind the leaders over christmas because we risked or give unnecessary fatigue to Tevez, Balotelli, Kompany, De Jong ect because we didn't want to face Rangers or Twente in the next round.

It's common sense and at the end of the day, the team that i'd put out above is more than capable of getting something in Turin.

I think we can allow ourselves the "Billy Big Boots" attitude when we finally win something. Till then I'll take the easiest route to a final that we can get

[Dameerto]

They should reward the team that played well last night with a trip to Juve. (Maybe rest Kolo though)

[dazby]

As it's a nothing game for them too I wouldn't expect a strong lineup. Put out the B team for sure.

Nothing match against Juve or crunch match against Everton? Simple decision.

[brite blu sky]

Just to clear up the fog surrounding games / week thing, here are the dates plus recovery time including the match day.

04 Dec Bolton Wanderers
7 days
11 Dec West Ham United
5 days
16 Dec Juventus
4 days
20 Dec Everton
6 days
26 Dec Newcastle United
2 days
28 Dec Aston Villa
4 days
01 Jan Blackpool
4 days
05 Jan Arsenal
4 days
9 Jan Leicester FA cup
6 days
15 Jan Wolves

From that it is clear that Juve game comes before the real busy busy period. And the real crunch is going to be Newcastle, Villa, Blackpool, Arsenal and possibly Leicester if it is on the 8th, which i doubt. *edited dates*

As Everton is a biggie and will be a tough tiring game it is sure that probably all the first teamers will not feature at Juve, but that still leaves the team that played Salzburg to go to Turin, minus Kolo say. I would argue that would be sound practice to let that same side get some more time together and they could then face Blackpool at home, i would have thought with confidence.

[lets all have a disco]

Go,get pissed,eat pasta,get a lap dance,have a good time,pretty standard really.

Bonus you dont have to worry,loud and proud.

[brite blu sky]

As Tevez will now miss the Wet Spam game, he could be taken to Turin for a bit of a run out ahead of Everton.

[the_georgian_genius]

Just to clear up the fog surrounding games / week thing, here are the dates plus recovery time including the match day.

04 Dec Bolton Wanderers
7 days
11 Dec West Ham United
5 days
16 Dec Juventus
4 days
20 Dec Everton
6 days
26 Dec Newcastle United
2 days
28 Dec Aston Villa
4 days
01 Jan Blackpool
4 days
05 Jan Arsenal
4 days
9 Jan Leicester FA cup
6 days
15 Jan Wolves

From that it is clear that Juve game comes before the real busy busy period. And the real crunch is going to be Newcastle, Villa, Blackpool, Arsenal and possibly Leicester if it is on the 8th, which i doubt. *edited dates*

As Everton is a biggie and will be a tough tiring game it is sure that probably all the first teamers will not feature at Juve, but that still leaves the team that played Salzburg to go to Turin, minus Kolo say. I would argue that would be sound practice to let that same side get some more time together and they could then face Blackpool at home, i would have thought with confidence.

The recovery days are wrong mate, take a day off the days and you have the correct recovery days.

04 Dec Bolton Wanderers
6 days
11 Dec West Ham United
4 days
16 Dec Juventus
3 days
20 Dec Everton
5 days
26 Dec Newcastle United
1 day
28 Dec Aston Villa
3 days
01 Jan Blackpool
3 days
05 Jan Arsenal
3 days
9 Jan Leicester FA cup
5 days
15 Jan Wolves

[Green & Blue]

They are live tonight on espn v catania, might have a look and see how they get on

[the_georgian_genius]

Are we under the impression that this will be a fringe plus kids side with the busy schedule coming up? Does anyone know if the likes of Nimley can play? Or is it those only in the european squad?

I know its a long way off but

-------------------------GIven----------------------------

----Richards-------Boyata-----Lescott-------Bridge----

--SWP-----------Vieria---------Ibrahim---------Jo------

------------------Santa Cruz-----Adebayor--------------

SUBS:
Taylor, Kay, Nimley, Poole, M.Johnson, Mee, Veseli

Hart, Boateng, Kompany, Kolo, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Barry, De Jong, Yaya, Milner, Silva, A.Johnson, Tevez and Balotelli all to stay at home nice and warm getting ready for Everton on the Monday.

It seems Bobby Manc shares the same opinion, or maybe i am Bobby Manc............

balotelli wont go to juve. jo up front with nimely on the bench. adebayor fitness unsure. bench full of kids. #mcfc

[Nick]

what the hell is that?! Seems an amatuer/ unprofessional twitter/facebook to be from the club !!!

We need ade getting games!!!

[the_georgian_genius]

what the hell is that?! Seems an amatuer/ unprofessional twitter/facebook to be from the club !!!

We need ade getting games!!!

from Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail.