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FA Cup
Fifth Round (Round of 16)

Manchester City v Chelsea
Etihad Stadium, City of Manchester

Saturday 15 February 2014
Kickoff: 1715 GMT

Referee: Philip Dowd
Assistants: Michael Mullarkey & Stuart Burt
Fourth Official: Michael Jones

TV Coverage in UK: ITV HD ( Sky 178 ) and ITV ( Sky 103 )
Coverage starts at 1645 GMT

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The Game:

Win this one and the quadruple is very much alive ... well, at least the domestic treble is ... this win to put us into the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup ... one step away from another one or two Wembley trips.

The Opposition:

Chelsea will be significantly weaker than their last trip to the Etihad. Their second string if played, is (at least on paper) not stronger than our second XI (ours, on their day, beat Bayern in their back yard if people need reminding) ... With Cahill out injured and Terry unsure, their defense which stood strong in the league game is certainly breach-able ...

Oh, and they played (and drew last minute) against a relegation threatened side on Tuesday, so physically and mentally a tad bit tired I suppose ...

However, it's a cup tie, and not one of those early rounds, so underestimate them at your own peril ...

Team Selection:

Why would Pellegrini play his strongest XI here ... I'll tell you why:

- We had the mid-week off, so the whole concerns about having played five games in two weeks prior to taking on Barcelona are gone.
- Idea of playing the strongest XI in the league game, then rest them against Chelsea in the cup so they are fresh before Barca ... gone, the mid-week game never happened.
- Chelsea will line-up 4-3-3 ... pretty much like Barca will line up, except of course Barca's focus will be on the 3-3 in front, and Chelsea's on 4-3 at the back ... but still, why not treat this is as a full-dress rehearsal for the Barca's game. Sure we have tried the whole gung-ho 4-4-2 against big teams (Bayern and Chelsea) at home and have come out short both times. Sure against Barca he'll want a 5 man mid-field, then why not try that against Chelsea here too ...
- Pelligrini has taken FA Cup seriously in earlier rounds, and so even if the schedule dictated (and he said so himself) that this game he might have been forced to play out kids and second stringers ... but God has been kind on his own club and yesterday's postponement (even though my back is still complaining about my ten hours in the car) has given him the perfect opportunity to field a strong team out here ...
- We all (the fans) want to stuff Bourinhio and his rent boys for their smash and grab from last week and all the shit he has sprout over the past two weeks ... I am sure the players and Pellegrini want that too ... so here's the chance, let's do it!

Right, so question then becomes, why won't he? (field his strongest XI) ...

Starting XI Prediction:

Panti
Zaba - Komps - Lescott - Kola
Yaya - Garcia
Nasri - Jovetic - Silva
Negredo

Bench: Dzeko, Navas, Demi, Clichy, Richards, Milner, Hart
Give Nasri, Negredo and Zaba/Silva a break after 60 mins, but have the game well and over by then.

Oh, and I fully expect Aguero and Ferdy to be involved against Barca, so don't be too surprised if either of them also makes the bench in this one.

Score Prediction:

Manchester City 3 - 1 Chelsea
It'll be either a 2-1 or 3-1 ... take your pick, I am ever the optimist.

Other Games:

15 February 2014 - Saturday
Sunderland v Southampton
Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic
Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic

16 February 2014 - Sunday
Everton v Swansea City
Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest
Arsenal v Liverpool

17 February 2014 - Monday
Brighton & Hove Albion v Hull City

So there is only one other game really this round of any significance ... Arse v Scouse ... and after this round, only one of them will remain in the next pot ... why wouldn't we want to give it our all this round, it pretty much is a Semi-Final as I see it.

For some reason I still think we'll see Micah from the start, and Nasri will get 25 min or less. I don't think he'll start; he needs some match fitness still

Saul Goodman wrote:For some reason I still think we'll see Micah from the start, and Nasri will get 25 min or less. I don't think he'll start; he needs some match fitness still

Was the team for last night ever publicised? Must be odd for a player who potentially might have been told they were playing last night but then gets left out for Saturday!
Putting Richards in versus Hazard would certainly be a test for him.
Attacking wise we need to get our players running at Terry and Cahill so I hope Nasri can start.
If, as people seem to think, there's a good chance of getting Aguero and Fernandinho back for the Barca game then I think Pellers might start Nasri. Interesting who he goes for up top though; I think maybe Dzeko and Jovetic to start with.

Only one thing worries me about this game and it's "The man all come to see" Phil fuckin Dowd.

I don't see Chelsea being significantly weaker than their previous visit. They have no game for a week after this one. I also think Nasri will be off the bench at best. I would go with a strong team something like AG7s team and I hope the engineer does. We can't have Maureen smuggling it up again.

David Walker ‏@djwskyblu 14m
I could be wrong but I believe this to be utter bollocks #ChelseareservesFAC5

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681 …

gillie wrote:David Walker ‏@djwskyblu 14m I could be wrong but I believe this to be utter bollocks #ChelseareservesFAC5

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681 …

Sounds like bollocks to me

gillie wrote:David Walker ‏@djwskyblu 14m I could be wrong but I believe this to be utter bollocks #ChelseareservesFAC5 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681 …

The fucker is thinking by saying all this Pelligrini might also rest his first teamers for Barca and then lo and behold he'll pull out his strongest XI and walk away with another win ... don't fucking listen to any of this bullshit!

Rest players for what? They don't even have a mid week CL game and have a whole week to rest before a home game on next Sat 22nd.

Of course it's rubbish Chelsea will have their best 11 available on the field.

sheblue wrote:Of course it's rubbish Chelsea will have their best 11 available on the field.

Chelski will have their best 11 out. I have a feeling Kompany will be rested though.

Cahill might be out which could make it:

Cech
Az Ivan Terry/Luiz Cole

I don't know if that affects us but Cahill has been pretty good for them

gillie wrote:David Walker ‏@djwskyblu 14m
I could be wrong but I believe this to be utter bollocks #ChelseareservesFAC5

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681 …

Can someone post this? On my phone it's something about Gervinho.

gillie wrote:David Walker ‏@djwskyblu 14m
I could be wrong but I believe this to be utter bollocks #ChelseareservesFAC5

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681 …

Can someone post this? On my phone it's something about Gervinho.

Saul Goodman wrote: Can someone post this? On my phone it's something about Gervinho.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho poised to sacrifice Manchester City FA Cup tie to rest stars for run-in

Terry, Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, Eto'o, Matic and Cahill could miss last-16 tie as competition is club's No.3 priority behind the title and Champions League

Jose Mourinho is ready to risk an FA Cup embarrassment at Manchester City on Saturday as he targets the Premier League title.

After losing calf-injury victim Gary Cahill for Chelsea's second trip to the Etihad in 12 days, Mourinho is weighing up giving his centre-back partner and skipper John Terry extra time off to ensure he is fit for their next league game, at home to Everton on February 22, and the Champions League trip to Galatasaray four days later.

Terry, who had played every minute of this Premier League season until he sat out the weekend win over Newcastle, was badly missed on Tuesday as the Blues let two vital points slip at West Brom.

The Chelsea skipper is keen to return to action after what Mourinho has described as a "double muscle injury" sustained in training last Friday.

But the Portuguese is aware that a recurrence of the injury against City, or rushing the 33-year-old to get him back, could lead to a longer absence at a pivotal point in the season.

Mourinho is also keen to give Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard, Andre Schurrle, new signing Mohamed Salah and fit-again Fernando Torres starts, to ensure they are match-fit for the business end of the Londoners' season.

That means likely rests for Ramires, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Samuel Eto'o, while £21million January recruit Nemanja Matic limped out of The Hawthorns following Tuesday's game.

The Chelsea boss knows the FA Cup is very much in third place on the club's priority list and that even defeat to City on Saturday would give his side a chance to steal a march on their title rivals by beating already-out Tottenham on March 8 - quarter-final weekend.

After City's Wednesday game with Sunderland was postponed because of bad weather, they could be two matches behind Chelsea, with extra pressure on them to win those games if Mourinho's side take advantage of the Spurs fixture.

Mourinho suggested his troops lacked the "personality' normally exemplified by the absent Terry as they threw away a 1-0 victory over the Baggies.

Cahill's calf was a significant concern in the aftermath of Tuesday's match - although the 28-year-old seemed more worried about the Londoners' loss of title-race momentum.

"There was real frustration that we couldn't get three points. It was tough," said Cahill. "If you're the home team and behind [as West Brom were], you've got nothing to lose going into the last 20 minutes. Anything can happen when you push players up and they got the point.

"We had control for long periods and if we'd scored a second goal, it was over. We just needed that second."

AG7 wrote: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ie-3138681 Chelsea's Jose Mourinho poised to sacrifice Manchester City FA Cup tie to rest stars for run-in Terry, Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, Eto'o, Matic and Cahill could miss last-16 tie as competition is club's No.3 priority behind the title and Champions League Jose Mourinho is ready to risk an FA Cup embarrassment at Manchester City on Saturday as he targets the Premier League title. After losing calf-injury victim Gary Cahill for Chelsea's second trip to the Etihad in 12 days, Mourinho is weighing up giving his centre-back partner and skipper John Terry extra time off to ensure he is fit for their next league game, at home to Everton on February 22, and the Champions League trip to Galatasaray four days later. Terry, who had played every minute of this Premier League season until he sat out the weekend win over Newcastle, was badly missed on Tuesday as the Blues let two vital points slip at West Brom. The Chelsea skipper is keen to return to action after what Mourinho has described as a "double muscle injury" sustained in training last Friday. But the Portuguese is aware that a recurrence of the injury against City, or rushing the 33-year-old to get him back, could lead to a longer absence at a pivotal point in the season. Mourinho is also keen to give Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard, Andre Schurrle, new signing Mohamed Salah and fit-again Fernando Torres starts, to ensure they are match-fit for the business end of the Londoners' season. That means likely rests for Ramires, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Samuel Eto'o, while £21million January recruit Nemanja Matic limped out of The Hawthorns following Tuesday's game. The Chelsea boss knows the FA Cup is very much in third place on the club's priority list and that even defeat to City on Saturday would give his side a chance to steal a march on their title rivals by beating already-out Tottenham on March 8 - quarter-final weekend. After City's Wednesday game with Sunderland was postponed because of bad weather, they could be two matches behind Chelsea, with extra pressure on them to win those games if Mourinho's side take advantage of the Spurs fixture. Mourinho suggested his troops lacked the "personality' normally exemplified by the absent Terry as they threw away a 1-0 victory over the Baggies. Cahill's calf was a significant concern in the aftermath of Tuesday's match - although the 28-year-old seemed more worried about the Londoners' loss of title-race momentum. "There was real frustration that we couldn't get three points. It was tough," said Cahill. "If you're the home team and behind [as West Brom were], you've got nothing to lose going into the last 20 minutes. Anything can happen when you push players up and they got the point. "We had control for long periods and if we'd scored a second goal, it was over. We just needed that second."

So they've now resorted to reporting crap that he's not even said (zip all direct quotes) as well as the crap he does say!

Mirror: Pellegrini is prepared to rest Silva, Kompany, Yaya and Negredo against Chelsea to give priority to the Barcelona game and league.

AG7 wrote:Mirror: Pellegrini is prepared to rest Silva, Kompany, Yaya and Negredo against Chelsea to give priority to the Barcelona game and league.

This game is more important than Bayern away, but Pellegrini might feature a similar second string team if he doesn't consider FA cup as important as Barca match.

Makes sense to give game time to Nasri and sub him to get Silva on if needed.

Without Kompany there is no way we are gonna survive, though Chelsea attack doesn't have much teeth(striker) in it, Hazard & Oscar are not easy to handle.

Negredo & Jovetic need game time, Negredo coming on as a sub might not be bad.

Milner and Garcia against Ramires and Mikel is not worse match, but Ramires and Luis is, thankfully atleast Matic is out.

honestly, i can see Mourinho resting his stars because he probably thinks that if we win, we will be in more competitions and risk more injuries and be more tired and could fuck up in the league.

sounds like we're gonna have youth team vs youth team on Saturday

Pellegrini would be an absolute idiot to 'rest' any player.

Negrado should be on the bench if kun is fit. He is not quite right at the moment.

Bench Demich, where he belongs.

Just got back from holiday in sunny Lanzarote, proper buzzing over this game ......... cant wait to be in the Etihad again . I absolutey want us to do these cunts with a passion.

Come On CITY