next : arsenal (away i.e. NOT at home)

[Saul Goodman]

Good to know that this isnt at home. Phew.

[DoomMerchant]

Make or break week to ten days ...
Arsenal - Bayern - Chelsea - Sheffield Wed

Team selection on Saturday will tell a lot if we are really prioritising CL this year or not? And drop points in both league games against Arsenal and Chelsea then we might as well play a strong XI against Sheffield Wed ... team selection then will again be telling if Pellegrini has learnt something from his first season here or we are going all gung-ho for quad!

You don't get the Count do you?

Win. Every. Time.

Cheers

[Original Dub]

Make or break?

Erm.... no. It isn't.

[sheblue]

not really make or break at this stage.
win, draw win in that order would be smashing...

[Ted Hughes]

Be interesting to see if he starts Mangala in any of these 3 games.

I wouldn't, unless we get an injury or Demi goes all 'early season' on us. Three games in a week shouldn't be a problem for a centre back at this stage of the season unless they are carrying an injury & it's taking a gamble to throw in an untried player in a key defensive position.

But the Count may feel it will bring the best out of Mangala, to start him in a big game. There seem to be Mangala stories appearing in the media, as if we are prepping them that he will start soon.

I suppose Fernandinho is the other question; wether to start him & Fernando at Arsenal. Tempting, but so far Fernandinho has not looked match fit to me.

Having said that, he looks fitter than Yaya.

I suppose Nasri will play, but on his recent Arse performances, I wouldn't even have him on the bench. Time he turned up for one v these cunts.

[DoomMerchant]

Be interesting to see if he starts Mangala in any of these 3 games.

I wouldn't, unless we get an injury or Demi goes all 'early season' on us. Three games in a week shouldn't be a problem for a centre back at this stage of the season unless they are carrying an injury & it's taking a gamble to throw in an untried player in a key defensive position.

But the Count may feel it will bring the best out of Mangala, to start him in a big game. There seem to be Mangala stories appearing in the media, as if we are prepping them that he will start soon.

I suppose Fernandinho is the other question; wether to start him & Fernando at Arsenal. Tempting, but so far Fernandinho has not looked match fit to me.

Having said that, he looks fitter than Yaya.

I suppose Nasri will play, but on his recent Arse performances, I wouldn't even have him on the bench. Time he turned up for one v these cunts.

Agreed about Nasri. He's got little brother syndrome vs them maybe.

Mangala has played a lot less football in the past four months than the defensive artist formerly known as ponytail. I'd start Martin all day until I thought he needed a breather. By Xmas I suspect we will see Vinnie and The Mangler as our featured pairing.

[Ted Hughes]

Be interesting to see if he starts Mangala in any of these 3 games.

I wouldn't, unless we get an injury or Demi goes all 'early season' on us. Three games in a week shouldn't be a problem for a centre back at this stage of the season unless they are carrying an injury & it's taking a gamble to throw in an untried player in a key defensive position.

But the Count may feel it will bring the best out of Mangala, to start him in a big game. There seem to be Mangala stories appearing in the media, as if we are prepping them that he will start soon.

I suppose Fernandinho is the other question; wether to start him & Fernando at Arsenal. Tempting, but so far Fernandinho has not looked match fit to me.

Having said that, he looks fitter than Yaya.

I suppose Nasri will play, but on his recent Arse performances, I wouldn't even have him on the bench. Time he turned up for one v these cunts.

Agreed about Nasri. He's got little brother syndrome vs them maybe.

Mangala has played a lot less football in the past four months than the defensive artist formerly known as ponytail. I'd start Martin all day until I thought he needed a breather. By Xmas I suspect we will see Vinnie and The Mangler as our featured pairing.

That's how I would do it: team 1st, Mangala's City career start, a big 2nd. If he only plays League Cup games for a while, so be it.

Back in the days when Liverpool used to win stuff, it wasn't unknown for players to sign for them & pretty much disappear for ages, everyone forget about them or think they'd flopped or were injured, then suddenly they turn up & play in the team for five years.

These days new players often go straight in. Wouldn't surprise me if Mangala starts. And it wouldn't surprise me if he plays a blinder, but it also wouldn't surprise me if he costs us a goal.

[london blue 2]

Starting to worry about this as Robbie Savage has a piece on the beeb on how to beat city. Hope Wenger doesn't read it or we're screwed.

[sheblue]

Its hard to see mangala not playing some part in some of the next three to four games. But its a tricky one he has played fook all and martin has been good enough. We havent got a clue how Mangala is doing in training. Imagine he will see him on the bench for the next three anyway, and if he gets on for some game time to be 'eased' in well thats fine. But its massively risky to throw him in from the start with no game time under his belt....

[john@staustell]

Starting to worry about this as Robbie Savage has a piece on the beeb on how to beat city. Hope Wenger doesn't read it or we're screwed.

haha - you ever seen Wenger change his game even for the most things to do?

[blues2win]

Love to see Fernando and Fernandinho playing in a midfield three. Given up expecting Nasri to man up against the Arse. However, isn't Fernandinho only coming back today from international duty? Not clear whether it's sensible to start him tomorrow lunchtime in those circs. I'd play Milner in that case but I don't suppose the Count will.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

MP confirms Fernando and Jovetic are out injured

[Hutch's Shoulder]

MP confirms Fernando and Jovetic are out injured

Zabba of course has recovered while Fat Frank and Mangala are available if required.

[Sideshow Bob]

MP confirms Fernando and Jovetic are out injured

so we're left with only yaya and an unfit fernandinho to cover the back 4...unless MDM is moved to a holding role?

[Goaters 103]

What Id select but Pellegrini wont

Hart

Zab
Komp
Demichelis
Clichy

Ferna
Lampard

Silva
Ya Ya
Milner

Aguero

Its an absolute waste of time picking Nasri at the Emirates as he becomes invisible there, save for the boos on the rare occasions he touches the ball. He played there 4 or 5 times for us now and has done zilch in each and every game there.

Given need to cover Fernando's appallingly badly timed injury, Id give Fat Frank the nod here for this one as it wont faze him one bit and he knows his way around a deeper role for us. Ya Ya should be pushed on, Milner can assist the full-back and give us more solidity whilst the aforementioned Ya Ya, Silva and Aguero are there to win the game for us.

[blues2win]

Gutted that Fernando is out but good news about Zaba. I think Milner must play. Whether Fernandinho will be in a position to play 90 minutes remains to be seen. Please no Nasri.

[phips]

its gonna be the same lineup as before with Fern in for Fernando and Aguero in for Jovetic.
i don't like it but Pellegrini is stubborn/confident in that way

[Hazy2]

its gonna be the same lineup as before with Fern in for Fernando and Aguero in for Jovetic.
i don't like it but Pellegrini is stubborn/confident in that way

Lampard for me he loves scoring at the Emirates.

[sheblue]

Love to see Milner start and play only one striker but can't see MP doing it.

[Hazy2]

Beating this bunch of whingers is massive for me, another loss of points might help Jose slip away to a walking of the league like the scum did 2 seasons ago. Need a win.