Next : Cardiff (Away)

[AG7]

What? I'm on holiday so nobody starts a Next thread??

Anyway ... Lee Probert has been appointed referee for Cardiff City v Manchester City on Sunday 25th August. And we'll be playing in the garbage bag kit.

Lots of selection questions, who will pair with Lescott at CB? Garcia or Boyota? Who will start up top? Same Aguero and Dzeko or we'll see rotation? Negredo maybe? Oh, there's Jovetic too who should at least make bench and then in midfield how is Pellegrini going to keep Milner and Nasri happy this season? I guess only when the team sheet is announced will we know the answers to these questions.

My prediction though for this one is 0-5

[Saul Goodman]

Cornelius should be making his debut for Cardiff. He could make life interesting for our makeshift center halves

[bobby brows]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

[john@staustell]

AG7 I'm sure no-one wanted to offend you by usurping your threads. Why are we wearing the binbags, dont Cardiff play in red now?

Bobby I'm sure Milner is a 'can play anywhere but goal and centre back' man.

Too many fouls!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

Hahaha do you really or are you on something.More likely to play Costel there rather than Milner. OK both just as silly)

I would be surprised if it isn't Garcia until Nasti is fully recovered.

The interesting thing for me will be too see how he varies his tactics and thus team set up.He clearly cannot just have a "best team" and play them whenever they are all fit as that would be stupid.He might well change to one up top,maybe Negredo.Maybe Jesus sits this one out and Milner comes in right side for his defensive qualities,Maybe it's Jovetic time if he is fit.So many options apart from in defence I just can't wait to see what he does.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

Hahaha do you really or are you on something.More likely to play Costel there rather than Milner. OK both just as silly)

I would be surprised if it isn't Garcia until Nasti is fully recovered.

The interesting thing for me will be too see how he varies his tactics and thus team set up.He clearly cannot just have a "best team" and play them whenever they are all fit as that would be stupid.He might well change to one up top,maybe Negredo.Maybe Jesus sits this one out and Milner comes in right side for his defensive qualities,Maybe it's Jovetic time if he is fit.So many options apart from in defence I just can't wait to see what he does.

Nasri also. Played very well when he came on the other night. If he can show that desire every week, we may start to see the player we thought we had signed.

[Dameerto]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

Hahaha do you really or are you on something.More likely to play Costel there rather than Milner. OK both just as silly)

I would be surprised if it isn't Garcia until Nasti is fully recovered.

The interesting thing for me will be too see how he varies his tactics and thus team set up.He clearly cannot just have a "best team" and play them whenever they are all fit as that would be stupid.He might well change to one up top,maybe Negredo.Maybe Jesus sits this one out and Milner comes in right side for his defensive qualities,Maybe it's Jovetic time if he is fit.So many options apart from in defence I just can't wait to see what he does.

Nasri also. Played very well when he came on the other night. If he can show that desire every week, we may start to see the player we thought we had signed.

If French Sam keeps that effort up I will stop with the sideways-pass jokes. There's an incentive for him.

[bobby brows]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

Hahaha do you really or are you on something.More likely to play Costel there rather than Milner. OK both just as silly)

I would be surprised if it isn't Garcia until Nasti is fully recovered.

The interesting thing for me will be too see how he varies his tactics and thus team set up.He clearly cannot just have a "best team" and play them whenever they are all fit as that would be stupid.He might well change to one up top,maybe Negredo.Maybe Jesus sits this one out and Milner comes in right side for his defensive qualities,Maybe it's Jovetic time if he is fit.So many options apart from in defence I just can't wait to see what he does.

Nasri also. Played very well when he came on the other night. If he can show that desire every week, we may start to see the player we thought we had signed.

If French Sam keeps that effort up I will stop with the sideways-pass jokes. There's an incentive for him.

I think Milner is technically gifted enough and tactically astute to play at centre back but personally i'm gonna give Javi a second chance this year, he already looked infinately more mobile on Monday night.

Not sure I would drop Jesus for Milner, Navas was the outlet which was really importannt but I agree I would like to see Milner for his defensive cover, I think if it was me I'd keep the same team but if pushed I'd swap Milner for Fernandinho.

Should be interesting to see, this is the game I'd really worry about if Mancini were in charge but I'm curious to see if the new man has done his homework about Cardiff, their new team and how fired up the crowd will be.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

Hahaha do you really or are you on something.More likely to play Costel there rather than Milner. OK both just as silly)

I would be surprised if it isn't Garcia until Nasti is fully recovered.

The interesting thing for me will be too see how he varies his tactics and thus team set up.He clearly cannot just have a "best team" and play them whenever they are all fit as that would be stupid.He might well change to one up top,maybe Negredo.Maybe Jesus sits this one out and Milner comes in right side for his defensive qualities,Maybe it's Jovetic time if he is fit.So many options apart from in defence I just can't wait to see what he does.

Jesus cannot be dropped for any reason , after watching his performance the other day it would be stupid to do so, regardless of what we do in defence.

[phips]

If Garcia starts at CB I think Barry should start as well. It'll give Pellegrini a chance to rotate the squad to keep everyone happy and it'll give us a little more cover. Let's not take anyone too lightly. Soton jumped on us quick last season.

[bobby brows]

Is Rodwell fit? I suspect he will be at least on the bench as cover at centre half

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I suspect that he will play Garcia at centre back rather than risk Nastasic this early in the campaign.

I don't think we'll see Boyata feature in the first team, I think his confidence is shot, and if he's going to recover he needs to be eased back into games.

Personally I wonder whether of not Milner could do a job at centre back?

Hahaha do you really or are you on something.More likely to play Costel there rather than Milner. OK both just as silly)

I would be surprised if it isn't Garcia until Nasti is fully recovered.

The interesting thing for me will be too see how he varies his tactics and thus team set up.He clearly cannot just have a "best team" and play them whenever they are all fit as that would be stupid.He might well change to one up top,maybe Negredo.Maybe Jesus sits this one out and Milner comes in right side for his defensive qualities,Maybe it's Jovetic time if he is fit.So many options apart from in defence I just can't wait to see what he does.

Jesus cannot be dropped for any reason , after watching his performance the other day it would be stupid to do so, regardless of what we do in defence.

Agreed. You can't drop him after a performance like that. There's no point in rotating for rotating's sake.

[I Just Blue Myself]

Jesus cannot be dropped for any reason , after watching his performance the other day it would be stupid to do so, regardless of what we do in defence.

Agree. Jesus is nailed on to start.

[Tony P]

Bellers against us again.

[CTID Hants]

Jesus cannot be dropped for any reason , after watching his performance the other day it would be stupid to do so, regardless of what we do in defence.

I am really keen to see him and negredo on and see if they really click as has been suggested about their time together back in Spain.

Defense wise, lescott and Garcia appear to be this option, but I'd like to see if Micah on the right centre with lescott left centre would work. Had Micah got the discipline to stay back there is the question, if it is tried that is. Micah has played here for us before many moons ago and Cardiff may be the place to try it?

[CTID Hants]

Bellers against us again.

Whilst he's been a great terrier for his previous teams including us, at 34 surely he can't be too much of a threat?

His heart and mind may be still in it but those ickle legs must be running out of steam.

[roblues]

If Garcia starts at CB I think Barry should start as well. It'll give Pellegrini a chance to rotate the squad to keep everyone happy and it'll give us a little more cover. Let's not take anyone too lightly. Soton jumped on us quick last season.

I could be missing the humour in this post, but I'm going to point it out anyway...did Garcia not start at CB with Barry in front of him away at Southampton?

[Twobob]

I could be missing the humour in this post, but I'm going to point it out anyway...did Garcia not start at CB with Barry in front of him away at Southampton?

We're going to be weaker at the back, so we shouldn't change a thing from Monday apart from CB - no point putting Baz in as we need mobility and often our best defence is attack against teams like Cardiff. Always have the ability to break quickly and we don't do that with Baz in the team.

[mcfc1632]

anyone travelling and aware of CITY pubs?

Easy journey this one for me - half the distance of a home game and good train route from Reading - so seems like arriving before the 1400 kick off and having a good few drinks in order before a stroll to the ground

[Cit.revenge]

I would if Nastasić not ready , put Boyata before Garcia or if they placed Garcia on CD emphasized Yaya and Fernandhino to cover that space in front of the defense as never before, these points and continue the series are very important to us.I agree with the rotation, we have too many good players and too many games that do not have rotation but I think Pelle has a different plan then Bob to rotate. Sometimes i think Bob rotate to much and to fast , think Pelle will rotate on base of form and fitness and let players to have couple games on if they play great but use subs sooner then Bob and slow easy transition of other player from bench in first team so that players dont play with Silva and Džeko and Milner one day and Nasri and Negredo and Navas just 3 days after,maybe i m wrong but i don't think he will change players like Bob did . Then he will use Nasri finally on hes place where hes the best , in hole in CM.He just is a waste on side. And we need just need to buy CD , i don't know why we did not think about this before and why we let Kolo go at all . Think nice win of 2 0 would be great and we are very lucky this shit with defenders is happen before windows close ,when we have Cardiff and then Hull where we need 6 points and there attack is not such a big threat like some others .Then we have international games then Stoke where i think Kompany will be back. All i know now that we lost time on Pepe and that we wanna Demmichelis for 2-3 mill euro and that Atletico M. wanna 5 mill even do they get him on one year for free. What do u think should we take him or there is some better CD now to buy? We put our self in mess because now for any player they will ask big money from us because it s clear we need cover.Yea also can't wait to see how Jovetic will fit in .One thing i like the most about game with Newcastle is the change in way we never stop playing and always attack, play full 90 min.