team vs sunderland

[DoomMerchant]

I could live with that too. Although we do need to get Bony going. And maybe Yaya doesn't need to sit one out just yet.
I do want to have a Wembley weekend so I want a good strong team.

I'd rather invest time in Nacho than Bony.

I know who bony is and what he can be. I have no idea what Nacho's end game is.

Maybe that's why I'm not a football manager. Yet

Cheers

[phips]

Willy
Sagna Marty Nicolas Kolarov
Fern 2 Fernandinho
Roberts Nasri Ihenacho
Bony

dunno if Nasri is still injured though

[Im_Spartacus]

I personally want to win this like every other game. The thing with blooding too many kids is Everytime any manger for us has done it and lost he gets slaughtered, it's all well and good for us to name 5 or 6 kids on here but if he does and loses it costs him credibility.

Not sure anyone is advocating such an extreme shift in policy, but in reality it can't have an outcome any worse than putting a full team out and losing to newcastles reserves at home, so I'd be all for it - other than the fact Aguero and Bony are bang out of form and need to find their shooting boots.

The dilemma for Pellegrini is whether he panders to out of form players and gambles on 'playing' them into form, or whether he gambles on relatively untested players at first team level. It would be fairly hard to argue with whichever option he goes with given the last few games.

[DoomMerchant]

I personally want to win this like every other game. The thing with blooding too many kids is Everytime any manger for us has done it and lost he gets slaughtered, it's all well and good for us to name 5 or 6 kids on here but if he does and loses it costs him credibility.

Not sure anyone is advocating such an extreme shift in policy, but in reality it can't have an outcome any worse than putting a full team out and losing to newcastles reserves at home, so I'd be all for it - other than the fact Aguero and Bony are bang out of form and need to find their shooting boots.

The dilemma for Pellegrini is whether he panders to out of form players and gambles on 'playing' them into form, or whether he gambles on relatively untested players at first team level. It would be fairly hard to argue with whichever option he goes with given the last few games.

Totally agree. So what you want Count. Just no half measures. Make a decision.

Cheers

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Thankfully were early doors and some players need time anyway. Not sure Id agree on te strength of our depth if the manager felt the need to play half a team of kids this early on.

[Cocacolajojo1]

I personally want to win this like every other game. The thing with blooding too many kids is Everytime any manger for us has done it and lost he gets slaughtered, it's all well and good for us to name 5 or 6 kids on here but if he does and loses it costs him credibility.

I think the ideal would be 2-3 players in the starting eleven and make sure that neither flank is in the sole responsibility of eds-players or that there are two of them in either midfield or central defence. Then if it goes according to plan add more, if it's not going to plan sub them and bring in first team players in the half time interval.

But you're probably right, the Count will want to bring everyone up to match fitness so expect a strong eleven. We'll lose anyway though :/.

[everyonehatesus]

Full strength team should be played, after losing 2 on the bounce it needs to be stopped at that

[Mase]

Full strength team should be played, after losing 2 on the bounce it needs to be stopped at that

What if we play a full strength team and lose?

[ruralblue]

Willy

Sagna mdm Otamendi kolarov
Fern
Roberts KDB Nasri Sterling
IAN

Don't have much faith in Willy but he's going to play. Have Yaya on bench and give him time if needs be.

[Mike J]

I would start Aguero personally. Up top with Kelechi.

We need to get sergio firing asap

[blues2win]

Spurs match far more important than tonight. Last year we played strong teams in the domestic cups and flopped in both. If we don't use a match like tonight's to blood one or two youngsters we never will. Roberts absolutely must start and Kelechi too. Personally I'd start Maffeo too. He's earned it. We'll be pretty sick if Sagna gets injured with Zabaleta out till next month.

[iwasthere2012]

Madness to play anyone who isn't racing fit for a game like this. We also need to give one or two a rest eg Yaya. We also need to protect Sagna while Zaba is injured. My team would be:

Caballero Maffeo De Michelis Otamendi Kolarov Fernando ( needs the game time) de Bruyne Roberts Sterling Iheanacho Bony( good chance for him to score a goal,and build confidence). On the bench Hart Sagna ( who can play centre back at a pinch) Fernandinho Yaya Navas Aguero.

That's the team I'd put out although I don't think Pellers will agree.
I'd like to see Iheanacho in the hole behind Bony, with Sterling and Roberts either side.
On the bench I'd have Gunn, Sagna, Fern 1, Yaya, Barker, Garcia, Nasri.
I'd rest Aguero and Silva completely, let them get over their ailments.

It's a risky set up but if you don't blood players in this cup, when are you going to get a chance. Not worth aggravating niggly injuries for our first teamers,
in my opinion. I'm not the manager though and won't give up the day job.

[Hazy2]

Demi needs to be put in cotton wool, he get injured we are in the shit.

[sheblue]

Willy Caballero oh my god why do soooo many want him to play, lets hope that sunderland don't get too many (any) shots on target.
Its nice and kind to play the 2nd keeper in the cups BUT we lost the last two games, we don't need to loose another and weakening the team unnecessarily is not the wise thing to do.
Hart should start, so should aguero and yaya.

[iwasthere2012]

Willy Caballero oh my god why do soooo many want him to play, lets hope that sunderland don't get too many (any) shots on target.
Its nice and kind to play the 2nd keeper in the cups BUT we lost the last two games, we don't need to loose another and weakening the team unnecessarily is not the wise thing to do.
Hart should start, so should aguero and yaya.

I'd prefer Gunn to be honest, but, Willy as the number two senior keeper is the only one we have that has the remote possibility of keeping Hart on his toes.
He's not been great, when he's got in, but like any other position, he needs game time to stay fresh.
Barring an injury to Hart, the only other opportunity is in the likes of the cup games. We need Hart at full concentration. Remember when he got dropped for Pantillimon. He came back looking a lot sharper. He needs to know that if there is a drop in performance he will be dropped, like any other player in the team.
Willy needs game time for this to be the case.
Gunn is too inexperienced at that level yet, but will be pushing Hart in the future, hopefully.

[City64]

I would start Aguero personally. Up top with Kelechi.

We need to get sergio firing asap

Good shout ! Aguero needs to find his scoring touch and sharpness ASAP .

[Sideshow Bob]

pls no de bruyne, silva or fernandinho. the rest? have at it.

[Michael Brookes]

Count won't do it, but I'd be happy with a rotated team/kids. Weekend and champs league next week are more important than this cup. When do the others get to play if not in the league cup?

[nottsblue]

Willy Caballero oh my god why do soooo many want him to play, lets hope that sunderland don't get too many (any) shots on target.
Its nice and kind to play the 2nd keeper in the cups BUT we lost the last two games, we don't need to loose another and weakening the team unnecessarily is not the wise thing to do.
Hart should start, so should aguero and yaya.

Glad I'm not the only one. Posted earlier about not playing Caballero as he is a mistake waiting to happen.

Hart
Maffeo, MDM, Otamendi, Kola
Fernando,
Navas, Roberts,KDB
Bony, Iheanacho

[blues2win]

FFS Kelechi didn't travel so out. Not sure whether a knock or illness.