The View from the Away End

 

Another early one this week as  I am heading off to Manchester later on, and I can’t wait.  Not an awful lot of confidence here from the away fans, which cant be a surprise to anyone. Surely Pep can outwit Roy at home?  I’m always happy with a win, no matter how we get it, but I would like see some goals tomorrow…

COME ON CITY!!!

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Assistants: Scott Ledger, Andy Garratt

Fourth official: Tony Harrington

Team Selection

Speroni

Fosu-Mensah

Schlupp

Sakho

Tomkins

Milivojevic

Riedewald

Loftus-Cheek

Townsend

Benteke

Sako

And the rest…

Already 3 up away to Watford. ….dreading next week..

Having just seen that City smashed Watford for six perhaps Roy should replace Puncheon (who is over the hill at premiership level) with Jules in midfield as by doing so Wayne & Jules could play “3 & in” as it will save wasting a sub.

This next match will, I suspect see any number of players be looking to call their agents once it’s over …. …. Taxi for who, hopefully Puncheon & Ward for starters.

Joel Ward is a big Christian, so maybe Jesus will go easy on us

2 x Manchester…I won’t even think about what might happen. Jesus vs Ward, Silva vs Punch and add Aguero, de Bruyne and a few others. Would not be surprised if our proud record from Anfield – 0-9 – goes AWOL…

Apparently Ben Foster made a string of fine saves to keep West Brom from getting done over by City tonight…Come on Wayne, just for this once, give us a clean sheet…No Punch. No Ward. That’s all I hope for.

1st city goal….4th minute then just hope its only 4 or 5 more…

Sit tight and hit on the break. Loads of pace on the wings will be a threat and hopefully keep city’s wing backs deeper due to the threat. Schlupp and Townsend both have the pace and engine to get back between the full backs and centerbacks too…All three midfielders can be fluid and support the attack or defend but with Luka primarily in front of the back four… I think the threat of pace on the break is key without zaha for the next three games. It’ll prevent the wing backs pressing into our half too much. If it doesn’t they will be playing to our strengths …If Jairo was as good as he sounded last night he can relieve cabaye for the last 20 mins because we need an all action 70 from yohan to get anything

I would actually be tempted to go with 3 centre halves vs Man City to try & negate their ridiculous front 2. I don’t think I can remember Hodgson actually ever playing that shape mind you…

Has Roy Hodgson ever been known to park the bus, i remember England soaking up a ton of pressure against the Swiss a couple of years in qualifying but wasn’t that more of a 4-3-3. Club football i’ve no idea what he did to negate vastly superior teams on any given day. Ironically didn’t De Boer severely frustrate Liverpool at Anfield a few weeks back with the infamous back 5 system.

How anyone puts puncheon or ward anywhere near our team. Either hasn’t got a clue about football or doesn’t watch us play.

McCaurthur will defiantly play, sorry to disappoint every poster on here! I actually think he should against City as lots of closing down is needed. He is the best at this. Think It will be same team v Saints.

The central block of 4 players is essential against City they like to play through the middle. If we are going to have the slightest chance we have to stop it happening as you say Pulis style…If he goes with the same line up as Soton its over before the game starts.

The reality is this game is going to be all about damage limitation there can be nothing else we can expect with the form they have been in, i would like to see us start the next THREE games with a solid look and see how that works out. As of late we have been overrun far too easily in midfield, so for now we need to strengthen from the back and work upwards, then hopefully we might stop the rot.

As for the keeper position there is justification to try Speroni as he inspires his defence better than Hennessey does, so may be worth a try now what have we to lose. In Central Defence i would go with the Tomkins -Sakho combination which worked well together last season. For solidity in midfield i would like to see Luka on the Right, Cabaye central, and with Reidewald on the left which will help the LB with much needed support. Also crucially he needs games if he is to be judged and will only get better with more games he plays, I would give him the nod ahead of Puncheon who has disappointed and needs resting. Then with Townsend and Loftus-Cheek playing much closer to Benteke to offer him greater support making us a greater goal threat, but would also expect them to drop back and help out the Midfield Three.

Would have Otamendi in a heartbeat.Sakho is probably only better than Mangala.

Typically over the years, this is the kind of game where Palace come good. Not saying it’s going to happen, but I wouldn’t be totally gobsmacked if Palace won…So I’m going a draw. 1-1.

8-0 written all over it

Most confident, gifted team playing the most out of form team. If we don’t give away our customary 5th minute opener I can see us going until about 20 minutes before the end and then the inevitable collapse to constant pressure. We wont get the ball out of our half let alone in their penalty area. It will be constant pressure and just a kick about for city. 4-0 city.

As much as city are brilliant going forward they do have a leaky defence and I reckon it will be a open game, Woy will advise our boys to chill and attack……one hopes

7 on the goal line, 3 lying on top of them and Speroni one metre in front of the lot of them…The 10 outfield need to be put on a MacDonalds and KFC and fizzy drink diet sharpish to fill help fill any gaps.

Scott Dann is absolutely garbage these days, don’t know what’s happened to him but he looks finished. Tomkins and Sakho is easily our best combination.

City are a confidence side if they score early they run riot as we have found out a few times…If we are to lose we have to make them work for it no gifts like last season…Would be nice to still be in the game at the 75 minute mark then anything can happen

Man City will be as everyone expects a nightmare. Their keeper would probably start in our midfield and we don’t have a player that would start in their team and maybe only a couple that might compete for a bench spot. In De Bruyne, Silva (D), Aguerro and Jesus they have remarkable creativity and firepower and their FBs are on fire right now. So should be easy……Maybe we should just send them a note and say we concede but nahhh, let’s have a go. The problem is how do you contain them when everyone can play. They don’t have great aerial power in their side as such but can’t be ignored completely. Far more dangerous is their movement in and around the box. But if we are to negate them we have to crowd out the midfield and force them to bang in crosses or shoot from long range. The latter will be stressful. They are super scary on the break and so a lack of ambition in terms of numbers going forward makes sense too.

The reality is this game is going to be all about damage limitation there can be nothing else we can expect with the form they have been in, i would like to see us start the next THREE games with a solid look and see how that works out. As of late we have been overrun far too easily in midfield, so for now we need to strengthen from the back and work upwards, then hopefully we might stop the rot.

As for the keeper position there is justification to try Speroni as he inspires his defence better than Hennessey does, so may be worth a try now what have we to lose. In Central Defence i would go with the Tomkins -Sakho combination which worked well together last season. For solidity in midfield i would like to see Luka on the Right, Cabaye central, and with Reidewald on the left which will help the LB with much needed support. Also crucially he needs games if he is to be judged and will only get better with more games he plays, I would give him the nod ahead of Puncheon who has disappointed and needs resting. Then with Townsend and Loftus-Cheek playing much closer to Benteke to offer him greater support making us a greater goal threat, but would also expect them to drop back and help out the Midfield Three.

Man City 11 Palace 4

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