Looking forward to this one, new ground to tick off the list (though it's a blue SMS), and we're due a good result in against Puel. Expecting a good game, anyone else here going?
I did think about it, as I'm off the next day. But the last train back to London leaves about 9.45 or something. 0-0 when I went a couple of seasons back (seems like 100 years ago now, they were champions, we had a new French manager).
Can swing Joy Division, don't have the look for it though. No idea where I go if we beat Leicester and get a result at Man U; already at the outer bound of my complete lack of talent. Probably going to have to break out the Celine Dion if we keep winning, and no one wants that.
On record: if that happens I'm doing Nina Simone - Feeling Good. Not a chance I can manage that either, but it doesn't matter, because we aren't going to win two games in a row.
Remember when England played Belgium and some people sort of hoped we would lose? I hope we lose this match. Here's why: 1. We don't need to be beaten by Man City more than twice this season. 2. We're putting minutes into player's legs who we don't have any cover for, and getting them closer to yellow card bans. 3. Winning/drawing against other PL reserve teams is giving Hughes false cover for not doing anything in games that matter. 4. The 5th round is the midweek before Huddersfield away, one of the most important games of our season. I assume the cup game will move to Wednesday because we're playing Arsenal on the Sunday before, so we'll have two rest days. 5. Winning in the cup doesn't give us any bounce in the league. We followed up beating Brighton by losing at home to Leicester. 6. No one cares about the League Cup. But there's a big problem. Claude Puel already knows the League Cup is a waste of time, and Mark Hughes looooooves excuses. Like England, Leicester will be just a bit better at pretending to try. We'll go through.
This is the game to not play Cedric. Play Stephens, JWP, Valery, Yoshi, Romeu, anyone, just to see what other option we have.
Tis a blue SMS. Was there for the season opener must be 12 or so years ago when we were two down at half time and came away with a draw. Kevin Phillips scored a screamer that won goal of the month.
Both teams will play reserves/kids as neither will be relishing the prospect of getting battered by City in the next round. Hard to predict the outcome without seeing line ups but if I had to I’d say a draw.
I'm not against giving JWP a chance at RB. Yes defensively we might be vulnerable - particularly with defending crosses to the back post - but hey, it's not exactly any different to now? At least it could lead to us getting regular quality crosses in from the right hand side - plus always having JWP on the pitch for set pieces. The total other end of the argument is to play Stephens there. It pretty much cuts out any attacking treat down whatsoever, but it would lead to being defensively stronger there (at least in the tackle and in the block - still maybe vulnerable in the air though).
There is no excuse for not trying a different option at RB for this game. I'd personally lke to see Valery given a chance. Targett played surprisingly well at RB in pre-season too producing better crosses with his wrong foot then we've probably seen all season from regular right footers.
Yeah me too for someone else at right back. If Long is still out I'd give Obafemi a start too. Should be seeing this as a decent opportunity to get a win though so wouldn't like too many changes.
Long is out for six weeks in total I believe. So basically all of December, the busiest month of the season.
