The QF is two weeks away. Seems a little early to be resting players. Next weekend, fine. But this weekend?
Of course they have. I just think it's a risk to be giving players two and half weeks off, immediately before their biggest game of the season. Obviously you don't want to take on Man Utd with a squad full of injuries, but equally you don't want you players to be caught cold. That's a long break to be giving them.
Looking at the changes they have made today, I'll be hoping they get banged out of the cup in humiliating fashion. Flip flopping mugs.
Ruddy with his first start in 3 years...and Patricio not even on the bench. Did he get injured against Huddersfield or something? Bit weird that.
Keeps on getting better for us. Not a good night to be a Cardiff or Burnley fan. Palace 45 Newcastle 45 Brighton 43 Burnley 41 Saints 38 Cardiff 34
538's odds have them as a prohibitive favourite for the third spot. Not quite sure I believe that, but they're definitely seeing their path narrow. If they lose to West Ham next week, they will either need to win all of their remaining matches against lower-level opposition or pick up a couple highly unlikely results against good teams. Or have ourselves/Brighton/Burnley absolutely crash and burn.
Don’t forget that Bamba will now almost certainly be out for a few games. Don’t like seeing anyone injured but should benefit us
To avoid losing him on a free transfer in the summer (ie hopefully get a transfer fee for him - although god knows why anyone would want to pay to buy him), City have extended Mangala's contract by 12 months. Man City's statement includes the wording "Everyone at Manchester City wishes Eliaquim the very best for the remainder of his time here." In other words "Even though you've signed a new contract, we're looking to get rid asap." Hardly a celebration of his extension!
That's a bizarre choice on his part. Being on a free is generally far more rewarding financially, and even if City handed him a rather healthy bonus, it won't recoup what he might have otherwise gotten. There is one possibility where it would make sense, though: if Mangala and his agent are betting that there won't be significant offers for him even on a free, so at least this way he gets paid City money while being flogged on loan for another year. Which would be kinda hilarious, and also probably not illogical on their part.
Certainly a possibility, but if it's a club option at wages commensurate with what he was earning previous, that creates even less incentive for Mangala to take a deal elsewhere, because he's probably looking at a two-thirds wage cut or more.
Granted, they should probably have been down to ten men (second weekend running that the officials haven't helped Cardiff one bit), but Wolves should have put about 5 past Cardiff. It would appear that Cardiff used up all their remaining defending for the season against us.
Fulham look gone, but Chelsea might aswell beat them anyway just to make extra sure. None of the other results today are of interest, although If Everton can get something from Liverpool that will be fun.
I wonder if player's and agent's interests get misaligned here in some way. Particularly as agents are also trying to preserve their own relationship with the club. cc Alex McCarthy, who could have been signing for Chelsea this summer.
