I do think keeping a consistent back 4 helps, possibly that's why Porto got through on goal a few times. Unless you're bringing back a very good defender like Gomez back into the side, I dont see the point in bringing Lovren back in
I'm hoping we can get Gomez back on full beans before April it's out. He'd be great to have come the final run-in
He was on the bench last night so he's not far away. I did say by end of April, 2-3wks is the end of April.
He'll play, they are **** without him and need to win that cup to make sure they are in the CL next season.
I can’t remember a bigger league game than this Sunday against Chelsea since the last time we played them with the title at stake. I hope the outcome is very different. I fear Hazard. We leave a lot of space behind our midfield, the area he likes to pick the ball up in......win this and it’s game on....
I said on euro watch theres spurs would improve when kane went off. I think personally at this point spurs will put a huge effort in next midweek and be shot through and not care in the league. the way results sit right now spurs have a 3 point gap on utd. They can basically afford to mug us off as they know utd will have to play city too. For me city will have to play poorly after the spurs midweek CL game to not beat spurs at home.
the way i'm looking at it City play sunday at 2pm v palace away. Palace have nothing to play for at all. i don't think they will go any higher in league and are safe already. one goal wins it for city. I think when theres tv and a lot of attention teams like to put on a show but for me that could be a narrow loss and palace would be happy City play spurs saturday at 12:30pm. That for me is interesting as they have to turn around from midiweek wednesday in a short time. Neither side will be happy with this fixture. IT is the type of game that could easily be a draw.. but again i think it'll affect spurs more. City then play utd on wednesday at 8pm at old trafford. That must if spurs put the work in (big if) is a tough one for me... After this point is starts to become moot. the burnley game is the following sunday.. again burnely imo are safe. Its at burnley and again on tv so a thing that might get burnley to work a bit harder. the question then is will they be in the CL semi finals? if they are they have to play this after burnely THEN.... god this is a drag.. they play Leicester on SATURDAY at 12:30pm again.. another dead game time right after CL. again this is one of those horrid game times. THEN they play CL semi again... THEN finally... brighton on saturday right after and its away so when you look at it... they've been done zero favours with the TV times. Thats good for us. by contrast for us: Cheslea sunday home tie after city play palace (we know what we need to do) Porto away (control game type tie) Cardiff away sunday at 4pm... again city will have played before us. then we get the week off itl firday the 26th april when we play huddersfield at home. (city will have played utd by then and games are equal) Then we get more time off to CL semi final (we think we will be there) Then we play newcastle away on sunday at 4pm (again most time off after CL semi) and again we will know what city did v leicester then we have to play CL semi second leg THEN finally... wolves at same time as city, but at home. Bascially... Right now we hve to win the games and city have to make an error but... the schedules compeltely favour us. we get more rest times arround CL than city do and the games all favour us in terms of time. We play at 3 or 4 pm each game. they have to go form 8pm to 12 noon twice! The only issue for me is Burnely, brighton and palace will all have nothing to play for. ... the only game that matter for me are cheslea and cardiff for us and spurs and utd for them.
Tottenham can get a point at Etihad , the only concern is that Tottenham don't normally draw. It is either lose or win.
Yeah, it cannot be overstated how big this game is. Citeh away at Palace before us.....................could be a turning point this Sunday
Are city going to rest players on Sunday for Wednesday Tottenham game. Liverpool are going to be aware of the result of city game which is going to fire us up.
City imo will be extremely challenged to be perfect. Having to play 2 12 noon kick offs is a challenge when you are also expected to play 8pm in cl.
Its all a bit unpredictable. If City come back to beat Tottenham, will they be on a high and win the league game following, or will in tire them out and struggle in the league. If City get knocked out by Tottenham, will they be knackered and down about it and struggle in the league, or will they solely focus on and win everything left in the league. The way the first leg went, win or lose, I think City will beat them in the league game as Tottenham will be focused on the champions league.
