Man City

Unless you mean he lost both his legs in a freak accident, then Pardew will play him.

 

More likely MYM at CB, Santon LB, Debuchy RB, unless I've missed something?

 

Even more likely Steven Taylor at CB.

 

I'd be surprised to see that MYM has dislodged him at this stage. Once that first injury comes though I can see Saylor having a tough time to regain his place.

 

Exactly right. I think MYM will have a similar, though slightly better, season in terms of appearances than Anita did last year. MYM will need to fill in at RB when Debuchy gets suspended (yep - when, not if), may even be asked to cover if Santon is pushed up the field in the first game. Then when Saylor (inevitably) gets injured, he'll get a shot at CB. That said, I sincerely hope we're better with fitness and injuries this year. MYM and Williamson?! Yikes.

 

hear Jonas is touch and go for the match now. I know a lot of people are in favor of us having Jonas in their but I'd like to see a 4-3-1-2 with the expected players, HBA in attack mid and Gouff playing strike. Surely we should set up to counter-attack if we plan to take something from this game and i think it might be do-able with gouff's tendency to hit the wings anyway. Does leave our full-backs a bit more open but if gutierrez is out what wingers are capable of taking up a defensive role for us?

 

Made a suggestion on the matchday thread of having 4-5-1 with a midfield (right to left) of Anita, Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko, Santon with Cisse on his own up top. MUST keep it tight at City, they have freaking wizards and we need to park it for at least 75 minutes. Sure, if we're a couple down we can possibly free things up but if try and be too clever from the off I think we'll get butchered. Lightweights like Gouff and Benny aren't going to help if you're 2 down inside 20 minutes. We need the likes of Santon and Anita who will keep their heads.

 

Screw all this positive approach for me, kill the game and spoil.

 

nice idea, would love to see Santon on the wing, guessing MYM for LB? but i just think with that team we don't have a hope of scoring a goal against city, if it's too far between Cisse and the midfield I feel he begins to look like a more energetic Ameobi. Do you honestly think we'll keep a clean sheet whatever team we put out? I really can't be arsed watching us set up defensively to watch us get destroyed like the last time we played City. we might have had jonas at left back and such but now we're facing a manager where attacking football is in his nature, i know my idea's never guna happen, and if it did would probably still fail, but i'd just like to see a bit of promising attacking football from us in ninety minutes, not to just sit there waiting to be rolled over

 

Sometimes you've got to hope tactics can win out. We cannot "duke it out" with City, we'd get ruined. It's one thing saying they may need to gel, but it's another when you consider Colo et al have no idea what Negredo, Jovetic or Navas can do. One thing you have to consider - their players are not used to the Premier League, the pace is hefty, the challenges rugged. If we 'get up 'em' we might have more of a chance. A left back at LM and Anita, who's not afraid of a challenge, on the right might just give them a sharp introduction to this league. As for left back - I don't care if it's MYM or Dummett. The former looked very solid there at the back end of last year, Dummett's been player of pre-season by all accounts.

Just an opinion, we'll talk more next Tuesday!!!!

 

aye i get ya theory, i was still thinking along the lines of counter and flood the midfield without sacrificing some link-up play for Cisse but it obviously carries a bigger risk. You're right, start of the season, new players, new manager etc. brings cause for optimism
we sure will pal! i hope i'm eating my words by then as we close-out a 1-0 win.