We'll still be without Joe Bryan and Kevin McDonald is of course suspended. City will stick to their 4-4-3 formation but Guardiola will make wholesale changes from the side that beat Spurs on Monday night. However, the gulf between them and the rest is such that we're probably going to face players like Kompany, Otamendi and Delf at the back, De Bruyne in the middle and Jesus up front. Yikes !!! Can't see the Gaffer risking many of his preferred side only 4 days before Huddersfield and in a game where the odds are stacked against us. Rather he'll put in the 'fringe' and/or those who need game time. Which raises an interesting question about Cairney. He would certainly benefit from a match under his belt but is it worth the risk of aggravating that injury problem? Keeper is also interesting. Traditionally in League Cup matches he'd play his second string. Is that Bettinelli or Fabri? Might even still be Rico, who could do with more games anyway. Centre back is equally intriguing, but when hasn't it been of late !! To be honest the only certainty I have is that Steven Sessegnon will play (somewhere) and Harvey Elliott, who didn't feature in the U23 game against Norwich on Monday, will as well (even if he doesn't start). So, without further ado - ..............................Bettinelli.............. ..S Sessegnon..Chambers..Mawson..Le Marchand.. ................Christie....Anguissa...Johansen.. .......Elliott.................Ayite..............Kebano.... PS Yes, I know Le Marchand at LB, Captain. Let's just say the experience will prove the point one way or another. PPS de la Torre may well start ahead of Elliott. Would be good for Harvey to get the vote of confidence from the outset however.
We've got two men in charge tonight please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Martin Atkinson is in the middle and Mike Dean is on VAR. Least said about the Wirral and Tranmere supporting Dean the better. Could say a lot about Atkinson and our play off game against Reading but let's leave it that the Leeds supporting Whistler can be very inconsistent; one sided even. We've seen him already this season, in the 1-1 draw with Watford at the Cottage. In fairness, apart from his usual exaggerations, can't overly criticise. He booked 3; Fosuh-Mensah and Mawson for us. His record in his 10 Premiership matches so far this season is 30 yellows. Oh, and those 2 penalties for Palace against the Arsenal at the weekend.
I'm not seeing a defence in our team tonight, Man C reserves look pretty awesome Fulham 25 Rico 21 Fosu-Mensah 4 Odoi 13 Ream 3 R Sessegnon 10 Cairney 29 Zambo Anguissa 24 Seri 19 Vietto 9 Mitrovic 14 Schürrle
Well how wrong can one be in trying to second guess the Gaffer. Looks like he's going to have a go. Just seen the Citeh bench 2whites and "cor blimey !". Bit surprised De Bruyne is playing given his wife has only just had a newborn (called Rome).
Just watched the game on a stream, we put up a good show against an extremely talented team. We had some nice moves but never really being a real threat, but defended with determination. The 2 goals had there fortunes, the first Mitro turned his back on a shot which then deflected leaving Rico no chance. The second was a good move, shot hits the post and lands at the scorers feet, unmarked to blast the net. To be fair Rico had few saves to make, but City wasted opportunities from some brilliant skills with wayward finishes. 2 - 0, a fair reflection. Cairney looks class and played some lovely passes, held the ball well and didn't give it away, he gave us a lot tonight.
Found a stream just before City's second. So multi tasked that with Gentleman Jim and in that last half an hour saw more positives than he did. Of course City were the better team and won easily in the end. However, our organisation and attitude was a huge improvement. Agree on Tom Cairney 2whites and thought Ryan Sessegnon put in a very decent shift. Going for more of those negatives though, simply in the hope that the Gaffer sorts them out. Vietto was full of energy and showed some class, although his passing was wayward too often. I'm wondering if we're not always seeing the best of him because he's being played out of position? I'd get him in closer to Mitrovic (who was yet again frustrated at the lack of support/service). And regrettably, changes at the back are inevitable for the Huddersfield game. As said we were better but nowhere good enough. Tim Fosuh-Mensah was dreadful; spending more time preening his new hair style than defending. His balance for someone I'd taken as athletic was pantomime stuff. If Jokanovic is unsure about Cyrus Christie he could do worse than give the position to Steven Sessegnon. The other Tim, Tim Ream, sorry to say is out of his depth. Is Mawson still not properly fit?
