Stoke v City - Live Thread

[blueboy]

Dawg's Post: 

Watching carra and neville on MNF and today will be a really interesting game. 

Will Stoke try to counter by leaving someone out wide at the halfway line? Will Stones cope with a big forward leaning all over him? Will Willy have enough time to pass it around at the back?

Will actually be able to watch this today as we've all got some bug and won't be coming over until tomorrow.

[blueboy]

Would you change anything from Tuesday night?

I wouldn't....I'd start with the same team - with the only 'possible' exception being Sagna for Zaba...as he's a little quicker.

[blueboy]

Team News at 11:30.

[blueboy]

Here's today's team:

Willy
Zaba, Stones, Otamendi, Kolorov
Fernandinho, Silva
Sterling, KDB, Navas
Aguero

[blueboy]

Just Navas for Nolito....

Subs:

Hart
Fernando
Maffeo
Nolito
Delph
Kelechi
Clichy

[blueboy]

Finished now.

[blueboy]

I think Navas is a decent move. He'll push Stoke wide and allow us to play quickly through the middle.

[blueboy]

Well...that's my plan anyway. 

KDB can only get better with another game under his belt...he could be pivotal today.

[Guest]

As much as I hate to say it Navas did ok when he came on last week and his cross got the goal.   Other than Kockarov at left back team is OK.  Its going to be wet and windy so this is Peps first good old English slog game, against a proper bogey team.   I will take 1-1 now    but if the man is what he seems we could just blow them away 

[blueboy]

The live stream with BMR TV said it wasn't that windy there....watch it whip up for KO!

I agree Scott, IF Pep is who we think he is, these are games we should be getting 3 points from.

I know it'll be tough, it generally is there - but the players we have, we should be winning this comfortably...but we're still City!!

[blueboy]

Pep saying now on Sky "I'm a little behind where I am, but I'll get there. "I won't sacrifice my style just to win". "I don't do that". "Attractive with purpose".

How do you access a player?

"Everyone has their own quality. Always, watching them in training, they have to perform".

Can they do it on a cold windy day at Stoke?

"I don't know, I've not experienced it before...but in Spain there were days when it was poor conditions, but we played".

[blueboy]

They've just put stats up on Sterling....last season per game and against Sunderland. Chalk n Cheese.

Distance covered - 7.2km vs 10.2km

Passes completed - 32 v 58

Successful dribbles - 1 v 6

Just one game - but if he continues in that way - that's a massive improvement stats-wise.

However, they were showing Hart's stats v Bravo.

Distance of Passes - 46 yards v 26 yards

Pass completion - 46% v 80%

But...Bravo plays in a style that means he is encouraged to pass short to defenders to build up from the back. Joe wasn't under MP. Most of the time, the defenders pushed high up the picth - therefore, if you're lumping it 46 yards, you're more likely to have a less impressive pass completion than someone passing it wide to defenders, unmarked - 26 yards away.

Stats? 

[Guest]

Sterling is Peps sort of player.  Look what he got out of Robben when he was heading off as a spent force.

Not the end of the world if we don't win, but that is the Cityitis in me.  After Tuesday we should be well up for this.

Going or not would still rather have seen Joe in the sticks but it's just not going to happen and we've debated it to death.  Pep is the boss, that is for sure.

[Topdawg]

Sterling looks more comfortable on the right. The way Pep is setting up, he's got many one on ones rather than.  1 v 2 or  3 waiting for an overlap. Pep's probably told him to run at the defender and not worry if he isn't successful.

[blueboy]

I think Joe may well be saying to Pep "I want to stay. If you can improve my distribution and give me a chance, I want to stay"

Souness and Quinn say if he stays, he's got to be in ahead of Willy, as he's better in every department.

Bravo is supposed to be playing today for Barca....if he's not, that may be a big clue.

I know we've done it to death - but nothing has been concrete - even Pep opened a door to him yesterday.

[Topdawg]

Part of me would take a draw but, in reality, we should have the lion's share of possession and should create more chances with the quicker passing in the forward areas. Wouldn't be surprised if Sterling wins another penalty.

[Topdawg]

great ball, unlucky kev wasn't onto that

[Topdawg]

come on serge,, that should have been 1-0

[Guest]

Can't be missing gifts like that

[Topdawg]

hate refs who get pedantic over where a free kick should be taken from and then let one team take it 10 yards away from the incident

[Topdawg]

dangerous from bardsley

[Topdawg]

oooh, good from raheem

[Guest]

More chances in 10 mins that probably at all last season here

[Guest]

Early goal would really settle us

[Topdawg]

fantastic ball from kolarov

[Topdawg]

we need to make something count soon

[Topdawg]

wasted opportunity there. should never have lost that ball.

[Topdawg]

end to end stuff

[Guest]

Agree nothing Dire about it.   Defence still makes me take sharp intake of breath though

[Topdawg]

horrible stoke fans booing blue moon...

[Guest]

Horrible stoke 

Just stop there 

[Topdawg]

navas showing he doesn't know what to do

[Guest]

Kolarov caught too, both the players who aren't up to it

[Topdawg]

Stoke have got themselves back into this game

[Topdawg]

I'll give them a break as everyone makes mistakes

[Guest]

Hit it first time

[blueboy]

Navas....ffs.

One on one with loads of space....and he does his usual Kabaddi dance.

[Topdawg]

I've seen Willy hit it long at least 3 times so far.

[Topdawg]

Are we still shit at corners? sort it out pep

[Topdawg]

penalty. come on serge

[Topdawg]

Get it!!!!!!!!!

[blueboy]

Good to see refs getting rid of this grabbing in the box...

Aguerooooo!!

1-0!

[Topdawg]

Sergio! Sergio! sing the city fans

[Guest]

Finally some balls from a ref and let's get this out of sight now

[Topdawg]

Pep doesn't look too impressed

[Topdawg]

Stoke have lost their last three home matches in August 1-0...

[Topdawg]

Let's get another before HT

[Topdawg]

poor from sterling when we had a decent chance. just run with it

[Guest]

We were crying out for this pressing game under pellers see how effective it is

[Guest]

Kolarov is such a weak link

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