City vs Arsenal - Live Thread

[blueboy]

Ok...so no Nasri today. Team? For me:

..........................................Hart............................................

Zaba...................Vinny.......................Manga.................Clichy..

...............................Fernando..........Fernandinho......................

Navas.................................Silva............................Milner.......

.........................................Aguero.........................................

Navas and Milner can track both Sanchez and Walcott/Oxe out wide and Manga has the height with Vinny to challenge Giroud in the air.

The two DFM's will need to pick up Ramsey's runs and we need to start very quickly against them and press them high up the pitch - no slow tippy tappy crap, get the ball quickly into Sergio and Silva's feet and press them with pace.

[Topdawg]

We have to win. We don't need to humiliate them, but that would be nice. That team has to be the one we go with. MP might try and start with Jovetic up front and bring Sergio on after 60 minutes if he needs to.

[blueboy]

I don't want Jovetic starting ahead of Aguero...MP said he was 100% and this is a MUST win game.

[Topdawg]

I agree Bluey - if Aguero is 100% then he has to start. We need to win every game and I'm sure Dzeko will be ready for next week so we have to play Sergio.

[blueboy]

This is definitely a must win game...and then we have Chelsea which could see us top the league, so no chances, a professional performance - 3 points, then the team can relax in Abu Dhabi for a few days next week.

[Topdawg]

Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Milner, Aguero

[Topdawg]

Hart
Zabba, Kompany, Dimi, Clichy
Fernando, Fernandinho
Navas, Silva, Milner
Aguero

[Topdawg]

le banc ; Caballero, Mangala, Sagna, Kolarov, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko

[Topdawg]

Arsenal:

Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Coquelin; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Sanchez; Giroud.

[skyblueoz]

No Sinclair does this mean he is off in the jan transfer window?

[Topdawg]

He should be off in January but it also means he isn't god enough to get into an 18 man squad. If everyone was fit, he'd probably be about 22nd choice.

[blueboy]

Missed the team - been taking my lad for a driving lesson before his exam.

Surprised he's put Manga on the bench - but guess he feels he wants more experience.

[Topdawg]

I think some of their faster players (fast feet) would make mincemeat of him.

[blueboy]

Giroud? 

[Topdawg]

OX, Walcott, Sanchez

[blueboy]

TBF...looking at their team, I'm glad they are playing Coquelin ad Carzola...neither are any good at defending or tracking back, so Silva and Milner/Navas should have plenty of space.

I think the key will be getting Silva on the ball as soon as possible. He can keep it, beat a player and allow the likes of Navas/Milner/Aguero to get in beyond their defenders.

Really wouldn't be surprised to see Navas have a great game today...as long as our defence and CDM's do their job.

[blueboy]

OX, Walcott, Sanchez

Walcott isn't playing.

[Topdawg]

Wally is on the bench. You know what I mean.

[Topdawg]

Any good stream?

[Topdawg]

Lucky Dimi. Very poor touch.

[Topdawg]

Dimi needs to settle.

[Topdawg]

They just want to hit us on the break.

[Topdawg]

Dimi is playing like an arse

[Topdawg]

Good ball from Sanchez. Lucky for us no-one went quick enough for it.

[Topdawg]

Shit pass from navas

[Topdawg]

Lots of the ball, but no threat yet. Plenty of time though.

[Topdawg]

Lucky again with that header.

[Topdawg]

Kompany fucked up there

[Topdawg]

after not passing when he broke out.

[Topdawg]

one mistake followed by another.

[Topdawg]

Good tackle there by Fernando

[Topdawg]

Nearly 30 minutes gone and we've showed nothing.

[Topdawg]

Koscielny is on a yellow and we've not put him under any pressure

[Topdawg]

We're looking poor now

[Topdawg]

Lucky boy Joe hart

[Guest]

Wtf is going on, who is this team and what have they done with the league champs?

Sort it out very quickly or all recent catchup for nothing.

[Topdawg]

Great play, good chance, poor from Navas

[Topdawg]

There's no fight

[Topdawg]

Corner, come on now.

[Topdawg]

Dare I say, we miss Yaya...

[Topdawg]

Come on, do something!

[Topdawg]

Navas couldn't take the defender on or cross it past his legs. No great surprise.

[Topdawg]

I wish Kompany would stop fucking complaining.

[Topdawg]

It's a tough watch this.

[Topdawg]

Last chance of the half...

[Topdawg]

We've had 127 corners since we last scored from one...maybe more

[Topdawg]

How many times have we been here saying we're playing wank.

[Topdawg]

I can't say anyone has had a decent game.

[Guest]

Fair play to the French whinger he seems to have got his tactics right, lets see what our tactical genius can do at half time.   I'm not holding out much hope.  Lets just hope Arsenal do their normal cock up late on.

[Topdawg]

How to change things??? We aren't really using the wings the way we normally do. When he's had the ball, Navas is his usual self. I can see Arsenal scoring again, we've given them enough ball in our half to do so.

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