Stoke v Manchester City - Champions League me arse

Xavi6

Massive game for us tonight. Really need a win to put the pressure on Liverpool going into the weekend's clash.

Stoke's Matthew Etherington is out (knee), although a scan has revealed he did not damage his cruciate ligament in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Eastlands.

Liam Lawrence and Andy Wilkinson should be fit despite picking up minor knocks.

Manchester City again expect be without Carlos Tevez, who has travelled to Argentina for family reasons.

Craig Bellamy (knee) and Vincent Kompany (groin) are out and Martin Petrov is doubtful, but Adam Johnson returns after being cup tied on Sunday.

Stoke (from): Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Wilkinson, Amdy Faye, Higginbotham, Collins, Lawrence, Sidibe, Whitehead, Delap, Diao, Kitson, Beattie, Fuller, Tuncay, Pugh, Whelan, Simonsen, Begovic.

Doubtful: Lawrence (knee) & Wilkinson (ankle)

Injured: Etherington (knee)

Man City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Toure, Lescott, Boyata, Garrido, Sylvinho, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Adam Johnson, Vieira, Barry, De Jong, Petrov, Ibrahim, Adebayor, Santa Cruz.

Doubtful: Petrov (knock), Richards (calf)

Injured: Bellamy (knee), Kompany (groin), M. Johnson (knee)

Mancini's negativity will no doubt be out in force again so don't be surprised to see a team of -

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Given

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Richards

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Onouha

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Lescott

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Bridge

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De Jong

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Toure

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Barry

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Zabaleta

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Sylvinho

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Vieira

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Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration but we've been awful boring as of late.

Kess73

Kompany and Bellamy are big losses, as is Tevez, but City at home should still have too much for Stoke.

Johnson back in the squad is a plus as he looked very good against Bolton last week.


Would imagine it will be Johnson on the right side of a front three with Cruz and Petrov.

Johner

Does Tevez not realize I have points to make up in my private league? Swaning off on a double gameweek!:rolleyes:

Kess73

Speaking of Petrov, did he ever sign a new deal or is he able to leave on a free come the summer?

keane2097

Johner wrote: »

Does Tevez not realize I have points to make up in my private league? Swaning off on a double gameweek!:rolleyes:

Etherington getting himself injured in a meaningless cup game is worse imo :P

everdead.ie

Etherington has been very good I think a draw could be on the cards tonight

Cake Man

Kess73 wrote: »

Kompany and Bellamy are big losses, as is Tevez, but City at home should still have too much for Stoke.

Johnson back in the squad is a plus as he looked very good against Bolton last week.


Would imagine it will be Johnson on the right side of a front three with Cruz and Petrov.

That game is at the Brittania, so for that reason I'd give Stoke a good chance in front of their own crowd.

Xavi6

Kess73 wrote: »

Speaking of Petrov, did he ever sign a new deal or is he able to leave on a free come the summer?

Still free to leave in the summer. I'd have been campaigning for him to sign on a few weeks ago but AJ has come in and looked quality so we may have found our replacement.

Kess73

Cake Man wrote: »

That game is at the Brittania, so for that reason I'd give Stoke a good chance in front of their own crowd.

My bad, I thought City were at home.

Kess73

Xavi6 wrote: »

Still free to leave in the summer. I'd have been campaigning for him to sign on a few weeks ago but AJ has come in and looked quality so we may have found our replacement.

Isn't Johnson better on the right though? Or was it because Boro had Downing that Johnson got games on the right when he was not out on loan? Cannot say I paid a lot of attention to him in the past, but anytime I saw him, he seemed to be on the right like he was for City against Bolton.

Shame to lose Petrov on a free though, as I feel he still has a couple of years left to offer at a high level. Would not say no to him on a free to Liverpool.

Nalz

Champions League YOUR ARSE!

flahavaj

The first of two defeats this week that will put paid to City's CL hopes is my prediction for tonight I'm afraid.

folan

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration but we've been awful boring as of late.

And loosing more. Lost 3 since Mancini came in. We can push teams as well as the best of them.

Wnat to see the pace back on the wings

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Given

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Richards

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Onouha

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Toure

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Bridge

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De Jong

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Barry

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Wright Philips

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Ireland

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Johnson

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Ade

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JPA

Kess73 wrote: »

Kompany and Bellamy are big losses, as is Tevez, but City at home should still have too much for Stoke.

Johnson back in the squad is a plus as he looked very good against Bolton last week.


Would imagine it will be Johnson on the right side of a front three with Cruz and Petrov.

Adebayor?

Kess73

JPA wrote: »

Adebayor?

Thought he was out. Swap him for Cruz then.

keano_afc

Whats the craic with Tevex?

jimmyendless

tevez had to go home for a family emergency.

Ade is fine and should be playing ya?

keane2097

keano_afc wrote: »

Whats the craic with Tevex?

Special delivery service to Argentina afaik

Columbia

I almost want to see City win this one. The FA Cup is become more and more boring as the big teams drop out.

dobsdave

Columbia wrote: »

I almost want to see City win this one. The FA Cup is become more and more boring as the big teams drop out.

League game tonight.

Columbia

dobsdave wrote: »

League game tonight.

Oh really? Shoot. Shows precisely how much attention I've paid to the FA Cup this week

Draw for me then, 1-1

Xavi6

Xavi6 wrote: »

Massive game for us tonight. Really need a win to put the pressure on Liverpool going into the weekend's clash.

Have a feeling you'll slaughter Stoke and beat the 'Pool comfortably, thus ending their chances of CL ball next year.

As a Utd. fan, I'm unbelievably torn between wanting to see Liverpool imploding (can see a few big names leaving without CL football), which would mean Citeh would have the double whammy of financial clout and European football to attract big names in the summer, or of the opposite happening (minus the cash for Liverpool).

Still not 100% sure I'd prefer to see.

ntlbell

this on the square thing?

RasTa

Stoke will destroy them.

Xavi6

Vieira, De Jong and Barry

Zzzzzzzzzz

karma_

Xavi6 wrote: »

Vieira, De Jong and Barry

Zzzzzzzzzz

so so negative. Watching the game and this is not how city play, we are hoofing a ball up the field ffs, there is no spark whatsoever.

I'm also increasingly convinced that's not the real Patrick Vieira, it's only someone who looks remarkably like him, he's been awful tonight so far, did you see the kick on Whelan, absolutely no call for that at all, I know Whelan was snapping at his heels but wtf.

flahavaj

karma_ wrote: »

so so negative. Watching the game and this is not how city play, we are hoofing a ball up the field ffs, there is no spark whatsoever.

I'm also increasingly convinced that's not the real Patrick Vieira, it's only someone who looks remarkably like him, he's been awful tonight so far, did you see the kick on Whelan, absolutely no call for that at all, I know Whelan was snapping at his heels but wtf.

Its him alright hes just ancient and long gone past it.

Xavi6

Awfully depressing stuff. Stoke are battering us.

Having said that, Barry should've scored easily a minute ago.

Eire-Dearg

Xavi6 wrote: »

Vieira, De Jong and Barry

Zzzzzzzzzz

That's incredibly negative.

Is AJ playing?

karma_

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

That's incredibly negative.

Is AJ playing?

yea he's on, but not having much of an impact.

Xavi6

Vieira booked. He's absolutely horrific.

Subs: Taylor, Bridge, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Petrov.

Get the three of them on

Xavi6

Xavi6 wrote: »

Vieira booked. He's absolutely horrific.



Get the three of them on

Strange having all 3 on the bench?

karma_

There is no way he can be allowed back out onto the pitch after halftime after that performance. Surely?

Xavi6

rarnes1 wrote: »

Strange having all 3 on the bench?

Not if you've been watching Mancini's City lately.

Xavi6

Xavi6 wrote: »

Not if you've been watching Mancini's City lately.

leninbenjamin

Xavi6 wrote: »

Not if you've been watching Mancini's City lately.

Are you expecting them to get better? Manici's teams are always terribly conservative, even by Italian standards.

Xavi6

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Are you expecting them to get better? Manici's teams are always terribly conservative, even by Italian standards.

God no. He has set his stall out and we're going to have to live with it.

Makes it a hell of lot more difficult to motivate myself for these 4am kick offs though.

Mr.Nice Guy

How's Adebayor doing? Is he looking threatening?

Xavi6

Faye sent off for a professional foul as last man.

Well done Mr Assistant. Wiley wasn't even going to give a free.

karma_

Vieira is still on the pitch.

Apologies for sounding like a broken record but I can't get my head found that fact.

whatawaster

yes!!! 1-0 Stoke. I've always loved Whelan

karma_

oh god!

Xavi6

Oh dear

Eire-Dearg

Don't think the other contenders have much to fear in the race for 4th.

Xavi6

Stoke down to ten and we still have De Jong and Vieira in midfield.

Unbelievable

Xavi6

Stoke down to ten and we still have De Jong and Vieira in midfield.

Unbelievable

greendom

Can I change my vote for who's finishing 4th?

karma_

wtf.

a goal down and we are bringing on Zab?

Xavi6

Zabaleta?!

Ah here, I'm getting it in early - Mancini OUT!

Frisbee

Even for an Italian this is worryingly negative...

Eire-Dearg

Lol crazy stuff.