Ho ho ho.

Who wants some?

Sturridge gets three against his old side.

Aguero does his hamstring.

It's all good.

This is the test. We've learnt some big lessons over the last month. A result is needed here to say we're really back.

I said before last night, that Valencia could be the game to kickstart our season. We will take a lot of confidence out of it, and if Didier hums like he did tonight. We could turn them over easily.

Ho ho ho.

Who wants some?

Sturridge gets three against his old side.

Aguero does his hamstring.

It's all good.

Dear Santa,

I want THIS for Christmas. And I want it 2 weeks early.

Thanks.

Think if AVB copies tonight's game plan Chelsea will go a long way in nullifying their fluid attacking style, keep the deeper defensive line and hit them on the counter, basically what City has been doing to us when they visited the Bridge the last 2 seasons and Tevez hit us on the break

It will also take a large slice of luck and a team performance on a par with tonight's............wrap Drogba up in cotton wool please

I think we really have our chances to win this game. We came from two important victories. Our team must have a level up of confidence. I would repeat the same team.

Edited December 7, 201114 yr by Hysteria

Would settle for a draw. I know we want and need more but a draw is enough in this one. Cited are very strong this year and we are in transition

In terms of team selection Ivan will move into centre to replace Luiz which means Bosingwa at right back. The only decision AVB has to make is whether to recall Lampard and based on last night's performance that recall would be hard to justify.

This is why separating Alex and Anelka was silly. Now we have to play Bosingwa against Aguero, Nasri and Silva.

Actually perhaps we should recall Paulo instead. Say what you like, but he is twice the defender Bosingwa is on his best day, and he doesn't have too many good days.

This is why separating Alex and Anelka was silly. Now we have to play Bosingwa against Aguero, Nasri and Silva.

Actually perhaps we should recall Paulo instead. Say what you like, but he is twice the defender Bosingwa is on his best day, and he doesn't have too many good days.

Puts in a better cross as well

This is why separating Alex and Anelka was silly. Now we have to play Bosingwa against Aguero, Nasri and Silva.

Actually perhaps we should recall Paulo instead. Say what you like, but he is twice the defender Bosingwa is on his best day, and he doesn't have too many good days.

But I'm not sure what the lesser of two evils is - Bosingwa at right back or Alex at CB? Alex has looked slow and not that solid when he has played and I'll feel a lot better with Ivan alongside JT facing Aguero and co.

Of course the worry is Bos plays RB and if Sturridge plays ahead of him, City could have a field day down their left flank. I think we need to let them worry about our attacking players rather us worry so much about theirs.

Actually perhaps we should recall Paulo instead. Say what you like, but he is twice the defender Bosingwa is on his best day, and he doesn't have too many good days.

Disagree. Ferreira shouldn't be near this game. Boswinga may have his flaws but I'd far prefer him.

Right back is a massive problem for this game, the rest of the team has picked itself after last night!

A bit of a wacky suggestion but what about Rambo at right back and Lamps back in midfield???

A bit of a wacky suggestion but what about Rambo at right back and Lamps back in midfield???

Bit wacky that mate ;)

Bit wacky that mate ;)

It was desperate, but thats how much I don't want Bossy in for this 1!

Their attack is awsome and we will need to be at our defensive best for this, can we get Riccy back for 1 game???

We have only JT and Ivan for center-back position. Hope those two are fit for this game. Luiz is suspended and Alex is not with the team anymore.

Left and right backs are a big question-mark for this game. Ash was the only shaky player in Valencia game IMO, although he did well enough. Bossy had an injury so who knows if he is available. It could be Paulo then...

Midfield is either Rambo-Romeu-Meireles or Rambo-Romeu-Lampard..AVB might also put Mikel instead of Romeu, hope not. I think Ramires is the only certain player for City as AVB subbed him early on against Valencia.

Attack: Sturridge-Drogba-Mata. Can't think of any other trio better than that. Torres should be nowhere near the starting line-up when Drogs is such a monster as he was last night. My concern with Sturridge is that he might be too eager to score against his old club that he misses those open passes. He's done it in our last two games. Hope he scores though.

AVB might also put Mikel instead of Romeu, hope not.

No chance mate.

A bit of a wacky suggestion but what about Rambo at right back and Lamps back in midfield???

This is what I wanted to do with him a bit through his first season, but that opinions obviously changed since then. I still think he'd make a bloody good right back, but Mondays probably not the game to try it out.

Back in the day you would stick the bison in there and say DESTROY!

We cant play Ramires right back because if we are going to play on the counter ie what napoli done, then we need his speed breaking from midfield. Romeu frank and raul dont have a engine to hit em on the break. Ranmbo also gets fouls due to his speed, giving us respite and a chance to attack from a set piece.

If it wasn't for the match sharpness issue I would happily play Paulo ahead of Bosingwa. Paulo is still the best proper right back we've had since Chappie Ferrer.

If not for the right back spot, after last nights performance I'd have some hope of getting a good result, but thats put a real spanner in the works!!

Paulo at RB.

Other only real option is Romeu at CB and let Ivan play RB.

I expect a loss for this one, but I think and hope we can at least make a good account of ourselves. There is no shame in losing to a team that will be PL Champions by a country mile come May.

I suspect City will be very happy with a point. They have so much firepower and creativity they will be content to sit back, in the expectation that something will happen at the other end. They will have noted the pace of Sturridge and the form of Drogba and Mata and they will play deep, I am sure of that. Valencia knew they needed to score, a goal for them would have changed everything, so it's a completely different dynamic from last night. We need the win far more than City, that's the bottom line, and we will be determined to finally win a head-to-head this term, in terms of the big boys. Will AVB ask the fullbacks to push on? That is the question. I'm sure Boswinga will play and that his strength, along with Ashley. The other big decision is Frank. I suspect AVB will stick with the same three in midfield, and Frank will just have to take it on the chin, and come on should there be a deadlock or should we be trailing late on. We go into this game with our tails up, but it's worth remembering, Newcastle were seriously depleted and Valencia weren't at their best. Whenever we have been really tested we have failed. We have by no means turned the corner, the doubts still remain. A win on Monday and that spells progress and sends a message to the rest of the league. A loss and the questions persist. A big game. A big, big game. You play your big game players ..

That means Drogba.

I suspect City will be very happy with a point. They have so much firepower and creativity they will be content to sit back, in the expectation that something will happen at the other end. They will have noted the pace of Sturridge and the form of Drogba and Mata and they will play deep, I am sure of that. Valencia knew they needed to score, a goal for them would have changed everything, so it's a completely different dynamic from last night. We need the win far more than City, that's the bottom line, and we will be determined to finally win a head-to-head this term, in terms of the big boys. Will AVB ask the fullbacks to push on? That is the question. I'm sure Boswinga will play and that his strength, along with Ashley. The other big decision is Frank. I suspect AVB will stick with the same three in midfield, and Frank will just have to take it on the chin, and come on should there be a deadlock or should we be trailing late on. We go into this game with our tails up, but it's worth remembering, Newcastle were seriously depleted and Valencia weren't at their best. Whenever we have been really tested we have failed. We have by no means turned the corner, the doubts still remain. A win on Monday and that spells progress and sends a message to the rest of the league. A loss and the questions persist. A big game. A big, big game. You play your big game players ..

That means Drogba.

Citys exploits in europe have proven that prem teams have to much respect for them, Napoli and bayarn went in not fearing them and got the results (could be posting this a bit to early)

They still have a defence of Richards, Kompany, lescot and a left back of there choosing, this is not world class in my opnion, good but not great. When they have beaten us previously its because they have played deyong (sp), Barry and zabayaletta at DM with tevez and belamy and jonson the only reall outlets . evffectivly 7 outfield players didnt go beyond the half way line. they had been happy to absorb preshure and catch un on the break.

In seasons gone by our style has played straight in to that because we had no widthc, no way to streach them game. This is now a bit different.

Additionly they have changed there style - I cant believe that Manchini is going to start with 3 DM's on monday, he thinks he has us out gunned and he may do but id rather play against a city side that think there better then us then one thats happy just to sit in.

I still dont think they are going to win the league and the rot starts here!!