Optimistic for this one. City have enough quality to win but I thought the players gave a good account of themselves in Paris.

 

Home advantage and City thinking about the CL mean I think we might pip this one 2-1.

Agree with you, I'm optimistic for this game and also It's a must win game for save our (poor) season.

We will have to put the same XI than yesterday.

2-0 to us.

wont be the same 11, can see a couple of changes:

 

Bego

 

Dave

Cahill

Iva

Rahman

 

Loftus- Cheek
Matic

 

Willian

Oscar

Pedro

 

Costa

 

I reckon 2-1 Chelsea. City will hopefully be resting key players ahead of their champions league game.

Really looking forward to this. We've had a couple of trial runs as it were, and good ones at that, can't wait.

Man City are playing like a side that has nothing left to give after the announcement that Pep would be taking over in the summer.

 

Quietly confident we'll win this especially at home.

wont be the same 11, can see a couple of changes:

 

Bego

 

Dave

Cahill

Iva

Rahman

 

Loftus- Cheek

Matic

 

Willian

Oscar

Pedro

 

Costa

 

I reckon 2-1 Chelsea. City will hopefully be resting key players ahead of their champions league game.

 

You honestly think our first choice goalkeeper will be rested and an unproven youth player (as much as i highly rate him) will be started against one of the best teams in England, in arguably the only competition we can realistically win this season? I expect to see a very similar team as last night with the addition of Matic. 

We have no pressure, City are on a poor run so there's absolutely no reason not to go into this one positively. It's our one realistic shot at salvaging something from this season so let's give the crowd something to get excited about please.

 

It'll be a full-strength team and the big question is whether JT is fit (I think he will be) and whether Hazard gets the nod. Then it's about whether we go with the full-backs from last night who actually look very balanced, or we revert to type and go with Ivanovic and Azpi because.....reasons.

 

Then there's the midfield and I'd personally go adventurous with Matic, Fabregas and Oscar which worked so well last season. I expect we'll go with Mikel and Matic though because....further reasons.

 

Actually I'm making myself less hopeful as I go on. Bugger. Right, exciting, expansive, give-the-supporters-something-to-get-excited-about-line-up incoming.

 

Courtois; Azpi, JT, Cahill, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hard-to-say-no-to-Hazard; Costa.

Edited February 17, 201610 yr by ShedEnder91

Just a note that Bego int hat line-up I imagine is Begovic... as in the seasoned English Premier League veteran who played brilliantly when Tibo was injured. 

Yes I honestly do expect that given previously in the cups we have often played our second choice keeper, and like I said City are likely to rest one or two themselves so why not give RLC a chance? They will probably play that Iheanacho so if they can play their youth against us, why cant we?

This is the most realistic chance of saving our season.

We have to play our strongest team and we will IMO.

Same lineup as PSG if Terry isn't fit.

Edited February 17, 201610 yr by Chelsbear

I think Guus will bring Matic in for Mikel & Oscar for Pedro

I fully expect Hazard to get dropped for this match. He just doesn't seem to for it at all. Shame really.

I think Bego will start in goal with Pedro, Oscar & Willian behind Diego.

Matic should return beside Cesc but I'd like to see Baba retain his place whether JT returns or not.

Anyone know if City will field a weakened side? Pelligrini mentioned he may have to because of European commitments.

Bego

Azpi - Ivan - Gaz - Baba

Cesc - Matic

Willian - Oscar - Pedro

Diego

I think Guus will bring Matic in for Mikel & Oscar for Pedro

Matic replacing Mikel in the starting line up won't happen under Guss except we are playing a very average team.

You honestly think our first choice goalkeeper will be rested and an unproven youth player (as much as i highly rate him) will be started against one of the best teams in England, in arguably the only competition we can realistically win this season? I expect to see a very similar team as last night with the addition of Matic.

I definitely don't expect it to happen, but I think it's worth considering Begovic in light of his performance against them earlier in the season. It could easily have been 6-0 without him. Not to mention, Kevin de Bruyne will be extra motivated with Courtois in goal [edit: Never mind, didn't realize he's still out on injury and won't be back by Sunday.]

Courtois isn't the same goalkeeper he was last year. His reputation causes people to interpret his performances differently. If it were Begovic rather than Courtois in goal last night (or for any number of games Courtois has played) and everything was the same performance-wise, people would be more critical.

Then again I admit to being personally biased myself. I've never warmed to Courtois and believe that the season would have been quite different with Cech due to Cech's leadership abilities.

If Courtois leaves this summer, I can't help but think it was a mistake to give into his demands.

Edited February 17, 201610 yr by offside

We have no pressure, City are on a poor run so there's absolutely no reason not to go into this one positively. It's our one realistic shot at salvaging something from this season so let's give the crowd something to get excited about please.

It'll be a full-strength team and the big question is whether JT is fit (I think he will be) and whether Hazard gets the nod. Then it's about whether we go with the full-backs from last night who actually look very balanced, or we revert to type and go with Ivanovic and Azpi because.....reasons.

Then there's the midfield and I'd personally go adventurous with Matic, Fabregas and Oscar which worked so well last season. I expect we'll go with Mikel and Matic though because....further reasons.

Actually I'm making myself less hopeful as I go on. Bugger. Right, exciting, expansive, give-the-supporters-something-to-get-excited-about-line-up incoming.

Courtois; Azpi, JT, Cahill, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hard-to-say-no-to-Hazard; Costa.

No pressure you say? Fa cup is our only realistic chance of silverware this season, to offer us something after our disaster of a league campaign. I would say all the pressure is on us.

Sadly I see city raising their game after 2 home defeats to the two in form league sides.

Score draw here taking the game to a replay, city winning the return game.

I definitely don't expect it to happen, but I think it's worth considering Begovic in light of his performance against them earlier in the season. It could easily have been 6-0 without him. Not to mention, Kevin de Bruyne will be extra motivated with Courtois in goal [edit: Never mind, didn't realize he's still out on injury and won't be back by Sunday.]

Courtois isn't the same goalkeeper he was last year. His reputation causes people to interpret his performances differently. If it were Begovic rather than Courtois in goal last night (or for any number of games Courtois has played) and everything was the same performance-wise, people would be more critical.

Then again I admit to being personally biased myself. I've never warmed to Courtois and believe that the season would have been quite different with Cech due to Cech's leadership abilities.

If Courtois leaves this summer, I can't help but think it was a mistake to give into his demands.

 

I don't understand the criticism towards Tbo after the PSG game, i can't remember one thing he did wrong last night 

A lot of talk that they will be resting a good bit of players for CL next week.

No pressure you say? Fa cup is our only realistic chance of silverware this season, to offer us something after our disaster of a league campaign. I would say all the pressure is on us.

Sadly I see city raising their game after 2 home defeats to the two in form league sides.

Score draw here taking the game to a replay, city winning the return game.

 

We're not that good though so the expectations really aren't there. If we lose this weekend then it's just another loss on the pile. Hiddink's reputation is unchanged, I doubt the players will be that bothered and for us it sucks but it's not even in the top 5 things that will have sucked.

 

How about the team goes out there and plays fearlessly and adventurously in the hopes of giving the fans something to be excited about. Give them young players, give them expansive play, give them something to cheer about, to get excited about.

 

We're not 'sh*t and we know we are' but we are 'mid-table and deservedly so', so let's throw the ball deep and play with an abandon because expectations haven't been this low for about 15 years.

A lot of talk that they will be resting a good bit of players for CL next week.

Don't see why as they are not playing a top side.

I want an encore.

http://youtu.be/1_ThvPg8Ouw

We're not that good though so the expectations really aren't there. If we lose this weekend then it's just another loss on the pile. Hiddink's reputation is unchanged, I doubt the players will be that bothered and for us it sucks but it's not even in the top 5 things that will have sucked.

How about the team goes out there and plays fearlessly and adventurously in the hopes of giving the fans something to be excited about. Give them young players, give them expansive play, give them something to cheer about, to get excited about.

We're not 'sh*t and we know we are' but we are 'mid-table and deservedly so', so let's throw the ball deep and play with an abandon because expectations haven't been this low for about 15 years.

A nice idea mate but I do not see guus giving the young guys a chance and expect a cagey match as guus will see this as his only chance to salvage something for the season and go out on a high note.

I expect Mikel Matic combo. Don't know why people think that Mikel won't play in this particular match.

Liked the look of the squad last night, hoping for a similar team with baba starting and resting willian, hazard will probably start from the bench, would like to see Kenedy but doubt he will start.

City look to have lost impetus to win anything after Pep's announcement. That is the only reason why I think we have a chance. Hope we keep Aguero quiet. And I am not sure Matic is much of an upgrade over Mikel, He has been terrible this entire season.

I hope we will win this game, this is our most possible trophy to win this season.

 

I'd like to see this starting line:

 

---------------------------- Courtois ------------------------

 

Azpilicueta ------- Cahill -- Ivanovic -------------- Baba

 

--------------------- Matic --- Fabregas --------------------

 

Pedro ------------------- Willian ----------- Bertrand Traore

 

------------------------- Diego Costa -----------------------

 

 

COME ON CHELS!