Wednesday 24th September, Etihad Stadium
Kick Off 19:45
Referee: Paul Tierney
We welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Etihad in the first game of our quest to defend our League Cup.
I am not someone who takes any competition for granted and we should be trying to win this trophy again, although it does feel like it is a game without the pressure that the league and champions league carries.
I can't pretend that I see a lot of Sheffield Wednesday play, I do regularly check their results when I am flicking through the score centre on the ipad but that is only because I follow ex hopefuls like Helan to see how they are getting on, apart from that I don't know very much at all.
I do know that they have been doing quite well so far this season, they are just three points off the top of the league and have lost just one game to Stuart Pearce's high flying Forest team.
I imagine that Wednesday will come full of confidence and adrenaline ready to take on the big boys and so they should, still I think it will be difficult for them to get a result at the Etihad, although not impossible of course.
It is hard to talk about us in relation to tomorrows game because we are without doubt going to see a lot of changes to the starting line, I don't think it should make to much difference though because I think that the players brought into the team will have a point to prove, it is going to be difficult to name a possible team and I am going to choose from the senior players but it will be no surprise to see the likes of Bytyqi and Hiwula in the squad.
I imagine that the result of tomorrows match will not matter to much to the manager whatever the outcome, I think that Pellegrini will want to win this trophy but I don't imagine that he will have a sleepless night if we were to get knocked out.
It is a shame that the League Cup is so undervalued these days but managers just don't like the extra games and it is this competition that is sacrificed, I would like to think that our club want to win this trophy as much as the others but I do doubt that will be the case, I know that I want to win it just like I did pre 2008, a time when it would of been a dream to see us lift this cup.
Man City Team News
Pablo Zabaleta is suspended following his red car against Chelsea, Sergio Aguero is out with a minor knee injury and David Silva will miss out with an ankle complaint, Stevan Jovetic is still recovering from a hamstring injury and Fernando is still not ready to return due to a groin injury.
Sheffield Wednesday Team News
Everton and Reading have given permission for on loan pair Hallam Hope and Royston Drenthe to play and both may feature, Kieran Lee (groin) and Sam Hutchinson (back) continue to recover from injury.
Possible Man City Line Up
Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Nastasic, Clichy, Sinclair, Fernandinho, Lampard, Navas, Milner, Dzeko.
Possible Sheffield Wednesday Line Up
Kirkland, Palmer, lees, Loovens, Mattock, Maguire, Semedo, Coke, Helan, Nuhiu, May.
My Prediction
Man City 3 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday.
Worth A Bet
Frank Lampard scores the first goal in a 3-1 Man City win @ 50/1.
Posts
That Drenthe is a livewire. Always looked dangerous when playing for Everton/Madrid. Shame Iheanacho isn't available for this one (turns 18 soon I hear for his work permit). Would be ideal. Poor Fernandinho if he does start. Would have barely recovered from Sundays run around! Milner too. Anybody remember the days when Vinny played defensive mid for us? And a damn good one at that. Was just thinking the other day now we have so many options at CB with Nastasic not even getting a look-in.... So not the craziest of ideas for this one! Toure, Fernandinho and Milner could do with a rest, and Frank is hardly going to chase back on his own, Zaba's out and and that Zucculini is at Valencia. Can't think of anyone else better qualified. Thoughts? Remember we tried Demichelis there one time last year (Bayern?) but didn't really work.
ReplyDeleteKompany needs a rest as does Milner and fernandinho as you rightly pointed out, I am just not sure who else can play although I do expect some youngsters to turn out, really the likes of Zuculini should be at the club fighting for a place, he was experienced enough at club level to do that in my opinion, thanks for commenting.
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