Tomo

The thing is like greavsie said, this squad is not close to complete in fact this is just the start. In Diego, Cesc, Matic and Eden we have key players for atleast the next 6 years, longer in Edens case, and there is still room for further improvement in the team and squad. If we are prudent enough in evolving the team we will dominate for the next decade under Jose, City will always be around to keep us on our toes and will still win a couple, but Jose will always give us the edge on Pellegrini, lets say Jose is the new Fergie and Pellegrini is the new Wenger in that regard. We should have dominated the recent decade but started screwing up in market, then Mou left and we appointed shit managers, learn from those mistakes and I can honestly see 6/7 more titles to our name by this time in 2024.

I remember Everton got giant killed there and I was sitting myself the same would happen to us, I was uneasy until the first goal and when the keeper of theirs made a top save at 0-0 I was convinced we were getting done.Giant killings were my biggest fear for us as a kid, I was having nightmares about our trip to Scarborough the following season and that one actually came far to close to going wrong.

We tried to play the same way against City this season that we did last season, try and win but also be mindful that a draw away to a title rival isn't the end of the world, let's remember we have established a 5 point lead against them and after this game we have two home games and they have two away, why on earth would we risk it? If we get the job done against Villa and Le Arse and City cock up one of their away games we are 7/8 points ahead if them, I know it's early but when Mou establishes a lead he rarely let's it slip. Now the difference between this season and last at The Ethiad is the quality of the counter attacks, this time all our midfielders kept making the wrong decisions (even Hazard had a rare day in that regard) where as last season we were getting things spot on, Citys persistent fouling must be considered too. Even then if Costa stretched an inch further and his shot was a little to the left we would be talking about a Mourinho masterclass and admiring at Diego's 9 goals in 5 games tally, small margins hey? Now in the home games against big teams we win and deliver some good football, United, Arsenal, Liverpool. Away against a title rival isn't about style, if we went defensive at home I can understand some groans but away from home against big teams is a million percent about results, I genuinely don't care if we win 1-0 at Emirates, Anfield, Old Trafford and score with our only attempts at goal, I really really don't, we can save the fancy flicks and sexy football for when Burnley and QPR come to town, big games is about 3 points (or at worst 1 if away) and gaining/escaping ground on rivals. If you want gun hoe attacking football in big games, there's manager's in Merseyside and North London who will give you unlimited helpings, we however get results first and foremost, if it comes with sexy football (Liverpool at home) that's a bonus, but the points well and truly come first. Rant over.

1. Yes happy, it would have been ideal for a CB to come in, but our main 3 problems last season were fixed with 3 off the best in their positions, even the most pessimistic have to be delighted by that, and no, it isn't even about his last kick being Munich any more, he just hasn't been very good since 2010. 2. Yes I felt despite some glaring defenciecies last season we could have won due to Mourinho and nearly did, the next two games at home are vital, 6 points and City dropping a couple with two away games would be ideal. 3. If we carry on with the attacking game we have so far bar against City then the CB, playing high doesn't bring out the best in Terry or Cahill and the latter is quite reactive and weak one on one. If we play more defensive then our AMs decision making bar Hazard leaves a lot to be desired, that hurt us last season when we needed to make the most of every attack. 4. Gary is what he is, he has his qualities but also glaring weaknesses, his tendancy to back off players has me screaming, he is partial to falling for dummy's aswell. His strong points is he us strong with last ditch tackling and commitment to the cause is second to none, play him in a compact system he is fine, if were looking to be more expansive then he should be no more than a squad player, always gives 100 percent so deserves respect fir that. 5. Premier League every single time. I said that before we won the CL aswell, league is the bread and butter. 6. The best is between Diego and ADM, the worst for me is Rojo, he's not very good and he's expected to be the main centre half for United this season. 7. Unpredictable team, sometimes when I watch you play at home to a rival in the table especially you play rubbish and the games really drab, like your recent game vs Toon, but away from home especially you have games were you seem to just come to life, especially on the counter, your game at Anfield for example, you should have been 4 up at half time. 8. Benteke or Wiemann. 9.Hazard, if he clicks the team does, it's as simple as that. 10. Villa at home is the hardest fixture to predict, you seem to take points off us or we batter you, we never know what Villa we will get, put it this way, if someone says to me that one if the Villa or Arsenal games coming up will result in dropped points, im almost sure it will be this game. 11.Android. 12.Keegan.

Am I the only one that would probably be just as pissed off if I was a City fan? To muster a complete random hypothetical example that we signed Robbie Fowler back in the day, scored a late equaliser against Liverpool then basically blanked our fans and ran to the Scousers post match then called us 'them' in a post match interview saying he was CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE while wearing our shirt, then basically forget us and go back to supporting Liverpool after he retires. Which Lamps will do to City im sure of it. Imagine that, City fans should be fuming, signing big clubs legend when there in their twilight years is what mid table clubs do, like themselves with Fowler or Bolton with Fernando Hierro. Not going to lie this stings a bit, but City fans should be just as unhappy with the whole saga, if not more.

It would be hilarious if Gazprom give us more than addidas give United.

In our last three games we haven't given away many chances but when we have we conceded. Villa actually haven't created much this season but when they have tended to score.

So you did a lot of laughing at Fergie when he went to The Ethiad in 10/11 and 11/12?

Pellegrini playes full senior players from the start tonight

If we play most of the team youth they won't learn much, Ake, Zouma and Baker if he comes on will benefit a lot more playing with experience than there peers. I agree to a point , we maybe should have started one more probably Baker.

Maybe Zouma RB Ake CB?

Mata was the best player for a year and a half, as soon as Eden returned from his ball boy ban he overtook him. Furthermore Mata hardly 'led' us to the FA Cup and CL, did he?

No it was his right to, but with it comes being a laughing stock through being a 50m flop. Pre 2011 he had a great reputation but no silverware, he effectively did a trade with the devil.

He would have known if he ever left Liverpool he would have commanded a high fee, he must have known that his injuries took it's toll and he would never have justified that price tag when he was on the way here. That us true, the Torres debacle seems to have given us a kick up the backside to change, having said that I don't want him to scare us off making big money signings in the future.

He was already declining for Liverpool, but every one thought it was just a blip when it was actually early burnout. Essiens decline was just as steep, he just didn't make a big money move at the wrong time to draw widespread attention to it.

Schwarzer getting a spot is all the more wierd considering we could have drafted him in on emergency terms if Cech and Courtois got injured, meaning he would have effectively still been 3rd choice. I do actually think Baker could play a few times this season, apparently Mou acknowledged the HG issue last season so one of his next tasks should be sorting it out, promoting Baker would be a good start.

The way we played wasn't great but that's not an excuse for Torres, he is shite. 20 PL goals in 110 games, for perspective Eto'o got 9 in 21.

Yeah definitely, if we go 4 3 3 which imo is best for this team we only really have Mikel as a senior back up, signing Tiago makes even more sense in hindsight, although having said that Baker plays with a fair bit if maturity for his age, which might see the door open for him if we play 4 3 3 permanently.

So did Essien yet his thread doesn't explode with HES BACK every time he does something semi decent.

Id rather risk as few crucial players as possible, Cahills only there out of nessesity.

Cech, Ake, Cahill, Zouma, Luis, Mikel, Baker, Schurrle, Oscar, Salah, Remy. Subs: Schwarzer, Christenson, Azpi, RLC, Boga, Willian, Drogba.

All off our important first team players so far apart from maybe Cahill shouldn't be anywhere near the team tonight.Well maybe a couple on the bench to make the numbers but they shouldn't come on.

What I don't understand is it us widely accepted Essien is finished but there's still this false hope for Torres.

hahahaha only Torres can cause such reaction from merely scoring. If Eto'o scores his thread won't even get touched.

I see you are quite connected to Boro, George Freind is from the same town as me, I have mates that use to play with him.