Stan 16,972 Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Tuesday 19th December, 2017 Arsenal vs West Ham, 19.45 Leicester vs Man City, 19.45 (live on Sky) Wednesday 20th December, 2017 Chelsea vs Bournemouth, 19.45 Bristol City vs Man Utd, 20.00 (live on Sky) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero 5,170 Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Need to take these cups seriously now the league is practically wrapped up. Courtois Zappacosta, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Pedro Drinkwater, Kante Willian, Musonda Jr Morata Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan 1,796 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Want this taking seriously. Man City I'm not convinced are, and that's our best shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero 5,170 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Some team news from Conte: - Batshuayi and Kenedy will start - Kante looks likely to be rested - Musonda (groin) and Luiz, obviously, out injured - Hudson-Odoi, Ampadu and Sterling may be in the matchday squad. Ampadu MIGHT start the match Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 Tough to call what kind of line-up both sides will go for tonight. Wonder if Iheanacho and Ulloa will get starts. I say we go for a strong squad despite an important game at the weekend vs Man Utd. Think Okazaki should start to be honest though. King almost guaranteed to start given Ndidi is suspended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandoEFC 7,199 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Narrow Arsenal win and a score draw at Leicester. @Stan you've put that tomorrow's fixtures are on Saturday which almost exploded my brain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 4 minutes ago, RandoEFC said: Narrow Arsenal win and a score draw at Leicester. @Stan you've put that tomorrow's fixtures are on Saturday which almost exploded my brain. ahahah cheers what a fucking melt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 could be a delayed kick-offs (maybe til Saturday) as there's traffic southbound in to Leicester on the M1. Overturned lorry across both carriageways and diesel spillage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 weaker squad for Leicester... and a 'weaker' squad for Man City Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 strong attack for City but reckon we could get at that City defence if we play well enough. They're there for the taking considering they're not starting players like De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Kompany, Otamendi, Ederson, Sterling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Honey 3,665 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Leicester resting players is an absolute disgrace. That Man City line up is a gift. If they don't win Puel should get a lot of stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewolf 6,861 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 4 minutes ago, Kitchen Sales said: Leicester resting players is an absolute disgrace. That Man City line up is a gift. If they don't win Puel should get a lot of stick. I would have to agree... what possible reason do Leicester have for not playing the strongest side they can??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 5 minutes ago, Kitchen Sales said: Leicester resting players is an absolute disgrace. That Man City line up is a gift. If they don't win Puel should get a lot of stick. we weren't to know the Man City line up would be this 'weak'. We have Utd at the weekend We have 5 games in 13 days (the least time to rest out of all Premier League clubs over the festive period). 6 of the 11 players tonight also played against Palace. We've not totally changed our squad. How is it a 'disgrace'? it's expected, if anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandoEFC 7,199 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just now, Stan said: we weren't to know the Man City line up would be this 'weak'. We have Utd at the weekend We have 5 games in 13 days (the least time to rest out of all Premier League clubs over the festive period). How is it a 'disgrace'? it's expected, if anything. Disagree. What shits do Leicester give about scraping a point against United when they're 3 wins away from silverware. I would say the same about my own club, when you're in a cup quarter final and not in the title race or Champions League then no matter how many games you have in the next fortnight nothing should come above the cup game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just now, RandoEFC said: Disagree. What shits do Leicester give about scraping a point against United when they're 3 wins away from silverware. I would say the same about my own club, when you're in a cup quarter final and not in the title race or Champions League then no matter how many games you have in the next fortnight nothing should come above the cup game. don't get me wrong, I want to get to the semi-final, but the 3rd point in that bunch is the key for me. Not that big a squad and so many games to come. Three wins away from silverware sounds grand but there's still Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea in the competition so it's no guarantee. No matter how many games? Why would we risk Vardy/Mahrez/Gray etc today with so many important games in the league? Especially as Europa League isn't all that an unrealistic possibility. League has and will always be the priority over the cup for most clubs outside the top 6. as said above, there have been changes but it's not a 100% change of personnel. There's still some first regulars in the starting XI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandoEFC 7,199 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just now, Stan said: don't get me wrong, I want to get to the semi-final, but the 3rd point in that bunch is the key for me. Not that big a squad and so many games to come. Three wins away from silverware sounds grand but there's still Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea in the competition so it's no guarantee. No matter how many games? Why would we risk Vardy/Mahrez/Gray etc today with so many important games in the league? Especially as Europa League isn't all that an unrealistic possibility. League has and will always be the priority over the cup for most clubs outside the top 6. as said above, there have been changes but it's not a 100% change of personnel. There's still some first regulars in the starting XI. Cup winners automatically get into the Europa League anyway? Leicester are playing for nothing in the league if we're being realistic. Relegation isn't going to happen and anything above 7th (which isn't a guaranteed Europa spot) is out of the question too. What's the point in existing if you're going to prioritise getting 2 extra points in the league and gaining a mid table position or two if that at the expense of going all out to win a trophy? Good chance you'll lose to United on Saturday anyway then you've gained nothing at all. Disgrace? No, but I struggle to understand it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 3 minutes ago, RandoEFC said: Cup winners automatically get into the Europa League anyway? Leicester are playing for nothing in the league if we're being realistic. Relegation isn't going to happen and anything above 7th (which isn't a guaranteed Europa spot) is out of the question too. What's the point in existing if you're going to prioritise getting 2 extra points in the league and gaining a mid table position or two if that at the expense of going all out to win a trophy? Good chance you'll lose to United on Saturday anyway then you've gained nothing at all. Disgrace? No, but I struggle to understand it. it's not just about the Utd game on Saturday. it's winnable games against Watford and Huddersfield over Xmas/New Year which are more important and we need our better players for. I'll just put it straight that I do want to get to the semi-final and hopefully the final but given how many games there are upcoming, I totally understand the need for rotation of the squad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK85 267 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 I'd hope for the same sort of team if we were in this round as well. That 7th place is prestigious. Players need their rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 the inevitable happens. 1-0 to Man City as Bernardo Silva pokes it in from close range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just now, HK85 said: I'd hope for the same sort of team if we were in this round as well. That 7th place is prestigious. Players need their rest. is this sarcasm ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Honey 3,665 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 If its fitness argument then surely your 5 players would have better fitness for Watford and Huddersfield by being rested for a game closer to that, like Man Utd at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just now, Kitchen Sales said: If its fitness argument then surely your 5 players would have better fitness for Watford and Huddersfield by being rested for a game closer to that, like Man Utd at the weekend. but then it goes back to my point that league takes priority over the cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewolf 6,861 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 1-0 City... game over already Going to turn off now go and do something else round the house.. Thanks a bunch Leicester for ruining my evening with your cavalier couldn't give a toss attitude about the Cup Competition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 could have and should have scored from that break there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Honey 3,665 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 6 minutes ago, Stan said: but then it goes back to my point that league takes priority over the cup. 1 game can end your cup run, it wont end your league season. For a fan of any team without the expectation of winning the cup then a quarter final should be full of intense excitement and nerves that surpasses th routine of a league game. It's the stuff we are in football for. A weakened team weakens that emotion. Football is all about making emotional memories. In victory and defeat. Managers who diminish that opportunity are a cancer to the game, turning fans into a dullard docile crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas 3,666 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Does seem a waste to me to be honest. This would be natural progression for a club like Leicester to go to Wembley and win a trophy, especially in a competition that has treated them well down the years, but they really seem to have conceded any advantage they had with that line up. I'd fancy them as well in a two legged game against Arsenal, Chelsea or Man Utd. Shame really. I'm actually really surprised Puel didn't go big considering the effort he put into winning the competition last season. Very odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just now, Kitchen Sales said: 1 game can end your cup run, it wont end your league season. For a fan of any team without the expectation of winning the cup then a quarter final should be full of intense excitement and nerves that surpasses th routine of a league game. It's the stuff we are in football for. A weakened team weakens that emotion. Football is all about making emotional memories. In victory and defeat. Managers who diminish that opportunity are a cancer to the game, turning fans into a dullard docile crowd. Guardiola the same then considering the amount of payers he's rested? Wenger in most games? Fergie must have done it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandoEFC 7,199 Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 6 minutes ago, Stan said: Guardiola the same then considering the amount of payers he's rested? Wenger in most games? Fergie must have done it as well. All teams in the title race or in Europe or with a realistic chance of the FA Cup if all else fails or a chance of qualifying for Europe, and all clubs that can still win these games with a weakened side most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 9 minutes ago, RandoEFC said: All teams in the title race or in Europe or with a realistic chance of the FA Cup if all else fails or a chance of qualifying for Europe, and all clubs that can still win these games with a weakened side most of the time. West Ham have made 6 changes as well and are in a the same boat as us I presume. Are they not worthy of some stick either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 16,972 Posted December 19, 2017 Author Share Posted December 19, 2017 about time these 2 came on. Should have started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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