Pre Match Manchester City v Leicester City

[Graz]

Not sure what kind of lineup Smith will go for here. Ricardo and Barnes being out limits his options somewhat...

I think he'll have to go for:

Iversen
Castagne, Soyuncu, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen
Ndidi, Youri
Maddison
Vardy, Nacho

I think a new manager is definitely going to give Vardy another go. If Soyuncu still doesn't fancy playing for a new manager then maybe Vestergaard gets a go? And if Youri isn't fit probably play Mendy there instead.

 

[camberwell fox]

Not sure what kind of lineup Smith will go for here. Ricardo and Barnes being out limits his options somewhat...

I think he'll have to go for:

Iversen
Castagne, Soyuncu, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen
Ndidi, Youri
Maddison
Vardy, Nacho

I think a new manager is definitely going to give Vardy another go. If Soyuncu still doesn't fancy playing for a new manager then maybe Vestergaard gets a go? And if Youri isn't fit probably play Mendy there instead.

If it’s energy we need, Soumare is your man.

 

[Joe_Fox]

If it’s energy we need, Soumare is your man.

Does he have a shit load of red bull coupons or something?

 

[alex]

Presuming there’s no Tielemans and Barnes:

Iversen

Ricardo
Soyuncu
Souttar
Castagne

Mendy
Dewsbury-Hall
Praet

Maddison

Vardy
Iheanacho

I think this is great but change Ricki for Castagne and Kristi on the left?

 

[taupe]

I think Man City will win this on xG.

 

[Brown Nose]

Anybody who does anything decent there (including us) do so with a back five. So I'd go with:

Iversen
Castagne Souttar Evans Faes Kristiansen
Praet Ndidi Mendy Dewsbury-Hall
Iheanacho

You flood the middle of the pitch and sit deep. Iheanacho has to start as he's easily our best striker holding the ball up.

 

[Graz]

Anybody who does anything decent there (including us) do so with a back five. So I'd go with:

Iversen
Castagne Souttar Evans Faes Kristiansen
Praet Ndidi Mendy Dewsbury-Hall
Iheanacho

You flood the middle of the pitch and sit deep. Iheanacho has to start as he's easily our best striker holding the ball up.

You wouldn't play Maddison? Who's Nacho holding the ball up for in that team?

I forgot about Evans though; swap him with Soyuncu in my team.

I do wonder what a new boss means for the likes of Soyuncu and Vestergaard though...

 

[Brown Nose]

You wouldn't play Maddison? Who's Nacho holding the ball up for in that team?

I forgot about Evans though; swap him with Soyuncu in my team.

I do wonder what a new boss means for the likes of Soyuncu and Vestergaard though...

Total waste of time starting Maddison or Tielemans. We need them fit for Wolves.

The breakaway would likely come from the full back position. No chance any forward isn't isolated because a second striker or Maddison would be mainly defending. So I'd just pick the best one for the situation.

 

[Volpone]

Not sure what kind of lineup Smith will go for here. Ricardo and Barnes being out limits his options somewhat...

I think he'll have to go for:

Iversen
Castagne, Soyuncu, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen
Ndidi, Youri
Maddison
Vardy, Nacho

I think a new manager is definitely going to give Vardy another go. If Soyuncu still doesn't fancy playing for a new manager then maybe Vestergaard gets a go? And if Youri isn't fit probably play Mendy there instead.

Seeing as Vardy and Cags studiously avoided acknowledging their new boss in the LCFC video but carried on eating their breakfast as if a cleaner was walking past, I doubt they'll be picked.

 

[Brown Nose]

Vardy could become the first City player to make 300 PL appearances in this game.

 

[Micky]

Well, here's my opinion... I think Dean Smith comes across fantastically well. It makes me realise how much bullshit i've listened to for so long.

I especially liked the comment he made to James Maddison about why he was receiving the ball so deep down the pitch (when he lost possession against Bournemouth).

 

[Micky]

Get through the game. Damage limitation. Don't risk any key players. Keep it at 0-0 for as long as possible. Hopefully get incredibly lucky and nick something.

 

[Orifice]

Confuse them. They don't like don't like that kind of thing.
Go 4-4-2.

Nupedia
Grottle - Thromp - Slagtak - Tankbag
Bomis - Laɣinsi - Pagbansay - Plooub
Frattpin - Wedge

Q: What's the worst that could happen?

A: Rodgers could be picking the team.

 

[Jeff]

Head-to-head

• Manchester City have won 10 of their last 12 Premier League games against Leicester City (L2), including the last four in a row.
• Leicester won four of their first five Premier League visits to City but they have since lost five of their last six games at the Etihad.
• Sixteen goals have been scored in the last two Premier League meetings at the Etihad Stadium. Leicester won 5-2 on 27 September 2020 and Manchester City triumphed 6-3 on Boxing Day 2021.

Manchester City

• Manchester City have won seven of their last eight Premier League games (D1), including the last five in a row.
• City have won nine consecutive matches in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 34-3.
• They have won 22 of their 24 home games in all competitions, scoring 83 goals. In the whole of last season, they won 22 of their 27 home matches, scoring 85 goals.
• The Citizens can equal the club record of scoring at least three goals in six successive games in all competitions, set from November to December 1898 and matched from October to November 2011.
• Erling Haaland has scored 45 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions. This is a record for most competitive goals by a player for a Premier League club in a single season.
• Haaland has netted in each of his last five Manchester City appearances in all competitions. He has scored 12 goals from 18 shots on target in those five games.
• Kevin De Bruyne has assisted seven goals for Haaland in the Premier League this season, the most by one City player for another in a single campaign.
• Riyad Mahrez has scored in Premier League home game against Leicester in each of the last three seasons.

Leicester City

• Leicester have taken only one point from their last eight Premier League fixtures, a 1-1 draw at Brentford on 18 March. It is the lowest tally of any side during this run.
• They have lost 19 of their 30 Premier League games this season. The Foxes have only lost more in 1994-95 (25) and 2001-02 (20) - they were relegated in both campaigns.
• Dean Smith has lost all six matches as a manager against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, by an aggregate score of 19-3.
• James Maddison could become just the third player to score in three consecutive Premier League visits to the Etihad, after Collins John (2004-05 to 2006-07) and Tim Cahill (2008-09 to 2010-11).
• Jamie Vardy is set to become the first Leicester player to make 300 Premier League appearances.
• Vardy has scored eight league goals against Guardiola's City - the most of any player.

 

[Willlow]

Youri won’t play for us again, can’t see him risking an injury when he’s out of contract in two months…

200/1 for 10-0… worth a quid

 

[H T B]

Stats make for grim reading , but as the saying goes , it’s a funny old game
Hopefully Pep won’t be laughing at the end and Arteta sends a nice bottle of red to Dean n co

 

[TommyK]

Nailed on away win.

 

[FOX Franks]

Presuming there’s no Tielemans and Barnes:

Iversen

Ricardo
Soyuncu
Souttar
Castagne

Mendy
Dewsbury-Hall
Praet

Maddison

Vardy
Iheanacho

Ricardo is injured.

 

[glyn]

feels odd today. Looking forward to seeing what Smith and co can do with this side and cautiously optimistic they can dig out some wins.

But on the flip side by 8pm we’ll be deeper in the mire, will have lost 8 from 9, and may have conceded a lot more goals.

Those two home games last week were the perfect occasion for a manager bounce. This game is the worst occasion.

 

[Micky]

Iversen
Souttar Faes Soyuncu
Castagne Tielemans Ndidi Kristiansen
Maddison
Iheanacho Vardy