[Tiber]

Ew I just got excited thinking this was our chance to go 3 points ahead in the league. Then remembered its just the league cup.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Let's rest some players! I don't want to see a full strength line up

They would have had 5 day’s to rest in comparison to City who played on the Sunday. We can rest our 1st team players for the Watford cup game this Saturday.

 

[always_hoping]

I'd love to see a very much changed lineup with the likes of Pogba, Maguire, Rashford and Bruno getting a rest.

You'll have to wait for the Watford game for those players to be likely rested.

 

[PoTMS]

The FA Cup has now been relegated to the same level of the Carabao Cup. So losing tomorrow will hurt more considering we are one step away from Wembley compared to losing to Watford. Neither will hurt too much though if we end up winning twice next week.

 

[Withnail]

I'd love to see a very much changed lineup with the likes of Pogba, Maguire, Rashford and Bruno getting a rest.

Against City in a semi-final... I hope not

 

[Havak]

Interesting to see different fans opinions on this game, and the season in general. Obviously, we are going to play very close to full strength against City and I don't agree with the posters saying we shouldn't. Two wins for a trophy, Ole is going to take that chance. Ole is going to be judged on winning a trophy this season after three semi finals. He has already said previously that the goal is to go one better (and then you have to win it when you're there).

This is why I think it will effect future line-ups. If we lose to City, he has to take slightly less of a risk in the FA Cup. Of course, we should be able to beat Watford with an entirely rotated side, but how often have we done that that over the years and come unstuck? If City knock us out, Ole will feel he has to take the FA Cup a bit more seriously and would start a few more of the first XI (eg. I honestly think if City beat us, Maguire will play against Watford, maybe Rashford and Pogba too, but if we beat City, I think they'll all be rested. Bruno to be rested regardless IMO but we can see how wrong I am at the weekend). If the worst were to happen and we lost to both City and Watford, then I reckon Ole takes the Europa League very seriously too.

Last season I was all-in for us to try and win the Europa League and I have seen posters want this more than the FA Cup / League Cup. I want us to rotate heavily in the Europa League and quite a bit in the FA Cup too really. We are in a title race at the moment and I think the Europa League would be by far the biggest distraction. We won't win the Premier League and the Europa League IMO, and the only reason to go for the latter as much is if you are in a tough fight for Top 4 in the League (and when your squad has gotten you to the final few rounds). I get the feeling that if Ole was still feeling pressured to reach a final, was fighting hard to win the Premier League and Europa League, we'd end up with neither.

Offer me the Premier League title right now and I'll take it, as would everyone. I think unless we go out of both domestic cups and suddenly lose another 3 League games by mid-February, the Europa League is a dead rubber for us. It will take a pretty big drop off for us to not finish at least 4th now.

Tl;dr full strength vs City. Go for this trophy and put almost all our eggs in the Premier League title basket.

 

[VidaRed]

Feck i thought the game was tonight

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Feck i thought the game was tonight

Don't tell me, you rushed home from work especially

 

[VidaRed]

Don't tell me, you rushed home from work especially

I have 102 fever, i dragged my ass out of bed.

 

[Andycoleno9]

All that City crying about squad full of covid and they will miss how many? 4 players?

 

[NoPace]

Would anyone play Bruno over the two cup games (city&watford)?

I’m inclined to say rest him for the Burnley game. We need him for the league

Burnley is a league game.

I could see bringing Bruno off the bench after an hour against City. Play Pogba as a 10 ahead of Fred or VDB and McTominay and then the front 3 is 3 of Rashford/Martial/Greenwood/James/VDB.

Depends on a bunch of factors, but if it's gonna be a cagey affair for half an hour anyways (and I wouldn't necessarily bet on that considering Pep hasn't seen that go well and they look a bit stronger lately) and extra time being about a 20-25% chance looking at betting odds.

 

[freddie the red]

"De Gea
De Bruyne
De rby"

Cringeworthy indeed but eminently more agreeable than his Aguerohhhhhhhhh moment

 

[Charlie Foley]

Burnley is a league game.

I could see bringing Bruno off the bench after an hour against City. Play Pogba as a 10 ahead of Fred or VDB and McTominay and then the front 3 is 3 of Rashford/Martial/Greenwood/James/VDB.

Depends on a bunch of factors, but if it's gonna be a cagey affair for half an hour anyways (and I wouldn't necessarily bet on that considering Pep hasn't seen that go well and they look a bit stronger lately) and extra time being about a 20-25% chance looking at betting odds.

He said rest him for the Burnley game

 

[JJ12]

Bookies have us big underdogs tomorrow - slightly surprised.

I think we’ll win in a tight, boring game.

 

[wolvored]

Ole will play his strongest side as he keep saying its time to bring in trophies and were a step away from a final. We will win this I think. Apparently they havent scored against us for 4 games (media), but I dont know whether to believe that as they knocked us out last year. 3-1 Utd

 

[always_hoping]

Ole will play his strongest side as he keep saying its time to bring in trophies and were a step away from a final. We will win this I think. Apparently they havent scored against us for 4 games (media), but I dont know whether to believe that as they knocked us out last year. 3-1 Utd

3 games it is. 26 October 2016 since Man City was knocked out of the league cup. That was against Man United with United going on to win the league cup, hopefully history repeats itself.

 

[DRJosh]

They've been playing decent in the last couple of weeks BUT we have Ole and his luck.
I'm confident, not in our team's ability to score goals, or Ole's ability to set us up to win or to defend against MCFC's attackers, but I am very confident that if necessary, we'll get a penalty that isn't a penalty if that is what is required to get a draw or win.
We should've drawn the Villa match, but Ole and his luck ensured we got the win.

If his luck can somehow get us a title win, then I'm all for it.

I honestly can't see how MCFC can win this match for reasons stated above.

Ole's 'luck' seems to run out at semi-finals.

 

[lysglimt]

De Bruyne
De Gea
Derby

Best ever quote from Martin Tyler...

Debatable

 

[croadyman]

3 games it is. 26 October 2016 since Man City was knocked out of the league cup. That was against Man United with United going on to win the league cup, hopefully history repeats itself.

I thought we were the last team to beat them in this competition and turns out I was right, interesting to see that City are going to be wearing the old school kit tomorrow for Colin Bell. Lets just hope it doesn't end the same way the last time they wore that kind of kit at Old Trafford.

 

[Dante]

My opinion on the league cup this season is that it would be nice to win, but I wouldn't be gutted if we lose. Same goes for the FA Cup. For me, at least, the game against Burnley will be miles bigger. The league is all important this time around.

Which is a long way of saying I'll be watching this game with almost zero tension. I hope Ole rotates the squad.

 

[Port Vale Devil]

Boo fecking hoo

 

[red_de_pologne]

My opinion on the league cup this season is that it would be nice to win, but I wouldn't be gutted if we lose. Same goes for the FA Cup. For me, at least, the game against Burnley will be miles bigger. The league is all important this time around.

Which is a long way of saying I'll be watching this game with almost zero tension. I hope Ole rotates the squad.

Sure, but it would be nice to have a cup final date nicely tucked away for April. We will play a strong team, considering we have Watford next and had 5 days of rest already. Best not to fall out of match rhythm too much.

 

[crossy1686]

Boo fecking hoo

Bit soon to be making excuses, isn't it?

 

[SER19]

Bit soon to be making excuses, isn't it?

They just played a near full strength team at Chelsea. Why are managers lying about this stuff

 

[SER19]

My opinion on the league cup this season is that it would be nice to win, but I wouldn't be gutted if we lose. Same goes for the FA Cup. For me, at least, the game against Burnley will be miles bigger. The league is all important this time around.

Which is a long way of saying I'll be watching this game with almost zero tension. I hope Ole rotates the squad.

I agree. But think once you're at the semi final stage you may as well go for it. Beating City to reach final would be good confidence boost

 

[SuperiorXI]

They just played a near full strength team at Chelsea. Why are managers lying about this stuff

And they battered them as well, coming off a nice mini rest.

There's no excuses for us or City to be honest.

 

[Port Vale Devil]

Bit soon to be making excuses, isn't it?

Yeah Pep has had such an advantage over the last few years and could probably have assembled 2 teams to finish in the top 4 and now a few injuries and some self inflicted COVID issues he has his violin out.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

I think this game is more important than people seem to be realising. One, this is Manchester City, losing to your rivals is never going to go down well. Two, Ole has lost three semi-finals, this is a massive game in changing the narrative that Ole can push us that final step into winning trophies. It's a second rate competition these days but I think it would be huge if we win it.

On tonight, I think we will be slight favourites but its obviously a tough game. I'm hoping we play a slightly stronger team than them and get the job done.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Go full strength. It's a semi final against Man City; no need to rotate for this when we can do at the weekend.

 

[Shane88]

Go full strength. It's a semi final against Man City; no need to rotate for this when we can do at the weekend.

This, go all out.

4 years since we won a fecking trophy.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I think all of Manchester is United today in the understanding that, whoever wins, we can’t let Mou win the league cup. To hear him talk up a tin pot cup for the remainder of the season (he’ll probably say it was his new greatest achievement) and then see people on here trying to convince others it’s a major honour is just going to be too much.

 

[Kaos]

I think all of Manchester is United today in the understanding that, whoever wins, we can’t let Mou win the league cup. To hear him talk up a tin pot cup for the remainder of the season (he’ll probably say it was his new greatest achievement) and then see people on here trying to convince others it’s a major honour is just going to be too much.

Completely agree. Let City have the Micky Mouse cup if it spares us from Mourinho's obnoxious boasting and autofellation.

Though ideally we just beat them both

 

[Berbasbullet]

Go full strength. It's a semi final against Man City; no need to rotate for this when we can do at the weekend.

This all day! Rest in the FA cup, it’s a derby semi final, let’s stuff them.

 

[klsv]

Play our best players. Winning the domestic treble will be Ole's first real test.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

Full strength. Attack them, kick them off the park if required. It's a win at all costs game.

 

[GMoore23]

Full strength and let's batter em. I want to beat Jose in the Final.
De Gea
Bissaka - Bailly - Maguire - Shaw
Fred - Matic - Pogba
Bruno
Rashford - Martial

 

[Ajr]

I really really want for a win tonight, but I am also extremely nervous about this game

 

[Withnail]

Go full strength. It's a semi final against Man City; no need to rotate for this when we can do at the weekend.

Same team as last game.

Next two are Watford and Burnley so timing is great.

 

[crossy1686]

This is what we live for, semi finals, chasing down top of the league. We've waited almost 8 years for this. Go full strength and if we get beat by the better team then we know where we have to improve, same for the weekend and onwards. No point in getting to this point to play weakened sides because we want to put all our eggs in the league basket.

We will drop points between now and the end of the season, the question is how much will our rivals drop?

 

[hellhunter]