Stoke (H) Preview

Wednesday night, game in hand because of the FA Cup and on TV. Difficult match, but I'm hopeful. Stoke were difficult at the beginning of the season and they will be difficult again, that's just how it is. They don't defend as well as they used to so I'm hopeful City can exploit their vulnerabilities at the back. Butland could be back for them so that is a huge boost. For City, Kompany could make the bench I suspect that 1 or 2 of the players may get a little rest too. I reckon Kolarov might drop to the bench and use him fresh on Saturday in the cup and return Otamendi and Stones (Stones may rest on Saturday for Vinnie if he is fit enough). Clichy in, Zaba on the bench with Vinnie. Caballero in net again (clean sheets being kept at the moment). Sagna at RB, Sane and Sterling out wide and Aguero up front. The attackers kind of just automatically get in the team, they are so good. The midfield is tricky. KDB should start, I think Silva may get a rest (straight swap for them) and Yaya and Fernandinho make up the midfield. If Fernandinho is on the bench, Silva will start. Yaya will definitely start. I don't think he will start in the CL match next Wednesday, he isn't good enough to defend a lead so I think City will play to defend properly and attack properly. That has to include our best players in our best positions to play. Yaya is not in that. He is great, but having a deep playing Yaya won't keep clean sheets or keep Monaco's scorers down. Fernandinho may. Yaya plays today and Saturday for me. Lucky that City are in a position to rotate their defence, keeper and midfield. Only players not resting are Sterling, Sane and Aguero. But they are so good. Do they need rest? Aguero may but he is just finding his feet. Iheanacho may be key, Navas and Nolito too. They need to up their game because we are getting to the thick end of the season with lots of big games. Everyone needs to step it up a gear. 

Stoke will defend and look to use some rest up front. Crouch is perfect for that and has a habit of scoring past City. He may well start. Arnoutavic and Shaquari are key to Stoke's play but I don't see them getting a result. I'm not sure I see them scoring today either. If they do, it'll come out wide and probably from a set piece or hoof. 2-0 City for me, Sterling and Aguero to score. Fingers crossed. 

Team Prediction - 

Caballero-Sagna-Stones-Otamendi-Kolarov-Fernandinho-Toure-De Bruyne-Sane-Sterling-Aguero.