Pickford ruled out of cup quarter-final

And hey Neil, remember the Bernarder! 6-5 Blues!!!

Let's all enter fantasy land and imagine a match-winning performance from Joao Virginia and a 95th-minute winner from Onyango.

It happens (but, unfortunately, never for us).

With that having been said, I remember our old third choice, Stekelenburg having a MotM performance against Man City a few years back. So, you never know.

God help us with our massive squad...

But I recall Davies and Lookman thrashing them, also Baines stunning them, and Fellaini making a monkey out of Bellamy.

We have a quarter-final to look forward to. Yes, look forward too. If we win that, we are one step away from the final. Even if Man Utd and Chelsea are better than us, we battled back against one and beat the other this season.

Also, Tottenham and Man Utd were far better teams than us in 1995. We didn't let that stop us thinking what's the point in winning the quarter-final as we will face Tottenham and then United? Cup football is there for the taking.

7th in the league with a game in hand and in the quarter finals. Much better place than this point last season.

Plenty already got us knocked out before a ball is kicked. Seriously, I don't know why we bother sometimes. I take it anyone who's got us knocked out four days before the game won't be watching it.

This isn't just any old Cup. This is the FA Cup, the Cup of upsets, giantkillers, of Yeovil, of Hereford, whose winner graced MotD for many a season, of Sunderland and Bob Stokoe, of being 2-0 down and winning 3-2.

A cup second only to the World Cup and some people being on the pitch... no matter what UEFA, the Champions League and the Europa League might try to tell you.

It CAN be don!/p>

Oops De Bruyne just blew that logic out the window. Never mind... it's 11 against 11 and only changes when both teams bring on substitutes and then it seems City sneak an extra player on when no one notices

Back to Anglo Scouse Scottish here, like Carlo says 'the game of football is a simple game, there is no need to re-invent it ' and each game in the Premier League, as has been proved, can throw up some totally unexpected results. Now the FA Cup being the FA Cup, can throw up even more surprises, so let's hope this game is one of those!

Best to stay positive as negativity does no good. Many moons ago, when I coached juniors in Staffordshire, we somehow got to the final, I think it was against Audley. They had won every game of the season and were more than odds-on favourites!!! We had a "wonder boy" player who scored most of our goals but he didn't turn up for the game and so we played them with 10 men. Miraculously, we won 1 - 0 with the goal coming from a corner and in off the shoulder of one of our midfielders.

So... anything can happen. Our lads just played their hearts out and never gave in.

Okay, big difference from the Premier League but it's a great true story!

Controlled applied hunger, please.

Still, as we're all(?) being positive, it's warm rain... if you call 20 C 'warm'; it actually feels bloody cold.

I don't suppose lightning will strike twice but Man Utd showed that they are human beings, so we must hope. This season has been a roller-coaster of winning sprees and losing sprees, and lots of unpredictability, so let's see!

1973, Sunderland toppled Revie's mighty Leeds at Wembley, and for the babies, Wigan did for Man City.

I don't see Leeds in the Quarter-Final draw after their easy trip own south. Several teams bigger than Bournemouth appear to be missing from the Quarter-Finals. This is cup football. Believe and enjoy the ride. When the final whistle goes, we may be celebrating, we may not. But until then, COYB

Even without Pickford in the team, it's cup football and miracles do happen, even for plucky little Everton.

So let the naysayers sharpen their knives, us happyclappers will dream of cup glory despite us getting thrashed (probably). Do it for Pickers, lads.

We'll miss Jordan in this one, the last few games he's been the best keeper in the prem.

P.S.
Why do keepers have to be perfect or fill you with absolute confidence every game? Players like DCL are allowed to miss easy chances, they're shouted at, but all is forgotten when they score that next goal

There seems to be a lot less forgiving for keepers, more venting and ill will is stored up along with mistakes, keepers are every bit as human as strikers.

Twenty is perfect, I'd be going for a shower in the back garden in that heat, but that's the biggest shame about Saturday night, because Goodison, would have been scorching with a crowd, but Everton can still beat City, if we can just get DCL, on Stones, (even if he's been the league's best player imo this season's) and get a few decent deliveries into the box!🤞

Colin @ 33, you left Iwobi out mate. :-)

Dave & Robert, Dark Shag (?) I thought you may have been talking about the Grafton, after midnight on a Friday Night!

Our midfield simply has to turn up for this game and not give them acres of space, easier said than done.

Just for pragmatic reasons (mental health) I feel that we "happy clappers" are fortunate. The Naysayers have to live all week with the fear and dread of inevitable failure. Then if we do lose, they relive it in actuality a second time. If we win, they immediately turn their attention to the inevitable coming disappoint of the "false dawn." So they never actually get to be happy. It's kind of sad really. They should at least designate one day a week to feign happiness and let themselves dream "what if things don't turn out badly/"

It's a pity that "JPS"( Jordan Pickford = Special), can't play, so, it might end up that some of our "Cadets' other than "Virginia" will have to come of the bench to help.

If so, let's hope they have been on the "Weights" to build up their strength.

If we win, it will be "Perfectos" and we might celebrate with some "Sobranie Cocktails" but it might also require us to pray to "St Bruno" and "St Julien" to get us over the line so that Carlo can "Escort" us to join the "Clan" in the next round.

The way City started slow against Saints and had a game yesterday has me believing we have a Vantage. I'm looking for Ciggy to make a Kool assist to set up a RiTarleyton for a Gauloiseszo.

We may need a Black Cat and be on our Guards

With all that in mind I logically predict we will beat Manchester City (nb full title) 2-0. I say that from the bottom of my heart, although there may those of little faith that think such a valiant prediction is coming from the heart of my bottom. Time alone will tell.

With all that in mind I logically predict we will beat Manchester City (nb full title) 2-0. I say that from the bottom of my heart, although there may those of little faith that think such a valiant prediction is coming from the heart of my bottom. Time alone will tell.

Be a nice change and would go some way to showing we're not just fair weather nancies.

But it will be interesting to see how Virginia is as a keeper in the top tier. Was not impressed last game ( his first?) against Burnley, but I guess he was nervous.

Who will then be our reserve?

The lad was obviously not expecting JP to get injured or even subbed, so was taken by surprise and understandably nervous. Personally I thought he did okay, given the circumstances, and he certainly didn't concede any.

If Wimbledon can beat Liverpool and Sunderland can beat Leeds then we can beat City! COYB

I am actually looking forward to seeing more of him (Virginia). But there was an incident where he was leaving his place and Burnley was unlucky not to get a goal. But hey, all keepers make small or bigger mistakes, just look at De Gea. Virginia has my full support!

The real problem with our team is not the keeper or the defense, its our lack of moving forward from midfield, speed and creativity.

We will really miss Doucouré, as he better our midfield by miles.

I also think you are underestimating the grit of Carlo's Bunch. They've achieved enough with tactical moves that they are willing to stick to a plan. Carlo has made it a premier expectation that he will have a plan. All we need is to survive the initial wave of possession or get some second balls to be in this. And if that doesn't get them the cig, gun or fish puns will!!! UTFT!!!!!

Whoever; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Godfrey; Richarlison, Davies, Allan, Digne; Sigurdsson and Calvert-Lewin.

It's true, Dale, I wasn't optimistic going to Anfield, but Man City are too way ahead of Liverpool and at home we've had serious trouble lately.

This team could give us a good surprise; I hope Carlo chooses it!

Id play ten defenders put them all on the goal line and pray for penalties!

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=turn%20on%2C%20tune%20in%2C%20drop%20out

If our defence can protect him, hopefully with Coleman in at right-back, we need our midfield to have the game of their lives, not allow acres of space, and try to get the ball forward for once, to turn Man City around.

Davies has got to start this game.

Virginia
Coleman Mina Keane Digne
Davies Godfrey Allan
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Come on, you Blues, we can do this! But everyone will need to have the game of their lives. Especially Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have to be clinical in front of goal. We have not seen a worldly goal yet this season. Sigurdsson from the edge of the box, anyone?

Substitutes bench: Tyrer, Holgate, Nkounkou, Gomes, Bernard, Iwobi, King.

I like your team. Just don't put Iwobi anywhere near the squad. Bring Gomes off the bench. He always seems to play better. Mindset like the Dogs of War Spurs semi-final.