Thetownend.com

Apart from the obvious that applies to all games, no injuries and no red cards, what are people’s expectations/hopes?

I hope the game goes ahead with fans for starters.

I hope we don’t get humiliated although seeing as it’s Man City I can’t think what that level of humiliation may be. Below 5, maybe.

I hope we can score.

Must be the best sort of game for Man City playing lower league opposition knowing we won’t attempt to kick lumps out of them or launch a succession of hopeful punts with elbows flying.

Pep will be able to say nice things, Garner about the experience and how we should be looking to emulate as best we can.

I think a lot of neutral fans have a bit of time for Man City - mainly by dint they aren’t Man United - although I can see the time approaching whereby the very British trait of hating anyone or anything that becomes too successful occurs.

I’m looking forward to it and dreading it in equal measure.

I've thought all along that this was an awful tie.

Nice for the club to get some money in, but think we are on a hiding to nothing on the pitch.

If we were a bit more solid at the back then I wouldn't worry as much. But we aren't and it could be a long evening if we concede early on.

Think we will lose heavily.

It’s a cracking tie, no pressure and the biggest factor of them all a club that is skint getting a massive cash injection.
Enjoy seeing a packed CG but we will get beat likely by 5.
Result immaterial, all about the money, no injuries and being able to bring in a couple of players.
Hindsight, hope the confidence doesn’t get hit if we do get thrashed.

These are the best team in the Country.

Looking for a blood and guts tie. No fucking diving or outrageous gamesmanship. All fans behaving inside and outside the ground. No condescending or patronising reporting by the media. Fair refereeing. Less than 0-4 score line. Praying to any deity that listens for a miracle. If citeh fans or players are being cunts, four inches of rain.

Every year I watch on with envy seeing lower League clubs pitched against the top sides as the 3rd round draw is made. This year it's our turn to play one of the best sides in the world. A packed CG and under lights - what's not to like? The result is immaterial. There are no expectations on us given the chasm between the sides.

Pep was moaning about travelling and tired players so will rest a few but then he can bring back Grealish and Foden from the naughty step.

Forecast is heavy rain on Thursday and cold on Friday so maybe the conditions might level up. Cold, wet night in Swindon anyone?

We've had some good games with City at the CG over the years. I remember us losing 4-3 in 87/88 with all their young talent that did Man U 5-1 a couple of years later.

Hoping there's a story with a club on the brink in the summer getting a cup shock but will probably be Pep and Co, cruise through and turn on the charm school like Jose did in 2013.

If we can keep them down to 5 or under that will be a good result IMO.

Great for the club coffers but there is no way we will progress any further, not at all.

Just going to enjoy the occassion.

Would like to think we give a good account of ourselves on and off the pitch. Try and play the game the right way and convince City to loan us a few of their upcoming players to help us up the leagues again.

Lock Raheem Sterling in a toilet until he agrees to join us on loan.

Anything less than a win is totally unacceptable

We are going to receive a tonking, but I’m determined to enjoy the game regardless of the score

It’s a cup game and anything can happen. No pressure on us and Man City have more important things to worry about in the league and Europe so will send out a second XI who of course still qualify players but will they be as up for it as us? Unlikely as it is we will win I actually think the game will be a lot closer than most believe, certainly don’t see a massive tonking, more like a comfortable 0-2 for City, be nice if we can score though. More importantly I hope we put on a show and that encourages the plastics to come on a more regular basis.

Tyreece Simpson vs Nathan Ake should be a decent battle of strength

I *HOPE* we can do the unthinkable because if you don't have hope, there's no point being a fan.

Other than that, if we can keep it to a respectable football score rather than a rugby score, play the kind of football that we're capable of (will be like an away game in some respects which will suit us) get the CG buzzing and get lots of media love afterwards, that will do for me.

Exactly that, heart says a close 2-0 or 3-1 defeat but head says more.

The gap in quality between the Premier (top league) sides and the bottom tier sides has never been bigger.

That said big upsets have happened before totally against the odds, Colchester 3-2 Leeds in 71, Hereford 2-1 Newcastle in 72, Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal in 92, Halifax 1-0 Man City in 80.

But these wins are getting rarer and rarer against the huge sides in the Premier league.

As you rightly say, without hope there is no point in being a football fan.

Some of us older fans remember the great cup exploits from the late 70's so why not this time!! Yes they're a superb team and arguably the best we've ever seen but anything is possible especially if they put a few younger inexperienced players out and there's probably not a single fan/pundit out there who will give us a chance of anything but a hammering so let's prove them wrong and beat them 5-4 on penalties. Now that would be Friday night entertainment for the nation!

the biggest step is to get a goal. reward that packed out county ground. Swindon 1 and Man City anything 5 or below would be acceptable.

they are probably the only team in the country where there isn't much hope. Iv said to friends that as crazy as it sounds we are too similar too city in our play and we aren't going to out Pep, Pep. A team like cheltenham with their aerial threats, size and set piece ability and you never know.

We can dream though and nothing wrong with that at all. Im sure we will see grealish play and isn't he best mates with mckirdy? should be fun

unfortunately we haven't got the players playing that will get physical and get in their faces to upset them.

I think we'll play out a 'nice' 4-0 loss or so where the commentators will applaud us for trying to play the right way, but the fans will go home knowing we got nowhere near a ' stuck in 1st gear' city

(Edit: just realised I've basically repeated the last post, oh well. Should have read back)

If we can get Pep to see that Garner promoting a passing style of play similar to City's then I don't care what the score is as long as they give us some decent loan signings for the rest of the season....

This is what I've been saying to people who ask about the game, probably partly to avoid getting ripped when the inevitable happens.


Ditto. We just need to make a brave fist of it and I'll be happy.

If we sit back they will hit us for double figures.
We can't defend against minnows, so just go for and go all out.
Nothing to lose.

If we can score one and also concede less than Burton did, then that's fine by me.

Or win 2-1. That also works.

Sent from my CLT-L09

If we can score more than them, we might just win.

Get it forward!!!

Just like we did yesterday, always expect the unexpected.

Can you name any players from this second 11 that you speak of? Considering they regularly stick 5 past Premier league sides anything under 10 is acceptable! But I'm hoping for a gutsy 1-2 or even a draw!

We're now top of their thread list and quite interesting to see variations of possible team selection and that 7% think we will win in a current poll!

https://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/swindon-town-a-fa-cup-3rd-round-fri-7th-jan-20-00-pre-match-thread.353621/

I'm warning you!  :D  ;)

Agree with the post though.

Would have been happier with this draw in the 5th round or beyond having made money from beating localish or higher division sides (who had help ensure capacity crowds) in the 3rd and 4th rounds.

Five days till Friday.  ;)

It’s going to be a long old week.

Game goes ahead with fans, we score and keep it under 5.

Looking good on your first hope

‘Further COVID restrictions in England are not expected this week thanks to people testing and getting their boosters, a cabinet minister has suggested.’

Mckirdy will become the next Peter Coyne and we'll lose 4-0 to Norwich in the 4th round

Similar build as Coyne

Mullets and Pony Tails :)

Hopefully they’ll start with youngsters/reserves and first half we give them a game, maybe even go one up, second half they’ll take us apart😂

Apparently, when they played Wycombe they started with 6 academy players

Lets hope they do that an we score in the 89th minute!

City: Steffen, Egan-Riley, Mbete, Burns, Wilson-Esbrand, Lavia, De Bruyne (c), Foden, Sterling, Mahrez, Torres

Subs: Carson, Dias, Jesus, Bernardo, Cancelo, Palmer, McAtee

That bench  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I know :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I'm finding it hard to get motivated for the City game, with Mansfield coming up next Tuesday.

Followed by Port Vale away!

1930 saw our record away defeat in the FAC 4th round.  10-1 to City.
 
The following year saw our record home defeat in the FAC 1st round, 0-5 v Luton Town.

I have no doubt City could surpass the Luton record.  Fortunately, it will not be any sort of priority for them.

However, even with them fielding a half doz. kids, I think we will need to play very well to prevent a 0-5 or worse.

Predicting 2-6.  AET would be a consolation.

Expecting to concede 5 or 6. Hopefully we can score 7.

Getting the first goal would be amazing no matter how many we went on to concede.

Hopefully Walker does something silly to even it up a bit. Always seems to have a brain fart in him.

I losing to City by 4 is a par score as I doubt they will risk any first team players.

Just don’t want town to lose by 7/8 incase it impacts confidence etc

I doubt they will play to many youngsters as they didn’t exactly pull up trees in the papa johns trophy.  I would expect 2 or 3 fringe players like Palmer but in the main most of the subs bench will play.  I would expect Grealish to be one of them as he hasn’t played for quite a period.  They have Chelsea the following week but won’t want to have had 2 weeks with no game time at all.

Main hope is

a) I don’t catch covid prior or our group
b) Boris doesn’t lose his bottle
c) have no injury /suspension issues
d) we play like the last 30 minutes yesterday
e) all enjoy it and don’t get on the players backs should we concede
f) a goal or two for the town.
g) no red cards for town players

I am still of the view that we can give them a good game as all the chopping and changing on the city side will make them less fluid. 

1-4 defeat I reckon with the last two city goals in the last 10 minutes as they bring on superstars to close it out.

Come on you reds

Wasn't Torres sold to Barcelona,and Cancelo injured in a burglary? #easierbytheday :)

I think you need to back through the post as you've missed abit out which may answer your question!

Under no illusion with this game.

if we can stop them from scoring less than 5 we've had a good night

Tbf, like ourselves, I believe our opponents will also be weakened by an international call up.