Swap Naz and Jimmy around and play Aleks K instead of Clichy. The latter has done really well of late but AK had the Palace FB on toast whilst his wicked zipping balls across the box made all the difference in the attacking plays.

I know we have a game Sunday but it’s a homer against Burney; today we need the best possible side out, high tempo, no hostages to fortune.

After today Pellers can re-assess, consider starts for Lamps, Sagna, and Fernandinho on Sunday.

I’d like to see a couple of the lads get a run out even if only for 5-10 minutes if the game situation allows. Jose Angel Pozo needs to continue to be encouraged with some time in his best position, he’s not a No9, false or otherwise and Thierry Ambrose could easily replace Jesus Navas for a cameo and give a tiring left back nightmares.

I do get a bit P.O. with the criticism City get for not giving young players opportunities. How easily they forget that the best of our young players are playing week in, week out in the top divisions in Holland(Rekik- now a full cap Holland player)and France(Lopes), instead of getting an occasional afternoon on the bench with the possibility of cameo minutes.

Jose Pozo was not considered ready to step up to the rigours of regular play at that level of intensity hence he stayed at the club abd got lucky when injuries struck all of the first team strikers, and Thierry Ambrose is a boy who has emerged impressively this season but, nevertheless, is still a boy, whilst Jason Denayer is impressing at Celtic.

There is a lot of talent in the Academy these days, many of the lads will have excellent careers, and the quality now is such that some will surely step up to our first team level. Long term projects are exactly that, long term – but most journo’s would rather write the story they want to write, using their own bigotted opinions, rather than providing balance by actually researching the facts?

Alph