Arguably our toughest game of Mancini's reign takes place today, Everton have been playing better in recent weeks and will be hard to beat.
I have a lot of respect for Everton's ability, I think a lot of people have wrote them off but I still think they are a strong side despite their bad patch.
I still think that we should win this game as long as we don't become complacent, in recent times we have seen the team take it easy after a couple of wins and expect to win games, if we do that today all our good work of late will be wasted.
I have something a little different in my build up today, my good Evertonian friend Anthony or 'Chunky' thought it was a good idea for him to have a little say on today's game and I agree.
Anthony aka Chunky says.........
''I am looking forward to a good game of football today, I think both teams will be up for it and it should turn out to be a good contest. We are both in form and will both really want to win the game, but I see Everton coming out on top with a 3 - 0 win. City have the best striker in the League at the moment but I feel one man can't take down a team like ours that have a strong team ethic.''
Well if all goes to plan I will be seeing Chunky at the game today and on behalf of us all I will be sure to tell him how wrong he is!
Man City Team News:
Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and new signing Patrick Vieira (calf) are both said to be fit but may not be rushed into the team. Joleon Lescott (knee), Nedum Onuoha (calf) and Stephen Ireland (hamstring) are all expected to be missing, Wayne Bridge may feature on the bench. Kolo Toure is at the African Cup of Nations and Emmanuel Adebayor is still recovering from that terrible attack on the Togo team bus.
Everton Team News:
Sylvain Distin returned to training this week after coming back from a hamstring injury but is not expected to make his first team return today. Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Joseph Yobo are on African Cup of Nations duty and Lucas Neill looks set to play his last game for Everton before moving to Galatasaray.
Possible Man City Line Up: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Garrido, Petrov, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Benjani, Tevez.
Possible Everton Line Up: Howard, Heitinga, Neill, Baines, Neville, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar, Osman, Donovan, Saha.
My Prediction: Everton 1 - 3 Man City.
Worth A Bet: Nigel de Jong and Benjani score in a City win.
Posts
"Arguably our toughest game of Mancini's reign??"
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's much argument about it.
I'm hoping that Mancini will rest our best players today in prep for the match against Utd. Although it would be great to win today I think its a game we can afford to lose and still have high hopes of finishing in top four.
ReplyDeleteUtd match next week is a MUST WIN match.
I agree. Also playing a weak team against Everton will have this added bonus:
ReplyDeleteIf Everton win (which is likely whatever team we play)then it will reduce Moyes' satisfaction because he'll know he only beat our 2nd team.
I disagree with anon above.
ReplyDeleteI think Mancini should play his strongest team today.
The benefit that beating Everton will bring in terms of team confidence will more than make up for the team not being as fresh as it could be and stand us in good stead against Utd.
In order to beat Utd thhe team has to believe it can beat Utd otherwise we are wasting our time.
this is what i think the line up should be
ReplyDeletegiven
zabaleta
richards
kompany
garrido
petrov
de-jong
vieira
robinho
tevez
benjani
and then the carling cup hame
given
zabaleta
richards
kompany
garrido
swp
de-jong
barry
bellamy
santa cruz
tevez
then the fa cup game
given
zabaleta
boyota
kompany
slyvinho
weiss
vieira
barry
petrov
benjani
robinho
Do you always remove any comments which disagree with what you write?
ReplyDeleteNo, only the ones that are nasty and just not wanted!
ReplyDeleteIf you had a valid point to make on the team news then you are free to make it, but being nasty and swearing is not going to get you anywhere on here.
I think you should get rid of that poster we've got Robinho, I think he has been a problem for City from the first day he signed.His lack of interest is down right disgraceful...His display or Non display at Goodison did not go unnoticed..hence the reason the manager brought him off after being introduced to the game as a sub...what a brave man that brings off a sub! I think he is on his way out, Just as soon as one of the big Spanish Mug teams can find enough Cash to buy him...Maybe someone will loan him from City??? Enough said City were outplayed and outclassed by Everton Yesterday...2-0
ReplyDeletewe were completely outclassed by everton and the two nil scoreline was flattering. in my opinion robinho will never play again, nor will santa cruz who is a skiver, massive question marks over adebayor (will he ever return) toure, lescott and bridge. SWP is our best player and turned in a great cameo performance when he featured as secong half sub. am also concerned about de jong.. in my opinion he flatters to deceive and is to blame for a lot of the mistakes that have resulted in goals against. united is the biggest game .. must win but not if we turn in same performance agianst everton
ReplyDelete