Next to visit Eastlands is West Brom, although its unlikely they will escape relegation I am sure they will keep fighting to the end and will pose a threat to us tomorrow. If City don't win we could find ourselves in our own relegation battle.
This is quite a big game for us tomorrow, if we don't win we are going to have the threat of relegation hanging over us, never mind the fact that we will have no chance of making Europe. Honestly though I can't see us doing anything but winning, West Brom are not a terribly bad team but I think we are so so much better than them, if we don't win then it could really make our owners have a serious think about what action they will take come the end of the season.
Hughes has been blaming poor performances on fatigue lately and quite frankly the team wasn't playing well enough to be feeling tired, saying that after all the effort they put in against Hamburg it is a big possibility they might be feeling some strain now. I hope that is not the case though because we really need to stay in good form and make a really big push going into the last few games of the season, especially considering our hopes of 7Th place are seriously hanging by a thread.
It is going to be slightly interesting to see what team Hughes puts out tomorrow, I think we would all like to see two up front but I doubt Hughes will do that. It is beyond me why he won't play two up front but he seems to like having only one up top. If he is relying on Caicedo to be a target man that is not going to happen, he likes the ball at his feet and because Hughes uses him the way he does, Caicedo is receiving some undeserved flack from the fans. One player we are surely going to see tomorrow is Elano, he was different class against Hamburg and must have earned himself a second consecutive start, if he doesn't start the game that would be another strange decision. Someone I am hoping not to see play is Wayne Bridge he just isn't good enough, I didn't point it out on my post match after the Hamburg game because it would have been unfair, but what was he doing for their goal. As well as his obvious lack of ability he doesn't look interested most of the time and I think he should be dropped.
Instead of letting them gather dust why not bring the flags and bananas back to Eastlands tomorrow and try to make the atmosphere we created against Hamburg a regular thing.
City team news:
Bellamy is expected to miss out with a knee injury. Wright-Phillips may return from an ankle injury and De Jong and Bojinov should return to the squad after being ineligible for the Uefa Cup. Zabaleta may miss out after picking up a knock against Hamburg, Kompany may be rested after playing through injury on Thursday.
West Brom team news:
Shelton Martis is out with a groin injury but Gianni Zuiverloon seems to have recovered from a minor injury. Roman Bednar is hoping that he has shaken off a hamstring injury in time to make the squad.
Possible Man City line up: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, De Jong, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Elano, Robinho, Caicedo.
Possible West Brom line up: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Greening, Koren, Dorrans, Brunt, Fortune.
My prediction: Man City 3 - 0 West Brom.
Worth a bet: Elano and Robinho score in a 3 - 0 City win.
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There is no fear of relegation but is there a fear from the players of being shipped out in the summer ?
ReplyDeleteThe weather forecast is good.... Brazilian style warm and dry lets hope Hughes just sends them out to play off the cuff.
How we missed Sean on Thursday.
There is a genuine possibility of relegation don't fool yourself, although unlikely it is more than possible.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Times "Fink Tank" which is an analytical probability forecast our chances are 0.17% of going down with West Brom, Middlesborough and Newcastle Top of the Drops.
ReplyDeleteSo yes there is a probabilty but dont lose any sleep over it this season.....
just wanted to applaud you for sticking up for Caceido when a lot City fans seem to be slagging him off at the moment. Again a lot if seems to stem from the negative mindset of the boo boys at this club and quite frankly it needs to go.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the kid's a diamond who just need's polishing. His goal was pure class, as was his goal that was called back. Yes he missed from the six yard box but there were two defenders on the line and the flight of the ball was deflected by Rost and he had a split second to react.
What was also encouraging was his link play with Elano and Robinho. He has skill and power,takes up good positions and tries to impose himself even when things aren't going his way. He's 20 years old with very few starts under his belt. So his return of 6 goals in all competitions is not a bad return.
I do suspect Boj and Petrov will figure and I do think Kompany will be given a needed rest. While I respectively disagree with you about Bridge, I do wonder if McGivern will be given a run. i actually think Bridge is a decent player, he makes the right supporting runs upfield, particularly on the overlap when Robinho cuts inside, and he's much more comfortable on the ball in the defensive third than Garrido. i'd also argue that defensively he takes up the right positions. Whoever plays at left back is going to be exposed as both Robinho and Petrov aren't the best at tracking back. I think its part of the reason the system Hughes prefers uses 2 holding players as one tends to shift to help cover the left defensively.
I guess I'm one of the few who doesn't mind Hughes system but like Sven he seems to have no plan B if the system breaks down.
Like yourself can't agree more that if City fans unconditionally recreate the positive atmosphere we saw thursday it will help to lay the foundation for the winning mentality that is long overdue at City.
Don't just say you love City, show it!
Bridge is poor, Garrido played well against Fulham and was not taken advantage of nearly as much as Bridge does. I think we will buy a new left back in the summer, I will be surprised if we don't. Don't get me wrong though like you said I hate the boo boys, I will continue to support Bridge well he is in a blue shirt but sadly I don't think he is up to the task.
ReplyDeleteAs for Caicedo he is getting a hard time off a lot of City fans and unfairly so. There is some kind of perception that because he is big that he should be able to hold the ball up, well it doesn't work like that. Caicedo is very good with a ball at his feet and would benefit from a strike partner. If you want a Drogba you will have to buy a Drogba, someone who it comes naturally to when it comes to holding the ball up and bullying defenders, class of that standard can't be taught.
See you at the match, come on you blues!