Lech Poznań v MAN CITY – In-Fighting Latest at CITY!
3 Nov
Two weeks ago, it was Roberto Mancini and Carlos Tévez. Last week, Yaya Touré and James Milner. This week, Vincent Kompany and Emmanuel Adebayor. And now, the rumours on the grapevine are that Moonchester and Moonbeam want a divorce. Alas, I’m only kidding, but with the way the media are circling like vultures, it wouldn’t surprise me.
Focus your minds back to before the Arsenal game, just over a week ago. The Blues were second in the table, and according to the experts, the tide was turning in Manchester. Wayne Rooney was on the verge of leaving United, everything was fitting into place for City, and there was a new force to be reckoned with. But two games later, two defeats later, and we’re a club in crisis. Some visitors outside his house (combined with the lure of more money) convinced Rooney to stay, the City players are fighting each other and the manager should be sacked. Never has the phrase ‘a week is a long time in football’ been more appropriate!
Give it a week and the media will start hounding another manager. It will be his turn to be put under intense scrutiny, ravaged by the press for a poor result. And a week after that, the focus will move on to someone else. This week, it’s Mancini’s turn to be the subject of endless vitriol, but we need to show support for the Italian.
After the afore-mentioned defeat at the hands of Wolves, which itself followed another loss, albeit in different circumstances, to Arsenal, City have a fantastic chance to get back on track against Lech Poznań. We comfortably brushed them aside courtesy of an Adebayor hat-trick when they visited Manchester, and with a win in Poland, the Blues can secure their progress through to the next round of the competition.
With regards to team selection, my good friend Mancini is expected to rest a number of players before the West Brom game at the weekend and the much vaunted derby match the following Wednesday. Aleksandar Kolarov is pushing for a start, which would be his first since suffering injury against Spurs in the first match of the season. If he is not deemed fit enough, Wayne Bridge is in line for a recall, with Joleon Lescott also hoping to be given the call.
In midfield, the experienced Patrick Vieira will play, where he is likely to be partnered by SWP and Adam Johnson, the latter of whom will be hoping to show the manager he can have a major impact for ninety minutes and not just a brief spell as substitute. The volatile Italian Mario Balotelli missed part of training on Tuesday but will travel, although he may start on the bench.
This is the side that I would select, although Mancini is sure to view matters differently:
Given
Richards Boyata Lescott Bridge
SWP Zabaleta Vieira A. Johnson
Adebayor Jo
Subs: Hart, Kompany, Y. Touré, Barry, Milner, Silva, Balotelli
Here is a special treat for all my thousands of Polish readers, courtesy of the linguistic brilliance of my good friend Mike…
Cześć! Witajcie wmojej zapowiedzi trzeciego meczu Manchester City w Ligi Europy, w którym Niebiescy jada do Polski aby zmierzyc sie z Lechem Poznań. Obydwie strony sa obechie w czotówc e grupy takze mimo dobrej formy City, wynik tego meczu nie jest przesadzony.
Referee: Pieter Vink - The Dutchman is an experienced, if eccentric, referee, who hails from the wonderfully named town of Noordwijkerhout. He retired from refereeing international football this summer after openly criticising FIFA for choosing a referee from the Seychelles instead of him for the World Cup, but has been officiating at this level for a number of years.
Prediction: Lech Poznań 1 – 2 MAN CITY. Mancini is sure to rest a number of players and bring in his fringe men, all of whom will have something to prove, so if the likes of Johnson find their feet quickly, it promises to be an exciting game. City have the extra quality though and should secure their passage through to the next round. Goals to be scored by Emmanuel Adebayor, Adam Johnson and Artjoms Rudņevs.
In fighting-According to the rag top media and Talk Shite!!
They will be creaming up to us when we ACTUALLY DO WIN SOMETHING.
Funny how the media love and adore Spurs and dodgy Arry. Would love to sign Bale next summer-Now there is player worth every penny
Alex has a point, Bale is class.
Love the polish bit steven although I dont have a clue what it means.
I thought Moonchester and Moonbeam were brother and sister. Ah well, it’s not really vital to tonight if they are or aren’t.
Manu seems to be proving a bit of a nuisance in the changing room in recent weeks and, reading the Times yesterday, he said he will continue be so if it helps towards a City victory. Well, as it indeed helped towards a win against wol … wait, no it didn’t. Get on with being as crap as usual and then we won’t have to have this discussion again.
I can see us snatching a win having played very poorly throughout the evening. 1-0 seems an appropriate score.
I hope to see Boyata in start-up selection. After the unfortunate incident in Arsenal game, this would server as a great boost to restore his confidence.
We will crush y
;)
POLISH KKS LECH POZNAN FANS!!!!!
Where is the word ‘iota’??
‘Iota’ gets used in reviews, not previews, otherwise there would be a plethora of iotas!!
ManCity played really good game, but as we say in Poland: unused situations takes a revange
ManCity played really good game, but as we say in Poland: unused situations takes a revange
greetings and see you in next round