QPR v MAN CITY: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
4 Nov
After the joy of recording a superb Champions League victory, it’s a return to the rigours of the Premier League and a trip to face QPR. Promoted last season, the Londoners have adapted fairly well to the top flight, currently positioned in mid table. We head into this game top of the pile in scintillating form, but we must avoid over confidence.
An away game after a midweek Champions League fixture is not ideal but it’s something we are used to and we’ll have to be fully focused on this game. QPR are unbeaten in their past four home matches and Saturday will see a couple of familiar faces line up against the Blues, namely Joey Barton and Shaun Wright Phillips. Likely to get vastly differing receptions from the travelling City fans, both players will be out to cause us problems and they will surely be the dangermen for the hosts.
As for City, Roberto Mancini has already stated he’ll make a number of changes from the Villarreal game in order to retain freshness. Captain Vincent Kompany is suspended, so Stefan Savic and Joleon Lescott are likely to be the centre-backs, with Micah Richards and Aleks Kolarov possibly either side. Gareth Barry will return after sitting out the tie in Spain, as will Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero. Having picked up a back injury in that game, David Silva is not 100% fit and I’d imagine he will be on the bench.
Here is the side Mancini could select:
As I touched on above, we’ll have to be aware of the threat of SWP, who departed the Blues on good terms but will hope to be a thorn in our side. He has been playing on the left of midfield for QPR recently, but you can’t help but feel he’d be better served on the right. Alejandro Faurlin has impressed so far this season in the centre of midfield with his cultured passing ability, whilst Jay Bothroyd up front is an England international. They’re without a number of key players, most notably the injured Shaun Derry, and his experience will be missed.
Referee: Martin Atkinson – Officiated in our home league victory over Wigan, where he handed out no bookings in what was an easy game to referee.
Prediction: QPR 1 – 3 MAN CITY – I think it will be a very open affair with both sides creating umpteen chances, but I’d back our extra quality. Goals to be scored by Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Jay Bothroyd.
I am not sure if Kolarov can cope with SWP’s pace if he is played as right winger. I prefer Clichy in that case. Yaya does really look good in his advanced role. So Mancini could be tempted to pair DeJong and Barry. Then push Yaya foward,Nasri to the right, Aguero/Adam to the left and Baloteli on the bench.
y not milner?????
It has nothing to do with him as player as he is an outstanding player. I thought he may rest and used as sub if Yaya runs out of gas in second half, which is likely to happen.
Mancini won’t start all Dzeko Aguero and Balotelli I can see Balotelli starting up front and the 3 Attacking mids of Aguero Milner Nasri
Dzeko to start on the bench other then that pretty spot on
Team will more likely be
…………..Hart……………
Richards..Savic..Lescott..Kolarov
…….De Jong…Barry………..
…Johnson…Yaya….Aguero……
………….Dzeko……………
A challenge to be risen to without Silva. Drop Barry and Nasri from your line up and put in Milner and De Jong and i would feel a lot better.
I will be totally amazed if James Milner doesn’t start he is on absolute fire at the moment.
Must not get over-confident; this is a tricky match and unless injured David Silva must start. With Kompany out suspended we need our strongest full-backs in Richards & Clichy.
Hart
Richards Savic Lescott Clichy
Milner Toure Barry (c)
Silva
Ageuro Balotelli
…………..hart………..
richards…savic…lescott….kolarov
……..yaya……..barry……….
milner……………………..nasri
…………aguero……………..
………………..dzeko………..
Hart
Richards Savic Lescott Clichy
De Jong Barry
Aguero Yaya Silva / Nasri
Dzeko
Subs: Pantillmon, Kolarov, Zaba, Milner, Balotelli, Johnson, Nasri / Hargreaves