MAN CITY v Fulham: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
3 Feb
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Following on from the disappointment of Tuesday night and defeat to Everton, a home fixture against Fulham could be the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways. An outstanding record at the Etihad Stadium this season, eleven wins out of eleven in Premier League games, should fill us with confidence, and with just goal difference separating us from Manchester United at the top of the table, a victory is imperative.
However, acquiring three points against a side managed by Martin Jol is something we have found impossible since he arrived in England. Six victories with Spurs and a point with Fulham have seen Jol achieve an unbeaten record against the Blues but with Fulham having only won one of their away games this campaign, we ought to head into the match full of self-belief.
With regards to team selection, Vincent Kompany has struggled in training for the past couple of days with a knee injury sustained against Everton and he is touch and go. If our captain is not deemed fit enough to start, then either Micah Richards or Stefan Savic will partner Joleon Lescott, with Pablo Zabaleta a possible candidate at rightback.
New signing David Pizarro could start in central midfield, though I’d expect him to be named on the bench, but Mario Balotelli is most definitely out through suspension. Edin Dzeko’s recent form has been poor and the Bosnian could be dropped to the bench, with Nigel De Jong possibly stepping into the side.
Here is the team Mancini could select:
Fulham held us to a 2-2 draw earlier this season at Craven Cottage and have impressed at times during this campaign with their attacking prowess. Bryan Ruiz looks like a hugely talented player, someone who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet but he is even more one-footed than Aleks Kolarov or Wayne Bridge. Steve Sidwell is out injured, but Moussa Dembele, a good friend and international teammate of Vincent Kompany, should be fit to start. Fortunately for us, Bobby Zamora was sold to QPR on transfer deadline day so his power and physical threat won’t be able to cause us problems tomorrow.
Referee: Mike Dean – Has officiated two City games in the Premier League so far and we have been victorious in both, scoring seven goals in the process. As I often say about Dean, he has a penchant for penalties so don’t be surprised to see him point to the spot.
Prediction: MAN CITY 2 – 1 Fulham – It could be quite nervy at times, but our extra quality should show. Goals to be scored by Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Clint Dempsey.
u expect dzeko to b benched yet hes in ur starting 11?
No, I said he ‘could’ be dropped.
Dzeko was benched when he was roaring and he never recovered. Even if he finds his form, once Super Mario’s ban in over, Dzeko will be benched. Not that I have anything against Mario, I really like the guy. But I believe it is almost impossible to compete with Mancini’s pet esp when he is good. Either way, Dzeko is doomed [in-form or out-of-form]
Dzecko is brutal and i have said this for a while now and after recent events he is gong down as a flop with me, can’t wait for Mario to return too, but we know who we really need and that’s Tevez. Come on Mancini make it happen, we all know Carlos is not a saint but he s the kind of player that we would want for a title run in.
Dzeko ruines the game hes too slow but strong.after the everton match i lost confident to predict.we have to win this game. ( Hart. Richard. Lescott. Kompany. Clichy. De jong. Barry. Pizzaro. Nasri. Silva. Aguero. score: 3-2
hate macini sometime he should play tevez along side with aguero before he leaves in the summer transfer
Dzeko won’t start, neither will de Jong.
Swap those two for Johnson and Barry.
It’s simple.. Dzeko hasn’t been at his best because in the past 2 months our build up play has not been as fluent and passing not as precise, we have played too narrow and in regards to Nasri in particular (playing well but seems afraid to play that final ball forward) we are far too slow on the counter. We are giving teams too much time to get back and from this we are scoring less, shooting from unlikely angles and finding teams difficult to break down. Once this changes Dzeko will recapture the form of early in the season.
Milner, advanced of nasri, really?
That was the formation at Everton and Nasri impressed, so I can see the same happening again.