Southampton v MAN CITY – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
8 Feb
Micah Richards is still sidelined with injury but otherwise, with the Touré brothers returning from the African Cup of Nations and Vincent Kompany having seemingly recovered quicker than expected, Roberto Mancini has a fully fit squad to select from. Th availability of Kolo Touré means that Kompany’s immediate return may not be risked, with the Ivorian likely to replace either Joleon Lescott or Matija Nastasic, as Mancini seeks to return a right-foot and left-foot centre-back partnership.
Further forward, Yaya Touré can expect to replace Javi Garcia and although it’s nice to have the Ivorian back, Blues fans shouldn’t get too far ahead of themselves. Many seem to view Yaya as a god-like figure and the saviour for our season yet the stats show we actually earn more points on average with him in the side (2.27) than with him (2.06) and our results were better in the six games he missed than the previous six in which he featured.
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James Milner should keep his place in the side, meaning Samir Nasri will once again be named on the bench, whilst it is a battle between Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tévez to partner Sergio Aguero up front.
Here is the side Mancini could select:
Referee: Martin Atkinson – He has officiated two City matches in the Premier League this season, the most recent of which was the Manchester derby which we lost 3-2. He was consistent in that game, but consistently wrong. It was a really poor performance from Atkinson and it hoped he is better this time around.
Prediction: Southampton 1 – 2 MAN CITY – Despite not quite getting the results, the Saints have looked impressive under the guidance of their new manager, but our quality, especially if the game becomes open, should come to the fore. Goals to be scored by Rickie Lambert, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko.
William Hill have some excellent odds for this match: Sergio Aguero to score first and City to win 2-1 stands out at 31/1, whilst Yaya Touré to score the first goal is 8/1. Bet here now!
I’m going for a very convincing win, Sergio’s first hattrick this season 3-0!
How’s everyone feeling bout Balotelli departure? I know I’ll miss is antics, but am relieved the saga is over. Fingers crossed for falcao cavani!
Would rather see us buy bale and nani than those two. But yes, glad the media distraction that comes with Balotelli is gone
nani over falcao or cavani? u must be mad, hes inconsistant at best, whereas the other 2 have scored an unbelievable amount of goals in the last year
The only way I may consider Nani over Falco or Cavani is if he costs exactly 50% or less than what those two may cost both in transfer fee and salary! otherwise; no chance in Hell for Nani over those two.
I do not think Bale is a possibility as the cost is prohibitive and I do hope that our Jermey Helan next season can step it up to the plate (much like Bale that came to life out of nowhere) in that department. He has the physique and speed of Bale.
I’d love to see more of helan, only really seen him in that preseason tour where he impressed me.
And I’m not saying nani is better than those two, just that I’d rather see us address our speed and width needs, and pay less, than spend big on more strikers. Dzeko also scored bags of goals before he got to City..not saying he’s equivalent to those two, but striker is not a big need in my opinion.
I would opt for 4-2-3-1 with the following line up :
———————HART————–
Zabaleta——-Kolo Toure—-Nastasic/Lescott—–Clichy
————–Milner———Barry—————–
Nasri/Tevez——–Yaya Toure—————-Silva
——————–Augero—————————-
Sick and tired of seeing a slow and deep playing DM with Garcia or Yaya in it due to their lack of tracking. Push Yaya forward where he is the best and Milner and Barry should inject some mobility and pace in our DM
Kompany might be back but apart from that i wud probably choose the same side. Reckon it will be more like what VFAB has predicted though
Good to know that Captain fantastic may be back. As you said I have come to know that VFAB line-ups more often than not are the ones picked by Bobby. At times, I have had my own conspiracy theory that VFAB and Mancini are in cahoots over this!
Dzeko starts and Ill be helping my nan prune her roses instead of watch.
Im officially past my used by date on him.
Yeah love how VFAB gets the team right more often than not. Such a good read consistently. I think dzeko should be on the bench. Agueros movement and trickery could tear the sints to pieces as a front man rather than from the mids.
Come on city!!! And come on Everton!!
Why no Tevez??? Not even as a sub? Is he hurt, banned or in the club’s dog house?
Wow that game was embarrassing. Where were the city players we have signed over the last few years???
thanx and bye bye Mancini