MAN CITY v Sunderland – THE PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
2 Apr
And back to the battle we go. Hopefully refreshed after an international break, Man City return to Premier League action with a home match against a mercurial Sunderland side. We have eight domestic matches remaining, a total of 24 points to play for and it is games like this one, at home to a side we ought to beat, where we must pick up maximum points. It is time for our players to produce the goods and to justify the faith we have in them.
But we write off Sunderland at our peril. They are a dangerous side to face, a side who, on their day, are capable of defeating anyone, as proved by their 3-0 demolition of Chelsea. With players such as Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck, a pair of hugely talented and entertaining strikers, they can cause us problems, although they have struggled recently to find the net. Only seven different players have scored for the Black Cats in the league this season, the worst record in the division, whilst they have lost five of their past six matches.
With regards to our teamnews, Roberto Mancini is facing a defensive crisis. With Kolo Touré suspended indefinitely, the manager won’t have been overly pleased to see that Micah Richards and Jérome Boateng picked up injuries on international duty. The former is touch and go for the FA Cup semi-final, whilst the German can expect to be out for the season.
Pablo Zabaleta will not be available for this game, having returned to Argentina to be at his father’s side, after he suffered serious injuries in a car crash. Zabaleta was eager to return to Manchester but after his dad experienced serious problems with his breathing following an operation, he decided, rightly, to remain by his side. All our thoughts are with Pablo and his family at this moment.
Here is the side I expect Mancini to select:
As mentioned above, Sunderland are capable of producing some spectacular displays, with the likes of Gyan, Welbeck and Richardson leading their forward forays. Joleon Lescott is all too aware of the Ghanaiain’s threat, having struggled to cope with Gyan’s movement in England’s friendly last week, but with the rock that is Vincent Kompany alongisde him, he should be better off on Sunday.
Referee: Howard Webb – On the basis of being awarded the job of officiating the Champions League final and the World Cup final last year, he is the best referee in the world. So he should be able to cope with City v Sunderland. Let’s hope he doesn’t get caught up in a Webb of controversy!
Prediction: MAN CITY 2 – 1 Sunderland – I’d expect us to run out victors from this game, confident as I am that the international break has done us the world of good. But it may be nervy. Goals to be scored by Carlos Tévez, Mario Balotelli and Danny Welbeck.
With recent Lescott’s goofs in England VS Gana to give a penalty away [which was not called by referee much like Chelsea's game] and his very poor defending to let Gyan to score an equalize [much like Ramiries], Sunderland could not have had it any better esp with Kolarov as our left back which would be the icing on the cake. What is even worse is that we have no alternatives with current injuries.
Though Yaya is a player I like, I must admint his performace has been way below par for sometime. I think having Milner in his place is a better option at this moment knowing that Milner’s favorite position is CM. I believe it is now time on the bench for Yaya not to get starting 11 for granted.
With all said, I really do hope whole-heartedly that everyone including Lescott and Kolarov play a perfect game to win this match considering Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal drew their games. This is a golden opportunity on a silver plate for City.
With all around us dropping points, today’s game is a chance we should grab with both hands. Sunderland have not been in good form of late and neither have we really.
But with us I really do feel it was a case of just too many games from the christmas period onwards. We’ve now had a break and we should be able to kick on and have a
positive end to the season starting today. The title looks like its going to Trafford but I really believe second or third is achievable due to Arsenal indifference and Chelsea’s involvement with the Champions League. But that will be shot down if we fail to beat Sunderland today, but I do believe we will. 3-1 to City.
cant help but think that were gonna get beat gyan wil b beaming wiv confidence after tearing jolean apart midweek hopefully he wil b lookin for a challenge this week and wil try and attack on the right of r defence im goin 4 3-2 goals by Dzeko and Tevez 4 us and Gyan x2 and Muntari 4 them
Yaya was looking knackered before the international break. I can see him being good again today.
I can also imagine Adam Johnson being thrown on against his former club at some point