Chelsea v MAN CITY: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
11 Dec
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Following the our exit from the Champions League at the group stage, this trip to Stamford Bridge will prove to be a stern test of our credentials. Although we defeated Bayern Munich on Wednesday, there was a tinge of disappointment at leaving the competition and it’s imperative that our domestic form isn’t affected.
We don’t have the best record away to Chelsea in recent times, having been defeated on five of the past six occasions, but this is an improved and far more resilient Manchester City. Top of the Premier League by two points and with a game in hand on our closest challengers, we should travel to London with confidence and the belief that we can return victorious. Both sides have the quality to make this a classic and whilst much has been spoken about the necessity for solid defences, I’m sure it will be a high-scoring and entertaining affair.
Roberto Mancini has virtually a fully-fit squad to select from, with only Micah Richards doubtful and Aleks Kolarov definitely sidelined. Pablo Zabaleta has recovered enough from his injury and is expected to replace Stefan Savic from the team which defeated Bayern Munich. Nigel De Jong and James Milner are both pushing for places in the side, although on current form Gareth Barry is undroppable.
Samir Nasri has looked far more settled in the past couple of matches, but he has started the last four games and is likely to be rested. Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are competing for a couple of places and whilst Mancini has mentioned recently about his reluctance to use Balotelli in big games, the striker’s electric pace would trouble an ageing Chelsea backline.
Here is the side Mancini could select:
Chelsea have had an interesting season so far, to say the least. Andre Villas Boas came in as manager and has already been under pressure from sections of the media following a slightly lacklustre start. However, in winning their past two matches fairly convincingly, the players have alleviated some of that pressure. We will have to keep an eye on Juan Mata, a talent in a similar mould to our very own David Silva, whilst Didier Drogba, if he’s in the right frame of mind, can cause any defence problems.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg – Has officiated one City game so far this campaign which was the 6-1 humiliation of Manchester United, so that’s a good omen. He does enjoy the limelight though and never shies away from controversy. In the past nineteen games in which he’s refereed City, we’ve lost just once.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 – 2 MAN CITY – I believe it will be a very open affair, full of chances and drama. Goals to be scored by Daniel Sturridge, Didier Drogba, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli.
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My preference would be to play Milner along side Barry and then push Yaya forward and Silva to the right. Yaya is most lethal when played in advanced role.
Winning this game would be a strong statement by City for claiming the title. I believe the game can go either way and I believe Sturridge would be giving lescott a very hard time. It is shame that Mark Hughes let him leave but it makes you wonder what he did right!
thatd be my 11- come on City!
I don’t blame Mancini for using the Sturridge issue to return some fire at Hughes, who has been churlish and mean minded in taking any opportunity to have a go at Mancini.
However, I don’t believe that Hughes ‘let Sturridge go’ that’s just a re-writing of history. The club were remiss in allowing Sturridge’s contract to run down as far as it did before starting negotiations but that wasn’t Hughes fault, it was well on the way before he joined City. Sturridge refused a very lucrative contract ofer, several in fact, and ran his contract down. He had been tapped up by CFC a long time in advance, had an agent and a plan and carried it out. The contract that he declined to accept would have paid him more than several other established players, including Richards and Onuoha, and would have put him just under that of Ireland, who at that time was regularly our star player.
Whilst £55k pw might sound a low sum compared to what we pay these days, it did represent more than £10 million over 4 years, with rugular reviews, which at that time it was top PL pay and ludicrously rich pickings for talented but largely unproven 19 year old talent with an attitude.
I really should proof read my posts better
Apologies for the errors in my last!!
Alph
Fascinating game ahead, it’s so important to both teams.
I’m expectecting a very tight affair to start then opening up more in the 2nd half. I’m thinking we could come away with a 2-1 win but, with our recent history at the Bridge, we may see a 3-0 win for Chelsea.
So close to call. Can’t make me mind up!
The match is just about to start, and the probable team you guessed is absolutely spot-on, man for man.
Nice.