MAN CITY v Wolves: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
28 Oct
Fancy a flutter? City to win 6-1 and repeat our Old Trafford heroics is very tempting at 28/1, whilst Adam Johnson to score two or more goals has the fantastic odds of 17/1. In addition, Mario Balotelli to score first and City to win 4-0 is incredibly tempting at 33/1. Feel confident that you can predict the outcome? Got an instinct who will score first? Click HERE to bet on the game.
Just three days after overcoming them so comfortably in the Carling Cup, Man City face Wolves again, this time in the Premier League, as the Blues look to continue their superb recent form. Four successive wins in the domestic league, including the 6-1 humiliation of Manchester United, have meant that City top the table by five points but we have to remain focused and not get complacent, something that could happen all too easily, such has been our dominance in the past few games.
Although we defeated Wolves on Wednesday, we should enter this game overconfident. They are a combative side, albeit one that has struggled recently, but they have caused us problems in the past and they will no doubt want to record an upset at the Etihad Stadium. Last year, they battled bravely but went down by the odd goal in seven, so whilst we have the momentum based on our performances lately, we have to be on our guard.
Having made eleven changes in midweek, I’d expect Roberto Mancini to near enough revert back to the side which so delightfully swept aside our local rivals. With a crucial Champions League match away to Villarreal following this fixture, the Italian may opt to rest a couple of players, but I’d be shocked if the likes of David Silva, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Touré don’t return. This is the type of game Adam Johnson usually starts and after his performance on Wednesday, in which he scored one and created two yet still received criticism from Mancini, he’ll want to impress.
I feel Nigel De Jong still needs more match fitness so I’d hope he starts, but there are plenty of options for Mancini. He must be tempted to reinstate the eleven which started against United as reward for their incredible performance, but as stated above, the match against Villarreal will be playing on his mind.
Here is the side Mancini could select:
After a promising start, Wolves have struggled recently and the fans turned on manager Mick McCarthy during the 2-2 draw with Swansea in their last Premier League game. Their squad, although languishing near the foot of the table, does possess some quality players, namely Jamie O’Hara and Kevin Doyle, the latter of whom always causes our defence problems with his willingness to run the channels. Nenad Milijas has a superb scoring record against us, whilst goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was with City’s academy and will relish the challenge of trying to stop our on-fire strikers.
Referee: Stuart Attwell – Oh dear. A talented referee but was promoted far too early to the Premier League and couldn’t cope with the pressure.
Prediction: MAN CITY 4 – 0 Wolves – I can only see one result and that is City continuing our recent run of goalscoring form. Wolves will probably pack the midfield so it might be a touch frustrating in the early stages, but once we score one, I can see plenty more hitting the back of net. Goals to be scored by Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and David Silva.
Fancy a flutter? City to win 6-1 and repeat our Old Trafford heroics is very tempting at 28/1, whilst Adam Johnson to score two or more goals has the fantastic odds of 17/1. In addition, Mario Balotelli to score first and City to win 4-0 is incredibly tempting at 33/1. Feel confident that you can predict the outcome? Got an instinct who will score first? Click HERE to bet on the game.
Mancini will rest Silva. Nasri in his place.
Possibly Barry instead of de Jong, as well, seeing as Nige isn’t 100%.
Its so difficult to pick the 11, i think we could all get 8 or 9. Milner will play v Wolves for me.
8 or 9 Matt… I really hope your team approach the game with that sort of overconfidence, because those are the matches Wolves tend to win, remember they were the first team to beat Utd last season and after a really bad run of form still beat your lot at Moulineux, Beat Chelsea, Beat Liverpool at Anfield, Wolves seem to thrive on being the underdogs
I think matts saying that us fans could all get 8 or 9 of the starters right before the game, but it is difficult to get all 11 correct because of the number of options we have for each position. I have to say i agree with matt, and at the same time i am amused by the thought that a fan of another club sees 8 or 9 and thinks its a scoreline prediction, yet another sign of how far we have come, though it is true that we dont want to be overconfident.
Right sorry guys + Matt, I should have read it properly, some of us are a bit over sensitive down at the Molineux these days as you might have noticed! – enjoy the match – all the best but not saturday of course
Why make so many changes? With Villarreal on Tuesday it would make sense to keep as many of the must plays for that game out of the match today. I’d expect hart to come back for sure with Kompany and Lescott returning to the back four. Razzak has gone to Pompey on loan and Scapuzzi wont feature so that means Barry and probably Balotelli. Other than that why change anything? Keep the Rag Thrashers intact for VR
Can somebody tell me how the red card works? Because today, Evans played for United even though he got a red card with us.