This is the game we have got to win if we want to have any hope at all of a T4 finish. And not only that, we need to get our show back on the road. Earlier in the season I ran a ruler over the two squads and concluded that the weakness Manchester City have is at centre back where Toure and Lescott have still not established a successful partnership. Whoever we play up front we need to exploit that and throwing hopeful balls into the area from 100 yards is not going to be helpful to our cause.
City will be without Bellamy but they have such riches up front that our hearts will remain in our mouths for the duration of the game. The bloke who used to play for Arsenal and usually scored against us will be back and we should keep a close eye on him. Can Bassong and Dawson keep these guys marked at set pieces to give us something to build upon? It’s going to be one of the tales of the tape come 10.00 tomorrow night.
Elsewhere Wright-Phillips is injured De Jong a doubt and Modric not quite ready to start. Therefore it will be Saturday’s starting midfield for us with a toss up of Dos Santos or Jenas for the bench alongside Luka. I would go with Keane and Defoe once more and hope that the link play lives up to the early games of the season. For me it is important for Defoe to get an early shot as it settles him and encourages him to play the team game. Saturday’s performance mirrored a number of his games for the club. Over anxious from a lack of involvement he tries too hard to gets shots off ignoring the run of others. If he scores it is great but in these games it rarely happens.
So to the fullbacks. Bridge is a doubt for them and for us Corluka was too slow Saturday and Assou-Ekotto a little off on his first touch. They can both play better and need to do so to hold off Bale and Hutton. Unfortunately Bale showed against Everton why he has not been starting in this position all too easily allowing the Everton debutant to get round the back and cross so Benoit will start. Both guys need to work well with their wingers and because City may fancy it more than Wolves did I expect Lennon and Kranjcar to get opportunities top create problems.
If they do we can win it; if they don’t we may well struggle.
Finally, Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios. Wilson needs to mark his territory and stick to it winning the ball and laying it to others to do damage. Tommy needs to mix it up. His Hoddle like balls are fantastic but he must decide on occasions to push through the middle carrying the ball in an effort to create doubt in the defenders mind and create space for RK and JD. We know he can score but he won’t unless he shoots. He cannot do that if he remains too deep looking for the showboat pass.
Whatever the result I hope we see a good game. If we play well and lose I will accept that. I won’t like it but City have power throughout the side and we have not been on song in the last few games sufficiently to close them out.
Love to see a 2-1 to us but a draw may be a good result. Whatever happens let’s all get behind the team!