If our manager was Jose Mourinho and we had the players available to play with a five-man midfield, then I’d be very confident in our ability to go to Manchester, play for a draw and return with a vital point.
Instead our manager is Harry Redknapp, who has done brilliantly for us, but always seems to balls things up when he starts tinkering with the tactics. We’re also blessed with a squad of players that can only play in an attacking 4-4-2 formation. Neither of these facts should pose a problem, just as long as we don’t get any silly ideas about playing for a draw and instead go all out to win the game.
City have a good home record, having only lost to United and Everton this season, but there’s reason to believe that we can go there and win. Both those defeats have come in recent weeks, suggesting that the pressure is getting to them and perhaps more importantly, this is a game that City know they must win.
We play better against sides that attack us, while often getting lost for ideas against those that defend in numbers. So an open game will suit us and allow players like Modric and Huddlestone the time and space they need to pull our strings.
One of Harry’s big decisions tonight is to whether to stick with the Modric/Huddlestone partnership, or to bring back Palacios for what will surely be a keenly fought away game. Personally I’d leave Palacios on the bench and only introduce him if our playmakers start getting outfought.
I’m not so sure that I’d stick with the status quo up front though. Neither Pavlyuchenko or Defoe has been in great form, but at least the little man shows willing when he’s not playing well. The trouble is, do we want to bring in Crouch for such a vital match after he missed our best chances in the FA Cup semi-final? Then there’s Gudjohnsen, who would be a perfect player for this game, but for the doubt as to whether Defoe can hold the ball up well enough alongside him?
At the back the only selection headaches concern our injuries. King and Gomes will both start if fit, but will they be? If the latter is missing we could have some big problems.
Whoever plays it is vital that we show confidence and really go at them. We can rely on Bale to do that from the left and hopefully we might start with Lennon to do the same from the right. City aren’t blessed with great full backs and this is where we can get at them, before delivering crosses into a penalty box where their central defenders are unfamiliar with their on-loan goalkeeper.
It City qualify for the Champions League rather than us, then their team could be light years ahead of ours and everyone else by next season. However, at the moment, it is us that have the stronger team and though I don’t believe all this talk that this represents our one and only opportunity to break into the top four, it makes sense to take your chances when you can.
Come on you Spurs!
Harry “always seems to balls things up when he starts tinkering with the tactics”…
Yawn!
Tell that to Ancelotti or Wenger or Hiddink !
Best ever Premiership season and Champions League football.
Looks like Harry knows football a lot better than his critics.
Awww did the big rich club bully iccle spuds into leaving Bellers alone LMAO. Get a grip.
As a Mancunian blue I am itching for the first whistle tonight, as I`m sure you all are. I hope we all get the great game our two sides promise, although you`ll understand I hope for a very different result than you guys and girls. Good luck to you all. Like City, you have had a fantastic season, and going into the last two games with still so much to aim for is testament to both our clubs progress. Come on City!
Bellamy wouldnt get into our team FACT
So Gomes is playing Lets hope he is fit enough to stretch is tentacles and help us win ,and the same goes for Ledley King Knee. Or we could be using our subs early in this epic game in our History. I wish Harry would unleash Townsend on City this lad and Bale could be frightening aged 18 and 20 would be a sensation for years to come . Harry play this Team .GOMES KABOUL KING DAWSON BASSONG ——- LENNON HUDDLESTONE PALACIOS MODRIC BALE CROUCH FOR TH FIRST HALF
Davspurs……do you think you’ve got enough centre half’s in there?…..if only Woody was fit we could drop Modders and have 5 at the back and really play with width and falir.
no need for tinkering – we messed around with a winning side at old trafford and got beaten. Leave Modric in the middle and possibly Lennon, if he can do a full 90, for Bentley
‘Appy ‘Arry is full of sh*t.
The ‘Palacios’ accusation makes no snese.
City didn’t need to bully Spuds and take Bedlamy away from them all they had to do was offer more money.
Why on earth threaten to buy a player they didn’t want or need to achieve the same thing?
As I say, he’s full of sh*t!
Dav – no BAE?
No Bae for a good reason he gives pens and Bassong is just has fast and at 6ft1 is better at corners for Ady .Bae gave the ball away every time against Bolton i watched it again to see where we struggled he played like he says he does for is wage packet. Bale will help him Bassong can play in midfield according to when we bought him trust me Bae will be targeted by City he played in our three nil win. I would play King there before Bae in this game. One thought just look at Porstsmouth back line who beat us Finnan mokahena Rocha and the midfielder cant remeber is name from west spam so that is 2 midfielders and a shit Rocha man of the match somtimes its the unexpected that makes History like Pompy and David Hay Toppling a 7ft monster we just need to Topple a massive oil slick owning City