Victory over Tottenham Hotspur could spark new era at Manchester City
James Ducker, The Times Northern Football Correspondent, on the issues that will settle tomorrow night's winner-takes-all fixture. He talks to Ben Smith1 Comment
Recommend? Does this game mean more to Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur?
Both clubs might have had bigger games in their history, when they won league titles, but not too many. City have only ever reached the first round of the European Cup once, 42 years ago, so the chance to qualify once again through what is in effect a play-off against Tottenham is a huge opportunity. But that said, this is a massive game for both clubs.
What would qualification for the Champions League mean for City?
If City win and go on to claim fourth then it will spark some incredible activity in the transfer market this summer. With that in mind, I find it hard to believe that they are going to surrender a place in that top four. The players know that once the club is in the top four it could be in there for a long time. Victory tomorrow would kickstart a new phase in City's history.
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So if City finish outside the top four would they rein in their spending this summer?
No, although they may struggle to attract the very top players, who understandably want Champions League football, City fans needn't worry. Even if City finish fifth there will be significant investment again this summer.
How will Tottenham view this match?
Tottenham may sense that this is a golden opportunity. They may think that this is the weakest City are going to be for the next five or ten years, so they will know they need to seize their chance.
It is important to bear in mind that Tottenham only need a draw, because they probably have the most nailed on three points against Burnley at the weekend. They have also got a very healthy record against City and in recent weeks they have shown they are a team for the big occasion.
How important will big game players such as Carlos Tevez and Jermain Defoe be tomorrow night?
The likes of Tevez and Adam Johnson, who has been a revelation since he joined the club in January, will be key players for City as will Defoe and Peter Crouch for Spurs. But with injuries to Shay Given and Heurelho Gomes, it could well be that a mistake, rather than one of the big names, decides the game.
If Gomes doesn't recover for Spurs, they are likely to go with Ben Alnwick, who is unproven. Equally, Marton Fulop looked very jittery in the City goal against Aston Villa and so both clubs should be looking to shoot on sight.
Where will the match be won and lost?
The midfield could be a key area. City will have looked at the performance of Wilson Palacios against Manchester United on Saturday and will hope to target him. He could be a weak link.
City may bring back Gareth Barry although Nigel De Jong and Patrick Vieira were so good at the weekend that it may be hard to change that partnership.
If Aaron Lennon is declared fit for Tottenham he could be a danger for City. His pace will cause Wayne Bridge real problems. Bridge is a weak link and Spurs will know that.
By the same token City will want to target Tottenham's right back area and Johnson and Craig Bellamy could well have some joy there. I can see goals in the game. City are strong in positions where Spurs have weaknesses and the same is true of Tottenham. And all that should make for plenty of incident.
Which of the two managers needs Champions League football more?
Roberto Mancini's future remains unclear. He has done an extremely good job, although there are some suggestions that some of the camp remain unhappy with his training methods. Having said that if he gets them to fourth then you would think he would be kept on. If City finish fifth his future will come under scrutiny.
City have chopped and changed managers for so long that someone needs to be given a period of time to achieve something. If their long-term dream target, Jose Mourinho, were to become available in the summer then they would pull out all the stops to sign him, but that is a big if.
Mancini was set a 70-point target, which has been good enough for fourth place in 11 of the past 17 Premier League seasons. If he achieves that then he deserves the chance to take City on.
But wouldn't it be fascinating to see Harry Redknapp test himself in the Champions League? He is a man who has performed wonders throughout much of his managerial career and I don't think anyone would begrudge him the chance to test himself on the biggest stage in club football.
even if he almost blew it with his last point.
As for Wednesday night: Bridge might not be 'taken to the cleaners' as Sylvinho was at White Hart Lane, and our defence is a helluva lot better organised than in those 'Dark Ages' under Hughes, but I think we might be better off if Mancini plays Zaba at left back, and Onuoha at right back.
