Date: 1st January 2011
KO: 1500 hrs
Venue: City Of Manchester Stadium
New Years Day and a Happy Blue Year to all. How things have come on eh, 4 out of 6 wins, and a draw thrown in for good luck; we're now level on points with the former Champions League and Premier League Champions. 'Top of the League', not quite, and with 2 games in hand over us we can't afford to slip-up as we did when the Toffee's came to town. If we truly have Premier League credentials, surely we must be going all gun's blazing to beat today's opponents. We are at home though and in true City fashion this is where we have slipped-up on that Yellow and Blue Imre Banana, although our last game against Villa showed that the team has gelled and looking to out-muscle, out-play and out-score the opposition. With 18 points from our home games, another win will take us above our away form of 20 points, which is quite impressive if I do say so myself.
So, onto the game. New Years Day brings extra expectation's and extra trepidation for us Blues. We welcome the Seasider's to town with their Tangerine shirt's and Kiss-Me-Quick hat's, and I've got to say, they've quite impressed me with their approach to football which has shown in their current league position of 8th. A club who were formed in the year when we first changed our name to Ardwick Association, they have been up and down the league like a Yo-yo and this is the 1st season that they've made it to the Premier League. And, although they have been in the top flight of football on a few occassion's, the last time they were here was way back in '71, an 'eck of a long time ago.
With the Seasiders comes the one and only Ian Holloway, and although I'd like to dedicate their meteoric rise to the Prem to the one and only, it is with regret that I can confirm that he only took them on the final leg of the journey. Under Owen Oyston, the Estate Agent magnate, he has taken them up four leagues in the last 12 years, and strangely enough, each time by the way of the play-off's; that is no mean feat! Holloway, however, was appointed last season after taking a year out following his abysmal attempt to keep Leicester from relegation, a team who, coincidentally, we play in the next round of the FA Cup. Blackpool at the time were favourites with the Bookie's to be relegated so massive praise must be given to Holloway and his crew for making the play-off's, never mind winning them from the lowest position; 6th. A real Jester of a manager who is always good for a few quotes. However, he seems to have lost that light-hearted side of late and has risen to the media bait by telling us all that he will 'Quit' if brought on charges by the FA and the strange but interesting statement regarding Wayne Rooney's transfer request – you know the one 'It's just Wrong' – and I'm wondering whether the pressure is beginning to take its toll?
Ian Holloway - Is he a Jester, or just a Clown?
Form
City have shown beyond all doubt that they now have what it takes to compete for the league, and today's game is no exception. As mentioned, with 4 wins from 6, and a real gutsy 2nd half performance against Everton, it is quite easy to see why the pundits and media outlets are changing their thinking with regard to our title chances. Good away wins against West Ham and Newcastle, and coming off the back off an impressive home performance against Villa, have cemented us firmly in the running for a Champions League place, if not the title. With players now getting used to Roberto's system and the new-found knowledge that we can open teams up for fun, as shown in the 33 pass and goal that Mario scored, it is quite easy to see why us, the fans, have upped our expectations and are now not only looking for a 4th place finish, but the reality dawning that we may have a shot at the elusive title.
Here we have another obstacle in the way of those expectations, Blackpool are no easy team to play against and their away form is nearly on par with our own. Their last game away to Sunderland just showed how resilient they are and after being saved by everything bar the kitchen sink, they went on to record a 2-0 victory that should have really been a 10-0 massacre by the BlackCats! Sunderland, that game, had 31 shots and fluffed everyone of them whereas Blackpool had 9 chances and and put 2 of them away. Blackpool also had the advantage of not playing on Boxing Day when their pitch was found to be playing host to Polar Bears and Penguins. This was the 3rd time their home game had been called off in December and against none other than 3 of the supposed Premiership elite - Tottenham, United and Liverpool. Anyone would think they didn't want to play them; why not Ian?
Tactics
As mentioned, Blackpool under Holloway play some decent football and with players like Varney and Taylor Fletcher to receive balls from Charlie Adams, it is going to be up to our midfield to stop the play from getting stretched. Holloway's tactics last time at Bloomfield were to play on the break with long balls played in to the channel's where they had willing runners to get on the end, which led them to scoring 2 goals. I'm pretty certain that Mancini has learned from the last game and will have the likes of Nigel de Jong sweeping anything up that comes his way and with a similar formation as the last game against Villa, we should see plenty of passing movement that will, hopefully, lead to a goal-fest against the 'Pool.
It's lonely at the Top - Will Mancio get the tactics right, again?
Key Players
City
David Silva is rapidly becoming one of the best football players we've ever seen at City, and with his intricate passing and ability to see a players move 10 yards ahead of the rest, I'd suggest he will be the player who will decide the match. He was almost flawless against Villa with 34 out of 37 pass completion and a not too bad 5 out of 7 tackle rate (which was more than Vinnie did), which allowed Mancini the option to bring him off after only 66 minutes in readiness for today's game.
The new midfield magician?
Blackpool
After a 1 game suspension Charlie Adam returns to the Blackpool squad and will be well enough rested to put in a good shift. His range of passing whether it be short or long is without question one of the best I've seen this season. His eye for spotting the run of a player and then dropping the ball into feet was second to none when we played them and it is going to take a lot of concentration from our midfield dynamo's to cut that sort of play out.
Head in Hand's - I'd like to see that today!
Prediction
Not really a difficult one for me this as I just feel that now we are on a roll and the players are now more settled, we far and away outclass today's opposition. We have proved that we have the armour to prevent teams of Blackpool's calibre from scoring and the fire power to put plenty into their net. However, we cannot be lackadaisical and allow Blackpool the freedom down the flank's as one mistimed tackle or a break in concentration could see them in behind our back four and putting the ball beyond Joe. Therefore I'm going for:
Manchester City 3 v 1 Blackpool
Come On City!!!
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