***Official City v Everton Thread***

[Bingo Lewis]

Bazza @ DM and Milner taking Barry's spot please

[superkev8705]

I was more excited about him than any of the other pre season buys, especially after that Valencia game. He has all the attributes to be a top player. Only young though so i agree that he must be given time.

[brite blu sky]

Get one early; get 5. Fail to get one; let in stupid goal from corner then get caught on break & lose 2-0. If Boateng plays, the bloke who scores will be whoever he's marking at the corner.

Don't know if 'Il Sulk Italiano' will play but fancy him to score if he does.

Even saying that, I'd be half tempted to try & find a spot for AJ tonight though. I thought he played a lot more telling final balls v Juve, even including a cross from the left which a Dzeko type player would have buried. I think Bob is starting to get through to AJ & if that happens he'll become a key player for the run in & a possible star by the end of the season.

Recently we have been good at coming out of the blocks and stringing an attack together from the off... only to miss the golden moment at the end of it. All teams i imagine go out to try and get the early goal, but we have been impressive in the way we have actually been able to get the chance in many games. Will this be the one where someone actually buries it for once? I hope so.. and at least Everton dont know this team, it has changed too much from last season to have any familiarity for them. They are good at breaking up and stifling the play but until they get themselves a bit settled and organised we have a chance to surprise them and put them on the back foot.
I'm betting on Tevez to bury one early doors, possibly from a Silva assist. if that does happen i rekon Tevez will go about helping Balotelli to score as much as he goes about trying to score himself. Not sure why but perhaps bcos i think Mancini is actually quite canny and addresses problems properly, i have a feeling he may have put Tevez under orders to provide assists.

I am hoping that this game is where we start to show some organisation in front of goal, all other aspects of the teams game is pretty well sorted out, the glaring deficiency is communication and understanding and organisation right in front of goal. I'm convinced that Mancini will have been dealing with that.

If we can score one early then i think it might be the catalyst for something special.
if we dont, then i'm afraid that what Ted says has an all too familiar ring to it.

[ant london]

I was more excited about him than any of the other pre season buys, especially after that Valencia game. He has all the attributes to be a top player. Only young though so i agree that he must be given time.

Agree with you and others, I think he will end up being a fucking beast of a player......that cross he put in vs Valencia was pure class. He's got what it takes, I'm pretty sure of it

[13021J]

You all seem to think Milner will come in for NDJ, I disagree:

Hart
Baba Kolo Komps Kolorov
Vieira Barry
Yaya
Silva Tevez Mario

So Paddy in like for like. Still no room for AJ unfortunately.

[superkev8705]

You all seem to think Milner will come in for NDJ, I disagree:

Hart
Baba Kolo Komps Kolorov
Vieira Barry
Yaya
Silva Tevez Mario

So Paddy in like for like. Still no room for AJ unfortunately.

I would prefer Vieira against Fellaini than Milner so im with you on that one. Thought Vieira was decent against Juve as well

[mcfc1632]

If Boateng plays, that will be confirmation of a first serious blind spot for Mancini. All managers have them and they all fuck up occasionally in the transfer market; Boateng is that fuck up for Mancini. Zab then Micah for me, Boateng can play the lesser Euro games and then leave at the end of the season. With NDJ out, I wonder if it is Milner of AJ that gets the nod. Throwing AJ in would be seriously attacking. Milner nailed on then.

I have to disagree i'm afraid...I reckon Boateng just needs to settle into the Prem...some players take more time than others...he is definitely one for the future

I am with you on this - care needed but also 'careful' perseverence.

Mancini's strategy needs attacking full backs - Micah flatter occasionally but he is not upto it - Absolutely love Zabba - but ut is not natural for him. Boateng looked absolutely perfect for the role - up to the point he joined - but we need to give him further opportunity or get a replacement in the summer if he does not step up

[brite blu sky]

You all seem to think Milner will come in for NDJ, I disagree:

Hart
Baba Kolo Komps Kolorov
Vieira Barry
Yaya
Silva Tevez Mario

So Paddy in like for like. Still no room for AJ unfortunately.

I would prefer Vieira against Fellaini than Milner so im with you on that one. Thought Vieira was decent against Juve as well

Can't see PV playing. He played Thursday so for starters i'm not sure he can play that many games and be effective. Plus Europa is not the Prem, it is slower, Vieira has struggled in prem games. Everton will be a high tempo and they will also target aspects of our midfield, Vieira would be in danger of having the game go past him, not get in control and become a liability.

[mcfc1632]

I think that this game may hammer home how important NDJ is to our team

To many (until recently) have just seem him as one-dimensional - but as soon as he arrived we stopped leaking like a sieve in MF and whenever he has not played the gaps reappear - so for me Milner with some very clear instructions to use his energy to close down

[superkev8705]

You all seem to think Milner will come in for NDJ, I disagree:

Hart
Baba Kolo Komps Kolorov
Vieira Barry
Yaya
Silva Tevez Mario

So Paddy in like for like. Still no room for AJ unfortunately.

I would prefer Vieira against Fellaini than Milner so im with you on that one. Thought Vieira was decent against Juve as well

Can't see PV playing. He played Thursday so for starters i'm not sure he can play that many games and be effective. Plus Europa is not the Prem, it is slower, Vieira has struggled in prem games. Everton will be a high tempo and they will also target aspects of our midfield, Vieira would be in danger of having the game go past him, not get in control and become a liability.

True i forgot about how knackered he gets. Why not push Milner forward and put Yaya where De Jong plays.

[Swales4ever]

I know it's just a wonder that simply wont happen, but considering NDJ ban and also taking into account DH who witnessed some surprise with the 11 on_the_ramp... I'd love this:

----------------------------Hart--------------------------

Zabaleta----------K Toure-----Kompany-----Kolarov

---------------------Y Toure--Barry

AJ -------------------Tevez -------------------- Silva

---------------------- Balotelli -------------------------

I'd say with Teddy: this is the match where the more You push on the opponent, the less threat our back shall get.

The idea of pushing them and attacking is fine, but that line up would push Yaya into more defensive and break up play, something he is not as effective at yet in the prem, he is better cut loose as we have seen. If you look at the analysis of where Yaya has played for Bolton, WHU, Stoke, it is over on the right but higher than Barry on the left. deJong also supporting Yaya more on the right to compensate for that.
So i would stick to that and just replace deJong with someone to do his exact job.

I see Your point and I'd largely agree with You, though I saw some decent performance from Yaya playing on that role with the blaugrana kit. I sincerely don't buy the idea that a dm performance may be affected by the different pace amongst Liga and EPL: FB's may, Dm's less probably, imo.
All in all my main point is that I would like to see City starting against Golons with the 4-2-3-1 formation: I'd have nothing against picking JM or PZ alongside GazBaz for the twos.

[Beefymcfc]

From OS. Doesn't look like we're getting any news about Carlos, apart from that he'll be on the pitch tonight.

Cheers Us to Top, Says Mancini

Roberto Mancini is urging Blues fans to sing the team to the top tonight as City bid to be the top flight's Christmas No.1 for the first time in 81 years.

If Mancini's team extend their nine-game unbeaten record by beating Everton at the City of Manchester Stadium, City will be top of the pile on Christmas Day - a feat last achieved in 1929.

The Blues boss rates the next four matches - against Everton, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Blackpool - as crucial to City's bid for glory and aims to kick off with victory over a side his team failed to beat last season.

Mancini said: "The fans have been great and should continue to support the team like they have in other times. It's important that we are focused on Everton and that the supporters are focused on Everton."

It is a year since Mancini arrived to take charge of the team and start his reign with four successive wins, and he is confident that striker Carlos Tevez will rise above his rejected transfer request.

He insisted: "We can play very well and strong, like we did in the last game against West Ham. We can only beat them if we play like this. Carlos will be OK.

"Carlos is a football player and he loves football. He plays like he did when he was young, in the garden. Every day, whether in training or in an important match, he always plays the same way."

[Chinners]

I hope Vieira doesn't play, it will be dull as shit if he does

[john@staustell]

I hope Vieira doesn't play, it will be dull as shit if he does

Physical. That's the way!!

[Beefymcfc]

I hope Vieira doesn't play, it will be dull as shit if he does

Agreed. This for me:

[center]Joe

Zab-----Kolo-----Vince-----Aleks

Milner-----Barry

Dave<----->Yaya<----->AJ

Carlitos[/center]

Strong in defence - strong in attack. Christmas Tree if you like ;-)

[brite blu sky]

I know it's just a wonder that simply wont happen, but considering NDJ ban and also taking into account DH who witnessed some surprise with the 11 on_the_ramp... I'd love this:

----------------------------Hart--------------------------

Zabaleta----------K Toure-----Kompany-----Kolarov

---------------------Y Toure--Barry

AJ -------------------Tevez -------------------- Silva

---------------------- Balotelli -------------------------

I'd say with Teddy: this is the match where the more You push on the opponent, the less threat our back shall get.

The idea of pushing them and attacking is fine, but that line up would push Yaya into more defensive and break up play, something he is not as effective at yet in the prem, he is better cut loose as we have seen. If you look at the analysis of where Yaya has played for Bolton, WHU, Stoke, it is over on the right but higher than Barry on the left. deJong also supporting Yaya more on the right to compensate for that.
So i would stick to that and just replace deJong with someone to do his exact job.

I see Your point and I'd largely agree with You, though I saw some decent performance from Yaya playing on that role with the blaugrana kit. I sincerely don't buy the idea that a dm performance may be affected by the different pace amongst Liga and EPL: FB's may, Dm's less probably, imo.
All in all my main point is that I would like to see City starting against Golons with the 4-2-3-1 formation: I'd have nothing against picking JM or PZ alongside GazBaz for the twos.

DM role of Yaya for Barca just wasn't the same, different cup of tea. And even if it was, we have to go off the evidence of his play with us in the prem... he is more comfortable with someone mopping up behind him and that is what Nige has been doing.
I didn't agree with Teds idea that the less changes and moving about the better, but i have come round to the idea that for now while we cement our style it is better to keep it as they know it.

As for the formation.. if you look at the heatmaps on the Guardian chalkboardy thing, you can see quite clearly that we adopt a kind of lopsided formation.
2 FBs all down the sides, then deJong at the back of the mid but operating more over on the right, Barry next but over on the left and further forward than Nige. Yaya then further forward again but mainly over on the right in front of deJong basically. Then the front 3 roaming around the area and swapping about.
It is pretty subtle but it seems to me anyway that it is a kind of response to how those players like to play and are best at, also to be able to cover each other across the width. We played like that at least since Fulham and every prem game since.

Anyway i'm sure it is not rigid or the only set up Mancini would have, but as Ted has been saying better to keep it like they know and get it working first.

Everton are well organised in midfield and it will be a battle, so for me this is one game not to take chances. Zabba could play the role of Nige but is possibly better at RB.

[brite blu sky]

I hope Vieira doesn't play, it will be dull as shit if he does

Agreed. This for me:

[center]Joe

Zab-----Kolo-----Vince-----Aleks

Milner-----Barry

Dave<----->Yaya<----->AJ

Carlitos[/center]

Strong in defence - strong in attack. Christmas Tree if you like ;-)

attacking xmas trees hmmmm... interesting

[s1ty m]

Playing Milner will stunt us in many ways. For whatever reason, that I can't fathom, we do not play as well when he plays. All the recent flowing stuff has been when he has not started.

As for Boateng, I hope you are right and I am wrong. We'll see.

Big match, big performcance please City, this Everton lot are horrible.

[superkev8705]

Playing Milner will stunt us in many ways. For whatever reason, that I can't fathom, we do not play as well when he plays. All the recent flowing stuff has been when he has not started.

As for Boateng, I hope you are right and I am wrong. We'll see.

Big match, big performcance please City, this Everton lot are horrible.

Milner must give away possesion more times than any player in the squad. And when he plays out wide every cross he tries to get over gets blocked or dosent beat the first man. Hes so frustrating to watch. Villa fans see his best position as centre mid so we will find out tonight if he plays

[ashton287]

I hope to fuck Vieira doesnt play. He isnt good enough for the premiership. Shit europa games that we dont need to win are his type of games.

Not that i dont like the guy but he is SLOOOOOW and clumbsy and not good enough. We need these points because the teams above us have games in hand and we have to stay out in front because if we dont they will win there games and when we are on a level footing we will end up 7 points behind.