The mancityfans.net football forum

Location: CoMS
Kick-Off: 2000 hrs (Game on - Confirmed by MCFC)
Weather: Baltic (-5 to -11 tonight)

I know, I know, it's a bit early isn't it, but it's not everyday that you have a chance to go top of the league at Christmas, nevermind it being the 1st time in most people's lifetime - 81 years! It may not be a massive achievement in the big scheme of things but it is a milestone that I'd be willing to celebrate. Combined with cancellation of all things football yesterday, I just couldn't help but get the festivities started early.

Anyway, back to the game and just to get you started and whet the appetite, take a look at this weeks preview from The Man In Blue: [urlnp=http://mancityfans.net/news/?p=385]Click Me - City v Everton Preview[/urlnp]

Also, here's 2 short video preview's from Milner and Platt, recorded after the Juve game (thanks to the OS):

[urlnp=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Interviews/City-v-Everton-Milner-preview]James Milner[/urlnp]
[urlnp=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Interviews/City-v-Everton-Platts-preview]David Platt[/urlnp]
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And, as always, here's a few stats from the Beeb:

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Everton are looking for a fourth consecutive league win at the City of Manchester Stadium.

• The Toffees have beaten City in five of the last six meetings between the sides.

• City have failed to score on the last three occasions they have hosted Everton.

Manchester City

• Manchester City have only scored eight goals at home this season - the joint-fewest in the Premier League. City have scored 16 away from the City of Manchester Stadium.

• City are looking for a third consecutive victory. They are unbeaten in their last seven league games. However, their last defeat came against a bottom three side - a 2-1 defeat at Wolves at the end of October.

• Arsenal are the only side to have beaten Manchester City at home in this season's Premier League.

• Carlos Tevez has scored 10 of City's 24 league goals this season. City have never lost a Premier League match in which he has scored.

Everton

• They have managed only three top-flight wins this season, but have lost only five of their last 28 league matches. Those three victories came in the space of four games in October.

• Everton lost their first two away matches of the season but have not lost any since then. They have drawn the last four.

• David Moyes's men are without a win in their last seven matches (D4, L3).

• If they fail to beat Manchester City, it will be the club's longest run without a victory under David Moyes and longest since an eight-match streak in 1999.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man City

Tevez: 10 goals (10 league); Balotelli: 5 goals (2 league); Adebayor: 5 goals (1 league)

Everton

Cahill: 8 goals (8 league); Arteta 3 goals (3 league); Beckford 3 goals (2 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Peter Walton [urlnp=http://www.mancityfans.net/mcfnet/viewtopic.php?f=119&t=36317]Click to See Biography[/urlnp]

Assistant referees: Scott Ledger & Adam Watts

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
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I was predicting a draw for this one but after recent events I've changed my mind and going for a win.

Mighty Blues 2 v 0 Toffees

COME ON CITY, GAME ON!!!

One word...

DESTROY!

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:One word...

DESTROY!

I prefer 'Annihilate' myself, but I'll go with that ;-)

Oh, and don't forget to set off early all, there's Chrimbo Carol's, Mulled Wine and Turkey Muffin's on in the Square. I'm setting off at 6 just in case.

I prefer not to be bothered about whether it's a good game or whether the ref is crap or Cahill scores first as long as we win. An awful game and performance will do me fine as long as we win.

Moyes has done very well for them though if we are being fair, he has spent over 140 million quid (http://www.transfermarkt.de) despite their endless, typically-scouse pleas of poverty. Nevertheless he is a fucking loathsome, whining bell-end. Fuck off back to your underground lake, you boggle-eyed twat. He's at the right club, I suppose. These and tottenham are just as annoying as the filth in my book though in a slightly different way.

No Arteta for them. Good. He is a fine player, far too good to be involved in their relegation battle.

Come on City, let's fucking stick it up 'em. Right fucking up.

[scroll]COME ON, COME ON CIIITEEEEEEEHHH!!![/scroll]

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.

Thoughts on our line-up tonight, with De Jong being suspended.

I would go with

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

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

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

Silva-------------------Tevez---------------Balotelli

Feed the Scousers, Let them know its Christmas time...

I wonder if any of the head-sheds are here today, to see the game and maybe talk regarding Carlos? Strange that we've not heard out yet.

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.

Ted Hughes wrote: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.

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.

s1ty m wrote:
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

Milner played very well last season for Aston Villa in central midfield and so we need to make sure we win that battle in midfield with Everton so Johnson would not be starting for me.

Think it is very early days to be quoting Boateng as a failure - he had a very solid World Cup for Germany, was one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, can play anywhere across the back four and missed a lot of pre-season with injury and didn't play till about mid-October.

Mark Garrett wrote:Thoughts on our line-up tonight, with De Jong being suspended.

I would go with

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

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

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

Silva-------------------Tevez---------------Balotelli

Looks about right, although isn't Kolarov suspended?

bluej wrote:

Mark Garrett wrote:Thoughts on our line-up tonight, with De Jong being suspended.

I would go with

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

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

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

Silva-------------------Tevez---------------Balotelli

Looks about right, although isn't Kolarov suspended?

Nope he missed the West Ham game. That was his one game ban

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

s1ty m wrote:
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

Exactly my thoughts.Unlikely to start today especially as i think he picked up a knock yesterday.

Mancio4ever wrote: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.

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

s1ty m wrote:
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

And I have to agree with IBH.

Players are written of far too easily/quickly on this board.