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I'm assuming here that Kompany and Silva are available.

My first changes would be to the full backs.

I'm very disappointed in Kolarov. He's never looked great defensively but he can cross a ball, he can shoot ( ok 1 good shot yesterday) and he can deliver a decent free kick. Now his confidence seems completely shot and he can't do anything. He must be dropped. Zabaleta is the only conceivable alternative.

On the other flank Boateng has never looked a full back to me. In Micah's absence I'd put Kolo in there. He's played plenty of times there for Arsenal and looked good. He's got the pace and the technique to do a good job.

At centre back I'd have Boateng and Lescott. They played pretty well together at Notts County and they seem like a well balanced pair.

Next midfield. If we're going to have two defensive midfielders I'd pick Barry and Kompany. Vinnie was a midfielder before he came here. I prefer him to the slower alternative of Vieira against a Villa side on the up. Further up I'd play Silva and Milner with Balotelli playing on the left cutting in and Tevez in the centre. Dzeko looked off the pace yesterday and Yaya plainly needs a rest. Keep them both on the bench as potential impacts after an hour.

Thoughts? The downside is that I'm suggesting a lot of changes. The upside is I'm suggesting a lot of changes from a very tired looking City side yesterday. Of course I don't expect Mancini to make most of these changes.

I agree about the fullbacks, Richards and Zabs should be the only choice if they are available.

And we need to sign a new leftback in the summer.

Slim wrote:I agree about the fullbacks, Richards and Zabs should be the only choice if they are available.

And we need to sign a new leftback in the summer.

I wonder if is available.

Given Mancini has top 4 as priority 1 and 1a this year, I fear we will see a shadow team on weds; personally I want to us pick the strongest possible as the potential Q-F draw is favourable (ie at home) but we will probably be looking at the likes of Jo, Vieira, Boyata, SWP et al on weds, with Tevez and Silva welded to the bench or absent.

Milner should play 90 and in central midfield, and if they are fit Richards, Kompany and De Jong should be in the reckoning if at all poss.

Villa will be sans Bent and there for the taking. I just hope we put ouselves in the best position and not hand them the initiative by submitting a team sheet that will lift Villa, and defalte our own home support.

Given Barry's previous fantastic performances against Villa, he should be nowhere near the team.

Richards------Kompo-----Lescott-----Zabba

---------------------Yaya

-------------Silva-----------Milner

---Tevez---------Dzeko----------Ballotelli

The biggest problem for our attack yesterday was that there were nobody to get a decent ball into them.

I don't think Richards is available and I can't see Mancini playing Dzeko, Balotelli and Tevez up fron together because it didn't work well yesterday. Good point about Barry but with no De Jong I can't see him being left out. Yaya looked pretty flat yesterday and I'm not sure he should start on Wednesday.

Slim wrote:I agree about the fullbacks, Richards and Zabs should be the only choice if they are available.

And we need to sign a new leftback in the summer.

the irony is that (I dont know if you're one of them) half of this board assured those of us that questioned bobby early season that when these two players were fit we'd be firing on all cylinders and near unstoppable...

Shows the "knowledge" of some of the posters on here. I'd love to re read those threads ;)

Nobody should be dropped but he might be wise to rest one or three.

Hope we get through obviously but atm I´m not particularly arsed. C.L. is number one and players should have been rested v Aris who were a joke of an outfit. The prospect of Evilton doesn´t fill me with glee either but hey ho Walton might not be ref;)

It's a cup game.

I'm not kidding myself, he'll make whole sale changes and win, lose or draw it will be a dire, shit game.

Fuck progress can be miserable somedays.

Bingo Lewis wrote:Given Barry's previous fantastic performances against Villa, he should be nowhere near the team.

Richards------Kompo-----Lescott-----Zabba

---------------------Yaya

-------------Silva-----------Milner

---Tevez---------Dzeko----------Ballotelli

The biggest problem for our attack yesterday was that there were nobody to get a decent ball into them.

True but they didn't pass to each other very well either.

He may choose to play Yaya further forward, in place of one of the front 3 & add another midfield player or SWP.

I hear on the grapevine that Utds number 1 fan Clattenburg is reffing. Oh joy.

Goaters 103 wrote:I hear on the grapevine that Utds number 1 fan Clattenburg is reffing. Oh joy.

Then we should give him the reception an upstanding and revered member of the reffereeing fraternity deseves;)

Hart

Micah
Kompany
Lescott
Zabs

Yaya
Barry
Milner
Silva

Dzeko
Ballotelli