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Hart
Zaba Kompany Lescott Clichy

De Jong Barry

Milner Aguero Silva

Dzeko

I was inclined to plump for Mario up front but I think Dzeko deserves to keep up his hot streak and, more importantly, make amends for his poor European performances to date: we can always spring Mario from the bench in the second half to take advantage of his pace and superior technique.

The full backs are something of a lottery but Zaba is that bit more cautious than Micah although the latter is the superior attacker
Having said that Zaba was unlucky not to score with a header in the home leg.

De Jong is a far safer option than Ya Ya; he would have started in the derby but for an injury and he looked close to his best in the Carling Cup game in midweek; Ya Ya had possibly his best game of the season at Old Trafford, but he's not consistent and disciplined enough for me, although he's improving; also I think Gaz Barry deserves to get the nod ahead of him.

Milner will get stuck in from the start; Nasri is getting more consistent and is beginning to fit in more and more, but he's still not the player that will dig deep if things aren't going right; I think he'll prove to be of more benefit if sprung from the bench with 20 minutes to go if we need to pull something special out of the bag.

Although we only won the home tie with a last minute goal, Dzeko could easily have had a hat-trick, and Zaba missed a simple headed opportunity, to name but four spurned opportunities.
We can win this with something to spare: we need to win if we are to have any chance of progressing.

They defended very well at the Etihad, but they might not have anything to play for, now

I think balo is more likely to unlock them with a solo effort than Edin and considering how organized they were last time I'd be starting with the firecracker.

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:I think balo is more likely to unlock them with a solo effort than Edin and considering how organized they were last time I'd be starting with the firecracker.

Well Mario definitely has the edge, pace and technique-wise, but I think we just need to keep the Dzeko momentum going, or provide him with the opportunity

The Original Special One wrote:Well Mario definitely has the edge, pace and technique-wise, but I think we just need to keep the Dzeko momentum going, or provide him with the opportunity

What about keeping the Balo momentum going? The guy is on fire(works)

Fidel Castro wrote:

The Original Special One wrote:Well Mario definitely has the edge, pace and technique-wise, but I think we just need to keep the Dzeko momentum going, or provide him with the opportunity

What about keeping the Balo momentum going? The guy is on fire(works)

Yeah, but I don't think it will faze Mario as much as it had done to Edin, particularly after his Munich horror-show; Mario can always come on and score inside 20 minutes, but I just think the critical thing is getting Edin to break his Euro duck

with our wealth of players and almost all of them in form it makes guessing a lineup troublesome.

Hart, VK, Lescott, NDJ, Silva, Aguero are auto picks in my book.

Zaba and Clichy makes sense with the fb rotation Mancini has been using.
Milner is in great form (much better than Nasri and AJ) and deserves a CL start.
Yaya seems to play every non Carling cup game so I think he'll start over Barry even though Id love Yaya to be rested.
That leaves Dzeko or Balo. Both are in great form...I think he'll play Balo thf.
Leaving,

Hart
Zaba VK Lescott Clichy
NDJ Yaya
Milner Silva Balo
Aguero

The Original Special One wrote:

Fidel Castro wrote:

The Original Special One wrote:Well Mario definitely has the edge, pace and technique-wise, but I think we just need to keep the Dzeko momentum going, or provide him with the opportunity

What about keeping the Balo momentum going? The guy is on fire(works)

Yeah, but I don't think it will faze Mario as much as it had done to Edin, particularly after his Munich horror-show; Mario can always come on and score inside 20 minutes, but I just think the critical thing is getting Edin to break his Euro duck

Definitely Balo for me. He's imo at the moment the in form striker of the two

Moonchesteri wrote:

The Original Special One wrote:

Fidel Castro wrote:

The Original Special One wrote:Well Mario definitely has the edge, pace and technique-wise, but I think we just need to keep the Dzeko momentum going, or provide him with the opportunity

What about keeping the Balo momentum going? The guy is on fire(works)

Yeah, but I don't think it will faze Mario as much as it had done to Edin, particularly after his Munich horror-show; Mario can always come on and score inside 20 minutes, but I just think the critical thing is getting Edin to break his Euro duck

Definitely Balo for me. He's imo at the moment the in form striker of the two

And Balo for me too, I think Bobby felt Dzeko's brace against Wolves in midweek would mean he was the right choice for yesterday and also psychologcally he would have an advantage over Wolves back line meaning he could happily revert to what as you suggest is his strongest attacking options for Villareal.

I think as we stuttered to get over the line in the homegame it makes sense to change our attacking options for the away game.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/7156844/villarreal-giuseppe-rossi-knee-surgery-6-months

[highlight]I hate this twunt, can say I am at all bothered by this[/highlight]

Giuseppe Rossi to have knee surgery

Associated Press

VILLARREAL, Spain -- New Jersey-born striker Giuseppe Rossi will have knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined for six months.

Rossi plays for Villarreal in the Spanish league and for the Italian national team. He hurt his right knee during Wednesday's 3-0 loss at Real Madrid. Villarreal says MRI scans Thursday showed he needs immediate surgery.

Villarreal has just one win in 12 games in all competitions this season and already is without Brazil striker Nilmar, who is recovering from knee surgery.

Rossi had three goals this season for Villarreal, which is in 18th place and in the relegation zone. The club is winless in the Champions League after three games.

I will be very interested to see Mancini's approach to this one.It's a must win game away at a club really struggling.But it won't be like going to a Blackburn or Bolton as they have some experience at playing in the CL.I would expect them to play on the counter and I hope we don't just go gung ho at it and expect to win.

We might do that and win but a controlled game would be good and learn from the games we have played so far.

I also hear Cani who scored at ES may also be crocked after yesterdays game

Dzeko or Balo.. hmm

I was going to say that I would leave the one with the best record as a sub on the bench, then realised that's both of them ;(

I know play them both and leave Aguero on the bench!

Balo for me, just has that extra bit of quality over Dzeko.

Senna is out as well...fucking good player he is...very happy about their injury problems.

milner n balo are the favourites to start.no debate between dzeko and balo there.otherwise its the same team we played against unitd.may be de jong will start in place of who i dont know.
surely it should be the team against united
hart
micah komp less clichy
dejong yaya
milner balo silva
aguero

Hart

Zabba
Kompany
Lescott
Clichy

Ya Ya
De Jong

Milner
Silva
Aguero

Balotelli

Goaters 103 wrote:Hart

Zabba
Kompany
Lescott
Clichy

Ya Ya
De Jong

Milner
Silva
Aguero

Balotelli

Yeah, I think that'll be it, but I might be tempted to rest Silva and play Johnson bearing in mind how average Silva was against them two weeks ago (before you all jump down my throat).

Just to echo what some have said in here,

Villarreal's injury problems have mounted with striker Marco Ruben and midfielders Ruben ''Cani'' Garcia and Marcos Senna ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League match against Manchester City.

Midfielder Javier Camunas is also doubtful with a right foot injury.

The Spanish club says that Cani will be sidelined for six weeks after twisting the ligaments in his right knee during Saturday's 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

Ruben will be out for at least one game as he recovers from a muscle pull, while Senna will rest for a week as a precaution.

Villarreal, which has only won two games in all competitions this season, is already missing strikers Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar to long-term injuries.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/lali ... gue-103111

Thats quite a few key players for them

Tokyo Blue wrote:Yeah, I think that'll be it, but I might be tempted to rest Silva and play Johnson bearing in mind how average Silva was against them two weeks ago (before you all jump down my throat).

I rekon Silva's poor performance was more of a one off though tbh.. however I agree and would rest Silva on the basis that he needs resting and keeping fresh. Something tells me though that Bob will take another view. That he could rest Silva for QPR and play him Wed to sort of throw him back in the deep end v Villareal and see how he responds.

i'm sure our 3 former la liga players are all default starting , and rightly