***Manchester City v Stoke City PREVIEW***
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:20 amThe standard of these previews has been raised recently time to end that today. Happy New Year Everyone.
[center]Manchester City v Stoke City
Saturday 1st January 2013
Etihad Stadium 3pm ko
Referee: Michael Oliver
[/center]
It has been a bad couple of weeks for Sami Nasri. First there was unforgivably turning of his back in the wall in the derby and then at Norwich he felt compelled to square up to and attempt to headbutt the 6’2’ Sebastian Bassong and saw red for his troubles. Both Big Mistakes and just to add injury to the insult he had to leave the Newcastle game after taking one in the crown jewels.
The sending off overshadowed City’s best performance of the Christmas period and instead of winning by a comfortable margin similar to our 6-1 thrashing their last year the second half became the kind of tense nervous affair that prevents a generation of City fans from ever worrying about living long enough to collect a pension.
For me it was a comfortable victory turned into a narrow one because of a couple of big refereeing decisions and Mike Jones got them all wrong. The decision to give the free kick that led to the Norwich’s first goal was as soft as anything ever given in modern football (Clichy also needs to learn about blocking free kicks). Personally I think the Red Card was also harsh as Bassong didn’t pull his head away he was equally guilty about the incident (Bassong was booked for the foul and on second look could easily have been a straight red) and for me there was also a foul in the build up to the 3rd goal when Kompany was clattered by two Norwich players.
In the end it was a well earned 3 points, the performance was a good team performance where everyone worked hard and we move on.
[center]The Transfer Window[/center]
Nasri’s sending off and subsequent 3 match ban has created a selection dilemma for Mancini throughout January as Yaya, Kolo and Razak all fly off to the African Cup of Nations after the Stoke game, so Nasri will join Maicon, Rodwell, Kolarov and Micah Richards on the sidelines leaving the squad very thin on bodies. We desperately need to strengthen in this window as, regardless of who is to blame, the club made their first big mistake in the summer by failing to strengthen from a position of strength. Only 1 of our summer signings has made a significant impact on our season; Nastasic.
The significant transfer gossip so far has been the potential departures of Lescott and Balotelli. Mancini has clearly fallen out with him and it’s not clear as to why. If I was the manager of another Premier League club I’d be snatching City’s hand off for £8m.but we must sign his replacement first.
This season continues to pass Mario by as he’s suffering from a virus and rumours continue about his return to Italy. If PSG or AC Milan put in a big offer, £45m is the sum continued to be banded about, then I’d definitely cash in and use the money on Falcao and Isco.
What else do we need and who do we bring in? I won’t list the endless names that will no doubt continue to snub us throughout January but if no one leaves in January we still need adequate cover for Yaya Toure as Garcia and Rodwell between them have failed to make significant contributions this season. Even if Lescott stays we’d would still need cover at centre half in Kolo’s absence rather than attempt to rush Micah back too soon again.
Width is still an issue as last season most of our width came from our full backs and Mancini has failed to replicate it in Micah’s absence and Zabaleta, Clichy Maicon and Kolarov have failed to be as effective.
[center]Stoke
[youtube]k4npNTMgcPM[/youtube]
Roberto Mancini: "Stoke are always difficult to beat. They are strong, tall and they fight for every ball."[/center]
Courtesy of PremierLeague.com:
Team news: Midfielder Steven Nzonzi will be available after the club appealed against the red card he received in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Southampton. Captain Ryan Shawcross and full-back Geoff Cameron are both likely to return after serving one-match bans, while defenders Robert Huth and Andy Wilkinson should also play despite a clash of heads on Saturday that forced Wilkinson off with concussion. Manager Tony Pulis may choose to freshen things up and could recall midfielder Charlie Adam to the starting line-up for the first time since the death of his father earlier this month.
Stoke (from): Begovic, Shotton, Shawcross, Cameron, Huth, Upson, Wilkinson, Whelan, Nzonzi, Walters, Kightly, Etherington, Jones, Sorensen, Whitehead, Crouch, Jerome, Adam, Palacios, Owen.
There are usually few surprises with Stoke, they like to get the ball into the penalty area as quickly and frequently as possible and our defence usually struggles to cope with Peter Crouch. Stoke are also effective with set pieces which unfortunately is also another one of our weaknesses and how most of our goals are conceded.
[center]City[/center]
premierleague.com again:
Team news: City are without Samir Nasri after deciding not to appeal against his sending-off at Norwich City. Striker Mario Balotelli (virus) is not yet ready to return while full-backs Aleksandar Kolarov and Maicon (knee) also remain on the sidelines. Defender Micah Richards (knee) and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) are still long-term casualties.
I expect Mancini will look to try and keep the same team as the Norwich game. At this time of the season it’s as much about putting healthy bodies on the field as tactical selection. Milner should come in for Nasri to keep the midfield balanced but Garcia might be an option as he’s arguably one of the best headers of the ball in the team but this would leave us with a 3 man midfield and very narrow.
[center]Prediction
[youtube]1_LdSS345As[/youtube][/center]
These are the kind of games City should be wining comfortably and tomorrow should be no exception regardless of what team he puts out but Stoke are a very organised team and if we don’t come out of the blocks we’ll be punished for it. Pulis will have his players fired up as this is his Cup Final played over and over again.
2-0 City but it might not be pretty
[center]Manchester City v Stoke City
Saturday 1st January 2013
Etihad Stadium 3pm ko
Referee: Michael Oliver
[/center]It has been a bad couple of weeks for Sami Nasri. First there was unforgivably turning of his back in the wall in the derby and then at Norwich he felt compelled to square up to and attempt to headbutt the 6’2’ Sebastian Bassong and saw red for his troubles. Both Big Mistakes and just to add injury to the insult he had to leave the Newcastle game after taking one in the crown jewels.
The sending off overshadowed City’s best performance of the Christmas period and instead of winning by a comfortable margin similar to our 6-1 thrashing their last year the second half became the kind of tense nervous affair that prevents a generation of City fans from ever worrying about living long enough to collect a pension.
For me it was a comfortable victory turned into a narrow one because of a couple of big refereeing decisions and Mike Jones got them all wrong. The decision to give the free kick that led to the Norwich’s first goal was as soft as anything ever given in modern football (Clichy also needs to learn about blocking free kicks). Personally I think the Red Card was also harsh as Bassong didn’t pull his head away he was equally guilty about the incident (Bassong was booked for the foul and on second look could easily have been a straight red) and for me there was also a foul in the build up to the 3rd goal when Kompany was clattered by two Norwich players.
In the end it was a well earned 3 points, the performance was a good team performance where everyone worked hard and we move on.
[center]The Transfer Window[/center]
Nasri’s sending off and subsequent 3 match ban has created a selection dilemma for Mancini throughout January as Yaya, Kolo and Razak all fly off to the African Cup of Nations after the Stoke game, so Nasri will join Maicon, Rodwell, Kolarov and Micah Richards on the sidelines leaving the squad very thin on bodies. We desperately need to strengthen in this window as, regardless of who is to blame, the club made their first big mistake in the summer by failing to strengthen from a position of strength. Only 1 of our summer signings has made a significant impact on our season; Nastasic.
The significant transfer gossip so far has been the potential departures of Lescott and Balotelli. Mancini has clearly fallen out with him and it’s not clear as to why. If I was the manager of another Premier League club I’d be snatching City’s hand off for £8m.but we must sign his replacement first.
This season continues to pass Mario by as he’s suffering from a virus and rumours continue about his return to Italy. If PSG or AC Milan put in a big offer, £45m is the sum continued to be banded about, then I’d definitely cash in and use the money on Falcao and Isco.
What else do we need and who do we bring in? I won’t list the endless names that will no doubt continue to snub us throughout January but if no one leaves in January we still need adequate cover for Yaya Toure as Garcia and Rodwell between them have failed to make significant contributions this season. Even if Lescott stays we’d would still need cover at centre half in Kolo’s absence rather than attempt to rush Micah back too soon again.
Width is still an issue as last season most of our width came from our full backs and Mancini has failed to replicate it in Micah’s absence and Zabaleta, Clichy Maicon and Kolarov have failed to be as effective.
[center]Stoke
[youtube]k4npNTMgcPM[/youtube]
Roberto Mancini: "Stoke are always difficult to beat. They are strong, tall and they fight for every ball."[/center]
Courtesy of PremierLeague.com:
Team news: Midfielder Steven Nzonzi will be available after the club appealed against the red card he received in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Southampton. Captain Ryan Shawcross and full-back Geoff Cameron are both likely to return after serving one-match bans, while defenders Robert Huth and Andy Wilkinson should also play despite a clash of heads on Saturday that forced Wilkinson off with concussion. Manager Tony Pulis may choose to freshen things up and could recall midfielder Charlie Adam to the starting line-up for the first time since the death of his father earlier this month.
Stoke (from): Begovic, Shotton, Shawcross, Cameron, Huth, Upson, Wilkinson, Whelan, Nzonzi, Walters, Kightly, Etherington, Jones, Sorensen, Whitehead, Crouch, Jerome, Adam, Palacios, Owen.
There are usually few surprises with Stoke, they like to get the ball into the penalty area as quickly and frequently as possible and our defence usually struggles to cope with Peter Crouch. Stoke are also effective with set pieces which unfortunately is also another one of our weaknesses and how most of our goals are conceded.
[center]City[/center]
premierleague.com again:
Team news: City are without Samir Nasri after deciding not to appeal against his sending-off at Norwich City. Striker Mario Balotelli (virus) is not yet ready to return while full-backs Aleksandar Kolarov and Maicon (knee) also remain on the sidelines. Defender Micah Richards (knee) and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) are still long-term casualties.
I expect Mancini will look to try and keep the same team as the Norwich game. At this time of the season it’s as much about putting healthy bodies on the field as tactical selection. Milner should come in for Nasri to keep the midfield balanced but Garcia might be an option as he’s arguably one of the best headers of the ball in the team but this would leave us with a 3 man midfield and very narrow.
[center]Prediction
[youtube]1_LdSS345As[/youtube][/center]
These are the kind of games City should be wining comfortably and tomorrow should be no exception regardless of what team he puts out but Stoke are a very organised team and if we don’t come out of the blocks we’ll be punished for it. Pulis will have his players fired up as this is his Cup Final played over and over again.
2-0 City but it might not be pretty