Next: Southampton Away

[AG7]

Martin Atkinson has been appointed referee for Southampton v Manchester City on Saturday, 9th February (5:30pm Kickoff)

[City64]

Martin Atkinson has been appointed referee for Southampton v Manchester City on Saturday, 9th February (5:30pm Kickoff)

Were fucked then.

[bobby brows]

Cheers AG mate. I've been waiting for this thread all day. even if i didn't get out of bed til 2pm thanks to the lights going off in the superbowl!

After the shenanigans of yesterday i just want to see us do something different at Southampton. We know they can play and I saw them against the Vermin in Aug they battered them for 70 minutes before they ran out of steam.

If I was in charge for Sat game i'd go with our normal 4 at the back, Milner and Barry in midfield and play Maicon, if fit, on the right hand side of midfield. He's been brought in because of his play in the final third so lets take him out of the defence where he can focus solely on attack and have him simply run at the Southampton defence all game. I'm not expecting the Ivorians to return.

Don't know whats happening with Tevez but I honest to god think its a crime that he didn't play on Sunday. Get him in the team, even if its in midfield.

[AG7]

Cheers AG mate. I've been waiting for this thread all day. even if i didn't get out of bed til 2pm thanks to the lights going off in the superbowl!

After the shenanigans of yesterday i just want to see us do something different at Southampton. We know they can play and I saw them against the Vermin in Aug they battered them for 70 minutes before they ran out of steam.

If I was in charge for Sat game i'd go with our normal 4 at the back, Milner and Barry in midfield and play Maicon, if fit, on the right hand side of midfield. He's been brought in because of his play in the final third so lets take him out of the defence where he can focus solely on attack and have him simply run at the Southampton defence all game. I'm not expecting the Ivorians to return.

Don't know whats happening with Tevez but I honest to god think its a crime that he didn't play on Sunday. Get him in the team, even if its in midfield.

That's the thing, you are not in charge on Sat, Mancini is ...

PS. Why would Toure bros not be back now? They taking a ship?

[bobby brows]

I read this book elephants, lions & eagles and it talked about how the players at the african cup of nations were a nightmare for european clubs because they wan't to get off to the tournament as early as possible and return as late as possible because it gave them the opportunity to spend weeks in their home country with their families and mates and not in the public eye. So I'm just preparing for the worst by them not coming back this week and possibly not until after the ACN has ended. I really hope i'm wrong though.

[AG7]

Is Yaya really out biggest issue though? As in that position in the midfield? I still think its our play in the final 3rd and strikers that's causing us headache ... look at no. of draws, that's all because of not finding that winner ... and it's not that the strikers haven't been serviced (ok, maybe compared to last season a little less but still) it's too many fluffed chances up front that's irritating me ...

Given what and how we did against QPR, every other team will look a bigger threat than they possibly should be ... and Southampton were quite good on the break against us in the season opener.

[MilnersJaw]

Martin Atkinson has been appointed referee for Southampton v Manchester City on Saturday, 9th February (5:30pm Kickoff)

Were fucked then.

every time we are appointed a referee, someone says we're fucked. Then end up winning the game.

the only time I didn't see it was against liverpool and we drew.

[bobby brows]

Is Yaya really out biggest issue though? As in that position in the midfield? I still think its our play in the final 3rd and strikers that's causing us headache ... look at no. of draws, that's all because of not finding that winner ... and it's not that the strikers haven't been serviced (ok, maybe compared to last season a little less but still) it's too many fluffed chances up front that's irritating me ...

Given what and how we did against QPR, every other team will look a bigger threat than they possibly should be ... and Southampton were quite good on the break against us in the season opener.

we are piss poor at breaking sides down because we've got fuck all width. if you look at the DVD of last season and count the number of goals created or scored by AJ or Micah its unreal. width is the key and again, if i were in charge, i would pick Maicon on the right wing an an attempt to try and create some.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Atkinson's one of the least worst.

[Beefymcfc]

Is Yaya really out biggest issue though? As in that position in the midfield? I still think its our play in the final 3rd and strikers that's causing us headache ... look at no. of draws, that's all because of not finding that winner ... and it's not that the strikers haven't been serviced (ok, maybe compared to last season a little less but still) it's too many fluffed chances up front that's irritating me ...

Given what and how we did against QPR, every other team will look a bigger threat than they possibly should be ... and Southampton were quite good on the break against us in the season opener.

we are piss poor at breaking sides down because we've got fuck all width. if you look at the DVD of last season and count the number of goals created or scored by AJ or Micah its unreal. width is the key and again, if i were in charge, i would pick Maicon on the right wing an an attempt to try and create some.

It maybe a point that we didn't score many from where you say but how did we do overall in the scoring front?

I understand your thoughts and I'm pretty sure the club tried to rectify it in the summer. For some reason, it didn't work.

[bobby brows]

Is Yaya really out biggest issue though? As in that position in the midfield? I still think its our play in the final 3rd and strikers that's causing us headache ... look at no. of draws, that's all because of not finding that winner ... and it's not that the strikers haven't been serviced (ok, maybe compared to last season a little less but still) it's too many fluffed chances up front that's irritating me ...

Given what and how we did against QPR, every other team will look a bigger threat than they possibly should be ... and Southampton were quite good on the break against us in the season opener.

we are piss poor at breaking sides down because we've got fuck all width. if you look at the DVD of last season and count the number of goals created or scored by AJ or Micah its unreal. width is the key and again, if i were in charge, i would pick Maicon on the right wing an an attempt to try and create some.

It maybe a point that we didn't score many from where you say but how did we do overall in the scoring front?

I understand your thoughts and I'm pretty sure the club tried to rectify it in the summer. For some reason, it didn't work.

unfortunately we were exposed more often than corporate banking with 3 at the back. i wish we would try and play 442 with 2 genuine wingers.

[AG7]

I guess only one day training this week? On Friday that is? As int'l games on Wed, then Thu they'll travel back so just the Friday before the game, or do they travel down to Southampton on Friday I guess ... anyone knows?

And who is away? Zaba and Aguero are away with Argentina, Carlos is not. With England Barry is not but Milner, Hart and Sinclair (not sure) are ... who else? Nasri for France, Silva for Spain?

Will this impact on Mancini's team selection? Might not play those who end up playing 70+ mins on int'l duty ...

[mcfc1632]

For those going to the match any thoughts on where the CITY fans will be meeting up. Bonus for me - as Southampton is one of the nearest grounds to where I live!!

[paul_oresteia]

For those going to the match any thoughts on where the CITY fans will be meeting up. Bonus for me - as Southampton is one of the nearest grounds to where I live!!

I just posted a new thread, should have seen this! Details of City meet in the other thread.

[Beefymcfc]

Is Yaya really out biggest issue though? As in that position in the midfield? I still think its our play in the final 3rd and strikers that's causing us headache ... look at no. of draws, that's all because of not finding that winner ... and it's not that the strikers haven't been serviced (ok, maybe compared to last season a little less but still) it's too many fluffed chances up front that's irritating me ...

Given what and how we did against QPR, every other team will look a bigger threat than they possibly should be ... and Southampton were quite good on the break against us in the season opener.

we are piss poor at breaking sides down because we've got fuck all width. if you look at the DVD of last season and count the number of goals created or scored by AJ or Micah its unreal. width is the key and again, if i were in charge, i would pick Maicon on the right wing an an attempt to try and create some.

It maybe a point that we didn't score many from where you say but how did we do overall in the scoring front?

I understand your thoughts and I'm pretty sure the club tried to rectify it in the summer. For some reason, it didn't work.

unfortunately we were exposed more often than corporate banking with 3 at the back. i wish we would try and play 442 with 2 genuine wingers.

When you say we were exposed, I think it was the opposite straight after the change. We were getting battered in midfield and that change brought us back in it. We smothered their play and actually started winning the game at that point.

Whatever we say about 3 at the back, we came from a losing position to getting a draw. It may not look pretty and may not have been the best in previous games, but we came back from a losing position with a chance of winning the game. Surely that's the point.

As for the wingers, I'm sure that's what we all want but it didn't happen in the closed season. We move on and cut our cloth accordingly.

[Mark Garrett]

Must win game undoubtedly.

The Tevez question is tricky, he has started and played more games this season than any of our other strikers and is still a very good player but his goalscoring is going backwards at an alarming rate. Also as far as Tevez is concerned, is it fair to say that he has never quite got back to his best of May 2011?

Assuming Kompany is fit and with Yaya back etc, only Richards now injured and Nastasic perhaps still not absolutely fully fit.

I would go with

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

Zabaleta--------Kompany--Lescott----Clichy

------------------Yaya Toure---Barry

Milner--------------Aguero------------Silva

----------------------Dzeko

Subs:
Pantillimon
K Toure
Maicon
Nasri
Tevez
Sinclair
Kolarov

Or Garcia, Rodwell

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Must win game undoubtedly.

The Tevez question is tricky, he has started and played more games this season than any of our other strikers and is still a very good player but his goalscoring is going backwards at an alarming rate. Also as far as Tevez is concerned, is it fair to say that he has never quite got back to his best of May 2011?

Assuming Kompany is fit and with Yaya back etc, only Richards now injured and Nastasic perhaps still not absolutely fully fit.

I would go with

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

Zabaleta--------Kompany--Lescott----Clichy

------------------Yaya Toure---Barry

Milner--------------Aguero------------Silva

----------------------Dzeko

Subs:
Pantillimon
K Toure
Maicon
Nasri
Tevez
Sinclair
Kolarov

Or Garcia, Rodwell

Tevez is one of those players who contributes a lot even when not scoring but can have great bursts of scoring goals.Maybe we are due a burst of 8 in in 8 or something.Soton away would be a great place to start.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Tevez is one of those players who contributes a lot even when not scoring but can have great bursts of scoring goals.Maybe we are due a burst of 8 in in 8 or something.Soton away would be a great place to start.

He doesn't mind hitting form at the lesser sides either. He got started 1st time at palace and soon after 3 at Bolton. Once he's rolling he'll score anywhere tho.

[s1ty m]

The return of Yaya will free Silva, who was blanked out as Scouse 1 had the run of the midfield without having to worry about Yaya.

Tevez is a fabulous player on a barren run, which is sure to end soon. I'd be more comfortable giving Vinnie another week than 2, as we need everyone for the FA Cup, whoever we play, wherever. It's our best shot at a trophy.

[Mark Garrett]

Not denying Tevez is a very good player and yes he still contributes when not scoring but bottom line is we need goals.

The main reason this season we are behind United is because we have not been clinical enough in front of goal and they have been ultra clinical. Someone was saying on the radio the other day, we have had more shots, created more chances than United but yet they have scored more. The derby match was a prime example, we were the better team on the day and we probably had about 12-13 attempts on goal off the top of my head and we scored 2 and they scored 3 in about 6-7 attempts.

If Tevez starts scoring again then great, but last week against Liverpool, both strikers scored and so I would imagine Mancini will go with that partnership again.

Is it fair to say though that Tevez has never returned to his best form and best goalscoring form since May 2011?