AJ

[Ted Hughes]

Just a quick one: AJ played from a starting position on the left again when he came on v Wolves & played another superb pass to Aguero from which he should have scored. Aguero was expecting it, as he was from the Clichy pass. Both direct balls from left footers on the left side. That's twice now in recent games where AJ has been brought on to play on the left, probably as many times as in his whole City career up until now.

Is Bob finally succumbing to the traditional, simple 'width' idea rather than having everyone hitting diagonal passes from their opposite sides ? If so Dzeko may have an important part to play if we're struggling for goals & managers who've been watching our tactics so far this season won't be expecting it.

[thegoatfeeder]

I hope so. Not AJ's biggest fan but definitely think he deserves a go on the left before we move him on just to see what he can do out there.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Just a quick one: AJ played from a starting position on the left again when he came on v Wolves & played another superb pass to Aguero from which he should have scored. Aguero was expecting it, as he was from the Clichy pass. Both direct balls from left footers on the left side. That's twice now in recent games where AJ has been brought on to play on the left, probably as many times as in his whole City career up until now.

Is Bob finally succumbing to the traditional, simple 'width' idea rather than having everyone hitting diagonal passes from their opposite sides ? If so Dzeko may have an important part to play if we're struggling for goals & managers who've been watching our tactics so far this season won't be expecting it.

Better late than never.

On a side note I hope to fuck he doesnt play Balotelli in the match with the Munchens..he has hinted as much.

[thegoatfeeder]

Just a quick one: AJ played from a starting position on the left again when he came on v Wolves & played another superb pass to Aguero from which he should have scored. Aguero was expecting it, as he was from the Clichy pass. Both direct balls from left footers on the left side. That's twice now in recent games where AJ has been brought on to play on the left, probably as many times as in his whole City career up until now.

Is Bob finally succumbing to the traditional, simple 'width' idea rather than having everyone hitting diagonal passes from their opposite sides ? If so Dzeko may have an important part to play if we're struggling for goals & managers who've been watching our tactics so far this season won't be expecting it.

Better late than never.

On a side note I hope to fuck he doesnt play Balotelli in the match with the Munchens..he has hinted as much.

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

[BobbyJ1956]

I don't know what Roberto Mancini is thinking but it is true that for all Johnson's failings in some ways, he hits a good pass. He played a beauty for Nasri to score in the League Cup game at Wolves in November. That was one of the passes of the year - just behind Silva's volley to Dzeko at O.T. and the pass of the year, Milner's out the right when he collected the return and scored himself (vs Villa maybe.)

[Crossie]

Maybe Bob has been watching Scum play with wingers. *Works* for them

[Moses]

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

I would be tempted to drop Nasri to accommodate De Jong.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

I would be tempted to drop Nasri to accommodate De Jong.

Agree with this...we need warriors who will actually challenge for a 50/50 ball - I have never known such a fucking wimp as Nasri when it comes for challenging.

[thegoatfeeder]

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

I would be tempted to drop Nasri to accommodate De Jong.

Agree with this...we need warriors who will actually challenge for a 50/50 ball - I have never known such a fucking wimp as Nasri when it comes for challenging.

In that case i'd go for Milner, he was superb against them last time.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

I would be tempted to drop Nasri to accommodate De Jong.

Agree with this...we need warriors who will actually challenge for a 50/50 ball - I have never known such a fucking wimp as Nasri when it comes for challenging.

In that case i'd go for Milner, he was superb against them last time.

I wouldnt..hes been pap lately whereas NDJ hasnt,

[MR IMAINEROAD]

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

I would be tempted to drop Nasri to accommodate De Jong.

Agree with this...we need warriors who will actually challenge for a 50/50 ball - I have never known such a fucking wimp as Nasri when it comes for challenging.

In that case i'd go for Milner, he was superb against them last time.

Agree with Milner. We need warriors for sure but also someone with a bit of creativity.

[Rag_hater]

He played on the right for a while aswell.
I think he was due a good pass the amount of time he has had don't think it was important he did from the left

[Grob]

I'd be livid if he did, fine on the bench but nothing needs changing other than Richards for Zabs if he's fit again.

I would be tempted to drop Nasri to accommodate De Jong.

Agree with this...we need warriors who will actually challenge for a 50/50 ball - I have never known such a fucking wimp as Nasri when it comes for challenging.

In that case i'd go for Milner, he was superb against them last time.

I wouldnt..hes been pap lately whereas NDJ hasnt,

Agree

Nasri's has the potential to go hiding, I wouldnt risk that happening in the next 2 games at least. Bring De Jong in for him to harrass Scholes and Carrick, i'd have him and sitting right infront of them with Barry deeper for a change. Nasri should be coming off the bench. Milner hasnt impressed me at all in the games he's played since Christmas.

I think Zabs doesnt deserve to be dropped for Richards, id continue with him. Richards can always come off the bench to provide some power going forward if required. Defensively they are equals to me.

As for Johnson, he knocked a great ball in against West Brom and in the highlights I saw from yesterdays game he played more left hand side. I've always thought the left footer on the right wing should be a plan B. Johnson can get to the byline and deliver a great ball in with his left foot which you never see when hes stuck out on the right. He's looked much more of a threat.

As for Balotelli, send him on holiday now, we're doing fine without him.

[Ted Hughes]

In all AJ's career he's spent most of his time on the right & after all the time he's spent at City, being told to basically do everything but play like he naturally plays even on the right, I was convinced it would be a waste of time trying him on the left & have said so on here but seeing him on the last two occasions he's been out there he's looked really natural & a coulple of passes he's put in have been absolutely sublime.

The difference in a ball defivered with the correct foot so that it travels round the back of a defence rather than bending the other way accross the front of it is huge & it's something we've only seen from Kolarov until this month.

The more different options we have to keep defenders guessing, the better we are as a team.