***Official West Brom v City Match Thread***

[Beefymcfc]

A view from the Beeb. Not a patch on our own from BB.

TEAM NEWS

West Brom forward Romelu Lukaku should be fit despite missing Belgium's win over Scotland with an ankle problem.

Youssouf Mulumbu also picked up an injury on international duty and is a doubt, while Jerome Thomas is not yet fit after a knee operation.

Manchester City's David Silva is absent due to the hamstring injury he suffered while playing for Spain.

Jack Rodwell also hurt his hamstring on international duty and joins Javi Garcia and Maicon on the sidelines.

MATCH PREVIEW

Although the lunchtime kick-off between Tottenham and Chelsea will undoubtedly dominate the build-up to the weekend's football, I think this match is comfortably the most attractive of the three o'clock fixtures.

West Brom have made a very impressive start to the season and it will be intriguing to see them try and protect their unbeaten start at home against the might of champions Manchester City.

Last season, Albion were the first team to stop City scoring in the league when they shared a 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns on Boxing Day. Ultimately it didn't affect City but after a less than convincing start to the defence of their title, manager Roberto Mancini will not want them to drop many more points.

Mancini proclaimed recently that City will retain their title, which is a bold statement and has heaped further pressure on his players so early on in the season. Every game must feel like a cup final for them now.

With so many of his squad spread around the world on international duty in the past week, Mancini has some important team selections to make, especially as they have a crucial Champions League clash with Ajax looming on Wednesday.

Mancini, though, will be boosted by the news that two of his strikers scored for their countries, with Mario Balotelli on target for Italy and Edin Dzeko scoring for Bosnia.

West Brom have some excellent strikers of their own in Peter Odemwingie, Shane Long, Romelu Lukaku and Marc-Antoine Fortune, and their goals have helped Albion enjoy their best start to a top-flight season at home since 1919-20.

This is arguably their first real test and it will go a long way to showing what Steve Clarke's side can achieve this season.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

•Manchester City have only managed one victory in their last five visits to play West Brom.

•They have played each other 12 times in the Premier League. West Brom lost only one of their first seven encounters - while City are unbeaten in the last five.

•The Baggies have not scored in their last four matches against Man City.

West Brom

•West Brom and Chelsea are the only Premier League clubs to have a 100% record at home.

•The two goals they conceded against QPR were the first they had let in at the Hawthorns in the league this season.

•Going into this game they had enjoyed only 43% of possession in matches this campaign - the fourth lowest in the Premier League.

Manchester City

•Manchester City and Chelsea are the only two undefeated teams in the top flight this season.

•In their last match against Sunderland, Manchester City kept their first clean sheet of the campaign in all competitions.

•They have picked up 15 points from their seven league matches - four less than at the same stage of last season.

[Swales4ever]

nice start Beefy Mate.

cannot wait to see the Champions back at the dugout!
As already said I have very positive vibes for this, despite it's always an hard guess coming back from an internation break:

my guess and hopes are for:

-------------- Joe ----------
Micah -- Vinnie -- Klingon -- Gael
----- Jimmy Jaws --- GazBaz
Samir ----- YaYa ----- Carlito
------------- Edin --------

Sergio, Mario and Aleks or Sinclair ready to impact


[center]COME ON CITEH!![/center]

[Beefymcfc]

I'm not even going to try and second guess Mancini on his selection although I cannot see him leaving out Sergio. I'm just hoping we don't piss about too much with the back 4 but I can see Nasti getting a call back if he's fit.

Anyway, at least Lawro has us down for a win:

West Brom v Man City

West Brom seem to go from strength to strength, which is great for their boss Steve Clarke and his coaching team.

They seem to have taken the best aspects of the way the Baggies played under former manager Roy Hodgson, in terms of a solid defence, and added more of an attacking threat. Their movement is very good and they have some good forwards who are allowed to play with a bit of freedom.

What also helps is the confidence they have from their start to the season - they are not under any pressure whatsoever.

I am not sure who Manchester City will have in their line-up. David Silva got injured playing for Spain in midweek so he is a doubt but, in any case, Roberto Mancini may pick a team with Wednesday's Champions League game against Ajax in mind.

He chops and changes needlessly at times and I am a firm believer that Mancini should play his best team in order to win this game, not worry about the next one.

West Brom have won everything at The Hawthorns this season but City represent their biggest test yet. If Mancini picks a decent line-up, he will leave with the points.

Prediction: 1-2

[Cocacolajojo1]

Starting eleven:

Hart, Richards, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Y. Toure, Balotelli, Tevez

[Nigels Tackle]

Starting eleven:

Hart, Richards, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Y. Toure, Balotelli, Tevez

would have had edin in rather than balo but happy with that...

come on you blues!

[Moonchesteri]

Starting eleven:

Hart, Richards, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Y. Toure, Balotelli, Tevez

Well, let's hope the Hawthorns is happy hunting ground for Balo again... Apart from Balo that's what I was hoping/expecting

COME ON CITY!!

[Dameerto]

Hm, is he going 4-4-2? I was hoping not, but looks like it. If we play like we did v Fulham it will be alright though.

[ashton287]

Starting eleven:

Hart, Richards, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Y. Toure, Balotelli, Tevez

Hm, is he going 4-4-2? I was hoping not, but looks like it. If we play like we did v Fulham it will be alright though.

Well he has played Milner as part of a back 5 this season and Richards as a CB before so nothing to say we aren't going for his ridiculous 3-5-2 again.

Don't think that team is official though. Not announced until half past is it.

[Superbia]

Balotelli doesnt warrant a start.

[Moonchesteri]

Well he has played Milner as part of a back 5 this season and Richards as a CB before so nothing to say we aren't going for his ridiculous 3-5-2 again.

Don't think that team is official though. Not announced until half past is it.

It is official. Announced 1 hour before kick off for Prem games

[Cocacolajojo1]

Starting eleven:

Hart, Richards, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Y. Toure, Balotelli, Tevez

Hm, is he going 4-4-2? I was hoping not, but looks like it. If we play like we did v Fulham it will be alright though.

Well he has played Milner as part of a back 5 this season and Richards as a CB before so nothing to say we aren't going for his ridiculous 3-5-2 again.

Don't think that team is official though. Not announced until half past is it.

I think it'd do you well to visit the MCFC twitter account about an hour before the game.

[Alioune DVToure]

MOTHERFUCKER I made Sergio my FF captain yesterday.

[ashton287]

I think it'd do you well to visit the MCFC twitter account about an hour before the game.

I don't use twitter so probably won't. Always thought teams were announced half an hour before the game not an hour.

[ashton287]

MOTHERFUCKER I made Sergio my FF captain yesterday.

That's what vice captains are for.

[Alioune DVToure]

That's what vice captains are for.

I do Sky Sports.

[Cocacolajojo1]

I think it'd do you well to visit the MCFC twitter account about an hour before the game.

I don't use twitter so probably won't. Always thought teams were announced half an hour before the game not an hour.

Ok. Well perhaps that's most often the case but you can usually visit the official website or the twitter site about an hour before. Usually. They'll probably stop doing it now just to fuck up my credibility.

[s1ty m]

Mancini indulges Balotelli, I think. When he came off against Sunderland and Kun came on, City were transformed. Mancini perhaps didn't see that.

[halnone]

Mancini indulges Balotelli, I think. When he came off against Sunderland and Kun came on, City were transformed. Mancini perhaps didn't see that.

maybe he's giving Sergio a break after playing 2 games with Argentina.

Balotelli should be more than capable of doing the job today.

[Tony P]

It's been a long time since I've navigated watercourses in the Black Country. Would anyone like to PM me a suitable location?

[Michael Brookes]

I hope LOF get rid of them info screen obstructing the view!!