27/02/2010

One for Bridgey as Blues batter sorry Chelsea

A masterful and completely unexpected performance from the Blues this afternoon saw us leap back into fourth spot and deal Chelsea's title hopes a real blow. Two goals apiece from Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy led to only our second victory at Stamford Bridge in Premier League history as we outwitted Carlo Ancelotti's men. Frank Lampard also grabbed a brace.

Nigel de Jong returned to the centre of midfield, with Vince Kompany shifting back into the defence and Nedum Onuoha making way. Winger Adam Johnson and returning top scorer Carlos Tevez came in for Stevie Ireland and the suspended Emanuel Adebayor in a 4-5-1. Indeed, Ireland didn't even make the bench.

Chelsea stuck with Florent Malouda as a stand-in left-back given the injuries to Ashley Cole and Yuri Zhirkov. Hilarious continued in goal, with Anelka and Joe Cole starting wide of Drogba. Sadly, Danny Sturridge couldn't add to his one full league appearance for the season.

The Terry/Bridge nonsense obviously continued as the biggest talking point of the day, the whole affair overshadowing the game to the extent that you wondered if folk were there to watch it at all, or just to see if two grown men would shake hands or not. Our lot went through the usual procedures, Wayne decided not to bother, fair play to him.

Chelsea dominated the majority of the first half, so much so that i'm sure i wasn't the only Blue anticipating us being on the end of a good hiding. Malouda's sweet strike from well outside of the area in the eleventh minute sailed over Given's bar, and some hesitant defending from Micah Richards followed; firstly giving Chelsea a free-kick in a dangerous area, then slipping to allow Ivanovic in before recovering.

An Adam Johnson free-kick was easily gobbled up by Hilario, but the £7m signing from Boro, despite struggling to find his feet, began to cause Malouda problems by drifting infield. Michael Ballack's punt upfield to Drogba sailed wide and found Cole who cut in onto his stronger right foot and forced Given to parry away. Ivanovic, who had an excellent first half, whipped a cross in with his left peg, but the off-colour Drogba headed over.

The home side continued to carve out chances, and on another day would have opened the scoring much earlier than they did, but our defence, including what to me looks like our best centre-half partnership of Kompany and Lescott, were resolute. Anelka roamed infield and shot straight at Given, Kompany sliced over his own bar, Drogba again fired over, and they began to get frustrated.

Just as the interval was in sight we conceded. Joe Cole collected in the centre of midfield and knocked a delicious weighted ball through to Lampard. Kompany's stepping out left the England man free in acres of space, and he made no mistake, firing across Given into the far bottom corner. It was a deserved lead, and the afternoon ahead suddenly felt like a longer and tougher prospect.

Almost out of nowhere, though, we managed to claw ourselves level. A hoof out of defence was misjudged by Mikel, his header back leaving Carlos Tevez to run at Terry and Carvalho. Turning the Portuguese international inside out Carlito's tame strike trickled across the face of goal and past the despairing Hilario. We might have even gone in ahead, Craig Bellamy's free-kick reaching the unmarked Lescott at the back post but his header fell disappointingly wide.

The first incident of note during the second half saw John Terry booked for a foul just outside his penalty box. The ground buzzed in anticipation as Bridge lined up the free-kick. Sadly it didn't make the net bulge, instead hitting the wall. Thankfully we didn't have to wait long to edge in front, Craig Bellamy away down the left, running at his marker, Mikel again, and lashing left-footed into Hilario's far corner. Questionable positioning again from the 'keeper, but a great strike.

SWP was introduced on the hour, Johnson replaced. A coming together between Tevez and Terry could have saw the philanderer receive a second yellow, raising his hand to the Argentinian and a bit of handbags followed as Chelsea typically forgot what sportsmanship is when trailing. Their afternoon should have got worse, Ivanovic making a great last-ditch challenge on Bellamy when through on goal.

From there on in Chelsea's attempts because desperate and half-hearted. A free-kick landed at Drogba's feet at the far post but he couldn't get an accurate shot off. Ballack tried from around thirty yards, straight at Given. They had the look of a beaten team, and the result was put beyond doubt in the 75th minute, Belletti bundling Barry over in the area when through and getting his marching orders. Tevez stroked home to send the thousand or so travelling Blues into raptures.

Bridge was allowed an early bath once we'd extended our lead, Mancini upsetting the naysayers by bringing on a striker when two up away at the best team in the country. Ballack's second booking, for a cynical challenge on Tevez saw then reduced to nine men, but if anything they began to play better despite that, as we allowed them possession far too easily and they bombarded our defence without too many real clear-cut chances.

Just as the afternoon couldn't get any better we bagged another, again a slick move on the break. Carlos Tevez found sub Wright-Phillips on the right, his driving run and low cross across goal tapped in at the far stick by Bellamy. Unbelievable. Frank Lampard, who missed a vital spot-kick in the Eastlands fixture, made no mistake late on after Gareth Barry had mistimed a challenge.

I can't recall the last time that Chelsea were beaten in such a way on their own patch. We absorbed all they had first half barring one moment of clocking off, and came storming out of the blocks after the break. We've not witnessed too much of the fluid, counter-attacking football so far under Mancini, but then we've rarely had Bellamy and Tevez both available and fully fit. Three of our strikes today came on the break, and at times we were at our devastating best.

It's hard to really pick faults with the team, or the boss. Mancini's tactics were again spot-on, he picked the best side and formation, as he did last week, and generally has, in my opinion. We got away with the odd bit of naive defending early on, and after being unable to string three passes together early doors grew into the game and earned a thoroughly deserved victory.

For me, today's result is as enjoyable as any i can remember. We showed bottle, organisation, work rate, and in the end battered one of the very best club sides in Europe. Tevez' bullying of both Chelsea centre-halves should receive special praise, ditto fellow doublist Bellamy. Barry, too, was exceptional, but everyone played their part. I never saw that coming in a million years, and whilst none of us would have been upset to see the Chelsea captain get clattered by all comers today, going to 'fortress' Stamford Bridge and giving them a whipping has proved much more enjoyable.

Team:
Given, Richards, Bridge (Santa Cruz '78), Kompany, Lescott, de Jong, Zabaleta, Barry, A.Johnson (SWP '60), Tevez (Sylvinho '89), Bellamy

26/02/2010

Friday mp3: Friendo

Don't know too much about the band more than they're a three-piece from Alberta, Canada, and that this is the opener of the debut LP, Cold Toads, initially self-released but now due for a release proper on an indie label.

It's a great track. Sort of a lo-fi, brooding Interpol number.

Both labels are probably worth checking out. Bart Records in particular seem to be a great, small, DIY label, selling cassettes of unsigned Canadian bands.

MP3: Counter/Time
Labels: Bart, St.Ives
Myspace
Last.fm

Bridge decision brave and sensible, not a cop-out

In choosing to make himself unavailable for selection for the national team Wayne Bridge has received criticism from certain quarters, many of whom are probably the same sort who wouldn't have had him in their final twenty-three anyway. Turning your back on the Three Lions, in the eyes of a loud few, is an unforgivable offence, and by the sounds of it England's inevitable storming to the Quarter Finals and teary exit more important than someones moral standpoint, private life and happiness.

I don't think that being paid very handsomely and doing something most of us only dream about for a living should make Bridge super-human. No man would want to put themselves in the situation of being around the numpty who betrayed his trust in such a way day after day. Wayne has no more duty to put his pride and ethics to one side as a footballer than he would in any line of work.

Most of all, though, removing himself from the situation, even though he's done absolutely no wrong, is quite a selfless act, putting the morale of the squad before any chance he might have had of personal glory. Making himself unavailable, though he'd never admit it, and i expect is as disgusted by Terry's actions as anyone, does Fabio Capello a favour.

For the Italian, losing a backup left-back, all much of a muchness after Ashley Cole, and unlikely to figure unless the fellow philanderer suffers a relapse of his ankle problem, isn't such a great headache. It's another body missing, sure, and with Glen Johnson, Rio Ferdinand, and Cole all having injury-hit seasons we could do with as many fit and available as possible, but England's World Cup chances won't be altered for better or worse if it's Bridge, Warnock, Baines, or A N Other in that No.14 shirt.

The absence of our man, though, removes the risk of the whole affair causing further murmurs behind the scenes - no chance of a kick-off, or either player becoming ostracised from the group, or whispering games, or the whole drama generally overshadowing the fact that England's qualifying results, and the general decline in some top international sides, should mean we have some sort of chance of at least reaching the latter stages.

Not that the performance of our international side, or any side, should take priority, it most certainly shouldn't, but Fabio Capello was never going to stop considering Terry for selection completely, doing so would have been a huge risk, provided ammo for every journalist and fan come the tournament, and in the eyes of some would have probably been too harsh a punishment for a mistake that whilst unfitting of the country's captain, has come to be expected of those at the top level of his profession.

Whilst i'm sure most of us wouldn't blame anyone for wanting to throw a couple of fists in the direction of someone who had been sneaking around with one of their closest pals other halves behind their back, Wayne's conduct so far has been admirable. One short statement and not a peep since, just him knuckling down to his football. For that he should receive praise outside of those who follow our club. Any true football fan will want to see him getting back to what he does best.

Tomorrow at Stamford Bridge will be a huge test for him, tactically as well as emotionally. All the cameras will be on him and Terry, and everyone will have their say. I just hope the opposition fans appreciate both that Wayne served them very well, and that he's done no wrong in this tasteless escapade. It's one occasion that i'd encourage their most vocal supporters to drop their almost Millwall-like 'no-one likes us, we don't care' shtick. It won't happen, of course, your average Premier League-following loudmouth has to have their pantomime goodies and baddies.

Let's make no bones about it, Terry is a despicable cunt who has had more lives than a cat already. It perhaps sums up the win at all costs attitude of the modern football fan that he's still held in such high regard by those who watch him week in, week out. Were he here i honestly think i'd rather he be moved on, but then for me his prolonged holding of the club to ransom for a new deal would have been the final straw, ability wouldn't come into it.

From the point of view of the club, i don't think the retirement is necessarily a bad thing either, especially given the players we've lost through injuries sustained whilst on international duties in recent times, most notably Carlos Tevez, and the now-departed Robinho. Without the inconvenience of having to represent his country in meaningless friendlies, or sit on the bench for trips to Eastern Europe, he can give us his full attention.

Any criticism of Bridge at all, is, in my opinion, below the belt, especially journalists and those pundits who have never played the game, bleating on about how he's a 'bottler', or 'letting his country down'. They, and the papers publishing/fabricating words from 'sources' close to Terry should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. I wonder how they'd feel were a colleague up to no good with the mother of their kids. Some things are more important than football.

25/02/2010

Preview: Chelsea v City

The perfect chance to make amends for our FA Cup exit then, a commanding win over the champions-elect on their own patch. Oh, wait, no, i'm neither asleep nor a completely deluded balloon. We've about as much chance of three points as i have of bumping into Lucy Pinder on Friday night and charming her with my manbreasts, generally lairy manner and tales of Terry Phelan's splendid solo goal against Spurs at Maine Road in '93.

Chelsea will be without goalkeeper Peter Cech, ruled out for a month with a calf injury initially thought to be a ligament problem. Ashley Cole, the best left-back in the world over the last year or so, and probably even Chelsea's best player, will miss the majority of their run-in after fracturing his left ankle in a collision with Everton's Landon Donovan. Yuri Zhirkov has a calf strain, Deco a knee injury, and Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa are out long-term with knee ligament issues.

We have a relatively clean bill of health compared to previous weeks. Mancini has a full set of defenders to pick from, although Vince Kompany's groin has proved an ongoing problem. Pat Vieira is still suspended, and Emanuel Adebayor starts a four-game ban for left-hooking Ryan Shawcross, but Martin Petrov is the only other doubt, barring Michael Johnson, of course. Carlos Tevez is expected to return to the side after flying back to the UK following his daughter's premature birth.

I think we'd all accept that there's little chance of us going to the Bridge and getting a result. Eighteen wins and two draws from twenty games means that barring something astonishing happening we'll come away from London having not added to our points tally for the season. Just ten conceded in those fixtures won't make a single Blue any more optimistic. Half of those came in two games, their two draws, against Everton and Apoel Nicosia, the latter after they'd already qualified for the latter stages of the Champions League, if i'm not mistaken.

Ashley Cole not playing will be a bonus in the sense that he's as productive an attacking outlet as they've had over the last eighteen months. His marauding runs at whoever we pick on the right would've been a particular cause for concern, and Yuri Zhirkov also likely to be absent means we might see their left-back position as an area we can take advantage of. We've nobody who can accurately cross a ball, like, but perhaps Adam Johnson can give whoever comes in a real run for their money, as him and Bellamy wide of a 4-5-1 would appear most likely.

The only other possible weak link we may try and target would be their change of goalkeeper. I've seen Hilario have decent games for Chelsea. Opposition escapes me but i recall two separate occasions on which he's taken the reins and anything and everything has bounced off him. Still, there's the slightest chance having to rejig the back-line could be a problem for them.

All eyes will of course be on Wayne Bridge, particularly in light of him today revealing that he wishes to play no further part for the national side. I hope he gets a suitable welcome given his six seasons service, but i wouldn't hold my breath. With Anelka drifting into the wide right position, and Ivanovic at home in either half, he'll almost certainly have a busy afternoon. Here's hoping he can play as well as he generally has since his return, or failing that simply sprint the full length of the pitch to boob John Terry full-on on the nose.

If we defend as we have done against Liverpool, and for most of the first ninety minutes at Stoke last night, then we've got a chance of keeping it from turning into a rugby score. Apologies if i'm being overly negative, but it's one of about three games that i still consider beyond us. I'd take a heroic 0-1 defeat if offered it now. Here's hoping the players don't see the afternoon as such a forgone conclusion.

Possible teams:
Chelsea: Hilario, Ivanovic, Belletti, Carvalho, Terry, Mikel, Ballack, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda

City: Given, Richards, Bridge, Kompany, Lescott, de Jong, Zabaleta, Barry, Tevez, Bellamy, A.Johnson

Prediction: Chelsea 3 City 0

24/02/2010

Better side for large spells, but undone by valiant Stoke

The Blues this evening exited the FA Cup at Stoke in an interesting and fiery encounter at the Britannia. Sub Dave Kitson put the home side ahead, a lovely move involving a one-two with Tuncay. Craig Bellamy got us level, the full-time score 1-1, as you might expect given the two previous battles. A late Emanuel Adebayor red card pretty much ended out hopes of facing Chelsea, with Ryan Shawcorss and Tuncay grabbing extra-time goals.

The first half-hour was as well as we've played under Mancini. The football was incise, to feet, the movement of the forward players was terrific and we were thoroughly on top. Ade collected a good few yards outside of the area and smashed a shot at Sorensen, and a quick break out of our half involving Ade again and Stevie Ireland almost resulted in an opener. Positives can be taken, but we didn't take the chances carved and and so in one sense can't have many complaints that the opposition did.

For the majority of the first half we completely negated Stoke's aerial threat by keeping the ball on the deck and always looking for the quick ball. At that point it looked likely we'd get a break at some point, but it wasn't to be, and towards the end Stoke at least come into the game a little, although their chances were pretty much non-existent.

Tony Pulis shook things up ten minutes into the second period, Tuncay replacing midfield ratter Salif Diao, and in a more natural 4-4-2 Stoke contained us better, our passing game going a bit astray for a while. A Gareth Barry header almost saw us take the lead, but fellow sub Kitson combined superbly with Tuncay to put the Potters ahead, the two exchanging passes and the former Reading ginge sweeping home with his left foot.

Having got back on level terms through a terrific strike from Craig Bellamy, lashing in after Adebayor had headed down a Bridge cross, the impetus seemed with us, but raising your hands in the way of an opponent is always likely to be met with a red card. I'm sure Ade didn't mean to jab Shawcross, but his hand made contact after they partook in niggles and Bennett, as much as he had a poor game, didn't really have much of a decision to make. Naive at best.

From then on we lost any chance we had of progressing, though Mancini did at least go for it, bringing on Roque Santa Cruz for Bridge, but he had little impact. Adebayor had been imperious until that moment of madness, the best player on the park by some distance, and without him as our talisman we were only ever likely to go tumbling out. Stoke pushed on, and Tuncay gave them a real outlet, with him and the improving Fuller having as much time as they needed on the ball to make the most of their extra man.

Indeed, Fuller deserves special praise. They were losing the physical battle first half and both of their strikers were testing the referee's patience after receiving bookings. The Jamaican really upped his game as the match drew on, though, letting his feet do the talking rather than his strength, dragging our defence about and leading the line extremely well.

It's hard to really be too critical of any of our lads, i think the defence was generally solid, which may come across as a touch daft after conceding three goals. We passed the ball better, coped admirably with their direct style, and until the sending off had proved the better side in what, similar to Sunday's draw with Liverpool, was an entertaining game, albeit one with few clear-cut chances.

We can only blame ourselves for not being in the next round. Craig Bellamy had a great chance just after twenty minutes after Emanuel had brilliantly turned his marker on the half-way line, a heavy first touch preventing him from getting a clear shot on goal, and all our possession should have seen us ahead going into the break. The longer the game went on you felt we might get caught, and we did.

I don't think any criticism can be levelled at the manager tonight. He picked the right side and the system worked until we went a man down. As previously mentioned, the defence really didn't play badly at all, though question marks about Shay Given on crosses will perhaps rightly be raised once more. At Stoke you'll always have a storm to weather, and we did so admirably, but the red card did for us.

Fair play to the opposition, however, they sucked up our possession and made the most of their advantage. This tetralogy of games won't be remembered by many, but they've been battles. Both sides took one and shared the spoils twice. They were the better side during the first leg, and in all honesty that was where we blew it. I hope they do go to Stamford Bridge and get something, nobody wants to see Chelsea bore their way to another trophy.

Team:
Given, Richards, Bridge (Santa Cruz '86), Onuoha, Lescott, Kompany, Zabaleta, Barry (Sylvinho '108), Ireland (Wright-Phillips '61), Adebayor, Bellamy

22/02/2010

Positives to be taken from Liverpool draw

Yesterday's goalless encounter with fellow Champions League hopefuls Liverpool at Eastlands has, perhaps understandably given the scoreline, been written off as one sooner forgotten by journalists and fans alike. Although the stats don't lie in that it was a very tight game of few clear-cut chances, i personally think there are several positives to take from the afternoon, and for both sides.

It was a huge game for us, we can't deny that, and one that we probably had to win to add weight to the argument that we're favourites for fourth place. In that respect dropping two points is disappointing, but given the players we had absent, and the form of Rafa Benitez' side over recent weeks, a point and a clean sheet certainly can't be considered a bad result.

It's odd that a game that i saw as quite end-to-end finished with just three shots on target, and has been belittled by pundits both on screen, radio, and in the written press since. Both sides will feel that they didn't really do enough in the final third, but the two managers went head-to-head in a tactical battle, both aware that a defeat could have a huge impact on their futures, and both defences played very well.

On that last point, the biggest plus point, in my opinion, was that we looked a lot more settled at the back with what i believe is our strongest central defensive duo; Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott a while. After a wobbly start to his City career, Joleon was beginning to give the impression of someone worthy of his international caps before surgery put him back. Vince has been out best defender this season, not that there's too much competition, and neither are as unpredictable as current captain Kolo Toure. Agger and Skrtel were every bit as good.

With a steadier head to his side it's no surprise that Pablo Zabaleta improved a ten-fold, having his best game in a City shirt and looking confident, hungry and in control throughout after a couple of hooky performances of late. Nigel de Jong also lived up to the big occasion once more, and Adam Johnson was spellbinding for the first half although sadly wore himself out. Even Ade proved a real handful manning the front line on his own!

On another day we'd have turned one of our half-chances into a winner, but i thought we gave it all, and you can't really ask much more than that. In all honestly, the visitors could have just as easily snook it, being the more positive side for the first and last twenty minutes and regularly threatening to expose us on the counter-attack in between. I certainly thought they looked closer to the side who beat us last season than that widely said to have been terrible for much of this.

The two sides are obviously lacking a bit of confidence at present, but they'll both get back into their stride again, and next season i envisage both being a bit closer to the 'big two', albeit not perhaps challenging for the title itself. Sunday's game was far from 'dire' or 'dull', though, it was competitive, full-blooded, just lacking the three best attackers the two clubs possess (Torres, Bellamy, Tevez) there was a lack of cutting edge in both areas.

One thing i do feel quite strongly about, however, is that the referee's assessors should look at the performance of official Peter Walton and decide if he's fit to run games at this level. Liverpool's six bookings were only the ones he managed not to miss. It's an important game, played by men, no qualms with the odd meaty challenge, but i think that Liverpool were extremely cynical when not in possession, and Mascherano in particular again proved that he's an awful cunt.

Given that Gareth Barry should have been given a second booking for a handball around the halfway line, it would probably be hypocritical of us to bemoan Mascherano's continued presence on the pitch, but it was one of many, and at times it was like every single one of their offensive players were taking turns to sythe down their men. More annoying, though, Walton awarding almost every 50/50 their way, or even completely missing staggeringly obvious calls. He was shocking.

Anyhow, a decent tear-up, i thought. Now we're heading towards the home straight, and whoever is both the strongest mentally, and perhaps has that bit of luck, will probably take that final Champions League position. I think Liverpool are huge favourites given their run-in and experience of being here several times before. We now have a tricky cup tie, then the probable champions away, plus Spurs and Fulham in the next few weeks, so it might get worse before it gets better for us, but Sunday was another case of us proving we can mix it with the real big boys (four wins and two draws from eight games so far). Let's just hope the dropped points against the so-called lesser sides don't come back to haunt us.

20/02/2010

Preview: City v Liverpool

Rafa Benitez' Liverpool visit the home of football tomorrow afternoon, with the game perhaps our most important of the season so far. A win would make us big favourites to gazump the Merseyside club for fourth place, but the Scousers have to some extent recovered from their mid-season wobble, and both Maine Road and Eastlands have proven happy hunting grounds for them in previous seasons.

Carlos Tevez remains in his homeland as his second child was born prematurely. Craig Bellamy, rumoured to have had a disagreement with the manager over his injury rehab this week, is expected to at best make the bench. Pat Vieira is suspended for his stupid lunge at former Blue Glen Whelan during the draw at Stoke midweek, and Vince Kompany and Martin Petrov are rated as doubtful with groin and knee ligament injuries, respectively.

Full-back Glen Johnson is Liverpool's only certain absentee, still out with a knee injury. Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to start after a rib problem, and Fernando Torres still isn't fully fit. Sotiros Kyrgiakos serves out a two-match ban for a challenge in the Merseyside derby which in truth could have resulted in both him and Marouane Fellaini seeing red.

With Carlos and Craig unavailable, and given Roque Santa Cruz is still looking some way off full fitness, we're pretty certain to go with Adebayor up front alone, something that's not really paid off in recent weeks. I can't see anything other than Stevie Ireland replacing the suspended Vieira and a central midfield three. Providing the knock which saw him replaced at Stoke isn't a problem, Micah ought to continue on the right, with Wayne Bridge returning on the opposite flank.

Most of Liverpool's side is easy enough to predict, with the back five of Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger & Insua appearing fairly settled. Lucas and Mascherano should shield the defence, with Gerrard off a lone striker. I wouldn't rule out Rafa bringing back Fernando Torres, though statements earlier in the week say otherwise. Otherwise, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez may start wide, with David N'gog leading the line, though Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera & Ryan Babel are all pushing for starting places.

It's an especially tough game to call, but we certainly need to take all three points if we're to make ourselves favourites for that final Champions League spot. Liverpool's run-in is by far the easiest of the four sides in with a shout, and of late they've been getting back in the habit of winning without playing particularly well, a worrying sign. We're imperious at home, yet have an awful record against the Anfield side.

Dirk Kuyt has been the man making the difference over recent weeks, and wherever he starts, up front or to the right he'll drift and cause trouble. Keeping tabs on him will prove key, but responsibly marking Steven Gerrard is a must. He'll drop deep and ping crosses over the defence, trouble us from corners, and look to win free-kicks in dangerous areas around the penalty area. It might take a hatchet job by Nige and Gaz Baz, but deal with those two players, assuming Torres doesn't start, and we've a good chance.

I disagree with the 'neither side can defend so it could be a classic' stuff, and also the high-scoring draw predictions of pundits this week. Both sides are negative, missing key players, and struggling to find their feet for different reasons, and i can't see anything other than an awful game. If we can start brightly, hopefully get the first goal, then we should see them off, but fail to do so and the moans and groans that have met performances over recent weeks will build on the terraces once more.

Possible teams:
City: Given, Richards, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Ireland, Adebayor, A.Johnson

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Insua, Agger, Skrtel, Mascherano, Kuyt, Lucas, Gerrard, N'gog, Rodriguez

Prediction: City 1 Liverpool 1

19/02/2010

Friday mp3: Yo La Tengo

Active for more than 25 years, Yo La Tengo formed in Hoboken, New Jersey, the band named after an infamous New York Mets anecdote. Before the turn of the nineties they would release three LPs, none of which sold well but were well-received by reviewers and enabled the band to build up a strong independent following.

Last year's Popular Songs was their twelfth studio album, and they show no signs of slowing down. 1997's I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One is their best and most popular work to date, and its mix of shoegaze, rock and more folky numbers best sums up their chameleonic nature. Compilation Prisoners of Love is possibly as good a place to start.

This is a track that features on both of those records.

Mp3: Sugarcube
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Early Mancini criticism particularly disappointing

When Mark Hughes was sacked just before Christmas, a decision that in itself was viewed as the correct one by most, albeit awfully carried out, the 4-3 victory over Sunderland saw us jump into the top six, having sunk below Birmingham after the awful result at White Hart Lane the previous Wednesday. We stood six points behind Aston Villa in fourth, four behind Spurs who occupied fifth position, and had amassed only ten points from a possible thirty.

Under Roberto we've rarely played well at all in the league, spells of good possession against Wolves and Blackburn about as good as it's got. The eight games we have played, however, have yielded an admirable sixteen points, admittedly against sides who all occupied places in the bottom half of the division at the time. We've also managed to avoid potential banana skins at two tricky lower league grounds, and given the best team in the country a good test over two legs.

It's especially saddening then to hear that some sections of our support have already decided that the Italian isn't the man to lead the club, all of seven weeks into his tenure. There seems to be this view amongst some fans that we're a club renowned for all-encompassing, flowing football, and that because we've spent a few bob on players we should be royally entertained each and every week by a side resembling the Harlem Globetrotters. Nonsense.

Credit where credit's due, under Hughes we did sometimes play quick, incise, clever football, at home, when we felt like it. Maybe my memory's fading in my old age, but i don't remember that being ever week, even most weeks, and for every fluid performance there were two that could more accurately be described as completely spineless.

Also, those performances generally stopped with the end of last season, as the new signings forced an often change in formation and the addition of Carlos Tevez, plus several injuries, effected the progress of Stephen Ireland. With two or three exceptions we were only slightly less pedestrian under Hughes this term as we have been under his replacement.

Good sides are generally built on good defences. We don't have one, but we have players there who have been amongst the best in their positions in the country at some point. Though we've not looked a great deal less wobbly in that respect since Roberto's arrival, especially not over the last couple of weeks, you don't need a degree to work out that six conceded in eight is an improvement on twenty-seven in seventeen.

Stats don't tell the whole story, of course. The age old defensive problems are still our Achilles heel. Injuries don't help, but a general lack of organisation and discipline are in part down to the previous manager choosing a captain with limited leadership abilities. The goals we do concede tend to come from our own errors, and distribution; the age-old problem with previous defences, dealing with crosses, and giving away needless free-kicks in dangerous positions continue to haunt us. These are things that take a while to work on, a few set-piece tactics on the training ground aren't going to turn us into a tight defensive unit overnight.

The main beef of fans, though, from what i can gather anyway, is the opinion that Mancini's not getting enough out of us in an attacking sense by playing formations too negative. I'm not sure that's the case. We have to remember that Roque Santa Cruz is still about as much use as a chocolate hairdryer whilst not fully fit, Craig Bellamy's been injured, and more recently, Carlos Tevez away on family matters. We've also loaned out two wingers.

So far as i can see, Roberto has experimented with formations and systems, much more than the previous boss did, and i find it quite amusing that some of those slating him are those most vocal about the likes of Martin Petrov 'needing to pull his finger out', or Stevie Ireland being, a couple of recent assists aside 'not a shadow of his former self'.

I think we have to learn to appreciate that the entire mentality of an Italian manager is different to that of an English one. The days of Serie A sides being watertight defensively might be over, but there's no doubt that the tempo of the game is different, and the overall focus is less one of entertainment and more one of efficiency. Under Mancini we've generally been efficient, and that's all we can ask for during these early stages.

If we labour to a 1-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday i'll be over the moon, i'm sure most if not all of us will. It's a must-win game, in my opinion, not even a 'must not lose' given Liverpool's much easier run-in. Berto's call to arms earlier this week was spot on, and that goes for after the game, too, irrespective of result or performance. Now's the time to be pulling together, not arguing amongst ourselves or getting on the back of the new boss. We're better than that.

Like it or lump it, in deciding to change manager, the board, assuming there's nothing to rumours of Mancini's time here being no more than a seat-warming session for a certain Portuguese gaffer, which i don't believe for one second, have ended one regime and started another. Roberto, then, must be judged after a lengthy enough time period, and with the team he assembled, not Hughes, nor anyone else. Those on his back already need to have a look at themselves.

15/02/2010

Preview: Stoke v City

Tomorrow night Stoke and City will do battle in the second of three bouts within twelve days. The first was a drab evening which we ended lucky to still be in the FA Cup. Tomorrow is the first of four extremely tough games that will give us a better idea whether we're true contenders for the top four or this year's Spurs-like also-rans.

Key duo Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy will be missing, with Carlito back in Argentina on family matters, Craig out with a recurrence of his longstanding knee problem. Vince Kompany's groin may also rule him out, and Mancini has confirmed that Martin Petrov is unlikely to start. Micah Richards is around a week off a return, but Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stevie Ireland should both shake off knocks in time. Adam Johnson will return after two good performances so far.

Stoke will have to make do without in-form winger Matt Etherington, who suffered ligament damage to a knee during Saturday's game. Replacement Liam Lawrence picked up a less serious knee injury and is expected to start from the bench again. Abdoulaye Faye has recovered from a pulled back, and Dean Whitehead also returns.

I expect Pulis to make three or four changes from the side that started the first meeting. Etherington being missing will probably see Tuncay move flanks. Whitehead and Delap are thought pretty likely to come in, too, with Salif Diao perhaps most likely to make way after Glen Whelan's tireless performance at Eastlands. Andy Wilkinson's switch to left-back didn't really work out, and Danny Collins looked better once brought on. His inclusion should see the defence start as it finished on Saturday.

The biggest worry for us is that we're missing our two main goal threats, and away from home a 4-3-3 can soon become a 4-5-1, leaving Adebayor up front with little support once more. I can't see Mancini resorting to a more orthodox 4-4-2, and we don't really have the personnel anyhow given Santa Cruz' fitness, so we're quite likely to see Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips wide of any three of four; Vieira, Barry, de Jong, Ireland.

Pablo Zabaleta's form of late has been a cause for concern. Etherington missing out comes as a slight relief, though nobody likes seeing players injured. Assuming he's match-fit i'd be tempted to give Nedum Onuoha a game. Kolo Toure continues to look extremely jumpy, Ned's calm head besides him could be just the tonic. Bridge and Lescott both played well during the Cup game and should keep their places.

We know what we're going to be met with tomorrow; a battling team, a narrow pitch, a boisterous crowd (as it should be at every ground, every week), triers kicking, harrying and harassing for the win. I'll just point out that i thought Stoke not only played valiantly but confidently in possession for large parts of our recent tie, not wanting to be one of those who perhaps a bit ignorantly makes out that they're a one-trick pony, a side only capable of playing the most direct football possible.

How we cope with set-pieces will obviously have a huge bearing on the result, a guide dog could point that out. Delap's throws will have arseholes quivering in our back five, and not only Fuller and Sidibe but Shawcross and Huth will have to be picked up each and every time. Our zonal marking under Mancini has attracted criticism, but i think i'm right in saying that Fuller's goal was the first we've conceded directly from a corner or throw under the Italian, though clearing our lines in general has obviously proved a problem.

I'm dubious as to whether we can contain the Potters, or match then in terms of the physical and mental battle. If we do so we could get something, but the fact that our two best attacking players will be missing doesn't fill you with confidence. I'd take a draw, and i don't feel overly negative saying so. It would edge us ahead of the pack and could give us a slight mental advantage. Certainly won't be a classic.

Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Collins, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Whitehead, Delap, Whelan, Fuller, Sidibe, Tuncay

City: Given, Onouha, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, de Jong, Vieira, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, A.Johnson

Prediction: Stoke 0 City 0

14/02/2010

Senior players need to step up for five games that will define our season

In the minds of some any 'honeymoon period' enjoyed by new gaffer Roberto Mancini is now over. We'd all agree that the side has offered some particularly lifeless showings in recent weeks, admittedly generally getting results, occasionally not doing, stuttering through what on paper was supposedly an easy run but being found out during the real 'tests'. However, i feel that criticism of the Italian is premature as he tries to learn on the job with another manager's squad.

Mancini will need time, and not just a few weeks, but a season or two, funds to bring in his own men, opportunity to assess what's here now, to try out formations, tactics, learn about opposition and the league in general, to school his troops on the training ground, and in order to to put his stamp on the squad and make it his own. The initial boost that tends to come with a managerial change aside, setbacks were always going to come, but i think he's done okay thus far.

In my opinion, the problem, not that there's a huge one as we sit on the verge of a top four place, is simply that the first few games aside, when people began to think we were much better than we are, we've never really got going all season, and assembling such a turnover of players into a side virtually overnight has proved as difficult as people told us it would do.

We've never really begun to build the side into any sort of framework, the defence has been cobbled together, suffered a staggering number of knocks, systems have been fiddled with under both managers, and we've pretty much been winging it all year. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise then that as we approach the business end of the season we're becoming increasingly wobbly.

Both our cup chances, already slim now we have two tricky away ties, and our hopes of finishing in the top four will all but be decided over the next three weeks. All five of the especially testing upcoming fixtures will require improvements in terms of effort, organisation and leadership. So far we've had no problems at home against the big teams, beating Chelsea, Arsenal and United, and the upcoming game against Liverpool is at least as important.

In truth, everything has been lacking of late, and the games in which we have managed to win we've tended to ride our luck. We spoke recently about results being more important than the performances themselves, that's certainly true, but when playing better sides we won't get away with the kamikaze defending that's began to haunt us again, or be able to grind out victories half-heartedly. Liverpool and Spurs won't dither around in possession showing us respect, they'll soak up what we've got and hit us when it matters.

The two trips to Stoke will also be huge tests of mettle and resolve. The Potteries side have failed to win half of their home games so far this season, but there's absolutely no question of them not being up for turning us over. They played very well yesterday, and Pulis fielded a strong side, but survival, although more or less guaranteed already, will be their primary target, and they'll see it as a chance to rattle a side who from the outside appear to be a bit too big for their boots.

To have any chance of winning at the Britannia, even earning a point, which wouldn't be a disaster, we need to prove ourselves to be more than an expensively-assembled set of players occasionally capable of playing pretty football. Games like Tuesday's are the sort which will ultimately decide our fate, and those players with experience of playing in and winning these sort of crunch encounters absolutely have to step up and scrap for the shirt.

As fans, though the hope of winning trophies is the pot at the end of the rainbow, you can ask nothing more than for people to give their all. If we go on to exit the cup and fail to finish fourth you take it on the chin providing the players have tried. Of late some of them haven't been doing. I don't think it has too much to do with the way the manager sets up the side, people aren't pulling their weight; Stoke, Bolton, Hull, Pompey, Everton - same story, and there are countless examples of it happening under the previous boss.

So far as the FA Cup goes it's black and white, we have to go to Stoke and not get beat. That done we have the near-impossible task of doing likewise at Stamford Bridge against the side who will almost certainly take the trophy for the fifth time in recent memory. Should anything unexpected happen then it would be a bonus, but i feel we ballsed up our big chance yesterday.

Stoke, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs are make or break, our season will be defined by our points return from those games. Anything less than six or seven and the campaign would begin to look like one of wasted opportunities. It's time for the senior figures in the changing room; Toure, Vieira, SWP, though having gone through different kinds of turmoil of late, Adebayor, Bridge, and even those who may not have led quite as decorated careers but are big players at the club; Barry, Shay, Zab, etc, to stand up and drag us kicking and screaming to a positive end to the season. I'm beginning to wonder if we've really got the bottle.

13/02/2010

Lacklustre City second best against battling Stoke

Tony Pulis' Potters this evening held the Blues to a 1-1 draw at Eastlands in the FA Cup fifth round. A banker on the coupons of most, City started brightly, taking the lead through Shaun Wright-Phillips before completely capitulating and in the end being lucky to have earned a replay. The sides will now face each other three times in twelve days.

Roberto opted to rest Patrick Vieira after his start midweek, Carlos Tevez was missing after returning to Argentina due to personal reasons, Adam Johnson was cup-tied, and Vince Kompany's tweaked groin saw him out. Stephen Ireland, Martin Petrov, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joleon Lescott came into what initially looked like a 4-4-1-1, Ireland playing off Adebayor.

Tony Pulis opted to go with two big men up front in the shape of Fuller and Sidibe, with Tuncay dropping back to the left flank, Etherington switching to the right and lethal weapon Rory Delap having to make do with a place on the bench with Salif Diao and former Blue Glen Whelan being preferred in the centre. Right-back Andy Wilkinson surprisingly started on the left of defence, with Robert Huth to the right of one-time United duo Shawcross and Higginbotham.

You couldn't fault us for the first half hour. We really flew out of the blocks and appeared to be in the mood. We were knocking the ball around as well as we have done all season, and the result was looking a formality. Wayne Bridge, rejuvenated after the recent headlines, skinned Robert Huth, his cross smothered by Sorensen. Moments later Ireland slipped Petrov in down the same flank, but again the big Dane snuffed out a cross, this time with Wright-Phillips pressuring him.

The tenth minute saw us open the scoring, a comical goal resulting from another great pass over the top from Ireland. SWP stabbed clear of Sorensen but Shawcross was favourite to see it out of play only to mistime his swing, miss the ball all together, fall flat on his arse and head back into the path of the England winger, who pretty much walked the ball over the line. A comfortable home victory expected at this point.

Only a minute after the goal Stoke's star player of recent weeks, Matt Etherington, jarred a knee when tracking Wayne Bridge, but that piece of bad luck didn't really effect the visitors. Fuller and Sibibe exchanged passes on the edge of our area, the Jamaican blazing over as the Potters upped the pressure.

After a pretty commanding start we began to labour. Initial bouts of nice passing dried up almost instantly and the entire side seemed heavy-legged and aimless. Only a terrific last-ditch block from Bridge prevented an equaliser after Whelan had dispossessed Barry and Tuncay's cross fell to Fuller. The visitors began to sense something might be on the cards.

Not a great deal more happened before the interval. Wilkinson, given a torrid time by SWP, picked up a yellow card, Danny Higginbotham almost scored the best goal of his career, controlling and lashing a dipping volley just wide of Given's upright, and a superb flowing move involving Adebayor, Ireland and Petrov ended with the Bulgarian picking out the wrong final ball. Overall, Stoke looked in the ascendancy and would have been more confident at the sound of the whistle.

Mancini tried to make the most of a defensive change by Pulis. Wilkinson shifted to his preferred right-back role, with Huth moving across and Higginbotham to the left. SWP followed him, swapping flanks with Petrov, but we didn't go on to look any sharper. A half-hearted poke wide of goal by Barry five minutes in to the second half pretty much summed up the lethargy that had crept into the performance.

Stoke's final sub of the afternoon, following another knee injury to Lawrence, himself a replacement for Etherington, paid off when eleven minutes into the second period they drew level by the most direct means possible. A trademark long throw sailed freely over our entire defence and Fuller span off his marker to easily nod home. An extremely poor goal to concede.

I'd love to go into detail about how conceding inspired us to push on, but it really didn't. Mancini at least tried going more attacking, sticking another forward on after Emmanuel Adebayor had began to cut an increasingly desolate figure up top, but we were just off-colour again, and the creativity from the midfield virtually non-existent. If anyone was going to sneak it, you sensed it might be the visitors.

The introduction of Vieira with around twenty minutes left on the clock, though quite probably viewed as a negative change at the time, gave us a touch more impetus, and we at least began to retain the ball a bit better, but everything was flat, pedestrian and not really worthy of the fifth round of such a grand old competition. Barry forced a truly great save from Sorensen with a near post header, SWP drilled wide, and an injury time Vieira pass similar to the one which led to Adebayor's strike midweek almost paid off, Santa Cruz's effort cleared by Shawcross.

It's difficult to explain why we went on to look so poor in a game we started so brightly. We have to praise the opposition for their efforts; their front two worked tirelessly, in fact, their entire eleven did. It would be ignorant to say they solely played 'the Stoke way', though, they were better than us in possession for large parts of the game, and although they scored from a set-piece they broke well, retained the ball well, and could have even gone on to score a winner.

In my opinion, today was another case of the senior players in the side not stepping up and forcing the advantage. Toure and Zabaleta were both again far too uncomposed, the midfield was overran, and after the spells of great play early on we resorted to the ball long-ball tactics of yesteryear. If you'd have shown someone with no experience of Premier League football the last hour or so and asked him to predict which side of the two is noted for their use of the long ball they'd have quite probably said those in blue. We really need to buck our ideas up if we're to finish the season strongly.

To end on a high note, however, Wayne Bridge had his best game in a City shirt. He was rarely shaken defensively and drove forward at every opportunity, and before the watching England manager Fabio Capello. If he plays like that every week he'll be a certainty for South Africa, just a shame few of his team-mates could follow his lead. Joleon Lescott, too, did little wrong, but compliments to anyone else would be half-hearted.

Team:
Given, Zabaleta, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, de Jong, Wright-Phillps, Barry, Ireland (Vieira '72), Adebayor, Petrov (Santa Cruz '62)

12/02/2010

Friday mp3: Swell Maps

Swell Maps were an experimental rock group of the 70's from Birmingham, whose sound could probably completely inaccurately be described as glam-tinged, industrial, early post-punk. Debut LP A Trip to Marineville has since been championed by bands such as Sonic Youth and Pavement.

This track is from that first record, essentially the meat in the sandwich of a three-track mid-album jam.

MP3: Blam!
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Cole injury could prove welcome boost for Bridge

The injury sustained by Ashley Cole during Chelsea's no-show at Goodison midweek means that the England left-back slot is, temporarily at least, up for grabs again. Despite his head probably being all over the shop at present, our very own Wayne Bridge, a relative favourite of the national team manager so far, could have returned from an injury of his own at exactly the right time, and he's expected to be selected for the upcoming friendly against Egypt.

The decision by England boss Fabio Capello to relieve John Terry of his captaincy was absolutely the right one, no question about that, and even were i a more hardcore follower of the national side i'd think that common sense had to come before any talk of our Finals chances. Basic discipline is a must, a duty should come with representing your country, and the rules shouldn't be bent going by a player's stature in the squad.

Bridge has a difficult decision to make. Whilst talk of ultimatums may be nothing more than rumour, standing side-by-side in unison with the man who committed the ultimate betrayal of sneaking around with one of his best pals other half would be asking a lot of anyone. I half hope Wayne tells them to do one, but when you've spent years dedicating yourself to a career and the ultimate goal of winning a World Cup is just a few games away, it must be a tough call.

All this said, our support of Bridge shouldn't cloud the fact that he perhaps shouldn't be at the head of the queue for Cole's position. Given that this unsavoury affair happened some time before hitting the press, in part due to Terry's solicitors, patchy form can to some extent be excused. Wayne had looked fitter and more consistent earlier in the season, but a couple of high-profile games in which the press went to town on him were followed by his injury, and having not completed a game since, he seems to be in contention more based on his experience than form.

Stephen Warnock, though himself out with a calf strain and expected to miss another two weeks, has excelled since Mark Hughes took him to Blackburn for a bargain fee of £1.5m three seasons ago. There he earned rave reviews in a number of positions before Martin O'Neill felt him worthy enough to part with four times that amount. Last year he was Blackburn's best player, and this year probably likewise for Villa. Wanting to see as many City players at the World Cup as possible aside for a moment, he should be in the squad on merit.

Leighton Baines has also been an integral part of Everton's revival over recent weeks. Like Warnock he's equally comfortable in either half, and though his Goodison career took a while to get going he's proven another solid acquisition by Gollum. I don't really feel that Wayne has produced a good spell of form for any substantial time over the last couple of years, and at the current time he would be fourth in the pecking order were it my call.

The early signs of Wayne post-injury, however, are positive. At Hull he was subjected to all sorts of unnecessary taunts from the crowd, and targeted physically by the opposition. I thought he did quite well, both in terms of defending and getting forward, especially first half. That's to be expected, as fitness takes its time to build back up, but against neither Hull or Bolton were i any more worried about Wayne defensively than anyone else, and if anything we looked more vulnerable in both games down the opposite flank.

Ashley Cole, for me, is the best left-back in the world at present. His form for Chelsea over the last eighteen months has been astonishing, and his decision to leave Arsenal for their rivals has, though money certainly played its part, proved a wise one. Even if not fully fit i think he'll travel to South Africa, and as number one in his position, but the rest of the season, and England's games against Egypt, and probably Mexico in May, give Wayne a real shout of ending an uncomfortable season on the highest of high notes. Good luck, lad!

11/02/2010

Preview: City v Stoke

This season's FA Cup has proven an especially interesting one for the purists, with three of the big four, if we're still including Liverpool, exiting in the early rounds. That in mind, it would be a shame if we ballsed up what looks like a favourable fifth round tie at home to the oatcake munchers. Progression and a favourable draw could have us dreaming of Wembley again for the first time since, well, last month.

Hard to say who Pulis will select given the league game days later. They certainly have options, though, and a squad that's surprisingly strong. Tuncay impressed in the home league fixture. Him and Sidibe might be the two favourites to start, but Ricardo Fuller already has two goals in the competition, and although his better work so far this season has been from the bench, he's the sort of unpredictable livewire that i'm sure defenders don't like playing against.

Matt Etherington's form of late has quite rightly been earning him plaudits. Given his recent performances i'd imagine he'll start, with Dean Whitehead and Glen Whelan (or Rory Delap) central of a very rigid 4-4-2. Tuncay could drop into a right-wing role, though Liam Lawrence is also available.

Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth will almost certainly be at the centre of the defence, with Asmir Begovic's appearances for Pompey in the earlier rounds of the competition meaning number one Thomas Sorensen ought to continue. Huth has played at right-back occasionally, however, and so Amdy Faye, if over a back injury, could force a rethink. Andy Wilkinson and either Higginbotham or Collins most likely, though, i'd have thought.

I anticipate Roberto will go with quite a strong side given that progression to the latter stages of the competition could increase his chances of staying on for next season. Craig Bellamy is perhaps most likely to earn another rest given our run of league fixtures, but otherwise i hope to see quite a similar side to the one that beat Bolton, with onlyAdam Johnson (cup tied) and Vince Kompany (groin) being replaced and some tinkering with the formation.

I'm sure Mancini will have noted both the clunky performance that night and the reaction to it from the terraces. Shaun Wright-Phillips did enough in his cameo to encourage a more attacking and fluid system and i think he'll come in for Johnson, and we'll hopefully see a return to the 4-4-2 with someone on the opposite flank more natural in the role, though Barry does seem to be one of Roberto's favourites.

The biggest question facing the manager ahead of the game could be who replaces the injured Kompany, who tweaked his problem groin midweek. Joleon Lescott looked quite comfortable when introduced on Tuesday, but two games in under a week may be a big ask. Dedryck had a poor game at Hull but his partnership with Kompany had generally shown signs of promise. Given that Stoke could start with two big lumps up front we'll have to get the decision right.

The Potters away form this season has been pretty terrible; only two wins and six goals on the road, with Tuncay's leveller at Wigan the first they've bagged on their travels since early November. They've little to lose by going for it on Saturday, especially given as they're well on their way to survival, and i don't think they'll be either paying us too much respect nor hoping for a replay.

With all due respect to the opposition, we should progress into the next round, but Pulis would have taken heart from our showing on Tuesday, and a side with both a bit more physicality and edge up front could have got something from that game. If Stoke come at us like Bolton did, or more so we let them, then the result mightn't be such a foregone conclusion. Positive team selection is key.

Possible teams:
City: Given, Zabaleta, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Vieira, Tevez, Adebayor, Petrov

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Collins, Huth, Shawcross, Whitehead, Tuncay, Delap, Fuller, Sidibe, Etherington

Prediction: City 2 Stoke 1

10/02/2010

Points more important than performances

Last night's 2-0 home victory over neighbours Bolton was a largely drab affair won by two moments of magic - a driving run from new winger Adam Johnson to earn a penalty that Carlos Tevez was fortunate to put home, and an exquisite pass from midfield veteran Patrick Vieira leading to a commanding finish from Emmanual Adebayor. Job done, admittedly, but another uninspiring spectacle where we rode our luck.

As others have already mentioned, the system was wrong and didn't enable us to play to our main strengths or attack Bolton with any kind of fluidity. We were unbalanced and not pressing the opposition as high up the pitch as we should. Ultimately, though, we saw off a side despite playing well below our capabilities.

Whilst Tevez and Adebayor have both proved themselves more than adept at dropping deep and starting moves, you want your forwards in the centre of the final third of the pitch, them drifting over to the flanks sends out a negative message to your opponents, and had we been playing a better side last night we might not have ended up with the three points.

Not that i have any real problem with us playing averagely, so long as we continue to pick up points. Bolton was a big game in the sense that it was, on paper at least, the easiest league fixture we'll have for some time. Given the poor result and performance at Hull it was important we got back to winning ways to boost confidence ahead of the tricky ties with Stoke, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea.

What people can't accuse Mancini of is being short of ideas or not testing his squad. He's already tried different formations - so far we've seen a 4-4-1-1, a 4-5-1, a return to a more orthodox 4-4-2, and last night's 4-3-3. Players are being tested in different roles; Barry on the left, for instance, Sylvinho being pushed into central midfield, and Petrov and Ireland trying their luck on the right. Then there are the youngsters being pushed into the senior side. He's certainly assessing his lot and trying different things.

Playing three 'defensive' midfielders (though i'm not sure i agree Barry necessarily fits that tag, but his best performance of the season, during the opening day win at Blackburn, certainly involved him playing that role) at home against a poor side was a decision that whilst negative was also quite brave. Anything less than a commanding performance and the half-empty lot would have been on his case.

From very early on last night it was obvious to me that we were very unbalanced. Adam Johnson played very well, was always looking for the ball and to run at his man, and had as good a home debut as i can remember in recent seasons. He provided the same sort of permanent outlet that Martin Petrov can on the other side when fully fit, and with the Bulgarian on the opposing flank and our forwards shoved up the field we may have had a bit more joy against a side who were missing three quarters of their first-choice defence.

That splendid pass aside, i thought Pat Vieira had a poor full debut, but his recent injury problems mean it will be a number of weeks before he gets back to anything resembling full fitness. His distribution was especially off, though that accusation could easy be levelled at most who started. I didn't feel we looked any tighter in the centre, but that's to be expected when you don't have any real possession players in the midfield.

The introduction of Shaun Wright-Phillips changed the game, i thought. He immediately livened us up and we both kept the ball better and shown an improved willingness to take the game to Bolton. At home you have to play either two wingers or if you must go with a front three, then an attacking-minded midfielder amongst the bank behind them.

In a sense, we're trying to have our cake and eat it. Our lack of activity in the recent transfer window indicates to me that Mancini's on an all-or-nothing mission for fourth place. If that's true then you can't blame him for a slightly cautious approach, and it's in his nature being a son of Serie A. My hope, however, is that he's here for the long haul, top four or not, and rather than concentrate on the negatives performance-wise, we should take comfort in the old adage that winning without playing that well is the sign of a top team. I'm sure we'd all take slight wins from now until the season's end.

08/02/2010

Preview: City v Bolton

Bolton's visit to Eastlands tomorrow night gives Berto and the boys a great chance of making up for a spineless showing at Hull on the weekend. Eighteen home games unbeaten versus no away win in eight. It's a banker, right, right? Hmmm...

New Trotters boss Owen Coyle has mounting injury concerns and may struggle to field an experienced eleven at all. The biggest blow will have come with the news that England World Cup possible, not to mention top goalscorer Gary Cahill will miss the rest of the season with a blood clot in his arm. Good luck to him on his road to recovery. As much as Bolton's defence have gone backwards this season he's proved a great acquisition.

The man who grabbed the other goals during the 3-3 draw at the Reebok earlier in the season, on-loan German forward Ivan Klasnic also misses out with a calf strain. Gavin McCann is recovering from ankle surgery, Vlad Weiss is unavailable due to the terms of his loan deal, and midfielders Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien are still out long-term with serious knee injuries.

Right-back Gretar Steinsson missed the goalless draw with Fulham due to a virus, but manager Coyle expects him to return to an already depleted defence. Former Newcastle centre-half Andy O'Brien is likely to play through the pain barrier after a knock to his calf, though i was quite looking forward to seeing Danny Shittu get a run out! Fabrice Muamba and Stuart Holden are both rated doubtful.

From what i've seen of Bolton so far they've already improved under Coyle. He'll get them playing, i'm sure of that, but whilst sticking with a 4-5-1 to me they've already looked more assured on the ball, if still shaky at the back. During their recent fruitless trips to Arsenal and Liverpool they started brightly, going two goals up at the Emirates and having chances at Anfield.

Kevin Davies will obviously continue to be key to how Bolton play, and he's had his fair share of luck against us over the years. Midfielders Cohen, Lee and Mark Davies can all play a bit, though, the latter especially, a bargain buy from Wolves a year ago, has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, and such canny acquisitions perhaps prove that former boss Gary Megson wasn't quite as clueless as made out.

I expect Roberto to ring the changes after a very disappointing afternoon's work at Hull on Saturday. Most at threat, i'd imagine, might be Pablo Zabaleta; who had his poorest game in a City shirt, Dedryck Boyaya; who struggled against Altidore but who has generally impressed, and Stevie Ireland, who has never really be able to get back to his best this season after a combination of injuries.

The only player who really impressed at the KC was new signing Adam Johnson. I expect him to get his first start, a decision made easier by the news that Craig Bellamy will play no part. Another likely to make his full debut is Pat Vieira as Mancini looks to stamp his mark on the side. Nigel de Jong or Gareth Barry could make way. Roque Santa Cruz & Joleon Lescott have outside chances of places on the bench. Vince Kompany's groin injury isn't as bad as first feared, but he too might have to make do with a sub role.

Tomorrow's a huge game for us, in my opinion. The four fixtures post Tuesday will all be extremely tricky, starting with a probably uncomfortable trip to Stoke, then games against three clubs either already established in or circling around the top four; Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. We should fancy our chances against anyone at home, but Liverpool are hitting form, Spurs a real bogey side of ours, and the trip to Chelsea's perhaps the only fixture we now half write off.

Three points against a struggling side at home is absolutely vital. Fail to win this one and suddenly people will be reminding us that it's only one in four, whereas if we can see them off, another round of favourable fixtures, including Liverpool and Villa both playing sides in the top three, could see us edge clear, if only by the slightest of margins, and still with games in hand.

At the risk of looking like a plank should we put on a show, i've a feeling tomorrow might be a flat and uninspiring affair, and not as straightforward as some might see it. An early goal would settle the nerves, but we've looked at our best with Tevez and Bellamy in tandem, using our pace on the break. Without Craig there's always the danger we'll lack that thrust, and with new signings having to bed in, the defence still looking off, and Emmanuel Adebayor bagging the odd goal but often posing little threat, the Welshman could be a big loss.

Possible teams:
City: Given, Onuoha, Bridge, Richards, Toure, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Vieira, Tevez, Adebayor, A.Johnson

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Ricketts, O'Brien, Knight, Muamba, Cohen, M.Davies, Lee, K.Davies, Taylor

Prediction: City 1 Bolton 0