Friday 12 November 2010

Birmingham preview

I'm perfectly happy to settle for a point against United as long as we can take maximum points at home against lesser sides. This isn't something we have done too well this season, dropping two points against Blackburn Rovers in September.

While I won't criticise Roberto Mancini's tactics from Wednesday, there is a legitimate concern over our approach in these games. The set up of the side, the famous 'broken team', is not designed to break down teams that defend deep and in numbers.

So I hope we see some changes tomorrow. Adam Johnson is a must, as, probably, is Aleksandar Kolarov. I've got a sense Yaya Touré might be rested (he's still exhausted after trying at West Brom), so I wouldn't mind seeing James Milner playing centrally. Emmanuel Adebayor instead of Carlos Tévez is a long shot but would not be a surprise.

I just hope we can get an early goal. Last year we scored just in time and won easily, 5-1. A goal or two in the first half hour and it will be a comfortable afternoon. Prediction: 3-0.

4 comments:

pjdemers said...

I wish I shared your optimism, but I just don't see three goals from City given Mancini's cautious and predictable tactics. I expect us to struggle as Birmingham are going to do what every side in England knows what to do, park the bus and keep 8 to 9 players behinds the ball, double team Silva and Tevez whenever possible any deny space in the and around the box.

I so hope I'm wrong (and I will gladly put my hand say so if I am) but I just don't see Mancini rolling the dice and deviating from his predictable tactics. If we win this game I think it will come down to an individual piece of brilliance from Silva or Johnson, or perhaps a long range pile driver from Kolarov. This game has nil - nil or a narrow 1-0 win written all over it.

StanMCFC said...

Get Nedum Onuoua back. The man's a genius! 'Chief' should never have been allowed to go on loan - better than Lescott, Toure and Richards. Another question mark against Mancini...

pjdemers said...

@Stan

Couldn't agree more!

smplcv said...

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