Why not start Richardson at right back and play Clyne at right midfield? He has shown great promise going forward, and having played the majority of his career in defence, he would be perhaps more defensive which would help against City's firepower.
Indeed this could be tried at another point in the season, but on day one, against such opposition, it is too risky to play a player out of position. We need to play it safe as houses for the city game. I don't mean pack the defence, I mean have our most experienced heads in their most confident roles. For me, it's got to be Guly or Chaplow on the right, depending on who else is playing in midfield.
Thing is when teams went at City that is when they looked beatable. We can't just go ultra defensive or we will get smashed.
What we must remember is that Nige is on a learning curve as well...wonderful if he gets it rights against the PL Champions first time...but doesn't mean the baby should be thrown out with the bathwater if it doesn't. Something will be learnt about tactics and our players from our first few games, whatever the results. No knee jerk reactions...if we beat City 6.0 it doesn't mean we will win the title
All-out defending won't work against City. They'll play, make us run around and find a way through. To come out of the match with any credit, we need to get a foot on the ball and have some positive options. Keep them on their toes and they'll come at us less.
And if we lose 6-0 it doesn't mean we're going down, our players are ****e and Adkins is a muppet. QPR and Swansea both got thrashed on the opening day last season, both stayed up. Wolves and Bolton both won on the first day, they went down.
Alot of opinions being put forward - this gets my vote - obviously the line up will change given specific circumstances and opponents. It seems the 4-2-3-1 is getting alot of match time at the moment. I also think that the two midfielders can be more defensive with Hammond sitting in front of the CB's. For teams with lack of pace in the back-four; I can see Lambert sitting out for Lee or Jay.
A middle 3 of Morgan, Cork and Davis would be mighty defensive. It is a bit of a brick wall, but Man City are the football equivalent of a bulldozer, they'll break through it. Taking the analogy further, the best way to stop a bulldozer is to climb into the cockpit and drive it into a ditch, not to stand in front of it and hope for the best.
Sunderland gave them a good game and came away with a point. If we play without fear, we might catch them off guard.
Hmm... so we need a formation that's solid enough, and players that are clever enough, to screwdriver the door lock, unpick the steering lock, hotwire the ignition and then steer it into the ditch. Y'know, I'm not sure we've got footballers who are that capable. I do like the analogy though.
If the bulldozer was locked, it's probably stationary, which would make stopping it pretty pointless.
