The first bit of news is that Mark Halsey is in charge. Didn't do us tto many favours against Villa last year. Tony Gale in his regular column on the Club site says that we cannot risk playing two up front on Saturday and suggests a 4-4-1-1 format - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd4Wplp80Rg&feature=youtu.be As you see he is also a tad disparaging of Ruiz and while Gale doesn't actually name the team, I take it he wouldn't play Ruiz. One thing I'm sure is of is that playing narrow (primarily attacking down the centre, as we did for most of the game against Wigan) won't get us a win against Man City. We need to get at their fullbacks and draw Kompany out of position - hopefully also forcing Toure to work across the field. Petric and Richards are fit according to the Club. Frei is still very doubtful and you know about the rest. The back five pick themselves which leaves some tempting combinations. I can't see Jol taking too many risks so that would put Richardson and Kara on the bench. I'd love to see Petric and Berbatov but tend to agree with Gale about two up front, so Petric is also on the bench. I'm going against Gale though and putting Bryan in the middle. That leaves a choice between Hugo and Kaca for left wing forward. Hugo showed some really good defensive work when he went out there against Wigan (this is weak part of Kaca's game) but on his day Kaca will threaten their full back more effectively. So my starting line up is - ...............Schwarzer............ ..Riether...Hughes...Hangeland....Riise ...........Baird............Sidwell.......... ...Duff.........Ruiz...............Kaca ...........Berbatov.................
I think Man City are there for the taking on Saturday. I mean that there's never been a better time to play them, not that they're rubbish. I think as champions everyone is really upping they're game against them. I hope we do the same. Although I may swap Leavitt for another player in my fantasy league team.
Hmmm, the other way of looking at it is that they may be due a reaction to last night's cup exit. I'm taking my usual approach for games against the big guns: it's a game we're expected to lose, so let's have a go at them and take anything we get out of the game as a bonus.
Yeah, like Captain says if we get something out of it, brilliant, but if we don't then it'll be no less than we expected. It would be superb if we could keep up our momentum but if we don't, no problem. I'll be happy with a draw and a good performance.
Naturally they wouldn't have wanted to lose at home last night but I doubt if they're all that fussed. I think their game against Borussia Dortmund in the CL next week will be taxing them more - losing those 2 late goals in the first leg was a real bummer. The key might be in the team Mancini selects and I have an inkling he'll go quite defensive; playing Barry (to give him more game time) and Milner, together with Toure deeper. If so, and we play as we have done so far at home, we're in with a great shout.
In other news, all this stuff about Mancini telling other managers to "shut up" just makes me hate the smug, arrogant ****e even more.
this is a real test for our CM's....i'm thinking more a draw than anything...its just how City set up away from home but Mancini will ber aware of our threat and that could be the difference....really depends on the team he puts out in all honesty.
I'm not sure Kaca is ready to start in a game like this- he'd be a good impact sub toward the end. I'd go with ------------Schwa-------------- Reither--------------------Rise ---------Brede--Aaron-------- ------Sidders----Baird--------- Duff----------------------Ruiz-- -------------Berba-------------- ----------Roda/Petric---------- If Ruiz does start then Baird or Sidders would need to also keep an eye on the left flank. Jol might not choose to with him, Ruiz and Berba are quite similar in terms of tackling/tracking back- although Ruiz did look a bit stronger at the start of season. Hopefully he will have evolved from his token tackling effort where he trotted toward players with no real intent- he didn't look keen on aerial challenges either. I think other teams will look to rough him up early.
I'd go with C58's team. I think Kaca needs to play as he can frighten full backs and if he plays against Maicon he could have a field day. He needs to play these games sooner rather than later, and I think he's up to it now.
Recently Jol has given a press/club interview at lunchtime on the Thursday before matchday but not this week. Instead the Club have posted a story about how Hugo will celebrate his next goal. Is this a clue that he will be playing against City ? http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/september/27/off-the-mark
With Berbatov out, I feel Jol will now play 2 up front. He did say that Kara would play some part in the game but I can't see him starting, so my revised team is - .................Schwarzer.............. ....Riether....Hughes..Hangeland......Riise ...........Baird...Sidwell............. ..Duff............................Ruiz .............Petric........Hugo... The unpredictable Cottage Chickens have gone for a draw - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OgoCr7fj6Q0 I'm now inclined to agree and go for the same as last year, 2-2.
Agreed team C58, but there's a chance Kaca could start to scare them from the off. Given the injuries, I'll take a first draw of the season, but as ever hopeful of the full 3. C O Y W
Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Baird, Sidwell, Duff, Ruiz, Petric, Rodallega C58 was right, Kara and Smith on the bench.
