ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- Will Toure Return?

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 01/25/2010

Tournament favourites Ivory Coast, and Kolo Toure, have been knocked out of African Nations Cup by Algeria. This immediately brings up the question as to when Toure could return and more interestingly given the play of Boyata and Kompany would Mancini risk dropping the City Captain straight into such an important game as Wednesday's second leg of the Liquid Cup?

With all indications that Old Purple Nose will play a strong United team the experience of Toure would be helpful. Then again Boyata and Kompany have already started to grow as a pairing in a way that Toure and Lescott have not. Decisions, Decisions.

With the return of Adebayor also muted the game time selection decisions are going to be huge. We saw against Scunthorpe a true 4-3-3 as once again Mancini played with formations and players. Against United in the first leg the boys from Salford were able to get some decent width especially with Valencia. I've got a sneaking suspicion that the club will start with a tight defensive formation in midfield and if City concede then a change will be made. Such a situation would leave Stephen Ireland on the bench to start.

The availability of Patrick Vieira is also relevant although all indications are that he will not be fit in time.

So many options, so many possibilities and so many potential players. Almost makes you wish for the days of Hughes when we knew what was going to happen. I said "almost"...

Comments

Posted by Evan Georgiou on 01/25/2010

Given,Richards,Toure,Kompany,Garido,Barry ,De jong,SWP,Ireland,Bellers,Tevez

Bench;Taylor,Onouha,Zab,Sylvinho,Ade,Robinho,Viera

Posted by ben on 01/25/2010

good post wallace!

I think Man u will have a headache at the back too as Rio is back.

I hope Robi's goal would help him get back his touch. Would Bellamy then be restored to left wing and allow robi to partner tevez upfront?

against man u, micah and plata were given free roles. I am not sure if robi was to play, bellamy will move to wing and plata to the back.

however, given the similarities between robi and bellamy in terms of physique maybe there is not wise plus tevez. Therefore, I would imagine plata back, bellamy wing and adebayor will play with tevez upfront and using the speed and crosses of bellamy and SWP.

After the game against scurntpe, I wanna see petrov play too. he will play in front of the defensive mid De Jong and Barry. so it will be 2-1-2-2-3.

Posted by Martin Nazimek on 01/25/2010

would robo fit into this match? I think NOT. Hope he goes on loan to find his form. And if we do play a defensive approach, do you really think we can fight off united? To me its hard to believe .
CTID

Wallace Reply I don't think a 0-0 tie is on the cards although a packed defense and midfield would be interesting. I believe City have to score to have a chance of going through.

Posted by Andy on 01/25/2010

We must attack thats the only way toplay a poor utd squad/team. they have nothing to other unless we sit back like we did in the last 20min and let them come on to us, they are a 1 man team with a good left back, get swp to block his runs like last week and take the game to them and away from them

Given
Onouha Toure kompany Garido

SWP De jong Barry Bellamy

Ireland

Tevez

Subs; Taylor, Richards, Zaba, Silvinio
Petrov, Ibrahim(Viera), Benjani

Posted by callum on 01/25/2010

I think the game will be 2-2 on wednesday..go 1-0 united, 2-1 city then 2-2 then City just hang on...
Given
Richards Toure Kompany Garrido
Zabaleta de Jong Barry
SWP TEVEZ Bellamy

then bring zabaleta or barry off if losing, bring on Ireland and if we're winning bring on Vieira to hold the ball up..I dont think adebayor will be match fit considering hes lost a lot of weight etcetc...and Taylor, Onuoha, Boyata, Sylvinho, Vieira, Ireland, Robinho, Benjani would be my 7 subs

CTID !!

Wallace Reply Yes 2-2 draw or if City don't score 2-0 United are the results I think most likely.

Posted by Pete on 01/25/2010

AS I see it right now, if City score first, they move on. The OT crown will be completely deflated and the 9,000 fans who made the trip from Manchester will be in heaven.

The key for City is getting a foothold on the match and not showing too much respect to United. They need to go at them and target Rio and the rest of their vulnerable back 4. I really hope Neville starts. Simply because when Neville speaks, he often times, eats his words.

Should be a cracking derby, and I can't wait!

CTID!

COME ON CITY!!!

Wallace Reply And yet City are at their most lethal I've always thought on the counter attack. Bellamy in particular will give fits to whomever United play at Right Back. So do you try to soak up the pressure and then get the vital away goal on a break. This tie is, to use a cliche, so very finely balanced.

Posted by Foxy on 01/25/2010

Another great post, Wallace. You continue to mention that Stephen Ireland is NOT a playmaker suited for the attacking mid role in a diamond formation. May I ask then, what do you see as Ireland's greatest strengths, and what position in which system/formation would he be ideal? I can't seem to find a particular position in any formation that seemed a perfect fit for Little Stevie.

Wallace Reply In a 4-2-3-1 formation Ireland would play the right side of the 3 but with flexibility to come inside. Ireland is at his best making runs, especially late runs. He will be at his best when he has play makers in the side that can anticipate his movement.

Here's a crazy line up for this Wednesday. Play 4-2-3-1 with Barry and de Jong as the 2, Bellamy on the left, Ireland on the right and Tevez up top. And the AM... of all people Petrov. I know... crazy thought but he may pass the ball, even just with his left, better than anyone else.

The great, great irony is that Robinho could potentially be that AM but it's hard to justify given the current lack of form.

Posted by Stan on 01/25/2010

Away goal? Does the Carling Cup use the away goals rule? I thought it was total goals; then in case of a draw 30 extra minutes, then penalties.

I agree that City can't go into a defensive shell or it'll just be a seige by ManU. I think it's important that Bellamy and Adebayor are in the squad because I think Bellamy's pace and Adebayor's size can really threaten ManU's creaky back four.

It'll be interesting to see what tactics Mancini goes with in this one.

Wallace Reply I believe that it is rather convoluted and that it is total goals at the end of normal time and then the away goals rule at the end of extra time. So a 1-0 United lead at the end of 90 minutes would lead to Extra Time being played (total goals 2-2) but if the score stayed the same at the end of Extra Time then United would win because of their away goal.

But I'm happy to be corrected if someone has other information.

Posted by Trevor Britton on 01/26/2010

No he will not start Mancini has been sticking with his guns and his youth. Toure just got back to his club. Mancini will give Toure a clean slate but he will not start him in a match such as prevelant and the man u man city derby.

Posted by Foxy on 01/26/2010

Excellent insight on Stevie Ireland in the 4-2-3-1; the right side does make sense for him in that formation. I agree that with Robinho out of form, Petrov may be a decent AM option in that formation, although I always though of him as a bit enamored with his own long-distance shots, not so much making plays for others.

I know this sounds crazy, but we have many players who can play that CM pairing with DeJong. BARRY can be a steadying AM who could find Tevez Bellamy and Ireland/SWP making runs, not to mention whomever attacked from CM (the ghost of Michael Johnson?). He's also got the size to win headers and be a bit of a target man in the attacking area. So something like this:

Given
Zabaleta Richards Toure Garrido
Kompany De Jong
Ireland Barry Bellamy
Tevez

PS, with a defensively capable AM, Ireland can play RM in a diamond.

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