the news over this side of the pond since christmas is that liverpool are going after Mr R.Dunne

We can't be bothered about Allardyce - our own form needs looking at. Now slipped out of the top 6 so we must win tonight - so far only 2 points from Xmas and that's at home. I think teams now know how to play us and realise we have no real drive in midfield. We need to change things a bit. I have to say Elano looked a bit off the pace against Spurs - get him fit. Let Giovanni play in his position and see what happens then.

Let us not concern ourselves with the conceived "plight" of other Managers. Let's try and continue the magical onwards and upwards journey of our beloved City. It was a very pertinent point made by Sven that we have THREE teams in a row, who have had an extra day's rest before facing us. I can't think the BIG FOUR would accept this, but we at City just seem to plod on regardless and make no objections to the powers that be. Our traditional family outing, full house, Boxing Day game was changed to a Thursday night, without any comment from within. Lots of young fans wanting to come for the first time and very probably become lifelong blues, had the opportunity whisked away with the re-arrangement of the Boxing Day fixture. Sven is obviously taking the lack of days we have to prepare for each game into consideration when slightly rotating and resting players whenever he can. So it's the Geordies tonight. Come on blues, time for a long overdue away victory. Let's do it in style.

on the bench tonight,been very poor of late!

I think Sven is right and there are a number of factors for Elano's dip in form and we must give him time to recover properly, as there is still a long way to go in the season and he will be important for us later.

1) While most players were on their mid-year (our summer) hols he was playing for Brazil in the Copa America.

2) Didnt have a proper pre-season due to the negotiations to come join us, so fitness levels probably havent been the best to start with.

3) This time of the year he would usually be back in Brazil as Donesk season would have finished. I read somewhere that this is the first time Elano has not been able to attend a Xmas kids charity event he sponsors back in his home town in Sao Paulo, due to the Prem schedule.

Add to that the injury, the fact he is only 5 months into his debut Prem season and still getting used to it all, then it is is easy to see why his form would suffer a bit recently.

Hopefully given time he will come good again on the second half of the season - he certainly has the talent. Time to get Geo involved and see what he is really capable of doing.

Come on City, lets get a win tonight.

A win tonight would wrap up a very satisfactory Chrimbo set of results for methinks. 2 tough draws, draw / robbery at home and an away win (tonight). Must go for the jugular tonight and re-gain some proper killer instinct.

First off - Elano wasn't dropped - he was rested, because he's not 100%. And it is a problem for Sven, that we lack the depth in the squad to give players a proper lay off if they need it.

I'm sure he'll try and address this in the window and there have been a lot of names bandied about. Sven and Frank have already said that cash is available and that they expect to bring in 2-3 players in the window, but this isn't likely in the first 2 weeks. I'm sure they'd like more, but January just isn't a good time to buy. There are very few real quality players available. Clubs who are invloved in the CL or UEFA won't want to sell and will charge premium prices if they do. It won't stop Sven trying, but we shouldn't be disappointed if we have to wait till summer for 'big' names. They aren't looking for short term fixes, but to build a squad for the future.

Finally lets not believe all the rubbish in the press like 'Crouch tops Sven wish list'. They haven't got a clue whether we are interested in a player or not. Sven doesn't tell the press anything until it's a done deal. We already know that. It's far more likely that 1 or 2 individuals on this site will come up with name or 2 with a bit of insight.

Put Ireland in the Elano role and Giovanni or Vassell (who is starting to look like his old self) on the right. If Ireland and Petrov link up like they did against Blackburn we'll murder the Toon!

I expect changes again tonight. Elano,Petrov and Hammann rested. Gelson,Garrido and Geovanni to start. I'm sure we'll go there looking for a draw but come unstuck 2-0. New faces needed, because a lot of this side are looking absolutely knackered.

As for Newcastle's problems ... who cares.
If Elano is out (and that would be no surprise at the moment) I guess Ireland will fill his place with probably Etuhu on the right.
Maybe start with the fit again Mpenza as a lone striker, as to me he fits best so far in that position. With all rivals but WHU won, there's some pressure now to keep up with the top 6. I'll go for a 1-0 win.

form is temporary, class is permanant, and this fella has class in abundance. His form will return, there is no doubt about that, in fact I think against Liverpool in the first half, when he had the ball he was looking closer to his old self. Part of the reason for his ineffectivness over the last few games for me is the absence of Johnson, I think Johnson creates space for Elano to play by making runs beyond the striker, and we have lacked that in his absence when playing Gelson or Corluka alongside him. Hopefully, once we get these 2 back in tandem we should see him back to his best.

Absolutely no sympathy for SA or Newcastle whatsoever.

As for Elano, he looked really jaded on Sunday and probably would have benefitted from a break, but unfortunately for him Johnson has been injured - they work really well in tandem.

I would rest him completely tonight and for the trip to West Ham on Saturday, give Geo a couple of games and then get him 100% fit for a really tough test against Everton.

In Sven We Trust. CTID

Besides fitness problems the other reason for Elano dipping is that he is no longer an unknown quantity. This reminds me of Benarbia who struggled after a few months. Teams will try and take him out of the game. Benarbia had to adapt to this man-marking and work hard to find space. Elano must do the same.

We need more options going forward so we are not reliant on playing through Elano. If Arsenal can't play through the middle they play around the opposition by getting their fullbacks to overlap. Our fullbacks can't do that because they are worried about leaving the defence short. Also the likes of Petrov, Ireland and Geovanni are not suited to covering the fullback. This is a shame because Garrido and Corluka could be great attacking full backs.

Please, Please don't let this article be an open door for any 'no brains' to have a pop at the very talented Elano in regards to recent performances. As most of us are aware we're lucky to have him.

basically I feel it is a case of his self belief and confidence taking a bit of a hit after a fantastic start to the season coupled with defenders targetting him. We need to play him get him match fit. By moddlecoddling him in on the bench it is a waste of time for him and the club. He is by far our best player. Also feel,if more superstars came into the team it would help Elano as Primadonnas always need competition. And that is said as a compliment not an insult! Come on Sven play him.

Great point DJ, Chorlton. I've been saying this for ages that we need to switch to a different system because everyone knows that if the opposition man marks Elano and Petrov we are bereft of ideas. Sven now needs to up the ante. We have become a good mid placed Premiership team rather than one capable of really challenging the big four. Luckily Sven has cash at his disposal and if he buys wisely we get the striker(s) and midfielder(s) capable of shooting us into Europe. The game against Blackburn was the most telling where once Petrov was marked out of the game we capitulated and they started to control the midfield. The new blood can't arrive quickly enough.

At the moment if Elano does play he's a total hinderance we may aswell just have ten men sorry to say but as i have said before Elano has only played well in four games this season.

The lad is obviously not 100% for whatever reason, so he needs at least 2 games rest so he can work on his fitness.

Lets see what Ireland or Geovanni can do in that role.

Elano can't hadle the pace of the Premiership and I doubt if he ever will,what next,will Sven ask the opposition not to tackle our delicate flower.Looks like £8 mill wasted, ditto Bianchi.

We are REALLY missing Johnsons drive at the moment as he makes others around him and infront of him move as well, creating space and holes for Elano/Ireland to exploit.
Looking forward to seeing Corluka in mid again though.

Newcastle will be pumped up but on edge as well. A great opportunity to kick em in the knackers and take the 3 points.

elano must play at all costs! he ripped newcastle apart at our place and he will do it again tonight. if he needs a rest then rest him at the weekend when we play in fa cup, we should infact rest a lot of our seniors against whu in the cup as we will only probably reach quarters anyway!! i feel its a good opportunity to give a few youngsters some first team experience in the cup and rest the likes of hamman,corluka,elano,dunnie,micah to prepare them for the proper games in the league which is far more important than a cup run to the quarters(again!)

Elano needs more room to operate. If the opposition defence was confronted with two strikers who could score and had pace, they'd be forced to double-up on at least one of them.

This is a team game.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop slating Elano! What short memories some of you seem to have. 6 weeks ago he was a new hero and now some people are suggesting we get rid! He has undeniably not been as effective as earlier in the season, but it's no coincidence that it's coincided with a return from injury and MJ's absence. I also think that with one (rather inept striker - (insert name here))He's being forced to hold the ball up too much, whereas he's at his best making clever one touch passes. If we had a quicker/more clever player up front they would allow Elano an outlet. We'll have Castillo and Boj available soon and hopefully A.N. other, and watch us fly again.
Happy New Year!

I see from many of the posts that people are bending over backwards to make excuses for Elano's loss of form (I wish they would also excuse players like Mpenza and Vassel who while not being as talented as Elano work exceptionally hard for the team). We were too quick to crown Elano a great player after 2 or 3 excellent displays. Great players are consistently good and dare I say it, Ronaldo is a great player because he performs for the rags week in week out for nearly 3 years now. I certainly don't want our play to be dependent on a player who is yet to prove his consistency. Elano has to prove himself now that the opposition know about him. Until he does this consistently there is no way you can call Elano our best player.

tommybates....your talking drivel, Elano can and will handle the Premier League. What we need to make him more effective is Johnson alongside him, and a centre-forward with pace,enabling Elano to pass the ball far quicker. Elano is at his best when threading through balls to the likes of Petrov,Johnson and Ireland running beyond him. At the minute he only has the outlet of Petrov,and this is exasperated by having Bianchi upfront,who,although able to hold the ball up,is not fast enough for the counter attacking/on-the-break football Sven prefers (which is born out with comments earlier in the season when bianchi admitted Sven preffered a quick striker up front) If we can get in a right winger in the transfer window with pace, then we will see a far more effective Elano,able to spray the ball to either flank,or through the middle for Castillo/Bojinovs pace or Johnson breaking from midfield!