I see Lawro's got us down to lose (again) on Saturday. He really doesn't like us does he? Does anyone know what his problem is?

City team to play Sunderland

GK Hart

RB Corluka CB Richards CB Dunne LB Ben Hium

RM SWP CM Kompany CM Johnson LM Petrov

CF Elano CF Jo

Subs Schmeichel Ball Onouha Ireland Fernandes Evens Sturridge city to win 2-0

surprise surprise, mark lawrenson has us losing, again! he has to be the chairman of the old hasbeens society for alcoholic, gambling addicts who just can't stand it when little old city are having a good time, but it may all backfire on them, cos i reckon leslie will have us in seige-mentality mode very very soon - it's us against the world fellow blues - ctwd

dougie75: He is from Preston and played for Liverpool - how much more do you want?

Merson is another who has it in for City.

SWP in for Johnson, Ireland moving inside and Micah at the back, with big Vince coming back in for me on Sunday..

CTID

For me Ball should stay in at left back and TBH should drop to the bench for this game or play right back if Corluka is going. I would play Ireland in the middle with Kompany and Elano and Sturridge up front. Jo needs 2 weeks training before being thrown in against Chelsea

my team v sunderland:

Hart,

Richards (RB), Dunne (CB), TBH (CB), Ball (LB).

Kompany (DCM).

SWP (RM), Ireland (CM), Elano (CM), Petrov (LM).

Sturridge (CF).

Have a feeling he will start with SWP on the bench and Jo wil get nod over Sturridge. Also TBH may play RB with Corluka not featuring coz of iminent departure.

4-4-2 Diamond formation as follows:
Hart
Zabaleta / Richards / Dunne / Ball (need a new LB)
Kompany (Holding)
SWP / Hamann / Petrov
Elano (Sitting behind)
Sturridge or Jo (when he's match fit)
Subs: Kasper / TBH / Garrido / Johnson (until he gets his finger out) / Ireland / Evans / Jo OR Sturridge
The Diamond formation puts alot of emphasis on Kompany moving left to right and backwards but i think he looks like he could handle it. It also relies on Zabaleta (when he's been paid for) & Ball getting up and down. Equally, we need SWP & Petrov to cover back (which Petrov has started to do & SWP always did). That leaves Hamann to float around centre circle & Elano to roam in front of the box. If we buy a quality LB & another creative midfielder (like a Bernabia), we are a top 6 proposition for definite. Just get D.Mills off the wage bill & if we have to and have replacements, sell Corluka / Garrido / Gelson / Caicedo.
I should've gone into football management, it's easy!

dougie75, North Manchester
29/08/2008 at 15:31


His problem is that he's got hair like thatched cottage roof.

At the merment.

Lawro is quite postitive about us compared to Paul Merson. Now he does have a problem. Let them all slag us off and let us prove them all to be what they are, a load of old washed up has- beens, who don't have a clue.

Dougie - on Lawro. I don't know his problem (assuming there is only one). But he is hopeless at predicting. I have set a simple system for predicting games and it will stay the same all season - in other words I have predicted all remaining games already. Up to now, after 20 games, I am 15-9 on Lawrenson.

dougie75, North Manchester
29/08/2008 at 15:31

WE don't wear red


CTID

Lawro's got us down to lose 2-1. As per last week we normally win when he does that. Which would be nice.

I think we will edge it. We will have to play well though. We should be on a high now and gaining confidence.
CTID

I'd love it if we slaughtered them, love it!

Remember Alfie - show no mercy!

Can't see the team as anything other than

Hart

TBH Richards Dunne Ball

SWP Kompany Johnson Petrov

Elano
Jo

Personally I'd put Richards at RB and TBH at CB
Expect Corluka not to play as others have said - thanks to him hes been good - not sure what his issue is and why he seems determined to leave ??

Be bold; go 4-4-2:

Hart (GK)

Ben Haim (RB) Dunne (CB) Richards (CB) Ball (LB)

SWP (RW) Kompany (DM) Elano (AM) Petrov (LW)

Evans (S) Sturridge (S)

Subs: Schmeichel, Corluka, Johnson, Ireland, Hamann, Caicedo, Jo.

I just think that Ben Haim is better on the floor than in the air (and has more 'go' in him than Corluka) and I believe Sturridge & Evans work well together up front, although I'm acutely aware that it's very unlikely that we're going to leave a £19M player on the bench...jet lag or no jet lag.

Malbranque not playing is good news - he's a good player. Sunderland hasn't been a bad ground for us over the years although Roy Keane is now putting together a pretty good side. If we play as we did against West Ham we'll be ok - if we play as we did in Denmark we won't. Bet SWP scores!

Sam Hagar........

Agree with your selections for sunday except I`d have Ireland in and Johno on the bench. Stevie had a top game last week and deserves another start, Johno has done nowt this season and needs a preverbial rocket up his backside. I would like to see Ben Haim given a run at left back to see if he can settle there, eventually Zabaleta to right back and we`re looking ok. Draw will do me on sunday, then get ready to put it to the russians next week. CTID

i'm goin and i can't wait - the atmosphere is gonna be electric after shaun's return. I reckon 2-1 to us is probably about right. I'd probably go for a team of..

-Hart-

-Corluka-Richards-Dunne-Ball-

-SWP-Johnno-Kompany-Petrov-

-Jo-Sturridge/Evans/Elano-

"City are not quite sure what they are at the moment" this rather vague statement was expressed by Mark Lawrenson. Perhaps Mark Lawrenson is not quite sure where he is at the moment.

Andrew stole my words -- YES Lawro has predicted another defeat 2-1 again like against West Ham. However his stats show his predictions aren't always correct especially with the City games he does seem slightly anti Man City but then again working for BBC sport your CV has to state MCFC as one of your dislikes and moreso the 'RAGS' as one of your favourite clubs it sticks out a mile----

Talking about Lawrenson, i.e, the man with the perpetual scowl and a down on City, I was going through some old video tapes the other night and came across one with a Milk Cup game between Burnley and Liverpool. Lawrenson had a shocker!
He wasn`t in the same class as Alan Hansen who I thought was superb.

A tough game but City to win 2-1.

Lawro is terrible at predictions. The good news is that he picks City to lose which menas a win for us.

Man City 350/1 to win 4-3.....if it's an open game and Sunderland get a few early goals who knows?! Just like the Keegan days again.