MIDFIELDER Nigel de Jong returns from a one-match suspension to face Stoke on Boxing Day - new manager Roberto Mancini’s first match in charge.
Mancini only took his first training session on Monday following Mark Hughes’ controversial sacking after Saturday’s victory over Sunderland and has had little time to fully assess the squad.
However, defenders Nedum Onuoha (calf) and Joleon Lescott (knee) are definitely out while striker Emmanuel Adebayor and winger Shaun Wright-Phillips (both ankle) and Micah Richards (knee) are all doubtful.
Stoke are expected to recall defender Robert Huth following a one-match suspension which ruled him out of last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa.
Huth’s return gives boss Tony Pulis decisions to make at the back, with Danny Collins having returned to the side in the German’s absence at Villa Park.
The Potteries club have a doubt, however, over defender Ryan Shawcross, who is struggling with a groin injury.
Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Toure, Sylvinho, Garrido, Kompany, De Jong Ireland, Barry, Robinho, Petrov, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Weiss.
Stoke City (from): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Faye, Collins, Lawrence, Huth, Diao, Delap, Etherington, Whitehead, Sidibe, Beattie, Fuller, Tuncay, Whelan, Simonsen, Higginbotham, Cort.
City league form: DWDLW
Stoke league form: WDLDL
Key opponent: Tuncay - a canny operator up front
Prediction: City 2 Stoke 1 - The Blues should be bang up for this one, although injuries in defence are a concern
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
Click
here for all the latest odds from Betfred
City v Stoke: Preview
December 24, 2009
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Come on City!!! 3-0 to the blues with the re-emergence of Robinho, now under a manager who has got some idea how to play him.
Given (if dummy back in), Zab, kompany, toure, barry, bellamy (if dummy back in), robbie, jong (capt), ireland, cruz, tevez.... Weiss on just after half time when city are 3.0 up....easy this manager lark
God knows what'll happen in this one. However, am looking forward to our players knowing what their jobs are, some better defending and the team actually having a good shape. And there was me thinking I was going to have to wait until next season for all this...
I'm hoping Mancini puts out the following team:
GK - Given
DEF - Richards,Toure,Kompany,Sylvinho
MID - Ireland,De Jong,Ireland,Barry
FOR - Robinho,Adebayor
subs - Taylor,Weiss,Zabaleta,Santa Cruz,Wright-Phillips,Petrov and Garrido
I'm hoping Mancini puts out the following team:
GK - Given
DEF - Richards,Toure,Kompany,Sylvinho
MID - Ireland,De Jong,Ireland,Barry
FOR - Robinho,Adebayor
subs - Taylor,Weiss,Zabaleta,Santa Cruz,Wright-Phillips,Petrov and Garrido
Chapman,
24/12/2009 at 11:58
So Ireland MUST be a great player, have we signed his brother, or will you play him in two positions and go at them with 10 men?.
My team would be
zab, toure, kompany, barry,
swp, ireland, de jong, robinho
tevez, santa cruz.
If bellamy was fit i would save him for wolves away. Hope these boys put it in for the new man in charge. Believe achieve come on city.
Note to Mancini ....
Believe we have quite a few defensive headaches with regards to injuries,however I feel one of the answers to the full back isuues is right under your nose.
If Kidd has been running the youth and reserve set up I'd hope he's recommended young Vidal to our Latin friend,he can play on either,quick,reads the game well and tall,so good in the air unlike Zab and Silvynho!
Chapman.....you must have a very high opinion of Ireland if you're putting him in the starting line twice
Chapman,
24/12/2009 at 11:58
That ireland must be good to play in two positions, :-)
Were's Bellamy ?
My team;-
Given
Vidal,Toure/Richards,Kompany,Barry
Weiss,Ireland,De Jong,Bellamy
Tevez,Santa Cruz
oh and shay of course
given
Richards Toure Kompany sylvinho
SWP De jong Ireland Bellamy
Tevez Santa cruz
crazy p, sheffield
24/12/2009 at 11:51
LOL! Agree with your side assuming SWP injured, otherwise Robinho on bench for me. DeJong/Kompany as captain.
What a relief it is not to read any comments by Mark Bowen regarding the next fixture.
belamy instead of robinho in this match, robbi needs to prove himsself in away matches
Hooray! back to the football,
If Robinho isn't up for this one then get rid ASAP, this game is his opportunity to show us that his poor performances were because of bad team organisation/tactics.
The biggest problem will be that Stoke will concentrate on our left flank, if Pulis knows anything about City. For that reason Bellamy has to play on the left and Robi will have to wait. I'd leave Barry out as well - SWP or Weiss on the right, Bellamy on the left, de Jong and Ireland in the middle; Tevez behind Santa up front.
As for the score, anything could happen, but I fancy City to score the usual 2 or 3. Just hope the Stoke forwards don't turn up.
Neil Allen,
24/12/2009 at 12:02
I'm a big fan of Ireland but to expect him to play two positions is a bit too much even for him...
chapman, i like the selection mate but i think Tevez deserves his place a lot more than robbie, & i he deffinately should be on the bench.
Sorry Neil, that should read Chapman...
massive day for the club, hope everything goes acording to plan, would be nice for robbie and bellend to score
First of all Happy Christmas fellow Blues. We are sold out for Boxing Day and if I am next to anyone just sat there at the match not singing or getting behind the team they are gonna have a bit of gentle persuasion aimed in their direction. I am not an aggressive bloke, but some fans just sit there in a comatose state, armed crossed and buttoned lipped sometimes they don't even move for the whole 90 mins! Oh I lied, they occasionally turn around in bemusement to see who's singing. Passionless.What if we all followed their lead? It would be like the Swamp I suppose. Anyway prediction:a good winning start for Mancini 3-1. Carlos, Santa and Stevie.
Crazy P, If Given's dummy isn't back in, I'd suggest a long spell in the reserves. He is a brilliant shot stopper but I expect the keeper to take crosses played deep in to the box and to dominate his defenders. Given doesn't do either. I find his indignation at Hughes' sacking quite strange when he was a part of the defense that ushered Hughes through the door.
Off the thread but does anyone know when the tickets go on sale to access card holders for the first home semi?