I'm curious about Vieira in a Blue shirt, but maybe tomorrows' game is not the perfect one. I'd prefer De Jong or Barry, as I do SWP, Bellamy and Benjani to Petrov, Robinho and RSC.

Play him if Barry he an injury.

if Barry is injured play him Everton are on the way bask we cant carry anyone tomorrow

Yeah am still nervous about Patricks capabilities at this level now. Barry has been back in decent form for us of late. Everton are battlers and you have to win the battle and the right to play footie against them. They will be going all out to physically intimidate us and knock us off our stride. May not be bad to have Viera, DeJong and Barry and a front three of Bellamy, Tevez and RSC/Benjani. Def not one for Robinho or Rigsby. Its embarrasing seeing them pull their foot out of a challenge quite frankly and you can bet there's gonna be some tackles. Prepare for a war (in footballing terms) at least one red card during the game.

Difficult game for a debut - it will be brutal and hard. They will harry us from the off,the weather is likely to be lousy and we will have to give as good as we get. Very much a game for the likes of Nigel de Jong and conversely I wouldn't even bother putting Robinho on the bench. If Viera does start he will have to know it won't be a game for the faint hearted - the only way we will win is by us getting in their faces from the off and not letting them get into any sort of rhythm. If we sit back and try to play some fancy stuff we will lose - simple as that.But Mr Mancini knows what he's doing doesn't he?

Fit players for Tuesday is the key. He must be doing the business in training & has been playing for one of Europes biggest clubs until recently.SWP instead of Petrov for half the game & save for the derby.

Team;Given,Ned,Micah,Vinny,Zab,De Jong,Viera,Barry,Bellers,Tevez,Benjani
Bench ;Taylor,Garido,Boyata,SWP,Petrov,Robi,RSC,
Score:Everton-0 Man City -3(Tevez,Benjani,Bellers)
Being a Man City;PRICELESS....
From a sunny Cape Town.....

Vieira signing was for this very reason, we can rest a player and introduce one of similar ability.
With the semi final only days away it gives Barry a rest and Vieira some playing time. Another 3 points on Saturday, despite what Lawro says;this will be a harder test for the team but with the quality we now have I can see us turning them over by 2 goals.

The bigger tests are upon us,and Mancini's statement at the end of the article is exactly what we as fans want to hear.Injured players are gradually coming back which can only help the cause.We really need the white elephant that is RSC to get fit and stay fit with the indefinite absence of Adebayor looming.The Everton game will go some of the way to telling us where we are and where we are likely to end up this term.CTID.

Rest Barry if he is carrying a strain and play Viera. Only one way to judge the lad. If he is here to make an impression, then please...... go ahead.
It's going to be a physical game, so I don't want Barry playing if less than 100% fit. Not with the reds coming up so soon after.

I'm puzzled about exactly how he would fit in with DeJong as both like to hold central ground, rather than one right - one left

However, if barry is available I would see

a five man midfield - from the right of; swp, dejong, viera, barry, bellamy - with the widest ones pushing on and linking with tevez up front when prudent or needed

if barry is not fit, maybe boyatta would go to central defence with kompany taking barry's place in midfield

this set up could be flexible and could alternate between an attacking 4 3 3 to a tight 4 5 1

an extra striker can come off the bench if needed

whatever we do, we can't give everton the rope in midfield that we gave blackburn on monday and hope to get away with it

come on cityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,

Support the team and live the dream.

If Barry's carrying an injury then it's a no-brainer. Gaz Baz has been in good form of late, so we can't afford to lose him for the game against taggart's mob. Whether Vieira will be up to the task of filling in or not is another matter, particularly against a team like Everton who play a 90mph in your face pressing game. We can only hope that our man still has the leg and lung power to get up and down the pitch, cos if he ain't then he'll be no use at all - he was never a ball player like Hamann. I guess we'll see. I'd be tempted to rest Bellamy as well

If Barry is carrying a slight injury then this could be a perfect time for Vieira to make his bow, I would much prefer Barry against the RAGS than Vieira, simply because he will get sent off, there is just too much chemistry between him (Vieira) and the scum. And believe he would just become a target man.

Prediction for the weekend game.

Everton 1-2 MCFC

Goals - Tevez / Petrov

Onwards and upwards………………..

I wont risk Barry if he is not 100% fit but is Vieria 100% fit. It will be a big test against Everton they are starting to come on form we got be up for it i will take a scrapy 1-0.

Surely we'd be better resting Bellamy and Barry for the semi. Though the league is important I really think that a (winnable) final vs Villa is a massive milestone for City. So tomorrow I'd have Given, Zab, Richards, Kompany, Garrido, SWP, De Jong, Vieira, Petrov, Benj & Tevez.

I'd then have Bellamy and Barry on the bench and on Wednesday play them instead. We know that Bellemy and Vieira cant play more than 1 game a week and I'd have Robi on the bench next week too to stretch the rags at about 70 mins.

Either player should make the centre midfield pretty solid.
The key to unlocking Everton's defence will be down the wings.
A bit of pace against their aging full-backs should cause them a few problems whether that be through SWP, Petrov, Robbie or Bellamy

Just watched the video on the mcfc website the story so far great lets all be up 4 this one next week and start the ball rolling putting them reds in their place we can realy do this and i am realy starting to believe in us after 30 years come on blues..

I remember my fleeting phonecall to my Manchester City supporting wife the day it broke that her team had just become the richest on earth.

"oh have they?" she said with little interest.

See, City fans are used to having their confidence built up for it only to blow up in a dirty great big blue mess, in their faces. My missus has seen it all, so this for her was just another false dawn. Id been sat with her the day The Bitters were relegated to Division Three. I remember the tears in her eyes as i refrained myself from dropping to my knees in some sort of silent emphatic delight. It was run of the mill for her to hear of something as preposterous that City were now richer than any other..it couldn't really be true....later that day the club bought Robinho and her ears pricked up.

Despite this next Manchester derby 'only' being the Mickey Mouse Carling Beer Cup it is without doubt for me the most important derby game in memory. Not because of what is at stake..a place at Wembley. To be frank, i couldn't give two craps about that. What is important is its significance and that its played over two legs.

Manchester City are now officially 'Players'.. Yeah i know they have still won sweet FA, but its clear to see that the recent change in manager has cranked things up another notch. And as we enter a transfer window in which we will never EVER be able to compete with them in, its evident that we are now the poorer brother in bank balance, but also in form on the pitch.

With Tevez on fire, Petrov injury free and a supporting cast of impressive proportions, this derby could well be the litmus test of who goes on to dominate this next decade, from a Manchester perspective. The mess with the Glazers doesn't help things, but there is a real feeling with fans that we are walking some sort of footballing tightrope.

A two legged affair allows us to take away the old adage that "well you were at home..course you shoulda won" It gives you 180 minutes of aggregate scoring to see who is the best. As things stand, United lack the engine of inspiration that has carried us through choppy seas before. Confidence is an issue, and despite us still keeping possession of the ball well in a statistical capacity, its what you do with it in the last third that counts.

So will Fergie stick with the kids? I get the feeling he might. Is it worth playing your strongest team with a mounting fixture list, the restart of the Champions league and a worrying treatment room packed to the rafters? Im sure City will go for it. A win in this competition will give them the first bit of silverware they are craving. And if they can say they've slayed United on the way...well, what could be better.

Its not really in my nature to worry about things that haven't yet happened in football. However i can see a big Blue Monster on the horizon and its sharpening its teeth. Never could any of us have imagined (and i include City fans on this) that one day we would be living out this scenario. One where a derby match was more than just bragging rights..but is a watermark on defining and shaping the future footballing landscape. Call me dramatic..but i like my football dramatic!!

So in true supporter style..this is a call to arms. It feels like yesterday that United were the underdogs in almost every big match. And as supporters we loved it. Everytime we played Liverpool back in the day we were underdogs. Everytime we came across a European giant like Barca or Juve we were underdogs. And we would sing 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life' in their supporters faces, as we bucked the trend and ripped up the form book time after time. It was part of our fabric...before we started winning absolutely everything from 1993 onwards.

So lets rediscover some of that! We are Manchester United. Both loved and hated in equal measures. Lets stare into the faces of our Blue neighbours and not budge an inch. Yeah, they may wipe the floor with us in this tie, but they will never ever BE US. As every gallon of oil that gets pumped out of the ground in the Middle East makes them stronger, it is our history which makes us unique. A uniqueness that money cannot buy. Roberto Mancini described us as "immortal" this week and he was one hundred percent correct.

We'll never die we'll never die. We'll keep the red flag flying high, cos Man United will never die.

Bring it on City.


This is quality a manure fan admitting he can a big blue monster rising,cant' wait for tuesday.

couldnt give a monkeys who plays. we`ll win whatever side we put out. i just hope this game has a strong referee because i bet moyes and purple nose have been comparing notes this week.

Tomorrow is very important but next Tuesday is absolutely vital. Therefore I would rest Barry and consider Vierra alongside De Jong in a 4-2-3-1or 4-4-2 formation against the Toffees.

Good job Ned's fit with Zab suspended. SWP for Bellamy.

I´d play 4-2-3-1

Zab Micah Kompany Garrido

Viera De Jong

Petrov Robinho Bellamy

Tevez

We must ensure Tevez does not get crocked. These sort of ties can be tough and hard hitting. I reckon we play Tevez for 60 mins and then rest him. We should be 2 or 3 up by then anyway ha ha

CTID

The Big Easy... "They may wipe the floor with us in this tie, but they will never BE US."

Well all I can say is thank God for that!!!