Richards back to boost Blues

stuart brennan

February 16, 2010

Micah Richards is set to beef up City's defence as they aim to power into the top four tonight.

The defender has shaken off a calf injury which has kept him out of the last three games and is set to face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

And after the Blues were hit by Stoke's long-throw ploy in Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round draw, Roberto Mancini is considering putting Richards in at right back to add height and power to his defence.

The Blues' injury woes eased considerably yesterday with news that Martin Petrov's knee problem is not as bad as first feared, and he, Stevie Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips should all be in the squad.

Adam Johnson, who was cup-tied on Saturday after making an impressive first start against Bolton last week, is available again.

"I think you will see a different game tonight," said Mancini.

Carlos Tevez is due to arrive back from Argentina tomorrow after an emergency dash to be at the birth of his new baby daughter Katie, while Craig Bellamy is hopeful of being fit for the crunch match with Liverpool on Sunday.

Submit Comments | Comments (28) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

mark jones (16/02/2010 at 10:25)

thats good richards is big and strong ,which is need tonight zab is a bit light weight,we should play s.w.p and johnson bombing on with ade and r.s.c up top but it wont happen.

bornblue, Ulverston (16/02/2010 at 10:40)

Great news. Certainly need his heading ability tonight as the ball will spend a lot of time in the air...

Evan Georgiou (16/02/2010 at 10:47)

Best news ever.....we have Micah,Petrov,Superman,SWP available for tonight when it looked unlikely yesterday.....and Tev and Bellers fit for Sunday.....I can't wait for Mancini to have a full squad....my team for tonight...

Given;Micah,Toure,Lescott,Bridge,Viera,Barry,SWP,Johnson,RSC and Ade-4-4-2
Bench ;Taylor,Onuoha,Sylvinho,Boyata,Zab,Petrov,Superman,

From a wet CT....

Andrew Shaw (16/02/2010 at 10:47)

Certainly would give us a few options moving forward that we don't have with Zab who had his own personal nightmare on Saturday. I think we would have to put that down to one of those nights because he couldn't have passed water he was that bad. Richards gives us an attacking angle if we play SWP too, on the overlap. What he must not do though is allow crosses into the box like the one he was at fault for last season which cost us the game. CONCENTRATION!!!

Blue Jazzman, Marple (16/02/2010 at 10:55)

great news - in both penalty areas

blueballs (16/02/2010 at 11:03)

Great to see Micah's back. I hope he can avoid picking up any more injuries and stay in the side for the rest of the season. imo He's well worth his place on the plane to South Africa in the summer. England's best right-back.

Brisbane Blue - Droylsden born and bred (16/02/2010 at 11:19)

If he's available Richards should be picked. The guy was playing on form when he got injured and we do miss him.

Now if we can only get Given to come off his line we'll be laughing

I expect that Mancini learnt enough on Saturday to pull us safely through this one. I certainly hope so reading the amount of doom and gloom on the previous threads.

Lest we forget....we have.

George Roper (16/02/2010 at 11:23)

Like to see RSC and Adebayor up front tonight from the start with Johnson and SWP out wide. RSC will give us better protection defending set pieces as well.

Shaun, At My Desk (16/02/2010 at 11:38)

"I think you will see a different game tonight" said Mancini.
I sincerely hope so,because any repeat of Saturday's debacle will most likely result in defeat for us on their tiny pitch.If we play to our strengths not their's we can get something out of this game.Let's let them worry about us.

bubba, cleethorpes (16/02/2010 at 11:38)

Let's hope we do "see a different game tonight" ! Must win, as far as I'm concerned. Even without Bellamy, Kompany and Tevez, Mancini should be able to put out a side to see off Stoke. Not a good idea to select Petrov, who was poorer than normal on Saturday. It really is time to start to impose oursleves, and boss a game for once. Pip..Pip..

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets! (Was it really 37 years?), Levenshulme (16/02/2010 at 12:11)

Why isn't Ned playing?

Ian, West Sussex (16/02/2010 at 12:36)

We definitely cannot lose this game as this will hand the psychological edge to Stoke ahead of next week's cup tie. Vieira and Richards to start and Johnson to give Stoke's full backs a chasing as in the Bolton game. The Delap/Fuller throw combination should have been practised ad nauseum in training for our defence/Given to take corrective measures (and Adebayor/RSC to stand 6 feet from Delap).

Hamps, , Stonehaven, Scotland (16/02/2010 at 13:00)

We need to go into tonights game with a positive attitude and be prepared to get wired in from the off. If we let them boss the game - we will return with no points - simple. This is a typical City banana skin where for some reason mentally we seem to fear going to places like Stoke, Hull, Wigan etc where we should be picking up 3 points if we get our heads straight. Micah would fit the bill tonight as he will be up for the physical challenge. Petrov completely the wrong sort of player for what tonight holds. It's such a pity Bello & Carlos are out as they would not give the Stoke back 4 a minutes peace. Not sure Ade will provide the same. Come on City - 3 points tonight & let's boss the game.

czech mate, middleton (16/02/2010 at 13:27)

Super news things looking much better now ,Stoke always put on a good show at home ,big strong boys ...

We need to attack , i really hope shaunie doesent get kicked all over , and please stevie if you play ? shut all the moaners up , show them you are class ,your fans love you ..

PLEASE ! have a good game. we need a point for 4th place , we are capable of 3 tonight .Heres to a good result C.T.I.D...

glad to be blue, halifax (16/02/2010 at 13:29)

while vinny's out put micha at cb,kolo is a liability

Bill, Carlisle, ex-Manchester (16/02/2010 at 14:14)

George Roper
16/02/2010 at 11:23

Absolutely spot on. Playing both big men up front would give Stoke something to think about and relieve a bit of pressure from their 'up and at 'em style of play'. I too would like to see SWP & Johnson But I think it's more likely Bobby Manc will pick 3 holding midfielders plus Johnson.

simon23 (16/02/2010 at 14:26)

Think we might do it tonight with a 2-0 win. Anyone see those Norwich fans flying out to Milan ?

blue t, Radcliffe (16/02/2010 at 14:54)

Richards at right back should do the trick. He was in some great form before the injury. Still think we could do with his equivalent at left back. But that's one for the summer.
Let's hope that bobbyM backs his team by playing in an attacking manner from the beginning. Not much width at Britannia so 442 with Johnson and SWP operating the flanks will do the job. definitely no need for a 3rd player in centre mid. . . . we'll see . . .

nick wood (16/02/2010 at 14:55)

micah in, toure out

Goatistuta, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 15:19)

What would be soooooooo wrong with this team just for tonight???

Given, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Bridge, Barry, DeJong, Sweep, Johnson, RSC and Ade ??? quite a bit of height for corners or there dead good throws?

Rawtenstall Blue (Formerly of Bandit Country - my first game was at the Swamp in '67 - didn't like i, Rawtenstall (16/02/2010 at 15:23)

Agree with the post who said put Taylor in - 6' 4" in an aerial battle is an asset.

hmmm, here (16/02/2010 at 15:51)

Great news, Richards has been playing his way into good form this season, and Zaba had a shocker at our place.

Should be a big strong side with every chance of Barry, De Jong and Viera on the pitch together with Ade and Santa up front.

Citysince77, Stockport (16/02/2010 at 15:53)

I reckon he's gonna start of with a 4-4-2 tonight Given Richards Toure (your running out of chances mate) Lescott Bridge (more of the same as Saturday); Ireland (prove me wrong) De Jong Barry SWP (same as Bridge);
Adebayor (not to be played as a lone striker ever) Santa Cruz (time to start showing he really has it). If this team goes to Stoke and plays like we know they can, we'll win.

mark jones (16/02/2010 at 16:06)

goatisuta - its would be so wrong because kompany is injured mate.

Steve Williams (16/02/2010 at 16:07)

4 - 3 - 3

Given
Richards Toure Kompany Lescott
De Jong Viera Barry
SWP Jonhson
Ade

Plenty of height and pace at the back, steel in the middle and flare and pace up front???

()

Manchester City Premier League champions 2011/2012