Mancini to ring changes for Timisoara

Stuart Brennan

August 25, 2010

Emmanuel Adebayor

Roberto Mancini will ring the changes for Manchester City as they seek to secure their place in the Europa League group stages on Thursday night.

The Blues will defend a 1-0 first leg lead when Timisoara come to Eastlands, but Emmanuel Adebayor, David Silva, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Patrick Vieira are all in line for a recall.

City fans will face another wait to see new boy Mario Balotelli, whose knee problem keeps him out again – and may also keep him out of the trip to Sunderland on Sunday.

A specialist will look at the knee cartilage problem today but the City medical staff believe the injury is minor.

In last week’s away win in Romania, Mancini fielded a strong side, simply because he wanted to give his front-line team more minutes together on the pitch.

But he now wants to settle to his rotation policy, saying: “When you play three games in a week you need all the players to be ready to play.

“The next game against Timisoara will be hard and we will change some players.”

Anything other than a defeat for the Blues will put them in the hat for Friday’s draw for the group stages.

England midfielder James Milner will sit out the match as he was not registered in time while Aleksander Kolarov, Jerome Boateng and Wayne Bridge are ruled out through injury.

Manchester City (from): Hart, Given, Richards, Zabaleta, Lescott, K Toure, Kompany, Wright-Phillips, Johnson, Barry, Silva, Vieira, De Jong, Y Toure, Tevez, Adebayor, Jo, Logan.

What team would you send out against Timisoara? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

proudtobeblue (25/08/2010 at 10:48)

did Stuart Brennan read my post on this line up yesterday as he seems to have mentioned the 4 players I said would come in!
my line up would be
Hart

Zabaleta K Toure Kompany Lescott

Milner De Jong Viera

SWP Adebayor Silva

Johno CTID, Manchester Born and Bread (25/08/2010 at 11:39)

milner cant play in this one

Faishcakes, Chorlton (25/08/2010 at 11:40)

Don't suppose you bothered to read the article, Milner is not registered so can't play

j phil (25/08/2010 at 11:48)

James Milner will sit out the match as he was not registered in time

View all 5 replies

Dibble (25/08/2010 at 10:54)

We were always going to rest a few players for this one and give the players not playing run out. They need to play well enough that Mancini can't drop them.

"Anything other than a defeat for the Blues will put them in the hat for Friday’s draw for the group stages."

Suart I don't think thats true if we win 3-2 wouldn't they go through on away goals (not that I think that will happen).

Think it will be 2-0 on the night 3-0 on agregate

cescluka, Swinton (25/08/2010 at 11:09)

Suart I don't think thats true if we win 3-2 wouldn't they go through on away goals (not that I think that will happen).

no because it will be 4 - 2 to us

Drew Peacock (25/08/2010 at 11:20)

No, Stuart is right..... How could Timisoara possibly go though on away goals if we win 3 - 2?? That means the our score is 4 - 2 over the two legs?? The away goal ONLY comes into efect when there is a draw in score over the 2 legs.

dave clare, perth australia (25/08/2010 at 11:21)

Dibble, you really need to follow the team more closely, we are 1-0 up from the first leg, so how doe's 3 - 2 to us put them through. :-)

View all 12 replies

Uwe Rosler's Grandad bombed our chippy!! CTID of laughter as the rag rats desert the sinking ship an, Nantwich but Wythenshawe raised (25/08/2010 at 10:56)

Got a feeling whoever he plays will put on a good show to stake a claim.

jockey, manchester (25/08/2010 at 10:56)

It's got to be his strongest team, we need to progress and win some silverware.
Dave Johnston.

Drew Peacock (25/08/2010 at 11:23)

The days of playing you strongest team week in week out has gone! We have an amazing, large squad for the sole purpose and keeping players fresh with still having quality all over the pitch. If he rested the entire starting eleven who played Monday night i would still have the quality to beat this side at home...Especially as they have to come to us and at least score a goal!

Hazel Grove Blue since 1960 (25/08/2010 at 11:14)

This is why we have the strength in depth of squad that we do. 3 games a week for the next 10 months, hopefully, so this is what we should come to expect. Whatever team we put out should be strong enough to get through tomorrow and those who play know they are playing to try and get in the first eleven for Sunday.

ex.hattersleyblue, kettering (25/08/2010 at 11:25)

Just win.!

mark jones (25/08/2010 at 11:26)

dibble-NO, IF WE WIN 3-2 THAT WILL ,4-2 FOR US ON AGREGATE, KEEP UP.ANY WAY,WE NEED TO REST PLAYERS,BECAUSE NOWADAYS ITS A SQUAD GAME,SO WE NEED TO KEEP EVERY ONE INVOLVED,THERE COULD BE SEVENTY ODD GAMES THIS SEASON.

THE REAL MARK JONES

Charlie Kay (25/08/2010 at 11:26)

My team for tomorrow would be (assuming Balotelli still not fit):

Given; Zab, Boyota, Kompany (c), Lescott; SWP, Vieira, Milner, Silva; Ade, Jo. Bench: Hart, Richards, Cunningham, Barry, A Johnson, Tevez, Nimely.

Comments:

RM may prefer to keep Hart in goal if there's a serious possibility of Given leaving, otherwise I don't see any reason for not giving him a game tomorrow. It makes sense to rest most of the players who played against Liverpool for the important league game on Sunday. This isn't being complacent or disrespecting Timisoara. The above team, together with a mix of youth and experience on the bench, should be plenty good enough. Kompany I see as a future captain, so give him some more experience. Lescott I feel still needs some to attain full match fitness, and Milner I'm sure will appreciate more experience in a City shirt.

Faishcakes, Chorlton (25/08/2010 at 11:44)

Pay attention! Boyota and Milner are not register so cannot play!

Charlie Kay (25/08/2010 at 11:58)

Sorry - forgot Milner can't play. In that case play Yaya Toure in his place.

Mellis, The Alps (25/08/2010 at 12:06)

i like they way your going there with the mix but Milner can not play as you would know if your read this artical and many before it.

Blue Caz, Fallowfield (25/08/2010 at 11:27)

I can't get to the game, is it gonna be on telly or any internet channel??

Bath Blue, In the Bath (25/08/2010 at 11:47)

myo2p.eu from 15.45 tomorrow and it will have a list of internet channels, dunno if it is on normal telly

proudtobeblue (25/08/2010 at 11:51)

its on British Eurosport, so if you have a TV package that includes tat hen you can watch it

The Insider, CTID. (25/08/2010 at 13:51)

Its on Eurosport, if you got internet try Iraq goals.com !

The crafty goat, Manchester (25/08/2010 at 11:28)

Business as usual

Avanti Bobby Manc

mr bump, badlands (25/08/2010 at 11:37)

dibble - if we win 3-2 i'd have thought we may go thru 4-2 on agg??

The Invisible Man., Riviera Del Sol. Spain (25/08/2010 at 11:37)

Dibble. If we win 3-2 then we win 4-2 on agg.

South Stand, a long way from Car Park No 1- CoMS, Ramsbottom (25/08/2010 at 11:46)

Blue Caz - It's on Eurosport GB - on your Sky box

Ian, West Sussex (25/08/2010 at 11:47)

Can't take this game too lightly and think we're going to walk it on the basis of our stunning Liverpool win. We can't take anything for granted as cup shocks can easily happen if our attitude isn't right. SWP and Adebayor to start up front - possibly a run out for Jo in last 20 minutes.

Tameside Blue, Dukinfield (25/08/2010 at 14:14)

i think that you are right, we shouldn't take this game lightly, but unlike in previous years when players come in for a so called lesser match, they now have the opportunity to show Mancini that they should be considered for Sunday at Sunderland so whoever plays, we should expect the same commitment as we saw on Monday

captain Balotelli's mandolin , manchester (25/08/2010 at 11:49)

Time to give given and abbi a run out with ! 4-0 without doubt

short term history for rags the future is blue, audenshaw (25/08/2010 at 11:54)

Given,Zab, kompant, lescott, cunningham,SWP,Vierra,Silva,Barry Adebayor,Jo,

waynem, Leicester (25/08/2010 at 12:01)

Why are people still picking milner ? England midfielder James Milner will sit out the match as he was not registered in time. I think Dibble has got the message by the number of posts!!!!

Cool as Kompany, Stockport (25/08/2010 at 12:03)

LEAVE dIBBLE ALONE YOU PESTS!

I saw Colin play, too far South (26/08/2010 at 12:16)

I could tell you about using Capital letters and small d for Dibble but that would be pedantic- so I won't

SwampDonkey, London (26/08/2010 at 13:41)

Likewise, it would be awfully pedantic of me to tell you that you don't need a capital letter to begin the word 'capital'. So I won't.

adders, Co.Cavan ex Manchester (26/08/2010 at 15:10)

Youse lot shud all rite gud spellin and gud Inglish like wot I rite.

BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (25/08/2010 at 12:06)

Slightly off topic..... If we look at the back four which started against Pool, we might think Richards and Lescott wouldn't get in if Kolarov and Boateng were fit. This means we have lots of cover at full back - 2 for both positions, plus Bridge when fit. But what about the central defender positions: do we expect Toure and Vincent to play every game? If not who are the two to take over. Now obviously Lescott himself is one answer. We could also say Richards and Boateng can both play CB. But I recall at the end of last season Kolo was looking a bit shaky and people were saying our best pairing was Vincent and Lescott. Any ideas?

IAN TAYLOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK (25/08/2010 at 16:15)

Boyata, Mee, YaYa

Andrew Shaw (25/08/2010 at 12:26)

The good thing is that we can make a few changes like for like and the players coming in will be at least as good as the players going out which is exactly what Mancini was talking about when he said he wanted two top players for every position. So long as there is some experience on the bench too, he can afford to put a couple of youngsters there and give them a run out if we have done the job, but bring on the experience if we haven't. The only player I have any concerns about is Given. Unlike Mancini who was a bit wishy washy on this and just said that he hopes he stays, I would have sat him down and told him that we are not going to be left with just Taylor as back up, he's a top keeper, we need a top keeper and he is going nowhere and I would play him. The problem at the moment is that if we sell Given we have until Tuesday to get in a top replacement. That is not enough time. If he goes on loan anywhere, it has got to be on the basis that if Hart gets injured, Given comes back. We cannot afford to compromise this situation because that could end up compromising the whole season and this is by far the most worrying thing at the club at the present time. As for the game itself, so long as we put out a strong team and they approach the match professionally like any other game without taking their foot off the gas, we should win comfortably enough but we must not take the opposition for granted. They did enough at their ground to show they could be dangerous if we have an off night.

I am the one and only, Tameside (25/08/2010 at 12:27)

4 or 5 to nil for City. The next round is a certainty.

Jim , Furness Vale (25/08/2010 at 12:27)

Well Milner can't play in this one, so maybe he will play Boyata instead of Kolo Toure and keep Richards at right back, he has to be able to play two games a week at his age. Then rest Yaya Toure and put in Viera, and Zabaleta for Milner.

Play SWP on the right for Johnson and Silva just behind Ade. This should be strong enough to win this game comfortably.

Blue Caz, Fallowfield (25/08/2010 at 12:30)

Thanks for telling me about the TV etc - I can watch on Eurosport. (3-0 to us)

bluecat (25/08/2010 at 12:49)

With three games in six days suddenly our "excessively large" squad looks like a very handy attribute. Will be great to see Ade get some time up front and hopefully bang a couple of goals in against weaker opposition. And Mancini seems to think he can get something out of Jo so it would be ideal to see him get some time on the pitch too. I'd rest up Tevez, Johnson, Barry and big Yaya for the weekend and give Milner a go in the centre of midfield.

Team:
GK: Given; Def: Zabaletta, Kolo Toure, Kompany, Lescott; Mid: De Jong, Veira, Milner; Fwds: SWP, Silva, Ade.
Subs: Taylor, Boyata, Richards, Barry, Yaya Toure, Adam Johnson, Tevez, Jô.

stan bowles, warrington (25/08/2010 at 13:09)

Good job we have a big squad then ! If he plays Given then it is only to keep Shay happy which isnt the right reason for picking him. Stick with Hart in goal.

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