KEVIN Keegan is ready to put the fun back into his Manchester City side.
The Blues boss pulled off a brilliant tactical coup to snatch a point from a dour goalless derby last weekend but has promised a more positive approach to tomorrow's visit from Blackburn Rovers.
"I think the boys will enjoy the switch from a defensive mindset to an attacking one," he said.
"If you talk to them they will say it was great to go to Old Trafford and get something but they would not like to play like that every week. There was a lot of hard work and not a lot in terms of the fun side of football because we wasted a lot of possession cheaply.
"We have got to go the opposite way tomorrow and defend just as well but be much more prepared to go forward which we will be at home. That is what the fans expect and it is what we expect."
Keegan is set to name an unchanged side for tomorrow's match with bottom club Blackburn.
Keegan is expected to have midfielder Claudio Reyna available after the American finally recovered from the groin problem which has kept him out since September.
But the best Reyna can hope for is a place on the bench as Keegan is expected to stick with the line-up that earned a draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Provisional squad: James, Waterreus, Onuoha, Mills, Distin, Dunne, Bosvelt, Flood, D'Lareya, S Wright-Phillips, Reyna, Sibierski, McManaman, Anelka, Fowler, Jordan, B Wright-Phillips.
City v Rovers - the statistics
Latest form:
City:
WLLDD
Rovers: DLLDD
Head to head:
Jan 17 2004 - City 1 Rovers 1
Aug 25 2003 - Rovers 2 City 3
Mar 1 2003 - Rovers 1 City 0
Sep 15 2002 - City 2 Rovers 2
Top scorers:
City - Anelka (6), Wright-Phillips (4), Fowler (3)
Rovers - Dickov (3), Emerton (2), Ferguson (2)
Referee:
Mike Dean - Given that the two managers both played in Liverpool there should be no communication problems with the man from the Wirral.
Key opponent:
Paul Dickov - Waspish Scot annoyed Blues fans with his goal celebration when he came back and scored with leicester but he will not let Dunne and Distin have a minute's rest.
Prediction:
Manchester City 2 Blackburn Rovers 1
Do you agree? Have your say.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
"...Both managers played in Liverpool"? I assume you missed Souness moving to Newcastle some time ago? (I think it refers to Hughes' time at Everton, rgds, ED)
we always give away possesion cheaply no matter wahta tactics we're playing, macca and bosvelt are liabilities sometimes, but i can forgive bosvelt because the odd pass can create an opening, as for macca...we best stick to the defensive approach our best results this season have been againsts chelsea and the rags when the lads actually have to concentrate and have a plan to work to, we don't take enough of our chances to play cavalier attacking football leaving the defence exposed.
This is a massive game for us. We need to start winning our home games!! Looking at the fixtures we have coming up we can make some real progress up the table if we can only start to play against the teams around us in the table!! Come on blues let's start to perform in every game and finally win back to back games in the league!!! Personally though I know he's useless but I would Mcman on the left and bring back Reyna in the middle (controversial I know) Drop Sibs!!! And bring him on in the 2nd half for fresh leg's!!
If the Elk is in the mood we should leather Rovers on Satday (by 3 or 4) their defence playing the way they are. I know he'll always get hammered on here but Maccas goal line clearance at the swamp was special and for me has earned shirt for this one. I'd love to see him more involved in open play though. The back 5 were huge last sunday in keeping out the rags so Rovers should offer no probs.Defend the way we know we can and they certainly won't score. If SWP and Willo shake them up we will boss the match and win comfortably. But, knowing our Beloved Blues, we'll proably score a couple and be on the backfoot at sixes and sevens for the last 10 mins holding onto a draw. CITY - PLEASE prove me wrong! 5-0 City!
Citymatt I agree we lose posession far too easily and although last Sunday was a decent result it alarmed me the ammount of times SWP & Anelka gave the ball away and as we all know great teams defend from the front line.However can I say Steven Jordan was magnificent last week and to think KK wanted him out before the season started or should I say he wouldn't ex contract hoping he would then ask to go.l
This is a very important game, its almost like a six pointer.
CITY have got to win !
Come on you BLUES!
If it's Reyna to replace one of the kids, I don't know.
If he dissappears after a strong tackle or is intimidated when he gets within three yards of Dickov, it must surely be time to get rid of him.