Roberto Mancini clearly doesn’t need my advice, but if he is thinking of taking the Toure brothers to Portugal this week, I would forget it.
Not that I am one of those City fans who feels we should just toss in the Europa League, to make sure it doesn’t get in the way of the main job of winning the Premier League.
I feel we have a big enough squad, especially with Yaya and Kolo back, Mario Balotelli over his ban and David Pizarro in on loan, to have a real go at winning both.
But the Toures are likely to be physically and emotionally drained from playing in the African Nations Cup, especially after getting to the final and then losing to underdogs.
My opinion would be to give them a week or so off for some rest and relaxation, maybe bring them back as subs for the second leg against Porto next week, and then let them loose for the rest of the Premier League season.
The fact that City could make a fist of winning the Europa League as a sideshow to the main event is emphasised when you look at who DIDN’T play in the win at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Apart from the Toure brothers and Super Mario, there was no place for Micah Richards, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Pizarro.
Bring that little lot into the team for the first leg in Portugal on Thursday, and you will have a team capable of getting a result, even if it is against the holders.
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Porto have not lost a league game at home for 52 matches, an incredible run stretching back to November 2008, so Thursday will be a tough game.
But if you chuck the players I have mentioned into the mix, City should still be able to field a team which will set them up for a home win the following Wednesday.
For once, we have a slight advantage in that we have no game between the two ties, while Porto – who are tied at the top of their league with Benfica, have a difficult away game on the Sunday between the two games.
There is no weekend game inbetween, so these two games are a good way of keeping things ticking over.
Some people argue that the Europa League is also useful in terms of a dress rehearsal for the Champions League, and to improve out Uefa ranking so that we get an easier draw in the big one next season.
I don’t think anyone should concern themselves with any of that. It is a tournament which is there to be won and we should try to win it.
This team is already packed with experience, and the only way – as a team – we can get used to the Champions League is by playing in it.
As for our Uefa ranking, people forget that despite being in the hardest group in the Champions League, we got 10 points and that would have been enough to get through in just about every other group.
There is no reason we can't win both trophies and we should go for both.
Gary Owen is at gtcmanage ment.co.uk – for business energy savings.
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Well said. A trophy is trophy at the end of the day and whatever we win this season will not have come to us easily.
I wouldn't have thought Pizarro was eligible for the Europa League games, but I'm very happy to be proven wrong.
I would doubt very much that either of the Toure's will be in Portugal. They only played on Sunday night, flew back to Ivory Coast on Monday and may not have flown back to England until today so it is ipossible for them to then fly straight out to Porto on Wednesday. I am sure one or two will be rested and we will be ear-marking having a full team out against Blackburn. Porto is very tricky and if we can't win or draw we need to come from there with a narrow defeat and a goal on the board. 2-1 would be ok. They are not as strong as they were under AVB and obviously Falcao has moved on who was their main threat last season. They aren't quite as good but they are still a Champions League quality team who will be in the competition with us again next season. The good news is that Porto haven't got that great a record against English clubs in Europe have won only six out of 28 games. These two sides should be well matched and I would think that so long as City take this seriously, the advantage of playing the second leg at home may well prove decisive. I see City going through on away goals or 3-2 on aggregate.
As usual Gary talks sense. I would leave Pizarro on the bench for Thursday and if we come away with a good result give him a chance next week.
I agree with Gary O, the Toure's need to have a rest and get ready for the final 13 games. For Thursday I would put Mario on the bench and play Edin up top with Sergio.
Why not go for it - we can certainly win this Europa league particularly if we get a result in Portugal!
Joe, Micah, Vinnie, Lezzer, Clich, Gags, Sami, Milns, David,Sergio and Edin.
Bench: Pantillimon, Zabba, Savic,Nige, Pizzaro, Jonno,Mario
1-1 will be a good result, ahead of next Wednesday....and I know its 5pm and a Wednesday and Europa League but please lets make some noise!!!
Nice one Gary, Yaya in particular will need a rest, maybe the 2nd leg will suit him.
Lets not forget this is a formidable home team and a draw would be a great result.
HART-RICHARDS-KOMPANY-LESCOTT-CLICHY
DEJONG-BARRY-MILNER
NASRI-DZEKO-BALOTELLI
pantillimon-zab-savic-pazzarro-silva-aguero-johnson
Porto 1 CITY 1
CYPRUS CITIZEN
Saw Apoel Nicosia (who are playing Lyon tonight in the Champions League ) play Porto away on TV and in Cyprus live and I was not greatly impressed with Porto. Apoel held them to a draw in Portrugal and beat them in Nicosia. Si if Apoel can beat them I am sure City can do the same. We need to be positive in our approach to the games and not sit back. I thought Hulk was a one trick pony (a good shot and shoots from distance)A victory over Porto over the two leghs will be a great boost. Onwards and upwards.
if we got to the semi final we would play 2 days before the derby
and if we got to the final it would be 2 days before the last game of the
season , could we cope with this I dont think so.
this competition is a joke, it completely interferes with tthe Premier league
thats why teams like Porto and russian teams like it
It's now a knock out competition so we don't need to win in Porto, a score draw or a 2-1 defeat would not be a bad result. Take no chances with this competition please Roberto, yes let's try and win it but focus has to be on winning the PL.
you dont have the right to pick what you would like to win
every game must be played and given 100% by the players thats all you can ask for
when you walk out in the kit with the bagde on your heart you must play like its a honer
even in the europa league you are part of manchester city football club the tv world will be watching aswell as the media
but yes we do have big enough squad and ready to play
its mancini call on who plays and in mancin we trust
I am a blue who lives in portugal and will be at porto tomorrow night, a trophy is always a trophy and it will give us more prestige for next season. Porto are a very good side, Hulk is just coming back from injury but they do have orther tricky players james, varela, lucho gonzalez and moutinho etc.. I think we can get through but a away goal would be useful, the right back isn't very quick or good and the central defenders are slow, but it will be a tough tie, but c'mon you blues, city forever.
"But the Toures are likely to be physically and emotionally drained from playing in the African Nations Cup, especially after getting to the final and then losing to underdogs."
Mr Owen, if you had watched the AFCON final you wouldn't have referred to Zambia as underdogs. That was the label enforced by the media before the final. I support Man City myself but if you watch the game, Yaya Toure was outplayed in the middle of the park by a young Zambian midfielder called Nathan Sinkala (20). He plays club football in Zambia for Green Buffaloes. You could have said "especially after getting to the final and then losing to Zambia."
Show some respect.