OUSMANE Dabo returns from suspension as Manchester City look to end of a run of 10 defeats in their last 11 away games by beating Everton at Goodison Park.
The Frenchman is expected to start in a five-man City midfield which could feature fellow new arrival Hatem Trabelsi, who has been battling to overcome a groin strain which has kept him out of the Blues last two games.
If Trabelsi does not make it, teenager Ishmael Miller is likely to keep his place but striker Georgios Samaras could be dropped despite his two goals against West Ham last weekend.
Everton will be without the suspended Tony Hibbert after he was sent off at Newcastle.
Also out is Gary Naysmith, who faces six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Alan Stubbs is still doubtful with a knee problem while Alessandro Pistone is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Boss David Moyes could switch Phil Neville to right-back and will include Nuno Valente on the left of defence, and that could open up a midfield spot for Simon Davies, who has not started a league game since the opening day of the season.
CITY (from): Weaver, Hart, Distin, Dunne, Jordan, M Mills, Richards, Trabelsi, Barton, Dabo, Hamann, Ireland, Reyna, Miller, Beasley, Sinclair, Corradi, Dickov, Samaras.
EVERTON (from): Howard, Neville, Lescott, Yobo, Valente, Osman, Cahill, Carsley, Arteta, Davies, Johnson, Beattie, Wright, Weir, Van der Meyde, Anichebe, Hughes.
How do you rate City's chances of a win against Everton? Have your say.
You can get odds of 10-1 on a Manchester City win with Betfred. For more odds go to betfred.com
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Does that mean that the team will be - Weaver, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Miller, Dabo, Barton, Hamann, Trabelsi, Corradi ? If we don't stop "AJ" we'll get beat. Would be nice to see Neville get a red card tomorrow - maybe Dickov could be used in a "wind the rag up" role.
THATS GOING TO GIVE SAMARAS CONFIDENCE .PEARCE SAYS HES GOING TO MANAGE LIKE BENITEZ AT LIVERPOOL .THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE SQUAD ,THERE CLASS AND WERE RUBBISH. YOU SCORE 2 GOALS ,WHOSE GOING TO REPLACE HIM DICKOV OR CORRADI .GIVE UP STUART YOUR OUT OF YOUR DEPTH
anyone know what happened to the columbian trialist pantino?
Dropping Samaras would be crazy. We're not good enough to defend for 20 minutes - let alone 90! Don't change a winning team...
i'll settle for apoint tomorrow now!
A five man midfield is an appropriate change from midweek. The omission of Samaras is a different call. After his performance midweek he should be an automativ starter even if he only pays 60 minutes. Corradi could then come for a very effective 30 minutes.
While it's good that Stuart is thinking about team selection and recognises Everton away are a very different proposition to last week, agree Samaras should start. He scores goals, Dickov has the nuisance factor, Corradi on what we've seen thus far has neither. Not convinced about an instant return for Dabo either.
Come on Blues......Please win and ease out another nail from SP's coffin. We need to keep another clean sheet at the very least and a 5 man midfield might achieve it.
Everton 0-1 Man.City (Corradi 76min) One penalty missed.
Pearce focused alot with beanie on motd .And all of a sudden its good to stay in on Saturday nights with a takeway .You can just sense this victory and loud support.Every now again you get the right vibes.
Well if the MEN is correct and Samaras is dropped to accomodate Dabo then City deserve nothing but a hiding, I'm not going to spout about not changing a winning team, but you need goals to win game, and especially to get anything out of a side who are scoring themselves and been playing the same formation, and style for 3 years now and so are used to it by now, not chop and change that each week, why not drop Corradi or is SP in love with him?....that is one useless striker, he even makes Vouso look like a great deal of business.
Team for Everton: Weaver, Trabelsi, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Beasley, Barton, Richards, Miller, Samaras, Sturridge.....young, fast, creative and still with goals in there (S&S and Barton).
Agree on 5 man midfield, but how about that being Miller, Barton, Hamann, Richards and Sinclair, with Trabelski coming in at Right Back. Plus Samaras up front. Richards and Miller would give us good counter attacking pace.
if trabelsi is fit, why not play him at left back? defensively he looks solid, better than jordan.
My line up would be Weaver Richards Dunne Distin Jordon/Trablesi,Sinclair Barton Hamman Miller,Dickov in the hole behind Samaras.1-0 to City.CTID
Why go defensive if you want a win. A clean sheet seems to be the priority but defending for 90 minutes is not our game. Get George up front, he's just hitting form for christ's sake. Dont agree with dropping Sinclair or Miller either. Dont mind seeing Beasley. This will definitely be a test for SP, an inform striker (abeit 1 game) 4 wingers to choose from and 4 central mid players. The formations with the available players clearly leaves SP with options. Fingers crossed he gets it right.
If Samaras is dropped what message is that going to send out to the lad and the rest of the squad? He is the only player who looks like he is going get shots on goal and more importantly goals. SP should be rewarding performances with runs in the team. Also SP, we don't have a big enough squad (as you keep saying in the media) so why come out with the Rafa tripe? Another thing SP likes to say in the media is along the lines of make it hard for me not to pick you sort of thing. Well SP let's see you stick to your guns/ philosophy. I, for one, would be very disappointed if Miller or Samaras are dropped tomorrow because neither of them deserve it and can't do much more. In fact, they can only improve if indeed they are given games. That's my personal view by the way and not that of the group I am part of mcfcsupporterstrust.blogspot.com/
What ever the team is don't drop Samaras and make sure he plays as a striker as well.
Dropping Miller and Samaras or not playing the Greek up front would be ridiculous. I would keep Corradi in because he does a lot of work to bring Samaras into play. He set up Samaras' 2nd goal. If Psycho's going top make a change, bring in Dabo for Sinclair and move Barton out to right midfield.
If Trabelsi is fit let him replace Sinclair and not Miller. I'm not sure who I'd choose between Corradi and Samaras - each have their strength and weaknesses. The Everton defence although sdolid does not have a great deal of speed so perhaps we should stay with Samaras, he's scoring now so perhaps he should get first call.
Let's not forget that Everton's defence has lost Hibbert and Naysmith and the team will have to reshuffle.What better time to attack them with the team that beat WH on Saturday.
To drop a player who in his last game scored twice seems ludicrous but SP could be trying to ensure the team avoids a defeat.If it works all well and good the horses for courses senario will be justified however should they lose YET another away game the knives will be out,ok we won against West Ham but Pearce shouldn't get too carried away.My opinion is stick with Samaras up front.
Would like to see the younger half of The Brothers Grimm well and truly skinned by Miller. If Trabelsi is truly fit, I would be very tempted to start him and remove Sinclair or Jordan. Although I would like to see Distin have a run of games at left back and Micah moved into the middle, I'm not totally sure tomorrow is the game to do it. Having said that, I could see Micah getting the better of AJ but too much disruption to a winning team may not be a good idea. I'd still bring Dabo in for Corradi.
Whilst I agree that Samaras should not be dropped, I do not think he should play as a lone striker either. His great weakness so far has been lack of commitment and inability to play with his back to goal. Any forward playing against Everton will require both of those commodities in spades. We have only one forward who can play that way and, sluggish though he is, that is Corradi. It's pointless playing Samaras in such a role cos he has consistently demonstrated that he is unwilling/unable to do it. So we're left with either 4-4-2 or no Samaras at all I'm afraid.
Miller should definitely start down the left rather than Sinclair, but to be honest so long as Reyna and Dickov are nowhere near the starting line up, I don't really care
Keep Samaras in ! We shouldn't try to be too clever tactically. Confidence, goals and clean sheets is what we need.
I was proud of us all last week. The fans all realised what was required, and raised their game - to the point where West Ham's supporters (good fans BTW) were silenced. The team responded magnificently. I was so proud of Ishmael and Micah. And Sam Harris finally looked the business. SP's judgement will no longer be in question if we can all keep it up. Just one thing - Bernardo looks to me as though he could flop, or be a spectacular success. He's at a turning point, so let's try to give him all the encouragement we can team! COME ON CITY - GO ISHMAEL!!
Weaver
Trabelsi Micah Dunn Distin
barton haman
sinclair miller/beas
corradi
samaras
city 2-0