BEN Thatcher's comeback bid after his eight-week FA ban was thwarted by a torrential downpour.
The Manchester City defender was due to make his first appearance since his horrific challenge on Portsmouth's Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendez in the first week of the season.
Thatcher was named in the Blues' Manchester Senior Cup tie at Bury last night. But a five-hour deluge left Gigg Lane flooded and led to the game being postponed two hours before kick-off.
It was a huge blow to boss Stuart Pearce, who was hoping Nedum Onuoha, Darius Vassell and Paul Dickov would also prove their fitness ahead of Monday's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Scrutiny
With striker Bernardo Corradi's place under scrutiny and Georgios Samaras also struggling for goals and confidence, Pearce saw last night as the ideal opportunity to see Vassell and Dickov work as a pair following Saturday's embarrassing 4-0 defeat by Wigan.
Thatcher, who has not missed a day's training since his ban was dished out by the FA, will still be hoping to make Monday's side at the expense of Stephen Jordan, who has deputised in all eight matches.
Would you put Thatcher back into the side? Have your say.
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Of course i'd put Ben back in the side, look how we've struggled without his competative spirit. A club of our size should be competing in Europe and Ben is exactly the type of player who can get us there. The ban was a disgraceful punishment for a slightly over zealous challenge, the fa should be ashamed. Get him back in the team.
Not at all sell him Thatcher(OUT)
At last someone has something good to say about the Manchester weather. If the rain's keeping Thatcher out then good bless those dark clouds I can see out of the window!
I WOULD , TOUGH AS HELL AND WILL AD A BIT OF STEEL TO THAT BACK LINE.
I LIKE HIM, PACE , STRONG AND COMMITTED ALBEIT A BIT HOT HEADED PLUS JORDAN IS HAVIN A NIGHT MARE AT MO.
yes hes a better player than jordan come to think of it who isnt
At least it meant there was no opportunity for them all to get injured again - until training today that is!!
No. Why? He was rubbish before his 8 games suspension.
Ben Thatcher is committed. Or at least he should be.
I was looking forward to that too. If some teams field weakened sides we may win that cup?
Big Phil, Belfast: You think Thatcher's quick? He couldn't run for a bus! Oh and Nick, Burnage, I take it you were being sarcastic in saying that Thatcher can help us get in to Europe!?
Past caring. Thatcher nor Jordan are top quality defenders. When will we ever win away from home again? Do the players really believe they can go out and win a game or do they go out resigned to yet another away defeat in the hope that we can remain unbeaten at home. City simply have to beat Boro anything less is UNACCEPTABLE
The main threat from Middlesboro is from Downings crosses and the pace and power of Yakubu.So who plays at left back is not quite so important,Steve Jourdan has suffered in confidence in recent games but who wouldn't playing behind our current strike force.Jourden likes to pick players out before he passes the ball,with such lack of movement upfront he is often getting caught in pocession.It would be wrong to bring Thatcher back without any real match practise,his style of play of hard tackling and long ball up the park only ensures that the ball is returned back into the danger zone,I would not select him to start the game.
Thatcher,Onuoha,Vassell, and last but not least Dickov! These are the players Pearce has at his disposal to turn things around. So have no fear,come Monday should we fall behind
1-0 these are the players to dig us out of the hole.Brian Horton proved that losing doesn't have to be unattractive,this current bunch can't even do route one properly.False dawns,turning corners,players who'll make zero impact back from injury all in the same week. Thankfully for Pearce and Wigley there are several clubs doing worse than us this season so they might make it to the January window.
I'd stick Thatcher back in because all the focus would be on him. It might take a little off how badly we're playing and maybe ease the pressure on the rest of the lads sufficiently that we might actually play a bit.
Just picked up the Scottish Sun and right across the Back page" Man City line Alex McLeish to replace SP", rather see him than Curbishley at City but where on earth did they get this from ?
if thatcher can chase the ball as quick as he chased mendes he's got to play for me, but to be fair that was the quickest i've seen him move since he's been at the club
Shaun at his Desk, surely not Onuoha, he's genuine class, you wait and see.
people make me laugh coming on this board you moan jordan is rubbish then you say play him instead of thatcher if you are city fans real fans you would think before you right stuff when distin not playing we are poor at the back but peop-le come on here saying sell him as he wont sign a new contract but would you at the moment getting slated all the time thatcher is a better player than jordan fact im not saying hes a good player but he is better fact plus at least he will fight jordan doeant look at the 4 goal saturday
Not sure that I've ever seen him play that well, but who ever brings the ball down that wing will have to be well hard.
Totally agree with Shaun. I think SP thought it was easy to go down the long ball route. Just buy a big slow centre forward and everything will fall into place. Unfortunately, even Route 1 stuff requires everybody to know their job. If they dont, it ends up like the mess we have watched most weekends this season !
put thatcher back in the side his contract should have been ripped up .i know im an old age pensioner ,but if my memory serves me right he never played very often .whats happening at city ,do something terrible like thatcher did ,and everybody is cursing ,that we miss him ,stuart pack your bags and leave .i know quite a few fans if thatcher plays ,they wont go and watch them
How can city be a big club if you can not even sell half your tickets for a local derby.
Thatcher was lucky he doesn't play for Man United 8 weeks he would have got 8 years.
RN Blue, Scotland: I don't know whether you've picked up a dodgy-print-copy of the Scottish Sun or whether you're failing to wind us up. It's Norwich City he has been linked with...but he's denied it anyway.
Why see Dickov and Vassell together!!!!!. we have one forward who has a decent touch and who is more a goalscorer than the other 3 and that is Samaras. Dickov, Vassell and Corradi are support strikers as each offers something different, Vassell - speed, Dickov - aggression and Corradi - height, but none of them are prolific in front of goal.They should play off a goalscorer not together at the expense of the only real goalscorer we have. This is plain to see. This is why in January we need a prolific forward and then maybe we may see the best out of the other strikers at the club. Mix an Match!!
PoD - Shaun,
I don't agree that SP wants his players to go route 1 all the time. He didn't buy players like Hamann and Beasley to stand there watching the ball fly over their heads. I believe that one of his problems is that he can't get his players to actually play the game he wants it played.