Pre Derby Thoughts
In theory we have a tough run in to the end of the season but in one way our exit from the cup competitions should make the players (a) more hungry and (b) less tired week to week. Its a strange one though as footballers train all the time and surely playing an actual match must be better than training, but what do i know, i’m just an old midfield general whose legs went years ago.
I have a feeling that the match at the Theatre of shite tomorrow will be more difficult than a lot of blues seem to think. How many times when we have been shite, over the years, have we raised our game and given them a good game and even won when our league form suggested otherwise. I do feel that we will win the game but all these predictions of cricket scores are way off the mark in my view. Lets see how it pans out.
From now on in we should play our strongest team available with only a few selected changes if absolutely necessary dependent upon the opposition and whether we are home or away. Maybe this enforced messing around with the strikers can be helpful, as we have been playing with a more withdrawn second striker, and this has bolstered our midfield, but again this is very much dependent upon the opposition. I would suggest that we play with two strikers in the home games and maybe one in the way games. This can add a bit more guile to the attacking away from home, whilst probably matching the opposition set up when we are away from home.
The game at OT tomorrow we should play our usual 4-4-2, play our game and let them worry about us. Its my view that they will play with 2 strikers, and 2 central midfielders. If this is the case we should be to strong for them and get a grip in midfield which should mean we control the game and win. I’m not sure I like the fans saying it will be a cricket score as this can come back and bite you in the bum. We soulkd be too strong for them as long as we play the game as we want to and not treat it as though merely turning up will guarantee us victory.
Fulham At Home
It was good to see City get back to winning ways in the league as well as putting the (so called) lesser teams to the sword with a rampant win on saturday. Even though we scored 5 goals my main concern with the team at the moment is up front, with none of our strikers being either fit or really in form. Its weird how they have all gone off the boil at the same time, but I suspect that some of that is down to injuries and some of it is down to teams playing very differently against us than earlier in the season.
Negredo has really gone off the boil, he doesn’t look half as dynamic has he has done before and his touch seems to have deserted him as well. I think this is entirely due to his shoulder injury, which in turn has upset his confidence which has affected his all round play and his finishing in particular. However I’m not writing him off just yet, hes to good a pro in my book for that, he will be back i’m sure.
It will be good to get Jovetic playing and with a good run of games and a good run of fitness to, I can imagine the poor bloke is becide himself that he gets back fit and then all of a sudden he’s injured again. From what we’ve seen so far he is a quality player and is very different than the other strikers, he can carry the ball as well as a se a pass and i’m sure he can chip in with a goal or two along the way. Come on stefan show us what you can do.
Despite his detractors I think that Dzeko is a decent player and scores some crucial goals for City, yes i know he misses his fair share of chances that he should bag, but at the end of the day he gets goals at crucial times and is a decent striker to have in the squad. He needs to work on his first touch, I admit that but i’d rather have him than some others i could mention.
I really don’t need to say much about Aguero, other than lets get him back fit and raring to go for the run in, enough said.
One player deserving of mention in the Fulham game is Yaya Toure, ok he’s coolness personified with the penalties but what about his third goal. As he pulled his leg back I said to the bloke next to me that he should pass it wide and not waste a good attacking opportunity. At first I thought the ball had hit the side netting and would appear behind the goals, it took me a second or two to realise it was an absolute stunning strike and so worthy of bringing hop his hat trick. Well done son.
So a poor Fulham team put to the sword and a nice warm up for Tuesday night.
Maxflicity's Blog 