Spurs or City Better On Paper?

The fact that Spurs and City have the best squads, with the exception of Chelsea of course, in the Premiership got me thinking about who has the better squad between the two new rising powers of English football.

After expressive starts both sides have been forced into fielding more disciplined teams and  slightly blunted attacks as the likes of Wolves, Stoke and Birmingham have not allowed them to play their preferred expansive football.

City fans would like nothing more than to see their best players Robinho, Tevez, Ireland, Adebayor and Wright-Phillips in the same team, but in the harsh battle grounds of the the Premier League it just isn't feasible.


Tonight however both managers could be forgiven for thinking that their opponents will play in their traditional open way.

With Shaun Wright Phillips and Nigel De Jong neither a hundred percent fit will Hughes go for it and play the aforementioned or will he as usual take the more cautious approach?



Which stars do you think would get into a starting XI made up from both clubs?

Goalkeeper
Given or
Gomez

Rightback
Richards, Zabaleta or
Corluka, Hutton

Left Back
Bridge, Silvinho or
Assou-Ekotto, Bale

Central Defence

Toure, Lescott, Kompany, Onouha or King
Woodgate, Bassong, Dawson

Defensive Midfield

De Jong, Barry, Kompany or Palacios, Jenas

Attacking Midfield

Ireland, Modric, Johnson, Huddlestone

Wide Left

Robinho, Bellemy, Petrov, Kranjcar, Bentley

Wide Right

Lennon, Wright-Phillips, Bentley, Bellemy, Tevez, Weiss

Upfront

Adebayor, Santa Cruz or Crouch, Pavlyuchenko

Tevez, Bellemy or Defoe, Keane

Manager

Hughes or Rednapp


In my humble opinion the best XI would be:

Given
Corluka
Toure
Woodgate(fit)
Bridge
De Jong
Modric
Lennon
Robinho
Tevez
Adebayor


Bench:

Gomez
Lescott
Richards
Barry
Defoe
Ireland

SPUDS - CITEH Not So Different After All

Tomorrow night's visit to White Hart Lane gets the blood pumping through my Blue veins as another important game between the two perennial losers of English football will undoubtedly turn out to be a cracker.

With Spurs in fifth and City in sixth and with their squads, on paper at least, the envy of all but Chelsea, one would think that both clubs are harbouring silent but deadly serious hopes of breaking into the top four places.

For years City and Spurs fans have been forced to live in the unglamorous shadow of their more popular and successful siblings whose names escape me at them moment.

Not in the Daniel Baldwin mould though, more like Prince Harry to Prince William.


What similarities do the clubs hold, well both have had a knack of producing some swashbuckling sides over the years with a culture of pleasing the neutrals rather than their fans.

Traditionally pleasing on the eye and exhilarating going forward both sides have defences with a soft centre.

The latest Spurs and City sides are no different really with outstanding attacking talent mixed with defensive frailties at the back.

The Defence

City's much criticised defence has been the equivalent of a group of village idiots locked in the stocks having rotten veg thrown at them in a Medieval Town square. Yet does it deserve the ridicule it so publicly gets when other teams are no better?

At the start of last season City had Joe Hart and Richard Dunne in their ranks along with Vedran Corluka.

A year later and over sixty million has been spent on the likes of Shay Given, Wayne Bridge, Kolo Toure and Joleen Lescott whilst the likes of Hart, Corluka and Dunne had all left the club to flourish at Premier League rivals.


Spurs have also spent millions on their defence since last term, with the likes of Vedran Corluka and Pascal Chimbonda brought in to stop the rot.

Are both sides better defensively this term? According to the statistics Tottenham have conceded 22 goals in 16 games to City's 21 in 15. City conceded 23 in 15 games at the same stage last season and Spurs 21 in the same time.

Last season  at the same stage City were in an impressive 15th with 17 points and Tottenham in 16th with 15 again proving that the two are never that far apart.

This term however the two sides lie in fifth and sixth respectively even though their defences have been just as porous.







So it seems that almost every year City and Spurs are fighting for the same places and current league positions show that there are no intentions to buck the trend.

Chelsea 16 37
Man Utd 16 34
Arsenal 15 31
Aston Villa 16 29
Tottenham 16 27
Man City 15 26
Liverpool 16 24
Birmingham 16 24
Fulham 16 23

The reason for the dramatic ten place difference lies further up the field where both teams are again proving that there are no more exciting teams to watch in the Premiership.


The Attack

Spurs have Luca Modric and Tom Huddlestone in the engine room flanked by the jet-heeled  Aaron Lennon and the explosive Defoe with 12 league goals up front.

City have Steven Ireland and Carlos Tevez (five goals) backed up by Bellemy(5), Wright-Phillips and Robinho to provide the attacking options, whilst Adebayor(6) and Roque Santa Cruz do their best to keep up with play and get the ball of  them.

The Gaffers

Then we come to the managers Mark Hughes and Harry Rednapp and perhaps we can see some more similarities. Both are well respected in the game and are supremely confident in their charges.

Both are well liked by their fans but have not fully convinced them of their abilities to take their teams to the next level, namely an automatic Champion's League place.

The Future

By the end of the Christmas period both clubs will know where they stand and in hosting Sunderland and Stoke and then playing Wolves, City will perhaps feel less pressure to get three points on Wednesday night.

They also have the added bonus of a game in hand over their rivals to calm any nerves too.

Tottenham  on the other hand have just lost to Wolves at home and after City go into a game away to Blackburn, before hosting the unpredictable Fulham and West Ham.

History

There are many games that have seen the clubs shine in the lime light but the following three stick out in my time as a Blues supporter.

Ricky Villa Blues! F




All the King's Horses! QF

 



10 man surprise



So another season another and another Spurs-City game of importance. Who comes out on top will have the impetus with which to steam roll through the busy Christmas schedule with confidence.

If Ol Harry can convince the Spurs board to invest in January then City and Spurs could be yet again the top spenders in the Premier League, but both sets of fans will be hoping for a different accolade come the end of the season.

OH TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL IN THE DRESSING ROOM

Soccer FM' s Chris Kamara was at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday for the visit of Man City.

Now normally going into the changing room before a match is not allowed for privacy reasons, but seeing as though Kam and Bolton boss Gary Megson were ex-team mates and pals, viewers were treated to a rare insight of Premier League proportions.

As Kamara entered the changing room, an always humble Megson  was there to greet him. Ex Blues midfielder Megson is under a lot of pressure to save Bolton from the drop and I for one hope his strike force of Davies, Elmander and poacher Klasnic can save his job.

He is one of the nice guys of the game, but as Paul Hart at Portsmouth found out, nice guys win nothing. It seems a successful top flight manager needs a little more arrogance and an element of scaremongering about him to give his players the timely rallying calls they need.

After entering the Bolton dressing room we were treated to the pre-match video analysis of Man City, named the 'scouting DVD', which Megson and his backroom staff so earnestly compile before every game.

Segments of City's attacking and defensive displays so far this season were put together to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of City's play.

The segments are  then shown on an interactive whiteboard and players are even supplied with I-Pods uploaded with the same pre-match analysis the night before the game.

So next time you see a top flight star on the lash the night before a game don't be so quick to judge, as if he's wearing an I-Pod, he's probably plotting the downfall of your team. Either way its best to give him a good kicking!

What was most interesting about the segment was Megson's frank analysis of the opposition- us. One of the first segments shown to the players was an analysis of our defence (cue the Benny Hill music).

The footage entitled 'City's Defence Lacks Organisation', is as damming a review of our back five that is greeted with a barrage of laughter back in the Soccer FM studio and winces of pain from the City faithful.

Megson then goes on to justify his carefully chosen captions as an attempt to gee up his players and let them know that the opposition are only human and can be beaten.

It would be nice to be a fly on the wall in the Sparky's self-proclaimed best prepared team in the Premiership's dressing room, so lets hope that Soccer FM's Kam has played with Hughes and is afforded the same red-carpet treatment. 

City Robbed By Officials

BOLTON WANDERERS FC 3 - 3 MANCHESTER CITY FC

Match details
Saturday 12 December 2009, 3:00PM

Reebok Stadium Att: 22735
Barclays Premier League

Referee:
Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)
Teams
Bolton Wanderers:

Jaaskelainen, K.Davies, Taylor, Knight, Robinson, Chung-Yong, Steinsson, Cahill, Muamba (Davies 82), Cohen, Klasnic (Elmander 74)

Unused subs:
Al Habsi, O,Brien, Elmander, M. Davies, Samuel, Basham, Ricketts

Bookings:
Klasnic 45mins, Davies 54, Cohen 59,
Manchester City:

Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Sylvinho, Wright-Phillips (Ireland 22), Barry, Kompany (Robinho 74), Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor (Santa Cruz 83)

Unused subs:
Taylor, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Ireland, Petrov, Robinho, Santa Cruz

Bookings:
Sylvinho (61mins), Bellamy (53 and 68)




Mark Hughes men must feel that the world and his dog is against them in their attempt to break the status quo this season.

Every time an opportunity presents itself for them to make it into the top four fate rears its cruel head. As the Blues finished this game with ten men and Bolton held on for a three all draw.

With Tottenham losing and United playing Villa his was another chance to push into those Champions League places but alas a linesman and referee were the protagonists in this festive pantomime.

In a North West derby that had six goals, an off side goal and a ridiculous red card every neutral got their fill, but Gary Megson will feel his fighters just dragged themselves over the finish line in what could prove to be a pivotal point for the Trotters.

The game started off well after some early Wimbledonesque pressure by Bolton the Trotters received a welcome piece of look.

A ball was fired into the six yard box from the City left to find Ivan Klasnic in a world record offside position to simply tap the balll into the net past a helpless Shay Given.

If the Bolton striker had been that far ahead of his opponents in a hundred metre race by the firing pistol had been fired he would have already been across the finish line.

Of course Bolton are not to blame, as they'd take anything to get them out of their rut at the moment, but serious questions have to be asked to why the linesman decided to keep his flag down by his side.

Bolton did what they do best in battering and bruising the Blues into losing their composure as much as they could. Fullback Robinson carried out his bosses orders of taking out Shaun Wright Phillips as soon as possible. Robinson not known for being subtle kindly obliged with a tackle that was as malicious as it was hard.

Within minutes SWP had  hobbled off and was replaced by Steven Ireland, which changed the dynamics of the game. City know were more calculated in their approach and Ireland and Tevez began to pull the strings.

It was Tevez who put the Blues level by wriggling free on the edge of the box and hitting a shot that deflected off a diving Bolton defender past the helpless Bolton keeper.

Then against the run of play the pantomime continue as centreback Cahill tripped over the ball to send Ireland and Barry the wrong way before turning and firing in a vicious curler into the top righthand side of Shay Given.

It was a glorious piece of opportunism by the young England hopeful to put City  behind for the second time in the match.

The Blues are a different kettle of fish this season though as they have shown on many occasions that they hae the resilience to come back into matches and in a fantastic sweeping move involving six City players Richards fired the ball past the Bolton number one.

The second half continued to throw up surprises as the Blues looked to build on their victories over Arsenal and Chelsea last week. After some early City pressure it was Bolton who went ahead for the third time in sublime fashion.

After a decent ball into the box the ball was expertly flicked on by Davies to the waiting Klasnic who smashed his volley into the net for is second of the game.

What happened next was bizarre as Bellamy was one on one with the already carded Robinson and went down after it appeared he'd been clipped outside the box.

Strangely Bellamy was yellow carded by pantomime villain Mark Clatternburg who subsequently showed the shocked Welshman a red card.

Unknown to many Bellamy had been booked for complaining after the Klasnic goal but this red was more than suspect as Hughes contemplated how to win the game with ten men.

What was more suspect was the fact that both Cohen and Klasnic could have been sent off for repeated offences yet the referee deemed them untouchable in this contest.

Down for the the third time and down to ten men the City of old would have almost certainly capitulated, but Hughes' City have mettle.

It was Tevez again who  brought them back into the contest after running at the Bolton defence to fire a fantastic low shot past Jaskelaanen into the bottom right corner.

As the game came to an end it was Bolton who looked the most nervous with City going for the jugular and coming close through Lescott and a Robinho shot.

But it wasn't to be for City as Bolton held on for a point and the Blues failed to take the three points that they needed to go up the league.

MAN OF THE MATCH: CARLOS TEVEZ - The pocket dynamo dragged histeam through this miefield of a contest to almost snatch a victory. Two quality goals from the Argentinian forward.

Ashton to sue City's Wright-Phillips for maliciousness!

West Ham Star to sue malicious City  

If someone were to ask you to think of a footballer using the word malicious, which names would come to mind?

Roy Keane, Vinny Jones and Joey Barton perhaps have all made it public knowledge that they have intentionally gone out to physically hurt their opponents.

Roy Keane controversially wrote about his disgraceful tackle on Man City's Alfe Inge Haaland when he was at rivals United. Royston, as he likes to be called, then stood over the prostrate Haaland shouting profanities in an incident that was to see Haaland's career come to a premature end.

Royston is not the only thug to have inflicted malicious damage on a fellow professional though. Vincent Jones, was famous for playing the opponent first and the ball as an after thought.

The picture of him grabbing Paul Gascoigne's Crown Jewels in a match between Wimbledon and Newcastle will go down in football history as the dirtiest and most painful trick ever.

The look on Gazza's face is priceless and it no doubt played on his mind as  he was still crying years later at the world cup in 1990.

If you thought the common football thug was just a thing of the past then look no further than Joseph Barton of Newcastle United.

When at Manchester City Joey Barton went after the title of Premier League's Baddest with a raft of off-field and training ground incidents.

Not happy with beating up a young Everton teenage fan in Thailand or stubbing out a cigar in the eye of City academy player James Tandy at a club Christmas party, Barton decided he needed more publicity.

During a training session at his time at City, he assaulted team mate Ousmane Dabo in an ‘I'm harder than you moment’ that sent shockwaves around the Premier League.

In a situation that happens twice a day on every training pitch around the world without incident, Barton and Dabo squared up after a hefty challenge.

After some handbags, Dabo turned away thinking the matter was over only to receive the type of attention one would expect to receive in a cage from Brock Lesnar UFC Heavyweight Champion.

And it isn’t  only these types of players that are capable of such dastardly deeds, as even the nicest of players off the pitch can lose their heads on or off it.

When Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth played Manchester City a few years back, the Portsmouth boss had nothing but nice words to say about Ben Thatcher going as far as saying he was a lovely lad.

That didn't stop the City left back running twenty metres to launch an elbow at the head of Pedro Mendes that caused a seizure hospitalizing the midfielder and sidelining him for weeks.

Fans still wince at the footage of Mendes bouncing off the advertising sideboards in a scene that would not have been out of place outside a nightclub in Burnley.

So there is no surprise today when we hear about the prospect of Dean Ashton suing a current City player for a malicious tackle that proved to be the catalyst for his premature retirement from football.

Its Craig Bellamy at it again isn't it, I hear you say? After all, he did attack Jon Arne Riise with a golf club when they were both at Liverpool. Bellamy and Ashton were also team mates and rivals at West Ham together and must have had a training spat or two right?

Well no actually, the award this time goes to Shaun 'Bone Crusher' Wright-Phillips who injured twenty-six year old Ashton during an England training session in 2006.

The West Ham player suffered a serious ankle injury which forced him to miss the entire 2006-07 Premier League campaign and although he recovered to make an impact in the Hammer's following season, was never the same player again.

His last appearance for West Ham United was almost a year ago in September 2008 when he was forced back onto the treatment table and after renewed ankle problems has recently announced his retirement from the game.

Now it’s a crying shame that such a talented English footballer has had to retire before his time. God knows how much England could do with a fully fit Alan Shearer type player come next summer.

West Ham could do with him even more at the moment in their plight to get away from the relegation zone and sympathy has to go to both player, club and fans who deserve a bit of luck this century.

Yet every club has an example of a player like this, from Walcott of Arsenal to Johnson of man City. In fact both Colin Bell and Paul Lake had their careers cut short at Man City by vicious tackles but neither pursued the player-versus-player compensation road and that was in a time before footballer millionaires.

Reports in today's papers are suggesting that Ashton may look to sue Wright-Phillips for a malicious tackle. The FA chief executive Taylor is hopeful that financial compensation via player-versus-player action can be avoided however.

He said: "I hope it doesn't come to that because nobody would think that Shaun Wright-Phillips was a malicious player at all."

Forget the fact that the claim is ludicrous in itself due to the player involved and the fact that National team insurance should cover the financial aspects.

Just think if Ashton and his representatives went ahead with the claim and won. Where would we be then? If every player were to sue for a mistimed tackle then where would it end?

So sue Royston yes, Vincent yes, Barton hell yes, but Shaun Wright Phillips for being malicious I don't think so. Retire with dignity Dean, remember the class goals like the header against the Rags that you scored and the small fortune that you made whilst you were at the top.

You can always turn to punditry if Merson can, then so can you.

A Week At City

City have been in the news for various reasons this week as the Media Circus refuses to relent in its coverage of the Blues.

In the aftermath of last week's victories over Arsenal and Chelsea, there have been reports of spats in the dressing room and their consequences in the squad.

Given recently revealed that egos had been damaged and noses put out of joint in the City dressing room after the Blues had blown yet another two-goal advantage in their draw with Hull at Eastlands.

Hughes also pulled no punches in the 'Battle Royale' and the City manager believes it was for the greater good of the club and that there is no better way to fire players up.

Mark Bowen says that the management team see arguments among his players as a sure sign that they care passionately about City and the project as a whole.

Hughes' number two said in an interview on the OS that,  

"It's very, very healthy,""We were delighted to see the reaction after the Hull game. Things were also said by the management and staff as well. We were all part of it and we were all very demanding of each other.


"Shay alluded to it well - it is healthy and good. Obviously there is the tiny element that you can't let it turn into a problem situation, where it gets physical, but on this occasion it was like a breath of fresh air in the place."






One only has to look to Stoke City's recent punch-up between Stoke manager Tony Pulis and James Beattie or Anelka's 'python' encounter at Arsenal to realise that dressing room 'debate' is part and parcel of any football team.

Elsewhere Wayne Bridge has been coming to terms with 'that' tackle by Chelsea's Belletti that will keep him out until after the New Year.

In an interview on the OS he responded to Alan Hansen's recent comments about his display against Burnley.

"Alan Hansen said a few things and Mark Hughes said a few things back, but I don't like to think about it too much.

"It's going to hurt or bother anyone, but I didn't need to watch Match of the Day to realise I had played badly and been out of position.

"He (Hansen) said a few things, but I'm not going to cry about it. Instead, I've just come into training and trained hard.

"I felt I did ok in the games after that and, since then, I feel I've done well defensively and attacked as much as I could, although I can still do better.”

Bridge has come under criticism this year for some below par performances, but no one can deny that he has improved tenfold from last season and he will be missed.

It is an unfortunate double-whammy for the former Chelsea defender however, as how well Lescott or Barry do at left back in his absence could have deeper consequences than the loss of his first team place come next year.

It has been a very long time since City have had as many England representatives on its books, yet pundits and football writers have been quick to urinate on City's bonfire.

Many believe that one of Barry, Lescott and Bridge will miss out due to them all being able to play left back as cover for number one choice Ashley Cole. And with Bridge not being able to play effectively in another role, it is possibly the worst thing that could have happened to him.  

Robinho on the other hand has been at it again in the media, stating that he has no intention whatsoever, he thinks, of leaving the club for Barcelona, for now, and that all Blues fans love him and he loves them.

Great Robbie, but will the loveable Brazilian still be smiling after being benched for Craig Bellamy for the game against Bolton. We'll all know the answer come Sunday's tabloids, as the media will presumably find some quote to twist no doubt.

Perhaps the most upsetting news, depending on your point of view, is of young starlet Michael Johnson and his latest career injury.

It has been reported that Johnson broke down in training with a knee injury and will probably be out for the rest of the season.

The Blues midfielder has had more career setbacks than Theo Walcott and after his last much publicised stint in the Printworks... sorry on the sidelines, this will be a major test of the popular and talented midfield star.

Will he be another Nicky Weaver, picking up a monthly wage after a promising career start only to hit a spate of injuries spending his time in North West bars and clubs telling old war stories to any girl that will listen? Or does he have the metal required to get through this latest tragedy in his fledgling career?

As he is a born and bred Mancunian and an academy raised Blue, one would hope it is the latter of the two.

One things for sure, he'll certainly need the support of his friends, family, club and fans alike as the first picture of him out on the town will undoubtedly be seen as yet another footballer throwing is career away.

Michael if you are reading this, you have all our support and are still young and talented enough to comeback be one of the greats and make the next world cup squad.

ELITE CITY PROVE THEY'RE THE REAL DEAL

Ask any City fan what come to mind when they think about Chelsea against City and they'll all probably tell you the same.

Power, organisation, ruthless determination , focus an a landslide of goals against!

In the past City have been too fragile psychologically or guilty of not having players up for the physical battle against the Londoners brute strength.

In Drogba and Anelka up front backed up by Lampard, Essien and Ballack, you have a midfield powerhouse that is the most dominating midfield in the world.

In midweek City showed signs that they had that physical brute force to compete for the first time by crunching the life out of Arsenals talented young gunners.

Yet the scintillating performance today  proved to millions watching that this City side now has the power to go with the skill and fancy footwork to trouble any defence in the world.

With the players such as Lescott, De Jong, Richards, Barry and Kompany City are no longer the bullied, but the bullies of the playground.


City began the game showing the same intensity as against Arsenal and  looked the better side with more shots on target and corners, but fell behind to an own goal form Emmanuel Adebayor.

Now one would think that the best team in Europe at the moment would have then gone on to take control of the game, but nothing could be further from the truth as City showed another part of their new character.

The new resilience that has seen City only beaten once all season was again evident as the Sky Blues immediately pressured the Chelsea midfield, playing some exhilarating stuff stretching the Chelsea fullbacks and interchanging passes at will.

City finally broke the deadlock after a centre was floated into the Chelsea area and after the ball had found its way to Adebayor the big front man lashed it into the net.

The ball did hit Micah Richards on the arms before it fell to Adebayor,but the young England defender could have done nothing to avoid it.

Key a predictable mass protest from Chelsea, but it was to be in vain as the goal would stand and Webb waved the players back to the centre circle.

You know you have Chelsea on the back foot, when Ashley Cole is acting like a petulant school boy as if the opposition should not have the right to be on top.




The second half continued began with the same intensity a the first with both sides looking to impose their dominance on the game.

It was City spurred on by their magnificent support who began to look like the superior team again.

Firstly

Then after a period of intense pressure, City finally found the breakthrough when a free kick was fired in by the electric Carlos Tevez past a Peter Cech that Paul Merson had peviously lorded as the best in the business last week- Nice one Toady!

You need a nut-cracker to break a hard nut as Arsenal found out to their cost last weekend and City certainly were cracking bones with Lescott and Bridge giving Drogba a hard time and De Jong showing Essien there is more than one master of destruction in this league.




City, after recent collapses, understandably  had a period of uncertainty when Chelsea created a few chances.
Drogba went close on a couple of occasions and Chelsea looked like they would get an undeserved goal.

Both Wayne Bridge and Micah Richards had become casualties in this all out war and had to be replaced by Nedum Onuoha and Vincent Kompany respectively.

Gareth Barry was shifted to left back and although already exhausted and on a yellow, proved his value to the team with a composed display.

Onouha on the otherhand, made the mistake of letting Drogba get goal side and a rash challenge brought the Ivory Coast star for a definite penalty.

What happened next transformed this game into a Premier League classic with all forty-eight thousand fans in the stadium, millions world wide watching and all of the Premier League teams held their breath as Frank Lampard faced off with Shay Given.

The resulting penalty save was met with shock and exultation from no doubt everybody not wearing Chelsea Blue as Given denied Lampard's nervous penalty making every England fan sit nervously on their chair at a similar prospect next summer in South Africa.


It seemed as though every Chelsea player had been booked, including the subs by the time John Terry was forced to leave the field but there were to be no defensive lapses this week however, as City closed out the game after six minutes of stoppage time.

Tevez and Richards were fantastic, but none of it would have been possible without winning the infantry battle against Lampard, Ballack and Essien, and Nigel De Jong's destructive presence in midfield puts him up there with the very best defensive midfielders in the world.

Have City found their Claude Makele, the lynchpin of their early success? If they have then the Blue Juggernaut is finally back on its way to the top four.

Although United et al will have been cheering the Blues on to the final whistle today, some of them now know that City will be chasing them down from now until the very end of the season.

THE HARDEST GAME OF CITY"S SEASON BY FAR

Having overcome their draw hoodoo against Arsenal in the Carling Cup, City can now look forward to their hardest game of the season so far.

The fact that it is against the best team in Europe at the moment makes it all the more enticing as it is Chelsea heading to Eastlands this weekend.

Another test to see where City are in their 'project' and another chance to take advantage of 'that' game in hand that they have so far failed to convert into three points.

After seven consecutive draws Manchester's only Premier League representatives could be forgiven for having a dip in confidence, but Mark Hughes, Steven Ireland and a host of other players have all spoken about one word- frustration.

The frustration of not being able to hold onto a lead regardless of how many goals ahead we've been. The frustration of not converting the draws into wins to be sitting comfortably with Chelsea at the top of the league.

The frustration of being the only team in the Premier League to have been beaten only once all season and that defeat was hardly down to lack of quality.

In fact without a pocketed referee, a magic stopwatch and a culture of protecting certain teams, City would still be unbeaten.

But if the Blues think that they have been frustrated so far this season, they should be ready to experience a new level come Saturday.

For then comes as sterner a test of their credentials that has been seen in a world class team, with a world class manager, with a world class system perfected for the Premier League.

Chelsea are the most organised team in the league, with the most powerful and talented squad player for player in the world. So let’s not have any illusions about the task that awaits Mark Hughes' men.

This is the team that outplayed Barcelona in the Champions League Semi Finals last year, but were robbed in the end.

If City go out and play to the crowd using their normal attack-minded home tactics, then they will be beaten just like Arsenal last weekend.

So Hughes will be looking to the pressure game that paid dividends against Arsenal and look to emulate the hard work and discipline of teams like Wigan and Reading who have shocked Chelsea this season.

City will have to be patient, disciplined, hold their shape and focus defensively front to back from the first minute to the last. Then to win the game they will have to find a way of scoring against an impressive Chelsea defence.

Emmanuel Adebayor will be the key player for City as he must do everything right tomorrow. Defend from the front, play with passion, hold the ball up and take his chances too.

What tactics Hughes will employ will show his character as a manager tomorrow as the safety first approach is one that might not in him many admirers. Hughes has been criticised for the tactical side of his game, especially with his choice of substitutes and lack of plan B to change a game.

All will be revealed tomorrow and if we can pull out a victory, it will be on par with the one in midweek if not better. Something tells me that most Blues would settle for an eighth successive draw though.

One thing’s for sure, Arsenal, United, Tottenham and Liverpool will all be hoping that the Sky Blues can claw back some of that massive lead that Chelsea have so imperiously forged to put them head and shoulders above the rest.

If they aren't then it shows that they have given up on the title race already and see City as a more dangerous threat to their Premier League hopes this season.

MANCHESTER DERBY JUST REWARD FOR SERIOUS CITY

Watching our beloved City batter the young guns of Arsenal last night was akin to watching a dwarf being held at arms length.

It may have been a technical dwarf with heart, but it was still a physical battle it was destined to lose.

For the first time City managed to look like the Premier League outfit this cup campaign after close calls against Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Some might call win at Scunthorpe a good performance, but this match was everything City should have been.

It was a harsh lesson in Premier League football for the Arsenal lads, as although they were a match for City in the skill department, they came up woefully short as soon as the Blues imposed their physical superiority.

It wasn't as if it was the man mountains of Lescott, Richards or Adebayor who were the chief tormentors either, as the four smallest players on the pitch did most of the damage.

Tevez, Bellamy, Ireland and man of the match SWP hassled and harried the Arsenal lads so much that they made more unforced errors in the first half then they probably have done all season.

The second half saw the mental side of Wenger's latest steeds tested, and when the chips were down and push came to shove they just didn't have enough heart to get back into the game.

Both City and Arsenal have found this out the hard way in the Premiership against sides like Blackburn, Bolton and Stoke away you really need to find that grit to go with the pretty football.

The two goals from SWP and Tevez were worthy of winning any match and the first Semi Final in twenty-eight
 years beckons and is reward for the respect the Blues have paid to the tournament and the loyalty of the success-starved fans.

The fact that the biggest cup game in almost thirty years come against Manchester's arch rivals from Streford makes it so much bigger an occasion. Add a home and away leg and you truly have the first meaningful English domestic games of the season.

CITY MAKE GUNNERS KIDS THEIR BITCHES

CITY 3 ARSENAL 0

Match details
Wednesday 02 December 2009, 7:45PM

City of Manchester Stadium Att: 46,015
Carling Cup

Referee:
C Foy
Teams
Manchester City:

Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Barry, Ireland, Wright-Phillips (Weiss 77), Tevez (Kompany 74), Bellamy, Adebayor.

Unused subs:
Taylor, Onuoha, Johnson, Santa Cruz, Robinho.

Bookings:
Bellamy (83)
Arsenal:

Fabianski, Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Traore, Rosicky, Eastmond (Watt 68), Ramsey, Vela, Merida, Wilshere.

Unused subs:
Mannone, Bartley, Coquelin, Frimpong, Gilbert, Randall.

Bookings:
Traore (37), Eastmond (38), Silvestre (57), Wilshere (76), Song (78), Ramsey (81)

THE MATCH

Mark Hughes picked a thoroughly frustrated and full strength Manchester City side after a run of seven straight Premier League defeats. Arsene Wenger  on the other hand stayed with the young Arsenal side that had made its way impressively to the Quarters.

City were out of the traps quicker than Vanessa Phelps at a free buffet and Arsenals young guns struggled to gain any sort of foothold in the game.

If it hadn’t been for the linesman’s flag and the ill-timed runs of Craig Bellamy the Citizens could have finished the game inside the first twenty minutes.

It was like an experienced pro bull rushing the talented but naïve hotshot as the Blues pressed high up the pitch pressuring the Arsenal midfield into giving the ball away far too cheaply.

What didn’t help was the fact that the Gunner’s back line was defending higher up than a Posh Spice mini-skirt.

Carlos Tevez and Shaun Wright-Phillips were the chief tormentors as they bamboozled the Gunners with their pace, directness and work ethic.

FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW...

OY MERSON NO!

Watching Paul Merson's latest attack on Manchester City sent me back almost a decade in time to the days of Harry Enfield and his grotesque character 'Loads a Money'.

How this ultra biased Gunner is still employed by Sky Sports is just a mystery to millions of watching fans across the globe.

It certainly isn't for his eloquence of speech as the washed up Ex- England star stumbles through yet another incomprehensible utterance as though he's just come back from lunch at the local pub.

The only conclusion I can think for the Toad of Powder Hall still being in a prime time television job is that he amuses host Jeff Spelling and the other pundits so much that they just can't bear to be without him.

In fact, the Ex-England star looks so much like the Toad of Toad Hall in a monkey suit that maybe thousands of Children worldwide are to blame for a rise in viewing figures as they believe his segment to be a continuation of children's programming.

In Toad's latest instalment he analyses Man City's performance against Hull City. In a game that City dominated but couldn't kill off, Hull were awarded a penalty to level the score and steal a point.

When asked about the Sky Blues, Merson labelled the Blues as a coach of Hollywood superstars who had failed at top four clubs and were now cracking under the pressure of failing to deliver!

Now I don't know about you Paul, but wasn't Carlos Tevez a big hit and winner at Man United? Wasn't Kolo Toure the last remaining member of 'The Invincibles' arguably the best Arsenal team of the last 30 years?

The next pearl of wisdom that made it's way out of this sorry excuse for a man's mouth was the bitterest attack on the Blues to date.

"I look at Man City's team and not one of them could get into a top four side..."

So astounded were Matt Le Tissier and the other pundits at what was coming out of the Buffoon's mouth, they were rendered speechless.

The silence was eventually broken by the tactful Stelling, sounding like a father to his teenage son, suggesting that Merson was exaggerating again and that of course Shay Given was good enough.

Merson's response was typical of a man who has long since made brain-to-tongue communication redundant in his world.

"He wouldn't get in ahead of Cech at Chelsea, but I'd 'av 'im at Arsenal..."

Are Arsenal not a top four side then Paul? The analytical genius obviously has a problem with City and one wonders if it is over more than just the Adebayor issue.

With a full three and a half minutes to talk, there is no shortage of material to illustrate how biased this man is and you just have to see it to believe it for yourself.

Merson entertains the kids

The Carling Cup does matter... for us

Let's not play down the significance of tomorrow night's Carling Cup clash with Arsenal, for there is more than team morale and the boss's job under scrutiny.

Whilst some teams treat this competition as a hindrance to their Champion's League aspirations and others as a grooming ground for their up and coming young studs, City have made it public knowledge that they are taking it as serious as any other silverware this year.

Of course, critics will be quick to focus on the fact that we are playing against a young Arsenal side full of promise but not exactly first eleven standard.

But past history tells us that nothing could be further from the truth as Arsenal's youngsters have shown time and time again that they are no push overs. Each young Gunner knows full well  this is the place to showcase his talents and make a claim for that all important  first team spot.

Media hacks and fans alike have devalued the competition for years and point to other Premier League clubs' team sheets as to how seriously teams are taking the competition.



Perhaps the fact that seven of the last eight teams still left in  the competition are from the top division might change heir mind, and shows that it will be an achievement to get that all important ticket to Wembley come final day.

All at City know that results sooner rather than later will be the benchmark for their success or failure this season and of the three potential prizes on offer, getting to the Carling Cup final is undoubtedly the easiest option on paper.



The Blues don't even have to win the competition for it to be considered an improvement on over a decade of failure, which is something Hughes will be acutely aware of (which is why he mentioned it twice in his pre-match press conference today!).




In fact when was the last time you can remember the Blues playing in a Semi Final of a major competition and no the MCFC Girls under fourteens victory in the Tesco Cup last May doesn't count (No disrespect intended ladies)!

The last time City managed a Semi Final appearance was in 1981 against an impressive Ipswich Town side, when star man Paul Power scored a fantastic left footer in extra time and we went on to play Spurs in a sensational final (for them!).



If we do win tomorrow, nothing will be able to describe the elation that will be felt at all levels of the club  from the fans up to the gaffer himself, as a win will break this demoralising Ground Hog Day we find ourselves in.


So let's put things into perspective, tomorrow is massive for all stakeholders involved with God's own club and if we do progress to the Semi Finals, well it will be the furthest the Blues have managed for almost thirty years.

That's got to be worth some brownie points, hasn't it! On the other hand, if we fail to make the Semis there might be a fair few people growing tired of hearing "invariably" and "gelling" and there couldn't be a more difficult game than the one coming up after that.

CITY V HULL

Seven draws on the trot is not what people had in mind when City talked about achieving new things this year and if they aren't careful it looks like that particular record will have been smashed come next week.

As good a record as Mark Hughes has this season, he finds himself in a precarious situation of having to do anything but draw.

With only one defeat all season and a place in the quarterfinals of the Carling Cup, it looks to the casual football fan that Hughes' position is one of the safest jobs in the division.

Anybody who has been watching City knows that they provide good value for money, score goals in virtually every game and play some mesmerising stuff while they’re at it.

They concede as many as they score and therein lies the problem, as it doesn't seem to matter what score the Sky Blues are up at the moment as the defence will throw a lead away at the drop of a hat.

If someone had told you we'd be two-nil up against Fulham, three-two with Burnley and one up against Hull at home, you would expect a side as experienced as City's to see out the nine points. Instead we have gifted goals away in all of the aforementioned to the surprise of the manager and the disgust of the fans.

It doesn't matter who is to blame be it Bridge, Lescott, Richards or Toure; the fact is that results matter and we have now thrown away 14 points from a possible 21.

Hughes will know the score as the team has hardly had a dip in form, with impressive attacking performances in most games giving us a cushion before 'The Keystone Cops' gifting a point back to the grateful opposition.

What happens when we have a goal drought or that inevitable loss of confidence that almost every team experiences once a season?

Some fans will look elsewhere for culprits and perhaps mention Tevez, Robinho and Adebayor today for not being clinical enough in front of goal.

After all with so many chances created we could of been five-nil up before they actually scored. Tevez will be the fans main scapegoat, but for me it was Adebayor who gave the poorest performance.

After a bright start, and after a few decisions went against the big man from Togo, he faded out of the game. Of course he was roughed about by Gardner and stamped on by Zarate at one point, but you didn't see Tevez and SWP complaining at the rough treatment they received and they aren't built like a proverbial brick house.

Another problem Hughes has to sort out is how to get Adebayor to stay up front and not drift wide at every opportunity. With Robinho, Tevez and SWP on the flanks, supported by both full backs it is up to Ireland and Ade to be there at the end to convert chances.

Others will point to Hughes himself and his ability to make sometimes mindboggling changes during games. Today, instead of closing out the game by bringing on Vincent Kompany for the yellow carded Nigel De Jong and Craig Bellamy for the tiring Robinho, Hughes brought on Santa Cruz for Adebayor.

How Roque Santa Cruz has proved his match fitness is a mystery to almost everyone bar the manager and his backroom staff. The Paraguayan has looked hopelessly off the pace in every league performance this year and needs to ask the real Santa for a miracle to save his career later this month.  

But then again what has Hughes done so differently that we would not have? Many fans were calling for Ireland to come in for the jaded Barry, others for Robinho to be  brought back in, regardless of Bellamy's form,  others were calling for Tevez to be restored to the starting lineup after making such an impact from the bench against Liverpool.

Well the manager did all of those things and guess what happened? The real problem came right back and slapped him in the face like a 10 kilo trout.

The defence needs to be sorted out and a solution must be found as soon as possible, preferably before we face Champions to be Chelsea early next month. 

If we don't then by January, a new manager could be the one scratching his head at how to get this defensive unit to look anything other than calamitous.

ZABALETA KOMPANY LESCOTT BRIDGE anyone? Or should we just sack the defensive coach!

RETURN OF CITY TRIO THE REAL NEWS

Whilst the obvious transfer rumours have been taking up the headlines, it is a trio of less sensational stories that have caught my attention.

Apparently, Benjani is the man to take the pressure off former City player Gary Megson. With Elmander and Davies not exactly tearing up trees, Gary believes Benji can revitalise Bolton for the second half of the season in an attempt to avoid the drop and save his bacon at the same time.

The good news for the Trotters is that the Zimbabwean's  'track' record is much better than his airport one, so he might make the medical on time!

Also according to the Red Tops and Darren Lewis, Harry Rednapp is still not happy with a Spurs side that obliterated Wigan NINE- one in the league.

He wants to sure up the Londoners defence and is back in for Micah after apparently being knocked back three years ago.

Is Micah the right man to sure up any defence and do we really want to sell him?

Three bits of good news that have come out of the Official site this week have all centred around returning Blues.

Both Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson played the full ninety minutes on Monday night against Blackburn and are looking forward to making an impact on the Blues push for a Champions League spot.

The Belgian international volunteered for second-string duty on Monday night after his recent lay-off and said,

"I finally got 90 minutes to run around and make some tackles and I really enjoyed it. I made a lot of good, strong challenges, which is a big part of my game.

 "I'm looking forward to pushing for a first-team starting place. The competition doesn't bother me. I'm just as much competition to the others. I hope to be in there in the near future."

The biggest news perhaps is the return of record signing of Robinho, who is fit and ready to play some part against Hull City. The game couldn't have come at a better time for the Brazilian magician as it is at home and against the team he was on top form against last year.

It will be an important period in the trios Blues' careers as all three are fans favourites and quality players, but all three find themselves playing second fiddle to arguably inferior but in form players.

Robinho, undoubtedly in the top three left sided players in the world, will find it hard to wrestle a starting place from Craig Bellamy on the left as the fiery Welshman has performed well in every match this year.

Vincent Kompany, courted by Barcelona, can play effectively in defensive midfield or in the back two, but has top performer De Jong  and captain Kolo Toure in his path, not to mention club darling Nedum Onuoha.

Michael Johnson when fully fit is without doubt our most complete midfielder, but gone are the days when we can afford to give a potentially great player a steady run in the side and with Barry, Ireland and Tevez playing the attacking roles in midfield, Johnno has to be very patient, keep in shape and await his chance.

One things for sure, and that is all three would get in most teams in the Premier League and that can only be great news for Mark Hughes and the rest of the campaign.

WILL YOU BE VLAD IF HE GOES?

 

VLADIMIR WEISS

Should the Premier League's best talent go out on loan with lesser clubs or stay training with the first team and keep match fit with the reserves?

So what should City do with Vlad? Should Vlad go out on loan, or not? Certainly they'll be many thinking yes send him out to a top championship side or a lower Premier League outfit to learn a bit more about the English game.

He'll be able to get some first team practice and bulk up to come to terms with the sheer physicality of our style of play. Weiss has already spoken about the differences for him between Youth level and Premier League football and has been criticised for lacking the required body strength to compete with the sometimes hulking defenders(Wolves!).

Others might be thinking please don't send this young Slovakian prodigy out on loan. What if we need him? After all, he has just starred in an international standard World Cup qualifying campaign, so surely he can cope with club football.

One argument would be that certain types of players suit certain types of loan deals. Meat and veg British style defenders like Ryan McGivern and Ben Mee for example would certainly benefit from the physical competition of the Championship or even the first division.

Then there are young players who are beasts at the age of sixteen like Micah Richards, Wayne Rooney, Tom Huddlestone, Carlton Cole and Michael Johnson need no introductions to the rigours of English football and can cope with the physical demands from day one.

Players blessed with very high technical skills fall into the same bracket as these guys but for different reasons. Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and Joe Cole are players who possess speed, quickness of mind and lightning reflexes which enable them to effortlessly bridge the gap between Youth team and first team.

Sending Weiss out on loan to Bradford City would enable him to experience the ferocity of the lower leagues, but it could also result in a nasty injury if he becomes a marked man for being that 'Winker-like Kid' from the Premiership.

Sending him out to a Bolton or Stoke who are decent Premier League teams but play far from expansive football, may be detrimental to the lads development. He has already spoken about being able to adapt to the speed of the Premier League and how it doesn't phase him.

Contrast this with the young international Welsh battering ram that is Ched Evans who often spoke of the difficulties he had in adapting to the step up to top level football. He was phased by the prospect of playing with Europe's elite and is now plying his trade in the Championship.

Psychology is definitely a major factor in a deciding whether a player is ready or not. If you believe in yourself then you have won the first battle and Vlad like Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards before him has that belief to be a Premier League footballer.

Valdimir Weiss doesn't need to be loaned out because he is good enough to play with the City first team, learning from players great technical players like Robinho and Tevez.

Chelsea's Gaël Kakuta certainly thinks playing against lower Premier League opposition like Wolverhampton Wanderers is much easier than playing in the reserve team games.

In an interview given after his Premier League debut Kakuta suggested he had found life easier in the Premier League with the club's first team. He stated

"Premier League football is easier than in the reserves, because the game is much quicker, you have more choice when you play and you can play one-touch or two-touch. So it is much better." 

I waited a long time for Saturday and I am really happy. All of the players were behind me, helping me and talking to me, so that was good."

And  the eighteen year old Chelsea hotshot will now go straight into tonight's reserve team for the game against Birmingham City.

His comments are interesting as he shows how playing at a high level with top quality players can be nothing but beneficial. Just look at Arsenal's Young Guns who we'll be playing in the quarter finals of the cup.

Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey are all examples of diminutive players taking their chance when given an opportunity. So maybe its time to blood a few of our young guns against Wenger's lot.

There's another good reason to keep Vlad in the first team squad and that is to put pressure on Shaun Wright Phillips, who has relied more on his hard work and endeavour of late to get through a period where he has struggled to hit top form.

A young hungry academy star waiting in the wings is just the same as a new signing in your position. Its competition for places and keeps you  on your toes. And if anybody knows what is waiting in his shadow, its Shauny Wright who made the transition from youth team to first team without batting an eyelid.

SHAME ON WIGAN

Now forgive me for being a little miffed at the moment, after all we have just drawn a sixth consecutive Premier League match.

Yet the reason for my sudden bout of dizziness lies not like most Blues sat staring into their Sunday night pint wondering when this rut will come to an end but elsewhere.

Nor is it because 'that lot' in Stretford won again against the Blue half of Merseyside either. No, Its because this Blue has just returned home to see the Spurs score.

Now don't get me wrong beating Wigan at home is not something that should or ever will give me cause for losing the plot. What does rile me more than anything else, is the score by which they won this Premier League game.

For NINE goals to one in what is supposed to be the best league in Europe and possibly the world is quite frankly embarrassing. Jermaine Defoe scored FIVE and again let me make it clear that I have no agenda against the hugely talented Spurs pocket dynamo.

The problem I have is with the opposing team. I mean what were Wigan playing at, because it certainly wasn't football! What happened to the team that almost took three points off Man City last month?

Losing four nil is embarrassing enough and five or six might would be classed as being taken to school, but NINE is just beyond comprehension in today's so-called top league.

Anyone would think that Tottenham were the genuine title competition for Chelsea this year, but you only have to look at their latest attempt at playing a Top Four side to realise they are nowhere near.

Manchester United completely out-classed them in their recent contest and the Red Devils are hardly flying on all cylinders at the moment.

Wigan Athletic should sack their manager immediately for failing to inspire his players. For as nice a man as Martinez is, NINE goals against in the Premiership is just out and out incompetence.

All of the travelling Wigan supporters should have the cost of their tickets and accommodation refunded by the spineless overpaid players that call themselves entertainers.

In fact a memorial monument should be built outside the DW Stadium itself listing the names of all the poor souls that were victims of this disaster lest they never be forgotten.

The real loser is the Premier League however as the self-proclaimed best league in the world has to sit down and take the next day's barrage of abuse from foreign hacks squarely on the chin.

City's loss to Middlesborough last season was equally as embarrassing and the fans are the ones who should hold our thoughts the most.

Shame on you Wigan FC ... shame on you.

MATCH REPORT - SCOUSERS V CITY

LIVERPOOL 2   CITY 2

TEAMS:
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger (Kyrgiakos 11), Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun 19), Ngog.
Goal: Skrtel 50, Benayoun 77

Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Toure (Onuoha 46), Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Barry (Tevez 61), W-Ph'lips, Ireland, Bellamy, Adebayor.
Goal: Adebayor 69, Ireland 76

Ref: Phil Dowd

FIRST HALF
The first half began with a nervy Liverpool side tentatively trying to catch City cold. Steven Gerrard was the orchestrator and only City's defensive resolve kept them at bay.

After some early pressure a great header by Skyrtel was somehow clawed out by Given to deny the Slovakian his first Liverpool goal.

A series of injuries then followed with two Liverpool players being substituted within ten minutes of each other.
Firstly Daniel Agger left the field for stitches and soon after the Ryan Babel hobbled off after a clash with Gerrard.

The next attack came about due to the injuries and the Liverpool defence at sixes and sevens. Emergency right back Mascherano didn't respond quick enough and Barry found himself in acres of space only to square the ball unnecessarily.

Next Gerrard had a half chance after the ball deflected back to him in the area, but he could only put his half-volley wide of the right upright.

In a largely flat half, the only other chance came to Shaun Wright Phillips after a sweeping City counterattack but the diminutive winger could only fire his shot wildly wide.

All in all, it was a lack lustre first half with a low in confidence Liverpool trying to breakdown a very defensive and organised City.

SECOND HALF
If the first half was an example of how not to entertain a crowd, the second half  showed exactly why the Premier League is the most entertaining in the world.

After some early skirmishes it was Liverpool to draw first blood after a needless foul by Zabaleta on the left hand side. Steven Gerrard took a vicious inswinger that was met by the dangerous Skyrtel under little or no pressure from the disappointing Adebayor.



With the insults still fresh on Blue tongues, the Togolese striker rammed them back down their throats and Skyrtel's with a similar goal to the Slovakian. Manu lost Skyrtel momentarily to powerfully head past a stranded Pepe Reina.

The defensive stance that Liverpool had adopted after the goal was to come back to haunt them as it handed City sustained periods of pressure and more importantly time to play the ball about.

Carlos Tevez, dropped to the bench by Hughes, replaced the injured and jaded Barry and set about the Liverpool back line with pace and purpose.

Within minutes Stephen Ireland stunned the Kop when he finished off a fine move started by Tevez cutting in from the left flank and slipping the ball to SWP who turned the big Greek Kuriakos and gave the ball to Ireland who finished cooly passed Reina.to put the visitors ahead.

Te lead wouldn't last but a minute however as Benayoun pounced after David Ngog's shot was deflected by the alert Israeli as Zabaleta was too slow to react.

Liverpool survived a period of pressure by City before the away side saw out a nervy last ten to claim a well deserved point.

SCOUSERS V CITY

As intriguing a match as tomorrow will be this City fan will be looking at certain aspects of tomorrow's game with great interest.

LIVERPOOL



Firstly, will Torres and Gerrard be out? It certainly looks like the Spanish Golden Boy will be as will be the talented Yossi Benayoun and Ex-Blue Albert Riera, which means that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has a dilemma on his hands.

Does he go into a game with attack-minded City without a creative spark and field defensive beast Mascherano with the talentlessy inept Lucas? Or does he throw into the frying pan new signing Aquilani for his first real Premier League test since his big money move from Seria A?

One things for sure and that is if Steven Gerrard is even seventy percent fit he'll start, as he'll give the crowd and the rest of the team a much needed confidence boost. Can his groin last the full ninety minutes of a Premier League battle against De Jong and Barry or Ireland? Maybe not.

If Gerrard can't, then I fancy City to at least get a draw out of this game. Which brings me onto the the other major factor in the showdown- Gareth Barry.


CITY

If Barry plays well then City will almost certainly have the spring board to go on and take all three points. The problem is that he hasn't done so recently for various reasons.

Barry is one of the mainstays in City's assault on the Premier League so far, always first on the team sheet with Messrs Bellamy and Given, and rightly so.

He performs that central midfield role perfectly at times holding, screening, linking play, supporting attacks and most importantly keeping the teams shape together in times of pressure.

What worries me is his psychological toughness. His weakest performances have arguably been against
Villa and Birmingham when on both occasions he was subjected to a barrage of abuse from the first minute until the last he was on the field.

Tomorrow against Liverpool he will again come up against a crowd who believe he should have been playing in Scouse red  against City and not against them. It may not be as vociferous a barrage as in the Midlands, but it will be interesting to see how the man many Blues thought would be captain at the start of the season reacts to the cauldron that is Anfield.

Of course he is not the only player important to us getting a result tomorrow. Adebayor's big game attitude will be a huge plus if he plays, as he will surely be more up for this game than the likes of Burnley and Stoke ( good or not).

Our defence will have to be on song too and we must keep our shape better than we did against Burnley, defending as a team when we lose the ball and remaining focused until the final whistle is blown.

THE KEY TO THE GAME

Without Gerrard Liverpool will have lost a match winner and  someone who can go for ninety-seven minutes and still score a winner. Even so, they still have players with fight willing to carry the team such as Kuyt and Carragher who are born winners.

Their problem is that without him and Torres they might have to rely on us to throw the game away. Surely that puts the game in our favour.


SCOUSE INJURY LIST

D Agger Back Injury 21st Nov 09 slight doubt
Y Benayoun Hamstring Injury 5th Dec 09
F Aurelio Calf/Shin Injury 21st Nov 09 doubtful
A Riera Hamstring Injury 5th Dec 09
M Kelly Ankle/Foot Injury 29th Nov 09
G Johnson Calf Muscle Strain 21st Nov 09 doubtful
F Torres Abdominal Strain 29th Nov 09
S Gerrard Groin Strain 21st Nov 09 doubtful

PREDICTION

As long as Barry turns up a win is well within our reach. Bellamy to score the winner for City and silence the Anfield faithful.

BELLAMY MYTH

Sky Sports statistician Martin Tyler has provided us with some interesting information before tomorrows game.

When asked about the Bellamy scoring against old teams myth, he says:

"Craig Bellamy has played for seven different clubs in the Premier League, but his Premier League goalscoring record against his former teams has declined as time has gone on...

Norwich: Bellamy's first top-flight club was Norwich City. He has only played against them once in a league game (for Newcastle in 2004/05) and scored.
Strike rate: 1/1 (100%)

Newcastle: He has never played a Premier League game against Coventry City since leaving the Sky Blues, but boasts a good record against his next club Newcastle. He has played against the Magpies five times since he left St James' Park and has netted three times.
Strike rate: 3/5 (60%)

Blackburn: Since leaving Ewood Park, Bellamy has faced Blackburn in four league games, scoring on two occasions.
Strike rate: 2/4 (50%)

Liverpool: He has faced the Reds twice in the league - for Man City and West Ham - since leaving Anfield. However, he is yet to score. He thought he had opened the scoring for Man City last season, but it was credited as a Alvaro Arbeloa own goal.Strike rate: 0/2 (0%)

West Ham: He has faced the Hammers twice for Man City since leaving Upton Park and is yet to open his account.
Strike rate: 0/2 (0%)

Cheers Martin keep em coming.  Lets hope he gets on the score sheet first tomorrow and puts pressure on the Reds from the start.

CRAZIEST INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO...

Phil Neville in his 'I'll never join Manchester City' rant before the United Everton game.Chuckle brother and inbred Phillip has ruled out ever playing for or (wait for it!) going on to manage City.

He said,“Joining City is not something that will ever happen. When you have got red blood you cannot see yourself with blue blood.

“You go there and they have blue ketchup... it’s just like ’What are they doing?’.

“I am not being disrespectful to City. I grew up a Red, hating City. When I go back I get absolutely slaughtered."

Erm thanks for those pearls of wisdom Phillip and say hello to Neville on your way out you Bury Bumpkin. Maybe we could twist Moyes' arm a little and offer 25 million plus Nigel De Jong for your services.