mancityblues.com

It's like watching a car wreck in slow motion, waiting to see just how much damage can be done. Pompey fans don't deserve to see their great club in financial difficulties but it's a fact. First the FA witholding payments due from TV to pay creditors, now a problem with cashflow affecting wage payments to staff and players, who will only be paid when players are sold.....allegedly. The Pompey faithful are in dismay. I wonder how many will make the long trip up to Eastlands? I hope they will and show faith in their hard-working team and Manager.

It's more than a little embarrassing for us when we have had similar problems through the years, and only the arrival of the Abu Dhabi United Group has saved us, and we are now, as the pundits never tire of telling us (especially when we lose) the richest club in the world.

Anyway, there is a football match first, and Pompey are desperate to lift themselves out of trouble with more loan signings, including the popular and hard-working midfielder Jamie O'Hara back from Spurs, and Quincey Owusu-Abeyie who are likely to be thrown straight in the deep end.
They have players who are still involved with the African Cup thing - Kanu and Belhadj - and so are seriously understrength, with Michael Brown, Diop and Smith doubtful with injuries.

City are boosted with the return of Kolo Toure and Manu Adebayor, who both need to get back in the fray immediately. Robson thingy De Souza Wotsit has gone back to Brazil, so Ireland, SWP and Petrov look like carrying our attack from midfield with DeJong hopefully working his usual wonders breaking up attacks from the lively Pompey. Ade and Tevez should be paired together from now so Mancini can see what talent is really at his disposal, therefore the line-up may be like this;

-------------Given
Richards--Toure--Kompany--Garrido/Bridge
SWP------DeJong----Ireland-----Petrov
---------Adebayor---Tevez

That is a side that can score goals if ever I saw one. Isn't it?

Pompey aren't a bad side, and Avram Grant will pick one he thinks can get something from the game, so we have to show them respect and watch out for the wounded Tiger. We don't know what to expect on Sunday, it may be a good time to play them, it may be the worst time, who knows?

Clevblue