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I'm not sure how to feel about this game. It's a bit like having a doctor lance a painful boil - you know it'll hurt like hell, but it's got to be done and, with a bit of luck, everything will turn out just fine. Except, of course, we face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge if we go through ...

Anyway, it looks like Bobby Manc is ready to take the "dogs of war" approach if the following article from the OS is not a bluff -

"Against Stoke, the ball will always be in the air. So we will prepare for a different game and not play our football.

"We must work on the high ball, on corners and free kicks, long balls and long passes. If we want to win this game, we must play like them."

Stoke do not play football as most of the world know it, and they are proud of the fact - so giving them a taste of their own oatcake is as good a tactic as any!

With only Ade available and 100% fit up front, Mancini's prosaic approach will make for strangely compelling viewing - maybe the UFC would fancy buying the rights to broadcast this one. As for Stoke's injury situation, Faye, Etherington and maybe Higginbotham are out, whilst Wilkinson is suspended. Clearly this is unlikely to be a game for those unwilling to get stuck in, so Ireland (previously known as Superman, now more like the Invisible Man) will probably sit this one out.

Hopefully, RSC will shake off the knee injury he sustained sitting on the bench to join Ade, and after Sunday's showing, I'd be happy to see Kompany and Lescott continue in central defense. Personally, I'd go with this side to battle Stoke -

---------------------Given----------------------
Richards-----Kompany--------Lescott-------Bridge
--------------------DeJong----------------------
Zabaleta---------------------------------Bellamy
--------------------Barry-----------------------
------------RSC--------------Adebayor-----------

BENCH; Taylor, Garrido, Toure/Boyata
Onouha. SWP, Sylvinho,Ireland

As for tactics, I still feel that the above team can play a bit of football when required, but no doubt this will be a brawl first-and-foremost. The issue of Delap's throw-ins is always a concern, but with Kompany, Richards, RSC, Ade and Lescott in the side, I'm hopeful we're better equipped to handle it. Leaving Bellers on the halfway line would keep a couple of the Stoke players occupied, but Mancini will play it as he sees fit.

It's important that when we do have the ball, we move it quickly, show good movement, and get it to the front players as often as possible, with Barry, Zaba and Bellamy supporting asap. Micah comes in at right-back - horses for courses. Zaba moves into the right side of midfield - the lad can do a good job putting the boot in and he can cross a ball, and the overlap with Richards could be fruitful. De Jong shores up the middle, but it's important that he play the ball forward when possible. Bellamy takes his usual left position, and with Wilkinson, Higginbotham and Faye all probably missing, Bellers (and Bridge) may have some joy if he's in the mood, especially with two big strikers to aim at.

I've gone with Barry in a box-to-box kind of role, supporting and feeding RSC and Ade as well as tackling back as he can. If the game is still in the balance by the 60 minute mark, the introduction of SWP (who did look a bit flat against Liverpool) on the right against a tiring Stoke full-back could pay dividends. If RSC is unable to begin the match, I'd consider Bellamy alongside Ade, with Garrido taking the left midfield spot, and SWP replacing Zaba. ~Bloovic~