mancityblues.com

There are quite a few unresolved issues for this one, so it's tough to come up with a team or tactics. As far as Villa goes, I expect them to continue with their usual 4-4-2 formation, and as far as I know they have no injury issues. City, however, have Bridge, Barry and Ade all less than 100%, how much less remains to be seen. Then one has to consider the goalkeeper situation, the Tevez and Bellamy rumours, Ireland's lack of form and so on.

Villa struggle a bit vs teams that play 4-5-1. although Milner and Petrov do well when matched against a two man midfield. So Mancini must decide whether he wants to stop Villa from playing and build on that, or go toe-to-toe and hope that we score more than they do. A lot depends on Tevez and Bellamy, of course. On their day, they can tip the balance against any team in the league, but when they're average, so are City, we can only hope they come up with the goods on Saturday. If Ade, Bridge and Barry are not fit, I'd play the following -

----------------Fulop-------------------
Richards----Toure-----Kompany-----Ned
----------------DeJong------------------
------SWP------------------Zaba---------
AJ---------------------------------Bellamy
----------------Tevez-------------------

subs Neilsen.Garrido.Sylvinho.Ibrahim.
Vieira.Ireland.RSC

Micah and Ned have the pace and power to counter the likes of Young and Downing, and their height will be useful at set-pieces. De Jong holds the midfield, with SWP and Zaba given licence to roam and cause trouble for Petrov - SWP in particular can be dangerous picking up the ball infield, and with AJ and Tevez in close proximity, that looks like a good opportunity against HMS Dunne and the 6'5" Collins. Bellers similarly has the ability to confuddle Cuellar. This line-up does lack any height up-front, so playing to feet at a high tempo is the way to go, but the option of RSC on the bench for one of the dwarves could prove useful. Paddy and Ireland just don't do it for me at the moment.

If our walking wounded are available, I'd play this team -

----------------Fulop--------------------
Nedum-----Toure-----Kompany--------Bridge
----------------Barry--------------------
-----Zaba--------------------tevez-------
SWP-------------Adebayor----------Bellers

subs. neilsen. micah. Garrido. DeJong.
Vieira/Ireland. AJ.RSC.

Ignore the formation - it's nominally a 4-3-3, but Tevez is given a free role, so the formations end up being 4-2-4, 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or whatever. As long as Barry holds, picking up Milner if required with the option to go forward when possible, Zaba runs his socks off in the box-to-box role and the defence holds their shape, this could cause Villa's two man midfield problems. Warnock and Cuellar should be pinned back by SWP and Bellers, while Villa's wingers will be caught in two minds about whether to help their full-backs or remain forward. Ned and Bridge will have to defend first and foremost with such an attacking line-up. Ade (or RSC if Ade has only 45 minutes in him) is the spearhead and/or pivot as required.

~Bloovic~