Man City Build Up

[Pablo]

Yes, I do think they suit is better as an opponent than Arsenal. Still they have so many dangerous players it could go either way.

[Captain Stu]

How do they line up at the moment? Is it Barry, Nasir, silva, Milner, aguero and dzeko, with silva operating out of the middle and Milner the right?

Barry and Garcia sitting deep, Milner and Silva out wide with Tevez centrally behind Aguero.

One thing about City at the moment which may be an advantage is that their starting XI is pretty predictable. Should make preparation a bit easier.

[S-RED]

If FSG stay around he'll get at least until Jan 2015; without doubt there is improvment in the play/team(group) & getting shot of ££££ players.

By the start of 2015 we'll either be in the top 4 & fighting (aka, spurs, Arse, Chav's) or BR will be on very thin ice.

[cream]

Vincent Kompany could face three more weeks out - Roberto Mancini

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could be out of action for another three weeks, according to manager Roberto Mancini.
Kompany, 26, limped out of last week's FA Cup fourth-round win at Stoke with a calf strain and missed the 0-0 draw at QPR in the Premier League on Tuesday.
The Belgium centre-back will miss Sunday's clash with Liverpool and next week's trip to Southampton.


And Mancini fears he will be out of the FA Cup tie with Leeds on 17 February.
The City boss said: "Vinny is out. I hope he can recover after the FA Cup."
City's next match after that fifth-round tie is at home to Chelsea on 24 February.
Kompany was forced off after 40 minutes at the Britannia Stadium after he stumbled while controlling the ball.
City were short on central defensive options at QPR with Kolo Toure at the Africa Cup of Nations and Matija Nastasic only able to make the bench because of a knee problem.
Midfielder Javi Garcia filled in at centre-back but Mancini is hopeful Nastasic will be fit to start against Liverpool at Etihad Stadium alongside Joleon Lescott.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21295478

[Chazza]

I worry about us defending set pieces against them.

[Captain Stu]

I worry about us defending set pieces against them.

You only needed that bit... we're atrocious with balls into the box against anyone and everyone.

[Sarb]

You only needed that bit... we're atrocious with balls into the box against anyone and everyone.

We really shouldn't be so poor at defending crosses/corners into the box. It's pretty basic really. Would also help if we didn't give needless free-kicks away to compound the problem even more

[Sarb]

Sadly a lot of this hinges on a vocal minority of our fanbase who are, in short, morons. We don't "deserve" to be in the Champion's League - we are where we deserve to be right now - we certainly aspire to get back into the top four and I think Brendog will get us there.

[Captain Stu]

We really shouldn't be so poor at defending crosses/corners into the box. It's pretty basic really. Would also help if we didn't give needless free-kicks away to compound the problem even more

With the aerial presence of players like Agger and Skrtel, we really should do better. Teams are always going to be out-foxed at set pieces - that's football - but it shouldn't be a constant worry at every set piece in every game.

Rodgers' biggest problem is winning over the fans who will never be satisfied until Rafa comes back. And god forbid he ever comes back and doesn't win things instantly or the world might implode.

[red g]

We really shouldn't be so poor at defending crosses/corners into the box. It's pretty basic really. Would also help if we didn't give needless free-kicks away to compound the problem even more

I wonder if they may start Dzeko with this in mind.

[Captain Stu]

I wonder if they may start Dzeko with this in mind.

Could do, Tevez hasn't been playing especially well in recent weeks and I think he'll be sold in the summer.

In which case that'd be Aguero playing between Silva and Milner, behind Dzeko.

[Sarb]

I wonder if they may start Dzeko with this in mind.

Mancini was in the crowd so I'm sure he's picked up on that weakness. I'm just astounded at how bad it has become. Think it's a mental issue now rather than anything else.

To be honest, it's scary watching us defend when people are running at us. Just have to hope we score more goals than they do

[Captain Stu]

It can only be lack of concentration rather than players who can't physically perform the task. Lazy marking, not paying attention to where your man is - all mistakes which should be easily corrected.

[red g]

Mancini was in the crowd so I'm sure he's picked up on that weakness. I'm just astounded at how bad it has become. Think it's a mental issue now rather than anything else.

To be honest, it's scary watching us defend when people are running at us. Just have to hope we score more goals than they do

its like Newcastle under Keegan

[Sarb]

It can only be lack of concentration rather than players who can't physically perform the task. Lazy marking, not paying attention to where your man is - all mistakes which should be easily corrected.

Spot on. I think it's all in their head. Some slackness come into their play. Maybe too concerned with attacking and scoring and are losing some focus