City First Team

[Jim_Bouki]

how does it look so far?

[Golasso]

I'll bite:


.....................Given

Zabaleta Richards Onuoha Bridge

....................De Jong

...............Barry.......Ireland

.......Tevez......................Robinho

......R. Santa Cruz OR Adebayor

[MLSn00b]

I'll bite:


.....................Given

Zabaleta Richards Onuoha Bridge

....................De Jong

...............Barry.......Ireland

.......Tevez......................Robinho

......R. Santa Cruz OR Adebayor

Think that looks about right. Gonna be a bit sad if SWP hits the bench though:(

[siino]

He probably will...someone is bound to get hurt though.

[StuMCFC]

I'll bite:


.....................Given

Zabaleta Richards Onuoha Bridge

....................De Jong

...............Barry.......Ireland

.......Tevez......................Robinho

......R. Santa Cruz OR Adebayor

Defence must be stronger than this. Richards, based on recent form, should be a substitute behind Zabaleta and we need a top class centre back (if not Terry, maybe Bruno Alves) in the middle of defence and the other spot being fought over by Onuoha, Dunne (since he's staying), and perhaps even Kompany, whose natural position is CB.

[Manchester City]

Defence must be stronger than this. Richards, based on recent form, should be a substitute behind Zabaleta and we need a top class centre back (if not Terry, maybe Bruno Alves) in the middle of defence and the other spot being fought over by Onuoha, Dunne (since he's staying), and perhaps even Kompany, whose natural position is CB.

Completely agree. That looks to be the line-up we have all collectively put together as Sparky's likely first team and we are definitely top-heavy. I actually received some ragging here from a couple of Real Madrid supporters I work with asking if we going for the first era Galacticos look (picking fun at the fact that they thought we would likely have trouble stopping much of anyone scoring). Worst part is I couldn't really retort as I, for the most part, agree with them. I haven't been happy with us focusing on attack first, but now I am honestly getting a bit nervous with the Terry deal having always been improbable, Moyes and Everton brass being very reluctant to entertain offers for Lescott, it being confirmed now that Lucio is off to Inter (such a good signing for them; taking a very good team and adding a world-class stalwart), and Valencia's sale of Albiol making it less likely they would want to allow Marchena to leave. The stock of competent, higher-quality, available defenders is dwindling.

[MVF]

Bruno Alves.

Now.

[Manchester City]

Original message removed.

Reposted the bit I had here on the transfer thread after realising it wasn't really applicable to the topic.

I would love to see Lescott and Bruno Alves paired but it may not be possible.

[MVF]

Currently.

- Given
- Zabaleta - Onouha - Kompany - Bridge
- De Jong -
- Barry - Ireland -
- Tevez - - - - Robinho
- Adebayor/RSC

Bench: Taylor, Richards, Dunne, Bojinov, RSC/Adebayor, SWP, Petrov,

It works, most of our good results came under this system last year and it is more effective with a target man (which we now have).

[CityBlues]

Currently.

- Given
- Zabaleta - Onouha - Kompany - Bridge
- De Jong -
- Barry - Ireland -
- Tevez - - - - Robinho
- Adebayor/RSC

Bench: Taylor, Richards, Dunne, Bojinov, RSC/Adebayor, SWP, Petrov,

It works, most of our good results came under this system last year and it is more effective with a target man (which we now have).

If we can keep majority of possesion that would take a lot of pressure off of our defence as well. I could see that happening with this lineup.

[Manchester City]

Stumbled upon this while on another football site. (http://goal.com/en-us/news/85/england/2009/07/18/1390748/now-how-will-manchester-city-fit-in-all-their-forwards)

I can't say I agree with many of his points but I think it was written earnestly. What do you lads think?

[MLSn00b]

Yeah I'm not sure those are the lineups I'd use. BTW wasn't Ben Haim sold?

[BuzzLives!]

I hope so, he's rubbish..

[Manchester City]

Yeah I'm not sure those are the lineups I'd use. BTW wasn't Ben Haim sold?

Not as of yet, no, and he featured for City in the Orlando friendly. He didn't do very well and I think he is at best a depth player.

[Manchester City]

Whatever the squad, bookmakers have use in the top five this coming season.

http://soccer.betfair.com/ (Click Premier League)

Every category has us with odds to place 5 or better. They also felt it was necessary to include four of ours in the top 15 most likely to become top goal scorer (Robbie, Ade, Carlos, and RSC; the most of any club). If only I was a betting man. But I'm not.

[MVF]

Tal Ben Haim gives depth players a bad name.

[thejuggernaut]

We have gotten to the point were only the Backline leaves any real questions for all of us... and what a question it is.

I feel a big key for this Dream team to work is
1. getting the last piece of the puzzle... weather it's Bruno, Terry, Lescott, or whomever on defense.
2. Kompany, I think a guy on the backline with excellent ball control and pinpoint passing abilty is the foundation that will put this team in orbit. Without Kompany, and I say this cause hopefully he will not be out for long, we don't have a cb with any offensive prowess... the less said about dunne the better. Onouha is still too green, and Richards with his speed is definitely valuable but when teams apply pressure to our backline just chucking it up there (a man city staple) will be a disaster waiting to happen. City Blues said it, keeping possesion will be the best defense this team will have. I dont rate Bridge and Zab as A1 Duke of New York defenders but they wont have to be if we can maintain huge chunks of time with the ball.

[thecitizen]

We have gotten to the point were only the Backline leaves any real questions for all of us... and what a question it is.

I feel a big key for this Dream team to work is
1. getting the last piece of the puzzle... weather it's Bruno, Terry, Lescott, or whomever on defense.
2. Kompany, I think a guy on the backline with excellent ball control and pinpoint passing abilty is the foundation that will put this team in orbit. Without Kompany, and I say this cause hopefully he will not be out for long, we don't have a cb with any offensive prowess... the less said about dunne the better. Onouha is still too green, and Richards with his speed is definitely valuable but when teams apply pressure to our backline just chucking it up there (a man city staple) will be a disaster waiting to happen. City Blues said it, keeping possesion will be the best defense this team will have. I dont rate Bridge and Zab as A1 Duke of New York defenders but they wont have to be if we can maintain huge chunks of time with the ball.

I believe Kompany being moved back would help us tremendously. Im sorry but Dunne is getting old and slow and if we are going to become the top 4 team we need to have depth and proven stars to hold up our back line. Dunne is nearing 30 and was never an all star defender.

I also laughed when I saw the "man city staple". Our team has had the problem of giving away possession for the longest time it feels like. Chuck it up there and hope someone ends up on it in the right position. Thats what it feels like. Yet it never really happens, or at least not enough...I never understood it either why we play the ball in the air so much when we have possibly the shortest and smallest attack and attacking midfield in the Premier League. We are pace and touch and I was always frustrated they played it in the air SO MUCH. The Premier League is too good and has too many class defenders to expect them to allow balls to just be chucked in there expecting a perfect run, they just pull the offside trap well and they have City beat. Also we had undersized forwards for most of the year so we didnt have any players that could contest most of the balls in the air.

I guess Mark Hughes was playing English football which is mostly focused on athleticism and power with a team that would thrive using Spanish football which is more focused on creativity, passing, and pace.

[thejuggernaut]

I believe Kompany being moved back would help us tremendously. Im sorry but Dunne is getting old and slow and if we are going to become the top 4 team we need to have depth and proven stars to hold up our back line. Dunne is nearing 30 and was never an all star defender.

I also laughed when I saw the "man city staple". Our team has had the problem of giving away possession for the longest time it feels like. Chuck it up there and hope someone ends up on it in the right position. Thats what it feels like. Yet it never really happens, or at least not enough...I never understood it either why we play the ball in the air so much when we have possibly the shortest and smallest attack and attacking midfield in the Premier League. We are pace and touch and I was always frustrated they played it in the air SO MUCH. The Premier League is too good and has too many class defenders to expect them to allow balls to just be chucked in there expecting a perfect run, they just pull the offside trap well and they have City beat. Also we had undersized forwards for most of the year so we didnt have any players that could contest most of the balls in the air.

I guess Mark Hughes was playing English football which is mostly focused on athleticism and power with a team that would thrive using Spanish football which is more focused on creativity, passing, and pace.
Right On.

I would love for us, during a goal kick to... for once... Play IT Short!

That would be nuts. A roster with Adebayor (who's big but is successful from the finesse play at Arsenal) Tevez, Swp, Ireland, Bellamy, and not the least, Robinho. We will be taking ourselves out of the game if we keep the "hit and hope" or "chuck it and F*** it" style of play, which all us City fans have become more then acclaimated to.

[generals soccer]

Currently.

- Given
- Zabaleta - Onouha - Kompany - Bridge
- De Jong -
- Barry - Ireland -
- Tevez - - - - Robinho
- Adebayor/RSC

Bench: Taylor, Richards, Dunne, Bojinov, RSC/Adebayor, SWP, Petrov,


So now that you have King Kolo, how would you line up?