Manchester City vs Everton, the lowdown on City. Plus, Ledley to Everton?
By Unclassified • Dec 11th, 2008 • Category: News |The first of a two part Manchester City vs Everton preview.
City’s last game away to Fulham saw them lay out like so:
Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Ben-Haim, Ball, Wright-Phillips, Kompany, Hamann, Vassell, Ireland, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Berti, Onuoha, Logan, Jo, Caicedo, Evans
But I have a feeling that the blues will set their stall out more like they did against United, as they have been very inconsistent on their travels, but just can’t seem to stop scoring at home (unfortunately!)
Hart, Richards , Kompany, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Hamann , Vassell , Robinho, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Ball, Jo, Ben-Haim, Sturridge, Elano, Zabaleta
It’s a 4-4-2 formation, or when on the attack a 4-3-3 which can more defensively be interpreted as a 4-5-1.
At the back, a solid foundation is laid. At times four of the five at the back speak English. This ability to communicate easily, blended with raw young and experienced talent makes it very difficult to penetrate the City defence. Richards and Garrido (or Ball) aren’t afraid to get forward as well, bombing on to create an overlap down both wings.
In midfield, playing a 4-3-3, the sky blues play with a defensive midfield pairing of Hamann and Ireland (in the case of the United game). This leaves the remaining four players the freedom to attack, and what a dangerous threat those four are.
Robinho and Wright-Phillips on either wing would most probably be seen within a championship winning side (City could push for the league next year?) Raw pace mixed with oozing talent is on display down both flanks, courtesy of these two. Then you have Benjani playing up top with Darius Vassell. Both very capable players who have the ability to finish off most attacks with a goal. Benjani strong in the air, and Vassell able to pick up the pieces and make something out of nothing.
Not mentioned as well is Stephen Ireland. The Irishman has been prolific so far this season, and could be chosen to play in the spot just behind the front man instead of Vassell.
Robinho needs to be contained
Men Who need to be at their best?
Like for the Villa game, both wing backs will have to be on their toes. Neville did well to contain Ashley Young (the goals weren’t his fault), and James Milner was marked out of the game by Joleon Lescott.
Furthermore, up top, whoever plays on their own needs to stay strong and wait for support, which should ably come in the form of Mauroanne Fellaini and Tim Cahill.
Finally, continuing on with the talk about new signings, Joe Ledley has been touted as a possible Everton signing, Moyes went to observe the Cardiff Burnely game on Tuesday. It isn’t too believable as we all know Moyes is in the hunt for a new striker.
by Max O’Collins
Join the Follow Everton Forum to join in the chat.
use this link to do so – http://www.followeverton.com/forum/member.php?action=register
I would of taken this seriously until i read it, vassell capable,when he got mugged last week i wish they had nicked his feet,benjani is a waste of space and garrido and ball are championship material fortunately next year will be a completely different team that might be as good as you just described
I don’t watch City week in week out, so your views may be what City are really like. I have based this on what I watch of City. Benjaini scored a brilliant header last week at Fulham, and can hold up play really well. I bet you weren’t slagging him off when he bagged that goal against United last season?
Vassell has to have done something right to be playing regularly. It would be easy for Hughes to take him out for Ben-Haim, shove the Israeli to centre back, push Kompany up to Defensive Mid, and then Ireland to play up behind the front man?
On the Ball/Garrido front, Ball can be composed and has gone from Everton to Rangers to PSV to City. Now if that’s championship standard…? Garrido, I don’t really know that well but he did play for a decent Sociedad team and has now played decently and regularly for City. Also, as i said about Benjaini, were you really slating him when he netted that wonder free kick against Liverpool?