MAN CITY v West Brom – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team

20 Apr

David Silva, Jesus Navas and Yaya Touré remain on the sidelines for this encounter, so there aren’t too many changes foreseeable in the line-up. Manuel Pellegrini has rotated the left-back position virtually every game this season and that would suggest it’s Gael Clichy’s turn to have a go, but Aleks Kolarov offers a greater attacking threat and that might be called upon at home.

Samir Nasri is 8/1 to open the scoring. Martin Demichelis, such a threat from set-pieces, is 34/1 to do the same. Customers who open an account with Paddy Power here receive a free bet of up to £50!

It would be great to see the enthusiastic Jack Rodwell given a chance in Yaya’s absence, but Javi Garcia remains the more likely pick in central midfield, despite his one-dimensional nature expected to be superfluous once again. Stevan Jovetic produced a breezy cameo against Sunderland during the week and could replace James Milner in the side, with Edin Dzeko hoping to dislodge Alvaro Negredo up front.

Here is the side Pellegrini could select:

Referee: Phil Dowd.

Prediction: MAN CITY 2 – 0 West Brom – Liverpool are now overwhelming favourites to secure the Premier League title and that release of pressure will hopefully help City to regain the freedom and fluency that has been missing from recent games. I’m predicting goals to be scored by Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic.

Sergio Aguero to grab the first goal of a 2-0 City victory is tempting at 17/1 with Paddy Power. New customers get a free bet of up to £50 here!

29 Responses to “MAN CITY v West Brom – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team”

  1. @btb42 on Twitter 20/04/2014 at 6:11 pm #

    Dzeko has showed again and again this season that he is not enough for Manchester City. Jovetic and Aguero would be good to start to see how they play together. But Pelegrini has showed again and again that he wants a heavy-tall forward in the game so I don’t think that will be the case. Anyway, the title is lost, the team has disappointed me so whatever is the result tomorrow I really don’t care.

    • Ryan 20/04/2014 at 7:16 pm #

      Agreed, Id like to see Jovetic and Aguero up front for once

    • Jules 20/04/2014 at 7:44 pm #

      Totally agree. I don’t quite understand all the positive press about Dzeko this season. Everytime the ball comes his way he breaks up play and gives the ball away or passes back. He misses chance after chance on goal. I know Jovetic haasn’t played much but when he has I’ve flt he’s promising. Aguero seems to be saving himself to play in the world cup for Argentina now. Although he’s our best striker by a street I think with such a poor injury record it’s time to cash in on him. If we sell Aguero and Dzeko we could buy Cavani and have change left as well.

      • @btb42 on Twitter 21/04/2014 at 7:28 pm #

        disagree about Aguero. wouldn’t cash in on him even for 100m. He is the best striker in the world alongside Suarez and he is priceless. Agree about Dzeko, it is time he leaves Manchester City and it is a great opportunity to earn more money than his real value by exploiting Inter’s petrodollars.

    • Alphie-Izzett 21/04/2014 at 7:16 am #

      Poor diddums!

      I assume you have become a City fan since the Sheik arrived – a more seasoned City fan, wearing the scars of a few decades of disappointments, including 6 consecutive seasons of either relegation or promotion, the highlight of which was a 2nd Division play-off final cup and nothing else to add to the trophy cabinet, would temper their disappointment with a bit more humility and maturity.

      Some of the football played by City this season has been beyond excellent, but if (and it is still is) City fall short of winning the PL, runners up, a CL place for next season, a creditable run in this seasons CL and a Cup Trophy is the thing of dreams to people like Helen who, after a lifetime of ringing that bell, passed away without the pleasure of a season such as this.

      So grow up son and CARE, if you lose heart and stop caring after a year like this you are not a worthy wearer of a blue shirt anyway.

      Alph

      • bluegilly 21/04/2014 at 9:54 am #

        Bang on alphie, sick of these so called blues who slate the team as soon as things go a bit south. Were now one of the best teams in Europe and the future is mighty rosy. Very short memory’s some of these so called fans.

      • Blue 21/04/2014 at 10:02 am #

        Good point, but I think we were relegated or promoted 6 out of 7 seasons.

        It all seemed to go wrong when Negredo injured his shoulder against West Ham.

        I’m positive Liverpool will drop points against Chelsea and Palace. I think both clubs are set up to cope with an early Liverpool on-slaughter. If you cope with them early on they don’t seem to have stamina or quality to hurt you in later parts of the game

        We can still do this

        • Crispy 21/04/2014 at 12:10 pm #

          I agree but think we will drop points at Palace and Everton too (although Palace being safe may help, but of course help Liverpool too!).

          Will never get over how we haven’t signed a world class centre back in the past 8 (?) transfer windows – it was obvious to Stevie Wonder we needed one a) because VK needs a partner b) VK’s injury record.

      • Siamack 21/04/2014 at 3:04 pm #

        >> I assume you have become a City fan since the Sheik arrived

        So let’s say someone has become a City fan since the Sheik arrived. Does it mean they are any less than you or anyone else and have to fuck off?

        Since Sheikh arrived, there millions or more who have become City fan for variety of reasons such as publicity, team profile, even personal like of players such as Yaya, etc. As long as they root for City, They are all City fans.

        Such conceited, arrogant attitude toward other CITY fans MAINLY due to the fact you have been there longer than the some is truly despicable and only points to superiority complex that has surfaced now due to scars of a few decades of disappointments to the extend that you clearly fail to see the difference between friends (fans) and the foe.

        • Blue Bullet 21/04/2014 at 11:29 pm #

          Its not length of time as a fan that is the issue, it’s the I don’t care about the result attitude because we might not win the league. If we were to go back to being a mid table team, would people such as the one in question still be city fans? I seriously doubt it.

          So yeah for me they can ‘fuck off’ for all I care, classy language you use by the way

      • @btb42 on Twitter 21/04/2014 at 7:39 pm #

        Yes I have become a City fan since the Sheik arrived. I am from Greece and I didn’t watch too much of the Premier League. Tell me one reason that I would support a team that was beyond relegation and promotion that time. I support Man City because I liked the exciting football they play(ed) and because some of my very favourite players (Silva, Kompany, YAYA TOURE, Aguero) are wearing the blues shirt. So, tell me , where is the faul?

        The exact opposite happens. Many of you fans that were supporting City long before the Seikh arrived are lacking ambition and can’t see pretty obvious things. Because City was on the verge of relegation, now a CL place seems enough for you. Like last year, when Mancini got it all wrong and had no idea of how to coach a time without a 3-billion badget and you supported him and were also ”disappointed” by his sack which was by far the best decision the Seikh has done since his arrival. And now that it is eye-catching that the team has improved under Pelegrini you won’t admit that you were wrong.

        So, after that, is it clear to you who is not a worthy wearer of a blue shirt???

        • Blue 21/04/2014 at 9:29 pm #

          Good point, new blue

          Welcome aboard

        • Blue Bullet 21/04/2014 at 11:26 pm #

          It was your ‘I don’t care’ about the result comment; therefore I will answer your question, you’re not worthy

        • Siamack 22/04/2014 at 2:02 pm #

          As Blue said, welcome aboard. Almost all City fans are among the best fans because they support one the best club , in my opinion the best club, Manchester City FC and you can not expect anything less. With that said, you are always bound to find a few bad apples even among the best and you try to live with it much like the same way you deal with an odd difficult one in your family

          It is now the best time to be a City fan and definitely not time to talk about “doom and gloom”, relegation, etc. So do not let those bad apples get to you, buckle up and enjoy the City success ride for many many years to come.

    • ad 21/04/2014 at 10:48 pm #

      Absolute rubbish. He’s the only reason City are still in the title race. His goals of late when players like Nasri, Negredo and up until a month ago, Silva were what kept City in the hunt.

    • ad 21/04/2014 at 10:53 pm #

      Absolute rubbish. He’s the only reason City are still in the title race. His goals of late when players like Nasri, Negredo and up until a month ago, Silva were underperforming, were what kept City in the hunt. Considering he has more goals then every player apart from Aguero and Toure this season speaks volumes.

  2. Sobhuza 20/04/2014 at 6:48 pm #

    I still think the Chelsea game could be the decider and that City is very much still in it.Goal difference could be vital.

  3. Glenn Kavanagh 20/04/2014 at 8:16 pm #

    I’m trying to snap out of this depression.. Maybe its non football related or just my wife, it would be nice to see jovetic play for 90 mins, I’m not sure about playing Sergio, I said during the barca match that he looks “wrong”, body language etc, we’ll see, its not often Chelsea loose two in a row & Jose would love to win there just for the spite… Palace looks a nightmare for any team at the minute, some nasty media stories doing the rounds about city mercenaries, ffp etc etc, the same people who were bigging city up to win four trophies a few weeks ago, they have to fill there pages somehow I suppose, I don’t believe there mercenaries… It’s a handy & lazy excuse because of the wage bill, ” project” etc, come on boys, roll up your expensive sleeves & get those wealthy veins pumping, come on city. I believe in you. (most of the time) p.s rip Rubin carter, there’s a man who had something to complain about…….. Yaya.

    • Alphie-Izzett 21/04/2014 at 7:19 am #

      Good post Glenn.

    • bluegilly 21/04/2014 at 10:02 am #

      Here here its not over till its over, I’ve a feeling Chelsea could do us a favour.

  4. Trevor Brierley 21/04/2014 at 2:58 pm #

    I think we’re all frustrated because the title should have been in the bank by now.

    But we dropped 9 points losing to Cardiff, Villa & Sunderland early on & we should have been capable of two draws against Chelsea – another 4 points dropped.

    But it’s better than facing Gillingham in a play-off final!

    And we have won a trophy!

    And MU are going to finish 7th and out of Europe! Hope they don’t do a Liverpool having no Euro distractions!

    • Trevor Brierley 21/04/2014 at 3:00 pm #

      Make that 2 points dropped against Chelsea!

  5. Siamack 21/04/2014 at 3:07 pm #

    >>It would be great to see the enthusiastic Jack Rodwell given a chance in Yaya’s absence

    You can say that again!

  6. stussy 21/04/2014 at 3:16 pm #

    Agree with siamack about Johnny come lately fans.I sat through a Pearce season where we failed to score a home goal for ten games and had players like Lee Croft and Willi Flood so the last few years have been bloody brilliant.Proper fans support the team through thick and thin so stop whinging.

  7. Jaack 21/04/2014 at 3:25 pm #

    Milner Ferna and Garcia as a Central Mifield 3, with Jovetic Left Wing/ Left Forward and Silva the other wing as he’s played for Spain, with Aguero through the middle Attacking class and defensive ability in one team to make up for Yaya.

  8. Roggie123 21/04/2014 at 6:06 pm #

    Some positive thinking needed here. We are in Champions League next year and Utd aren’t (for first time ever I think). Also Utd may be in the horrendous Europa cup! So many games and all Utd season ticket holders will have to cough up the cash to watch them!! No choice! Isn’t that great!??

    Anyone know why Rodwell never gets a game?? Surely he can’t be worse than Garcia! This is just the game he should start.

    • @btb42 on Twitter 21/04/2014 at 7:44 pm #

      We don’t give an F about United. They are the noisy neighbours now :P
      Harsh on Garcia, he was really good this year

  9. pjdemers 21/04/2014 at 10:55 pm #

    Not sure I agree that the title should have been in the bag right now. One of the things both the fans and the media have missed is that this season has been the most competitive from top to bottom since maybe the 90′s. There isn’t a team in the EPL that isn’t well drilled and if you switch off you’ll get punished. Every team on the top 5 has dropped points to teams in the bottom half of the table, and it seems to the fans of City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, rather than the players and managers, who are writing these teams off at their peril.

  10. @btb42 on Twitter 22/04/2014 at 10:42 am #

    @BLUE BULLET
    So I shouldn’t have been disappointed that we lost the league? That we draw (and lost in the 1st round) against the last team in the league and a team that had 6 losses in the last 7 games? That we lost against Liverpool THAT way? That we are losing the league and Liverpool wins it without the slightest hint of our roster and full-of-depth squad? Maybe you think so.

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