Team News and Expected Line-Up - Man City vs Tottenham 18/10/2014

Spurs return to the Etihad Stadium for the first time since their infamous 6-0 destruction last season, with the chance to move into the Champions League places looming large.

Then manager Andre Villas-Boas’ time seemed to be up by the time we took our joint heaviest Premier League defeat, but current boss Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure has begun with fresh promise. Nevertheless, any kind of result against the reigning champions would be a positive as the Citizens have now lost just one of their last 6.

Sitting behind only Chelsea in the table, Pellegrini’s holders left it late to take 3 points in the last game after Aston Villa held them for 82 minutes at Villa Park. Frank Lampard and Yaya Toure were the saviours – although the latter is a doubt for this week’s clash having played in West Africa on Wednesday.

Spurs are looking for just their second win in 7 against City, with our Bale, Defoe and Dempsey inspired victory of 2013 our only victory across that run.

With 5 games averaged per game in the last 6, it could be a lively afternoon at Eastlands.

Team News

Pochettino is currently sweating over the fitness of two of his most important players – Hugo Lloris and Nacer Chadli – the latter of whom has been involved in 5 of out 9 goals scored this season.

Two duo returned early from France and Belgium international clashes respectively , as Chadli picked up hip problem while Hugo is expected to overcome a thigh strain.

There was more good news on the defensive front, with Kyle Naughton targeting a comeback against Asteras Tripolis in midweek following his nasty looking injury in a challenge with Ryan Bertrand in our 1-0 defeat of Southampton last time out.

Meanwhile, England fullback Kyle Walker has finally begun light training after his abdominal surgery.

Poch confirmed: “Kyle Naughton is getting better and perhaps he will have the possibility to be in the squad for the next game (Tripolis).

“Kyle Walker is still recovering from his injury but he’s doing okay, he’s started to run and that’s good news. He improves every day but it’s important not to rush him because most the important thing is a full recovery after surgery.”

Similarly to City’s Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nabil Bentaleb were both in action in the week’s African Cup of Nations clashes but returned on Thursday with the intention of training on Friday.

“We have another day to train and after that we will choose the squad for City,” said Mauricio on Wednesday.”

Bad Memories

Club captain Younes Kaboul came under intense fire following his performance in our 6-0 drubbing at the Etihad last season, but the Frenchman is insistent that the side are not thinking about what happened in November at all.

“Last season’s games are in the past and in football you always have to focus on the present and look to the future,” he said.

“We can’t wait for this match, we want to go there and play our game.

“We need to repeat the same performance as we produced against Arsenal. In these big games we need to do something to show everyone what we are capable of.”

Defensive ally Danny Rose was sent off in the return fixture at the Lane last year, where we lost 5-1 thanks to an interesting refereeing display, but he too is refusing to let the past haunt him:

“You can’t dwell on the past,” he added. “Letting in 11 goals in two games isn’t nice but if it effects your mindset it’s going to have an adverse effect. There aren’t any nerves going into the game. There is no apprehension and the manager doesn’t want us to dwell on the past, it’s a fresh start.

“Besides, City aren’t firing on all cylinders as yet and it’s a great opportunity for us.”

Expected Line-Up

Lloris, Dier Vertonghen Kaboul Rose; Capoue Mason; Lamela Eriksen Chadli; Adebayor

 

Good article. Always a bit scary going to the Etihad. But i think that in our last few games we have shown a resilience that has been pleasently surprising. We also appear to be developing into a good counter attacking team , with the pace and technique to hurt teams that really come at us. I think the counter attacking strategy is a big element of Pochs gameplan, and what better place for it to work than against City. Coys.

 

As long as we put in a battling performance and dont get humiliated with a half hearted bemused look il be happy.
City havent been setting the world alight and hopefully were chomping at the bit to get at them after the break and make it difficult.
COYS!!!!!

 

Heard that Adebayor only got back from an African Nations game this afternoon. Maybe a chance to throw in Harry Kane, we're not expected to do well at the Etihad so why not roll the dice ! Coys.

 

Fair point that stevethespur...
Lloris.
Dier. Kaboul. Jan. Rose
Dembele. Capoue
Townsend. Eriksen. Chadli
Kane/soldado.

 

lets go with two up top. Adebayor should be on the bench. Give Soldado and Kane a run out.

 

Could be some interesting team selections from both teams for this one, I expect a similar approach as the game against ars as far as holding them and hitting on the counter. There's a few injuries and late returns from duty so very difficult to know who's available but I think Ade could be rested and id also give Lamela a rest as im not sure he will be very effective against city. Never thought id say it, and im not his biggest fan but I think Andros could be useful for this one to add some pace to the counter. I think Mason has done well but id like to see Dembele in the middle as long as he's up for a big game.
4-1-3-2
Lloris,
Dier, Kaboul, Jan, Rose
Capoue,
Dembele, Eriksen, Townsend
Chadli, Kane
Needs a massive defensive effort again from the back four but I think we will also need to score to get anything out of this, fingers crossed, COYMFS!!!

 

Adebayor likes his goals served on a plate for him and that isn't going to happen today. We need Hurricane, a striker that can make his own goals (a-la-besiktas), and can actually contribute something to the team effort.
If our defence begins by hoofing the ball forward to nobody in particular we don't stand a chance, but if they stop treating it at the Etihad like it has the ebola virus we might be in with a shout.
Thought our performance at home to Šiti was quite good last season - just ruined by a ref whose bank balance probably had a huge credit of Dirhams after the game. The appeals for Rose's red card should have warranted action by the Premier League - expect more cheating by the light blues today!

 

Let's play to win Spurs. None of the arsenal game trying to defend for ninety minutes. Try that today and it will be a battering. We can win this game if we play to win.
COYS!!!!

 

A lot has been made of city's dominance of late and it would be hard to argue but some of the ref decisions against us have been unbelievable, last year at home we were in the game up until the red card. With all their class they went into the game with a plan to bait and con the ref at every opportunity. Aguero in particular was pathetic doing everything possible to get Dawson sent off, why? cmon this is supposedly the worlds best striker playing against, well.. Dawson!
Served him fecking right when he got an injury. I wont forget Balotelli stomping on Parker and then scoring from a soft penalty either. With all their money and quality im not sure why they need to cheat thier way to victory along with this pretence of entitlement. Fair go ref and we'll fecking av em.

 

If you get at City, they will quickly become rattled and make mistakes. Let's see the high pressing game today, get at em and have a real go. If we can pick up three points tiday, it would signal our intent for the season. A big loss on the other hand would merely serve to show that we have moved nowhere! Which will it be?
Come on you spurs!!!!!!