Ask The Opposition

I'll be starting an 'ask the opposition' type interview for every City game, starting this weekend with the visit of Newcastle.

The 25 is announced

Michael Johnson is in the squad in place of David Gonzales as the only difference to my predictions. The only Mancunian in the senior squad at the moment, I didn't expect him to make the cut due to the fact he is out injured until late November (mixed with our terrible goalkeeper trouble last season) but I'm delighted for him. Hopefully he can get a few appearances but I believe a loan spell will follow in January in order for him to build up match fitness.

Keepers: Shay Given, Joe Hart, Stuart Taylor.

Defenders: Jerome Boateng, Wayne Bridge, Aleksander Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Shaleum Logan, Micah Richards, Kolo Toure, Pablo Zabaleta.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong, Adam Johnson, Michael Johnson, James Milner, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Patrick Vieira, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Forwards: Emmanuel Adebayor, Jo, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez.

Squad prediction

The squad has been trimmed, I know a lot of people were worried about that, I'm looking at you, tabloids.
The only first XI player from last season to leave has been Craig Bellamy, the rest being a mix of youth, loaned out, reserve and fringe squad players. I'll do a full write up later but for the moment here is my prediction for the squad to be announced later today.


Joe Hart
Shay Given
Stuart Taylor
David Gonzales

Aleksandar Kolarov
Jerome Boateng
Joleon Lescott
Wayne Bridge
Micah Richards
Kolo Toure
Pablo Zabaleta
Vincent Kompany
Shaleum Logan

David Silva
James Milner
Yaya Toure
Patrick Vieira
Nigel De Jong
Gareth Barry
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Adam Johnson

Emmanuel Adebayor
Jo
Roque Santa Cruz
Carlos Tevez

Robinho signs for AC Milan

It was a day which will live on in the memory of every City fan, we had become the world's richest club overnight and were chasing four or five targets around the world, as the clock approached midnight the news broke that we had signed long term Chelsea target Robinho.

Two years on and Robinho becomes the latest signing for AC Milan, joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front for the rossoneri, ending an eventful short spell at Eastlands.

Signed not by the manager, but by the owners, Robinho was, and always will be more than a player for us, he was a statement. As much as I love Pablo Zabaleta, he wasn't the signing to make the world take notice that there was a new major player in the transfer market and on the footballing map.

After a stunning first half of the 08/09 season, including a debut goal against Chelsea, his performances dropped off after allegations into his personal life and anonymous showings in a team struggling away from home.

A summer move to Barcelona never materialised and it appeared he would remain in Manchester for at least another season, but a stress fracture on his right ankle sustained whilst on international duty sidelined him early on and he was never able to force himself back into the team before joining his boyhood club Santos in the January transfer window in order to gain fitness for the 2010 World Cup.

He split opinions between City fans, some seeing a talented player who is in the team to create, not defend, others seeing a lazy player not putting in the same effort as he did for Brazil, seeking an exit at the first opportunity.

Personally I am sad to see him go, the team he played in was not set up for his style of play, I believe he would've thrived in what is now a more solid City side with a defensive base. It may have been a case of running before we could walk, but we can have no regrets with the Robinho signing, without the profile he brought to the club I doubt we would've been able to attract the calibre of players we currently can.

Good luck Robson De Sousa and good luck AC Milan. Although with a forward line of Robinho, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic and Pato I don't think they need luck. Some defenders maybe...

Centre Back

The dead certs

Sol Campbell and Titus Bramble, sorry...John Terry and Rio Ferdinand will be our first choice centre halves during the summer as long as both are fit. A year ago I couldn't have been more confident with that pairing but with them both struggling with form and fitness this year it's not as solid as it once was. An in form partnership of our deposed captain and new skipper will be absolutely vital if we are to stand any chance in the competition.



The back up

Matthew Upson has deputised numerous times in the England back 4, he appears to be Capello's go-to replacement for Ferdinand or Terry, should one be injured. This is one decision I really don't agree with Fabio on, with Upson playing the entirety of the season in poor form, for club and country. Unconvincing and nervous, not exactly two traits of a world cup winner.



The should be goings

Although he may not be getting a Christmas card from Arsene Wenger, Ryan Shawcross has been sublime this season. A true no nonsense, no thrills defender, he can be relied on to do a good job if called upon. His dominance in either box has been a major factor in Stoke City retaining Premiership status for a second year running.
Gary Cahill was also having a fantastic season before he was unfortunately ruled out with a blood clot in his arm. Also developed an eye for goal this season, Cahill has undoubtedly been Bolton's star performer in what is otherwise an unconvincing back line, it remains to be seen whether he can do enough to convince Capello he is worth a place, having only last week returned to first team action.
Joleon Lescott suffered originally following his £24 million transfer this summer, I did wonder why we replaced Richard Dunne with him; but since late November he has shown every inch of his class and exactly why Mark Hughes decided to spend so much money on him. Composed on the ball and committed in the tackle, when Lescott is on form he is up there with the best of them, just ask Didier Drogba once he climbs out of Joleon's pocket, after two magnificent displays against Chelsea this season summed up why he was so highly rated at Everton. Which brings me nicely onto...


The outside shots

Phil Jagielka missed most of the season with cruciate ligament damage, but has made his way back into the Everton first team recently. There aren't many better headers of the ball in the premier league and his relationship with Lescott last year was a major factor in Everton's tremendous season.
Started the season in League 2 but could yet win a Premiership winners medal, it's been quite the season for Sol Campbell. He's looked surprisingly solid since his return to Arsenal, however despite his international experience, all of the above players must surely be ahead of him in the ranks. There's always a suprise pick though...

Right Back

Right back

The £18 million man

Barre injury, Glen Johnson will be England's right back in the World Cup. Which is great for us offensively as he's basically a winger, but terrible for us defensively as he's basically a winger. His bombing runs and the ability to shoot with both feet have been invaluable to Liverpool this season and his defensive limitations have been invaluable to the rest of the teams chasing fourth spot.

Against 'lesser' teams in World Cup qualifying it wasn't as much a problem, but against the top sides this will be an area they will target and it could well cost us. Positionally, Johnson is poor (as shown by Birmingham's equaliser just yesterday) and will need a lot of guidance from the centre halves during games. Despite this, he's the best we have.

If the Nevilles play for England so can I

In recent weeks, Gary Neville has become first choice right back for Manchester United, whether he remains there when injuries have cleared up is doubtful but for the moment he's enjoying his longest spell of first team football in years. This has led to a few tentative enquires in the media as to whether he could re enter the England set up. If Johnson is a liability then Neville would be the full on surrender. His complete lack of pace due to age and injuries would be a disaster in such a tournament. Rather than compensate positionally for his shortcomings, fouls and handballs seem to be his defensive weapon of choice against wingers these days. He still has a fantastic cross on him and is solid attacking but he's not an international defender any more, he's barely a premiership defender.

His younger brother on the other hand has had a fantastic season captaining Everton and recently has been playing at right back. We could do a lot worse than re introducing Phil to the England fold, especially with his versatility. An outside bet to make the squad.

Manchester back ups

The rise and fall of Micah Richards has been so swift that it's easy to forget that he's only 21. He's been playing premiership football for 5 years and he's younger than me, that's pretty depressing. With age on his side he has plenty of time to win Capello's favor, but this tournament is probably too soon for him. England's next big hope when he broke through at 17, becoming their youngest ever defender, he still has yet to feature under Fabio Capello. Fantastic under Sven, dire under Hughes and solid under Mancini, it really does appear that Mark Hughes' complete disregard for defensive training and tactics was to blame for Micah and the other City defenders poor form; now he's under Mancini he has been working his way back to his best and it wouldn't suprise me if he's back in the England fold sooner rather than later.

Wes Brown is currently injured and it remains to be seen whether he returns before the end of the season. If he makes it to South Africa he will be back up to Johnson in all likelihood, if he doesn't, it's no great loss. He's a good centre half but at right back he can be a liability against the top teams, as seen in his last England performance against Brazil. If it came down to it, I would rather have Phil Neville or even James Milner ahead of Brown in the pecking order; he has a lot to prove at international level and this is not the time to do it.

Left Back

Left Back


The please-be-fit

Obviously, Ashley Cole. One of the best left backs in world football, England's chances will be a lot worse without him in the team. Deadly going forward and very good defensively (see: the last game against Portugal), a huge miss for the team. Hopefully he'll recover from his injury in time to make it, although he won't be match fit.


The main pretenders

Ask ten people who they prefer out of Leyton Baines and Stephen Warnock and you'd probably get five votes for each player. There really isn't a lot of difference between the two but on current form I'd have to go for Baines. Baines' Everton are finishing the season with a bang whilst Warnock's Villa are more wheezing like one of those dissapointing fireworks inbetween all the pretty explosions. They are both solid if unspectacular, but I feel Baines offers more going forward and another dead ball specialist is always handy for when we reach the inevitable quarter final penalty shoot out.


The retiree

Wayne Bridge was arguably in his finest form for years when he announced his international retirement. Club bias aside, he would've been my first choice replacement for Cole, although it's very doubtful he will change his mind and make himself available for selection now. One horrific game against Burnley followed by a dressing down by the all powerful Alan Hansen on Match Of The Day has probably tainted the public's opinion on what has been a very solid season for the former Chelsea left back.