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MANCHESTER CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH TACTICS TALK 30-10-06
Stuart Ward
Boro travel to Manchester City and like this writer hope to keep their recent revival going at the City of Manchester Stadium.
As always we will start with the Opposition, Manchester City.
Key Players
Georgios Samaras - The Greek striker is probably the main goal threat from an average Manchester City team this week. The 21 year old has already scored twice in four games for Greece, and he looks half decent at City too. He stands at 6'4" and is a very good header of the ball.
This is shown by the fact that a larger than usual percentage of his goals are scored by his head. For City, much will depend on how Woodgate and Huth can dominate him. If they manage to win a large percentage of the Arial challenges City will struggle.
Darius Vassell - The former Villa striker is set to return from injury today and will look to change the fortunes of the Ailing blue side of Manchester.
In contrast to Samaras, Vassell relies on explosive pace to cause defences trouble. Luckily this is something that Woodgate has proven that he can deal with effectively when he came up against Thierry Henry.
The likely tactic will be for Samaras to win the ball in the air and try to release the former England striker. If Boro can cut out this line of attack it will be another huge step on the way to victory.
Richard Dunne - The Manchester City captain is the dominant player at the heart of a rather leaky defence.
The Irish International went through his teammates after their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Wigan, and he will be looking for an instant reaction from his players.
He is good in the air and on the ground. It will be difficult for Yakubu up front by himself but if he can get at the City man, his pace might be a bit too much.
The Manager
Stuart Pearce - Psycho as he is called is currently finding life a little difficult at City.
His side are coming off the back of a 4-0 hammering by Wigan last week. They do like to play decent passing football, but they are finding it hard at the minute. His management style somewhat mirrors his passion as a player, just a shame that the men in his charge don't always share that same enthusiasm.
Likely Lineup and Formation
Weaver
Trabelsi ---- Dystin ----- Dunne ----- Jordan
Ireland ----- Barton ------ Hamaan ----- Johnson
Vassell ------- Samaras
City will seem to like to switch between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 with some regularity so today's team could go anyway it likes really!
If they wish to go with five in the middle, Samaras tends to drop a little deeper, sitting just in front of the midfield, providing a link between the front man and the rest of the team.
Their defence is looking suspect at the minute. Shown by the four goals they conceded against an average Wigan side last Saturday.
Hatem Trabelsi has recovered from injury and is likely to retake his place on the right side of defence. He was once heralded as one of the most promising right back's in the world. He will need to be at his best to cope with the rejuvenated Stewy Downing. On the left is young Jordan Stewart, again a highly rated youngster. He may have a slightly easier day than his team mate against Lee Cattermole.
In the middle the partnership of Dystin and Dunne looks like a solid one on paper. However they are struggling at the minute and look low on confidence. This is something that Boro need to exploit by getting the likes of Euell forward to support Yakubu.
The midfield of City is nothing too special really. Steven Ireland is a decent young player but isn't in the class of a Stewy Downing or a Lee Cattermole. He will have a very tough test against the on fire Manu Pogatetz.
Johnson on the other wing is yet another young player who has impressed so far this season, but he will have to be at his best to get anything out of a vastly improved Andrew Davies.
In the middle of the park is where the Blues look strongest. The flair and talent of one time Boro target Joey Barton is backed up by the steel and guile of Deitmar Hamaan.
The way in which Boro combat these two in midfield will have a large bearing on the match. Boateng will need to step up several levels to make sure that Barton doesn't have too much of an influence on the game.
Up front Darius Vassell should return after a full ninety minutes for the reserves midweek. He will combine with the bigger Samaras and look to cause Boro problems with his electric pace in behind.
Samaras will drop deep, at times making up a five man midfield. He will look to win flick ons and release his partner in on goal.
Huth will be asked to go and dominate in the air today, something which he will have to do to nullify City's main threat.
Now, onto a resurgent Middlesbrough.
Key Players
Robert Huth - The big German came off the bench against Newcastle and looked excellent once again. His physical, no nonsense football is quickly making him a fan's favourite.
He will be asked to go and dominate any balls in the air, allowing for Woodgate to mop up and clear any loose balls.
Jason Euell - The ex-Charlton man has looked very impressive in recent weeks and will be looking to continue the good form tonight.
He will be asked to sit in behind Yakubu and link up midfield and attack as well as providing an extra man in the area when Boro break. He is due a goal, and if he gets it tonight I think he could push towards double figures for the season.
Stewart Downing - The England winger is looking to be returning to his best form now he is back with Boro. He will hopefully continue this today and cause City the same problems he has caused Everton and Newcastle in the last few days.
He is up against City's star man in Trabelsi, but the Tunisian likes to attack more than defend. If Stewy can get at him, then he can cause yet more problems for a Premiership defence.
The Manager
Gareth Southgate - The Boro boss is finally looking at home in the managerial hotseat. Two wins on the bounce (something that McClaren rarely achieved) mean that Boro travel to Manchester as the form team.
Boro are starting to play some pretty good football, and with Yakubu starting to fire Boro are looking firmly at the top eight once again.
Likely Lineup and Formation
Schwarzer
Davies ----- Woodgate ----- Huth ----- Pogatetz
Cattermole ----- Boateng ----- Rochembach ----- Downing
Euell
Yakubu
Robert Huth will come into Boro's starting lineup at the expense of the very unlucky Andrew Taylor in Boro's only change.
Boro's defence looks VERY good at the minute. Huth has come in and looked fantastic. He is a physically dominant centre half, which is something Boro missed ever since Ugo Ehiogu became rubbish.
Woodgate looks fitter by the match, despite the scare mongering that will inevitably follow him everywhere. He and Huth look like being an excellent partnership and should give Boro a good base with which to go on and win this match.
Pogatetz will shift across to left back, as he did second half against Newcastle. He looked more comfortable there for those fourty-five minutes then he did for the whole of last season.
At right Back Davies is beginning to look like a natural in the position. He does the simple things very well, he tries to get forward and support the attacks but he realises that his duties are mainly to keep it tight at the back.
Downing is looking like his old self again on the left. He is taking people on with confidence and is putting some fantastic balls into the area once more. He has given Everton and Newcastle a torrid time on the left and will hope to continue today.
Cattermole continues to do his job on the right, whilst also coming infield when needed to put in the odd crunching tackle that he loves so much.
Boateng and Rochembach are reunited in the centre. Hopefully George will leave the football to Fabio and just get on with TRYING to get his foot in. This particular Jury is still out on that though.
Up front Euell will be the key for Boro. He will be an all action man today and will need to get forward to support Yakubu at every opportunity. I fancy the Yak to continue his goal scoring run today, and hopefully Euell can break his duck today too.
How it will go
I am split on this one. My heart says 1-0 to Boro, but unfortunately my head says 2-1 to Citeh. Hopefully we can continue to play well, but I just don't see us dominating in the middle, so Barton could have a good game. This would be trouble for Boro.
So in conclusion, I am going for.. 1-0 Boro! Come on the lads, get another win!
Until next week, I am Stuart Ward.
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