tevez to start?

[Lee_R]

Unlike you Lee, I like the way the team plays while Tevez is there; 10 men plus him just makes it all that better. However, if he isn't up to scratch and if he can't cover at least 70 mins then he shouldn't play from the start.

I'd prefer to get 20 explosive minutes off the bench than 90 labourious ones from the start. Hopefully Mancini will make the right call and not leave it down to Carlos to take the lead.

Come On City!

I'm just not totally convinced Tevez is 100%

The thing is.. if he starts and were 1-0 up in the 60th or 70th minute then he has to come off, I think that could be more damaging. Who ever we replace him with doesnt matter.. Stoke wont worry more about his replacement, our main threat and talisman has gone off in their eyes. It would probably encourage Stoke more IMO.
I'd much rather them be tired and see a fresh Tevez coming on and ready to drag them all over the park.

[Beefymcfc]

Unlike you Lee, I like the way the team plays while Tevez is there; 10 men plus him just makes it all that better. However, if he isn't up to scratch and if he can't cover at least 70 mins then he shouldn't play from the start.

I'd prefer to get 20 explosive minutes off the bench than 90 labourious ones from the start. Hopefully Mancini will make the right call and not leave it down to Carlos to take the lead.

Come On City!

I'm just not totally convinced Tevez is 100%

The thing is.. if he starts and were 1-0 up in the 60th or 70th minute then he has to come off, I think that could be more damaging. Who ever we replace him with doesnt matter.. Stoke wont worry more about his replacement, our main threat and talisman has gone off in their eyes. It would probably encourage Stoke more IMO.
I'd much rather them be tired and see a fresh Tevez coming on and ready to drag them all over the park.

With you man.

[scroll]We are City, We are City, Super City, From Maine Road............................................. [/scroll]

[avoidconfusion]

Yes. Because I think with him in the team and his eagerness we can score goals earlier than without him. If he struggles, take him off. I don't want him to be subbed on when we are already 1:0 (or worse) down.

[Dameerto]

I vote no, because I have a feeling we might start strongly then fade, and we can bring him on for the start of the second half to inject some energy. I dont think he'll last the full match at the kind of tempo he usually plays at, so it would be wiser to have him as energetic as possible towards the end of regular time. (This way we could keep Kompany as captain too)

[MR IMAINEROAD]

LIke others have said I would be very worried with Mario's temperament against a physical Stoke. Still hurting from the sending off against Kiev. Ten men in the cup final is no joke.
Djeko still an unproven quantity.
If Tevez is fit he plays
Simples.

[The Original Special One]

Yep for me
Because it won't matter so much if he doesn't last the pace if we go for broke from the kick-off like we did against Everton
He looked better than he has for months in the 10 minutes he was on the field on Tuesday, and, with Silva playing at the top off his game right now, between the two of them, and Ya Ya, fresh from coasting through the Spurs game, we could have the game won before Stoke knows whats hit them.

[Beefymcfc]

LIke others have said I would be very worried with Mario's temperament against a physical Stoke. Still hurting from the sending off against Kiev. Ten men in the cup final is no joke.
Djeko still an unproven quantity.
If Tevez is fit he plays
Simples.

I, Maine Road. Simples ;-)

[DoomMerchant]

Tevez to start. All day long.

[Beefymcfc]

Tevez to start. All day long.

You love him.

[DoomMerchant]

Tevez to start. All day long.

You love him.

I do.

He will give his all. He wants to win. Simples.

I'm hopeful bob unleashes hell and starts a threesome up front with tevez, balo and tyy. With Nigel Barry and silva in the middle.

[ant london]

As ever I am very glad that lots of you are not manager of Manchester City

Tevez to start, and he will be starting...end of.

Also reference to who captains, this is from Vincent

And if City do win, then who collects the trophy? Tevez and Kompany with one hand each?
‘No way,’ he smiled. ‘Carlos lifts the cup. He is the club captain. I will be following with the champagne and I will be celebrating. Don’t worry.’

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

As ever I am very glad that lots of you are not manager of Manchester City

Tevez to start, and he will be starting...end of.

Also reference to who captains, this is from Vincent

And if City do win, then who collects the trophy? Tevez and Kompany with one hand each?
‘No way,’ he smiled. ‘Carlos lifts the cup. He is the club captain. I will be following with the champagne and I will be celebrating. Don’t worry.’

?????

70% of people are saying he should start and somehow I don't think one who voted Jo was all too serious. If he isn't fit to start then he will not obviously start, which is a fair point. In that case it should be Dzeko. But I think he'll be fit and he's our best attacking player so he should start, of course.

[ant london]

I don't ever do the voting thing mate, I was just going off the comments as hadn't seen the %'s but relieved to hear that the majority of posters are not mentalists!

[Paul68]

Tevez - yep. He's one of the top 3 strikers in the world!
IF he goes i'll be gutted but wish him well etc etc but won't care if he scores today and lifts the cup.
Vin can do it next year!

[Original Dub]

It seems to keep popping up that we are a better team without Tevez.

So basically, had we not been lumbered with him this season, we'd probably be champions, is that fair to say?

I can see another head wobbling thread may be on its way...

Of course he should start. Anyone who has any doubts about Tevez not being 100% etc, should cast their minds back to the final ten mins of the Spuds game, when Tevez stood out like a sore thumb - holding up the ball like nobody on the pitch had managed to do for over half an hour, not to mention the fact that he was two last ditch saves from having one goal and one assist.

HEAD WOBBLE HEAD WOBBLE.

FFS

[BlueinBosnia]

Dzeko has more to offer than Ballotelli against teams like Stoke in my opinion.

Tevez isn't 100% fit, and therefore shouldn't start. I'd also like to keep Tevez off for as long as possible, just in case we need him for penalty duties...