*** City v Everton match thread ***

[Chinners]

What the hell, I'll do it ....



TEAM NEWS
Manchester City midfielder James Milner has been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League fixture with Everton.
The 26-year-old limped off after scoring City's second goal in their 2-0 win over Wigan on Wednesday.
The England international is a doubt for the Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund and next weekend's derby clash with Manchester United.
"We will try to recover him for next Sunday [against United] but we don't know," City boss Roberto Mancini said.
"We are disappointed because James was in good form in this moment."

MATCH FACTS

•Everton have won eight of the past 10 Premier League matches between the two clubs. City have won two.
•In 15 Premier League matches between the two clubs at City's home ground, be it Maine Road or the City of Manchester Stadium, there has never been a draw.
•This will be the 159th league fixture between the teams. Manchester City have won 59, Everton 60, with 39 draws.

Manchester City
•Have scored more goals from outside the box (five) than any other team in the Premier League this season.
•They have also had 142 attempts on target in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.
•Are the first team in Premier League history to avoid defeat in their opening 14 games for two seasons in succession, though they have six points fewer (32) than they had at the same stage last season (38).
•Against Wigan, Mario Balotelli scored his first goal of the Premier League season with his 30th shot. No other player had as many without scoring.

Everton
•Have only managed one win from their last eight Premier League matches, six of which were draws.
•The Toffees have committed 181 fouls in the Premier League this season, the equal-most alongside Stoke City.
•Leighton Baines has created more chances for team-mates (53) than any other Premier League player this season.
•The club are unbeaten their last three Premier League matches against Manchester opposition, winning twice without conceding a goal. They drew 4-4 in their last Premier League visit to the city of Manchester - at United on April 22.

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[Swales4ever]

Good Lad!

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[always thought]

[Nigels Tackle]

thanks bobby

[Dubaimancityfan]

Is it Saturday already ? What happened to Friday ?

[gilford]

Would appreciate a PM for any rivers of this please lads now that LOLF has gone :-(

[Burt]

Would appreciate a PM for any rivers of this please lads now that LOLF has gone :-(

Just google vipbox mate and there will be a load of rivers on there tomorrow:o)

[gilford]

Would appreciate a PM for any rivers of this please lads now that LOLF has gone :-(

Just google vipbox mate and there will be a load of rivers on there tomorrow:o)

Cheers mate!

[City64]

Another "biggie" tomorrow against our bogey team Everton. Hoooooooge 3 points ........ i will settle for a scruffy 1-0 win ! Leighton Baines and Phil Neville are both out injured it seems ?



Nice read again thanx

[Swales4ever]

Another "biggie" tomorrow against our bogey team Everton. Hoooooooge 3 points ........ i will settle for a scruffy 1-0 win ! Leighton Baines and Phil Neville are both out injured it seems ?

Nice read again thanx

In my bones this is the most tricky fixture ahead us: the rags concerns me much and much less than an wrestling exchange with Gollum's Boys. Missing Baines, when/if confirmed, would be nice for sure.
I'll gladly take whatsoever moving the table and if we grab the all purse.... very happy days ahead!

[john68]

Don't see a problem, we are better than them. We will battle when necessary and eventually win the game and the points.

I really don't get worried these days, just turn up, enjoy the football, cheer the goals and take the points home with me. Everton will give it their best but they are just not good enough to beat us.

[freshie]

Would appreciate a PM for any rivers of this please lads now that LOLF has gone :-(

Try http://shadygiz.blogspot.co.uk

[Beefymcfc]

Just for old-times sake ;-)



I must admit, he does seem to have mellowed over the years, maybe the 12 mil for Jack Rodwell eased the pain.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Don't see a problem, we are better than them. We will battle when necessary and eventually win the game and the points.

I really don't get worried these days, just turn up, enjoy the football, cheer the goals and take the points home with me. Everton will give it their best but they are just not good enough to beat us.

I wonder how true this is? Brilliant if you can manage to be relaxed like this but for me there are just some games which bring on the nerves and even negative feelings.

There are the games like Wigan where I think we will beat them,easily or not is irrelevant.There will be the occasional slip up in such games but on the whole I just have high expectations.Then there are the games against the top few who are title contenders.Arguably only the scum but realistically Chelsea as well and I would stretch it to the Arse and Spurs as teams who can give us a really good game and beat us if they are on it and we are not.

And then there is Everton! Whilst they have played some decent stuff this season they are still a scrapping side for me.They will be out for a battle today and may again go for a man marker on Silva.I agree with John we will edge the battle and win but I do worry about this one.Great if Baines doesn't play and also great that Cahill is no longer around.

[Beefymcfc]

Do you know, in the last 4 seasons we've only had Lee Probert 6 times as ref and we've never lost. Won 5, drawn 1, that one draw coming against Hull in November 2009.

[Beefymcfc]

Don't see a problem, we are better than them. We will battle when necessary and eventually win the game and the points.

I really don't get worried these days, just turn up, enjoy the football, cheer the goals and take the points home with me. Everton will give it their best but they are just not good enough to beat us.

I wonder how true this is? Brilliant if you can manage to be relaxed like this but for me there are just some games which bring on the nerves and even negative feelings.

There are the games like Wigan where I think we will beat them,easily or not is irrelevant.There will be the occasional slip up in such games but on the whole I just have high expectations.Then there are the games against the top few who are title contenders.Arguably only the scum but realistically Chelsea as well and I would stretch it to the Arse and Spurs as teams who can give us a really good game and beat us if they are on it and we are not.

And then there is Everton! Whilst they have played some decent stuff this season they are still a scrapping side for me.They will be out for a battle today and may again go for a man marker on Silva.I agree with John we will edge the battle and win but I do worry about this one.Great if Baines doesn't play and also great that Cahill is no longer around.

When you say 'scrappy' Doug, you're not far wrong. I'm amazed that they've only had one player sent off this season as everytime I've seen them they commit foul after foul to break-up play. To prove that point I'm sure I read that Everton have committed the most fouls this season which goes to show that they also get away with quite a lot, the referee's taking a Stoke'esque/Scholes'esque type of attitude when they play.

It's always a difficult game but I'm just hoping that when we signed Rodwell we did the old 'Nudge and a Wink' when it came to playing us.

[Beefymcfc]

Do you also know that Everton have only won 1 of their last 8 games, against Sunderland. They've drawn 6 and lost the other 1 to Reading away.

[Green & Blue]

Looking forward to this game i think it will be a real test for us today.Struggled so often against them and mad to get a good convincing win over this lot, i will be very happy if we can get a result today.

This is one game i would love to see us grab an early goal in as it would completely change the whole dynamic of the game and force Everton to play with more of an open approach.

Even when we play them at Goodison they park the bus so i certainly expect no different today when they play us at home.As always with Everton they will look to ruffle a few feathers and will provide a very physical battle, City players will need to be patient and not let them frustrate us.No doubt that filthy mug Phil Neville will get a sneaky foul or two in if he gets the opportunity.They will rely on trying to hit us on the counter and making the most of set piece opportunities.

I must say i am glad that we face an Everton side without Tim Cahill involved he must hold a record for goals scored against us.

A good 3 points today please City, we certainly deserve to hand out this lot a good hiding.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I think we'll win 3-0 today, 2-0 if they park the bus. I'm not even going to wear my lucky shirt to this one and am saving it for next week, that's how confident I am.

I reserve the right to eat my own words should this prediction go t***-up. Terms and conditions apply.

[Nick]

Would appreciate a PM for any rivers of this please lads now that LOLF has gone :-(

Me too please. Hard enough getting one up for Sky games. I can't make it back to Manchester so am missing the second home game this year :(. Defo need a stream!

And hate Everton with a MASSIVE passion. Mario won this last year. (If you remember I think I said beat Everton at Home and we win the league and got laughed at... ;) )

[Green & Blue]

Just a heads up that if you happen to be based in Ireland that this game is televised live on Setanta Ireland.