Tottenham Hotspur vs. MCFC
Saturday, August 15th 2010
White Hart Lane, London KO 12:45pm
It’s been an interesting old summer, well that’s if you discount the England – Algeria world cup fixture, possibly the worst game of football in living memory. Heartbreak for the Blues at the end of last season was quickly replaced by a growing sense of optimism, which morphed into frenzied excitement as some of the world’s finest up and coming talent were brought on board the good ship Manchester City. Talk of cup runs, Europa League success and – whisper it – a title tilt abounded in the pubs and on the fora.
Then came the news of David Platt.
Erm…
Moving quickly along then. The summer (if you can call it that here on the Costa del Chorlton) has flown by, and City now boasts an extremely strong looking playing staff. Mancini has attempted to rectify many of the weaknesses in the side he inherited from he-who-must-not-be-named last season, namely a lack of defensive cohesion, a lack of quality full backs and, fatally last time out, the lack of a truly inspirational playmaking midfielder. In addressing these problems, Mancini has taken a different approach than his predecessor. Instead of looking for premier league experience, Roberto has spread the blue net around Europe and brought in some very exciting young players. David Silva (remember him Bacon?), Yaya Toure, Aleksander Kolarov, Jerome Boateng and the very recently arrived “Super” Mario Balotelli have brought the predictable “buying success/ruining football” balderdash from the media, but quite frankly no one connected with the Blues gives a flying fornication.
But now it’s down to the other business.
The real deal.
The proverbial “It”.
We face an enemy we know well, and have a large, hefty and recently bloodied axe to grind with. The galling scenes witnessed by the City faithful at Eastlands last May are still fresh in the mind, and should prove motivation for the players involved on that particular occasion. That defeat to Spurs was a knife through the straining heart of City’s Champions League ambitions, so what better way to avenge ourselves than an opening day fixture away at White Hart Lane?
Thankfully, the fixture computer is not without its own sense of romance and duly provided us with our opportunity. Not that this will be an easy task. Spurs are an excellent side, well able to beat any team in the league – as their spectacular run of form at the end of last season proved. Unlike the Blues they have been quiet in the transfer market, but as they are already possessed of a strong and settled squad this frugality is understandable.
Speculation as to the team Mancini fields is enough to cause an aneurysm. Who starts in goal? Does he play two forwards, and if so who partners Tevez? Johnson on the left or right? Richards or Boateng? What is certain however, this is where Mancini has to earn his money. This is what he has wanted since taking the job – a squad of his own players who have (mostly) had weeks of pre-season in which to learn how he wants the side to play. There really is no place to hide when the Blues walk out at the Lane tomorrow.
Veni, Vidi, Vici?
“The die is cast” said an Italian long ago, as he was about to embark on an attempt at wresting control of an old and aristocratic empire. Let us hope our own Italian leader will be saying something similar to “I came, I saw, I conquered” come quarter to three on Saturday.
Many thanks to The Man In Blue of ManCityFans.net for writing this preview.