Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspurs – Match Preview: Confidence, consistency and victory at stake

What : Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester City, England.

When: Sunday, November 11^th, 2012.

Time: 13.30 GMT.

Referee: M.Oliver

It is a clash of two teams with a squad that is full of potential & individual talents who can turn the course of a match at any point of time. But time and again there comes a football team that reminds us that football is a team sport and individuals cannot win every game. The defending champions who are the only undefeated team yet in the Premier League, but certainly have not hit the form that many would have expected them to. They have scraped through many wins in the premier league and been hold on to a goalless draw by West Ham, usually a team that the Defending champions were expected to thrash at the most come away with a victory. Moving to Spurs, they have been the most inconsistent top table team this season where they have not been able to post a prolonged run of victories. Having lost to Wigan last week at their own backyard and having lost to City last year in the same clash by a last minute penalty, Spurs would want to win to get some momentum going forwards.

Manchester City

Manager: Roberto Mancini

The defending champions appear to be a club divided due to tactical confusion among the players, unrest in the media and dressing room about various internal happenings. This definitely has put pressure on their manager Mancini who is under tremendous pressure due to the results not going their way, especially in the Champions League where they set appear to crash out for the second year in the running after being held on to a draw in the mid-week by Ajax. Their players are short on confidence, their manager is troubled due to various reasons & their strikers who are one among the top 10 best strikers in the world are not helping any much further as there has been a serious goal draught with Ballotelli yet to register a goal in the Premier League & Tevez yet to score after mid-september. Their finishing has been the worst considering they had plenty of chances against West Ham last week.

Their back line seems to be getting back where they were last season atleast in the premier league after a shaky start at the beginning of the season. David Silva, who was their man of the season last year, seems to have lost a touch due to injuries & lack of form which could probably be the reasons for City’s troubles in the attack.

Current Form:

In all competitions (last 10 matches): 6W 3D 1L

In EPL (last 6 matches): DWWWWD

Team News:

Two players who aren’t affected any much by all these problems are: Yaya Toure & the new “super sub” Edin Dzeko. They both have been supreme in a team that is clearly underperforming. Without Dzeko’s 5 late goals this season, City would definitely be in the bottom ten of the table. These two would be the real threat for Spurs. Lescott & Villa are hoping they can return from injuries while Richards (knee) & Rodwell (both hamstring) remain side-lined.

Formation: Given the attacking mind-set of Spurs, they should probably go for a 4-3-3.

Tottenham Hotspurs

Manager – Andre Villas Boas

Just when everyone began to believe that Spurs were back to their best after a scintillating run of victories in the league & draws in the Europa League, they proved their inconsistency once again against Wigan who got their much deserved victory last week. Poor finishing was the sole reason they lost at White Hart Lane failing to convert 10 shots on target to a single goal. They have talent oozing all over the pitch especially with the high flying bale and Lennon on the wings, the skillful and creative Dempsey in the middle of the pitch. But their defense has been a problem with Gallas being the one to blame for many goals given away cheap. They lack the assurance at the back that would help them to go forward with assurance which can be identified by the 14 goals they have conceded in the first 10 games.

Current Form:                                              

In all competitions (last 10 games): 6W 4D 2L

In EPL (last 6 matches): WWWLWL

Team News:

 Defoe is their man in form coming off a hat trick in Europa League just 2 days ago. Along with defoe, Bale & Lennon are the men to watch for Spurs in the attack as these three have caused immense problems to every defense that has come in their path. Vertonghen has been brilliant going forward as well and seems improving every game. If only AVB could re-integrate Dawson who was brilliant last season under Redknapp for the aging Gallas, Spurs could be strong at the back as well. AVB wouldn’t risk putting Lloris on the goal against a City team that is capable of tearing apart any team, but if given a chance this would be the right time for Lloris to prove a point and cement his place. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor is set to win his first start in premier league. Mousa Dembele is unavailable due to a niggling hip injury and Long-term absentees Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) remain sidelined.

Possible Formation: 4-3-3

Prediction

History suggests that Spurs edge City out very closely over the past ten meetings and everyone would agree so given they came this close to ending City’s unbeaten home run last season. Both teams have not been at their best, both teams are getting used to tactical changes, both teams have been lacklustre in front of the goal. It could be a very uncertain match at the Etihad, and whoever wins the match would find the much needed confidence. For Mancini it is a must win match considering they have already crashed out of Capital one cup and tentatively out of the Champions League. As for AVB, a win here could build their quest for the top 4 finish and if finds the win at Etihad, then it would be another week of chaos at Etihad and Mancini. Already defeating one part of Manchester at their home, I predict another 3-2 win for Spurs.