Just cannot feel motivated for this match. With us only winning 1 of our last 7 matches, this is hardly the ideal match for us now. With both us and ManCity in a must-win situation, this is going to be really tough match. We used to have an excellent record against ManCity. But it has changed in recent years. We have lost our last 4 matches to them. Hope AVB and the team will be able to change that record somehow.
Can see this match being won or lost in midfield. We not only need to start our attacks from midfield but we need to stop ManCity's attacks as well. Dembele and Parker will need to step up their game here. Both have been poor in recent matches. Hope they will be motivated enough for this match. One thing to be hopefull about this match is that we almost beat ManCity away earlier in the season when we played Sandro and Hudd in midfield. So hope, Dembele and Parker will give us a fighting chance in this match. The return of Lennon will be very crucial as Bale only plays well when Lennon is around. Hope Lennon is fit to play. Sigurdsson seems to be in good form recently. Hope he can score or assist a goal or two here.
Bale's return will lift the team for sure. But can't see him having much impact in this match. Can see ManCity mark him tightly. The only chance he will have to go for goal is through freekicks. Hope he will make use of any freekicks we get. Other than that, can't see Bale getting much chance to even touch the ball. I think one of Adebayor, Dempsey or Defoe will have to play a key role in attack. Adebayor did well against Everton but not sure if he will step up against his old team. He seems to have a swing mood always. But Dempsey and Defoe, if he is fit, are not in good form either. Maybe Dempsey will find a chance to score somehow, as he has done earlier in the season. Really disappointed about Defoe before his injury. Not sure if he will be up for this match after being out so long. Hopefully our attack can find a goal or two somehow.
Just can't see our defence keep a clean sheet in this match. Our entire defence have been making unforced errors everywhere in recent matches. Will be very surprised if we keep a clean sheet in this match. Wish Kaboul is fit to partner Vertonghen now. But with Kaboul still missing, Vertonghen will find it difficult to keep our defence together alone. Would prefer if Vertonghen helps our attacks more than defence instead. This will be a good chance for the likes of Dawson, Gallas, Caulker and BAE to improve their error-prone image. Not really impressed with Lloris so far. Hope Llors can put up a error-free performance in goal. Just hope our defence can keep their mistakes to a limit so that we can outscore ManCity.
This will be a difficult match. But with Arsenal and Chelsea keeps on chasing us in the top 4 race, we have no choice but to try and win all our matches as well. Our home form have not been great this season. But this will be a good chance to improve that. Hope we can turn up with the positive mentality to beat ManCity.
