I think stoke have unfairly been labeled as a team who don't play football but just lump the ball into the box at every opportunity. I actually think they play a bit like tottenham with two speedy wingers, a big target man and a small tricky forward in behind him but correct me if i'm wrong haven't they been playing a 4-3-3 with the absence of Etherington?
Pennant and Jones are the two men to look out for and the ones I am worried about. This is not a game for Dzeko because their two centre backs are poor on the ground so for me its either Balotelli or Tevez up front. Lescott will have to be on his game and I think he is our key man because I think we struggle handling target men. I think we need to play our own game and keep the ball on the deck and make sure we fully utilise silva because he could tear apart their defence with ease. For the long throws I would bring everyone back and have silva outside the box who could have the composure to start a counter attack if it falls to him. One of the things I agree with mancini on is that we should clear the 6 yard box and allow Hart to come and collect the ball and we must make sure we MAN MARK Jones and Huth if playing(no zonal marking please). If they do play 4-3-3 then would could batter them in midfield but we need to make sure we stop the service to walters and pennant early in midfield and we need to play zab at left back to stop pennant and if Richards is fit he also must play at right back for his areal ability and his pace. I think for this game we should forget wingbacks and leave richards and zab back at all times when we are going forward because stoke are great on the counter.
My team:
--------------------Hart-----------------------
--Micha-------Kompany(c)-------Lescott----Zab----
--------------De Jong------Barry----------------
---Silva---------------Yaya------------Balotelli---
---------------------Tevez---------------------