the two aways (this and fulham) are vital. 3 points is the minimum we need. so we are better off going for the win. but as they are the home team and need the points, the pressure is on them to come out and score the goal. this might well suit us. our 4-5-1 'mini-break' system is starting to come together.
of course we've been here before. typical city would be to not turn up for this game, having got ourselves in pole position with the win at chelsea. I remember the win at the swamp the year before last, which should have reignited our league campaign. we had two weeks off before facing everton, and we didn't turn up. this will be a big test. who is really motivated to get us into fourth, and who is just going through the motions? will we have used the two weeks off to regain fitness and work hard, have we really nailed the psychological problems associated with playing away? or will some players think they have done enough that they can coast until the 'big' matches against spurs, arsenal, utd, villa?
I do admit to having doubts over how much fourth would mean to some of our players, who may be looking elsewhere for next season. thankfully I think there are enough players in our dressing room who really want to succeed at any cost. Tevez, Given, Lescott, Bridge, Bellamy, Kompany, De Jong, Zabaleta, Johnson, Barry and Mancini, are all people that I really believe are totally committed to our success this season (one way or another). so I think we may well win this one, or get a draw and win the fulham game.
