You're Starting XI in Games Against the "Top Six" Clubs

[macmanson]

Came across this article on Goal:

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...r-citys-new-signings-can-help-abolish-roberto

The opening paragraph is the one relevant to this thread, as it reads:

In the 10 league matches against the other teams that make up the Premier League’s ‘big six’ last season, Manchester City won only three and failed to score in four. By erring on the side of caution, City picked up two points out of a possible 15 away to the teams whose exalted company they have so rapidly found themselves in.

The author of the article then goes on to make an argument that our new players should allow Mancini to be more attacking in these games by switching from this first 11 used in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea:

http://u.goal.com/139600/139685.jpg
To this first 11:

http://u.goal.com/139600/139687.jpg

I agree with the basic principle of the article in that I really think we need to be more attack minded if we have any chance of winning the league this season. Last season we took the approach of winning all the games against the small teams and playing for draws in the big games. This strategy partially worked, as we would have finished first in the league had we only played teams in the bottom half as seen here:

http://stats.football365.com/2011/ENG/PR/vbothalf.html

We would've finished 8th if we only played teams that finished in the top half last season:

http://stats.football365.com/2011/ENG/PR/vtophalf.html

So what do you think fellow Blues? Do you agree with this article's premise? If not, what would be your starting 11 in games against the "Top Six" clubs? Would it be different home vs away?

NOTE: To keep it realistic/challenging, you can only use current MCFC players and not "expected" transfers (ie: Nasri/Sneijder).

My starting 11 would be:

.......................Hart.......................
Micah.........VK......Lescott........Clichy
...............Barry.......NDJ..................
......................Yaya.......................
.....Aguero..........................Silva.....
..................Dzeko/Balo...................

Using Clichy to be more attacking with NDJ on his side to cover defensively.

 

[zangatangring]

Mark my words. It'll be used to great effect in an important game.


Richards-Lescott/Savic-Kompany-Clichy/kolarov
Signing-----Silva/Nasri-----Yaya/Ndj------Balo
-----------------Dzeko--Aguero------------

 

[fatbloke]

It's a silly question really because we shouldn't have a defined XI, it should be using our squad to nullify our opponents threats and also to expose their weaknesses.

SCUM - Their weakness is their full backs, AJ spit roasted Evra in the Semi Final last year and I think Rafael's positional sense is awful. If you can work situations to get Vidic 1-1 then he's useless. Equally you have to stop Nani, Valencia or Young, whoever plays wide need to be pushed back by Richards and Clichy, if you let them dominate possession they'll destroy you.

CHELSEA - Unknown quantity so far with Boas as manager.

ARSENAL - Their weakness is their strength and physical stature, we should be competing for every ball and being as aggressive as possible without going too far. Set pieces we should destroy them. Defensively you have to stay compact and not let the neat passes inbetween defenders, concentration is the key.

 

[jamielowndes]

Hart

Richards RB
Kompany CB
Toure (He'll be back by then) CB
Kolarov LB

De Jong as DM
Johnson RM
David Silva LM
Yaya Toure AM

Tevez ST
Aguero ST

To quote the chant, "Attack, attack, attack-attack-attack"

 

[NinoK]

in the big games I still want the don to play the holding midfielder thingy like he did all of last seasons against the "big 4"

so

----------hart--------
richards komps lescott clichy
-----------ndj-----------
------barry---yaya-----
-aj----------      -----silva
---------aguero----------------

I know my team sheet isnt as fancy as most but whatever it gets the point across init. incase anyone wondering the space between aj and silva is where yaya makes his little choo choo runs.

 

[mcfc49]

i think we would have beaten united on sunday if we had played with just one striker. Hopefully a little more attack minded than we played against arsenal away, but we have to be realistic. for me

hart

richards kompany lescot clichy


milner barry ndj yaya silva

aguero

 

[thepole]

CHELSEA - Unknown quantity so far with Boas as manager.

Loves a high defensive line and an offside trap. Could see us playing Barry who can just drop balls over the top as he has been doing in pre season and having the pace of Aguero and Balotelli running in behind

 

[more lazy than useless]

It's a silly question really because we shouldn't have a defined XI, it should be using our squad to nullify our opponents threats and also to expose their weaknesses.

Pretty much this. We'd want to tweak it for different opposition, for example this

CHELSEA - Unknown quantity so far with Boas as manager.

Loves a high defensive line and an offside trap. Could see us playing Barry who can just drop balls over the top as he has been doing in pre season and having the pace of Aguero and Balotelli running in behind

Also, why have people got Barry on the right? He's left footed! He' can't exactly 'cut in' like AJ when he's a DM

Speaking of AJ, can't see him in a starting line-up against the top teams.

 

[Blue Coop]

Richards --- Kompany --- Lescott --- Clichy

----------- De Jong ---- Milner ------------

-------- Nasri ----- Yaya ----- Silva ------

------------------ Aguero ----------------

 

[mcfcfaz]

Richards---Kompany---Lescott---Clichy

De Jong------Yaya

Aj------Silva-----Aguero

Dzeko