THE IMPORTANCE OF BEATING CHELSEA
I was hoping to kick off this week’s Vital City Zen bulletin with talk of how best to utilise the talent in the City squad in changing Sven’s continued use of an over cautious playing system that invites sides to come at us. You know, looking to put some fight and insight into giving Chelsea a challenge. Well, I’m not going to bother. The players on recent evidence aren’t going to bother so why should I?
All I would say to any City player right now is that Blues will always respect effort and pride in the shirt, whatever the result. There was far too much grinning and end of season can’t be arsed-ness at Birmingham for my liking. Unacceptable. Whatever the playing system, if this City side does not respond to it’s growing band of critics on Saturday, not even to the fact that they were humiliated 6-0 by Chelsea in October and surely need no other motivation, then they can be sure that many of their days at Eastlands are numbered. I cannot see Frank Shinawatra settling for also ran non performance and collective lack of effort for much longer.
SECOND CHANCE SALOON?
Even though recent displays have mirrored the clueless results of his predecessor and Crapello think-tank Ingurland guru Stuart Pearce, Svennis thankfully continues to avoid lines like ‘take a good look at ourselves in the mirror, roll our sleeves up’ etc but he is clearly riled at the situation. But brace yourselves, he’s not looking at changing anything…
He told the MUEN.. ‘We will not be experimenting, I will play the best team. If I should judge on the Birmingham game I could change nearly all of the team but you don’t do that, you have to give them another chance. The important thing is that we change our mental approach to the games that are remaining because we didn’t get that right at Birmingham.’
ICEMAN TO TURN AXEMAN?
Many Blues already have their eyes on the summer and so it seems, does Sven for the next phase of rebuilding. He revealed this week that some players in the current squad have already received their Manchester City red card. Whether that is a sensible thing to do considering morale and the games remaining only time will tell:
‘Some of them we have spoken to. We had a meeting about the future of several players and the numbers we might need to bring in.’
– I sense a big clear out.
SIGNS AND SCREENS OF THE TIMES
Changes continue to be made at Manchester City. If not on the pitch, then certainly off it. The club revealed this week that it has invested in two 60m2 video screens for our superb stadium. These will be in place for the UEFA Cup Final on May 14. We will also be dazzled by an electronic LED perimeter advertising system next season, installed during the summer along the north, east and south stand sides of the stadium. Even though playing progress has stuttered terribly of late, the general direction the club is taking still remains a forward looking one.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA: CHELSEA AT EASTLANDS
Saturday 5th April, 15:00 GMT
Chelski Form Last 6 PL games: W,W,W,D,W,W
City Form Last 6 PL games: L,D,L,W,D,L
Goals Factor:
Chelski last 6 PL games: 18
City last 6 PL games: 3
In the City sin bin: All clear
Injured: Ball still out with knee knack tfn and Richards, save for weekly interviews remains sidelined. The Bojinov rumours persist of a first team return any game now. I hope Svennis doesn’t risk pushing the lad back into action too soon in an effort to solve the team’s failings in front of goal. He’s had a bad, bad injury and surely it’s better he is fully recovered before returning.
Johnny on the spot?:
Unless City can repeat the form defying heroics they showed when beating the rags in February, then I can see only one result and that will be a comfortable away banker for Chelsea who as one of the ‘Big Four,’ essentially play their football on a different planet. Prove me wrong, City…
City 0 Chelsea 3
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