Stoke City versus Manchester City
Stoke City will be looking to continue their incredible winning form, after managing to defeat Birmingham City, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion in their previous three games in the English Premier League. Stoke City are four spots behind Roberto Mancini’s
Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League table. Tony Pullis’ side have scored a total of nineteen points this season, with their opponents of Saturday claiming six more (twenty five).
Stoke City have won only one game less than Manchester City this season; six as opposed to Manchester City's seven. The Potters have drawn only one match so far, compared to Manchester City’s four draws. Pullis’ side have suffered seven defeats, while Mancini’s
have endured only three. Stoke have managed to score eighteen goals this season, and have conceded exactly the same amount. Mancini’s men have conceded eleven goals in this campaign and have managed to score nineteen.
All eyes will once again be on the Argentinean player Carlos Tevez, who today admitted his desire to quit his career in football by the time he turns thirty years old. Carlos Tevez has been proficient this season, finding the net thirty times in his thirty
six appearances this season. Stoke City’s arsenal comes in the form of Kenwyne Jones who “has attempted 21 headed shots in the Premier League this season; more than any other player.” (Taken from
http://www.skysports.com/). Manchester City as a contrast, are the only team so far this season to have not gained a goal from a header.
Mancini’s men will have to be wary of conceding throw ins, as Stoke have managed to turn a throw into a goal in their previous two matches in the League. Stoke player, Jonathan Walters made only a single pass in their previous game against West Brom, and
managed to score two goals. Pulis’ players tend to sharpen their game after half time as statistics have shown the Potters have scored the fewest goals from amongst all the teams in the Premier League in the first half (amounting to only two), but the most
in the second forty five minutes plus injury time, totaling a unprecedented sixteen. Pullis’s side would see themselves at the top of the table, replacing Chelsea as leaders, if only the second half of matches in the Premier League were to be counted.
Roberto Mancini’s team are currently enjoying their unbeaten run in the Premier League extending to four games. Only their local rivals, Manchester United have enjoyed a longer unbeaten run (for the whole of this season). Travelling to the Britannia Stadium
may not daunt the Citizens as they have netted five more goals away than at their home this campaign.
The Italian manager, Mancini was heard making comments to the press involving his player, Emmanuel Adebayor. The want-away Togolese striker expressed his preference of joining another club due to his lack of starting opportunities at Eastlands, and the Manchester
City boss has responded by explaining “They (his players) must understand that in a top team, it is impossible to always play.” Mancini wants his players to struggle for a place in the starting line-up and that it is “important for all the players to think
about their job." The Manchester City confirmed though, that in the ten matches, starting from the Citizens clash with Stoke on Saturday, till the meeting with Arsenal on the 5th of January next year, he will play all his players at least once and
has once again stressed for all his discontent players to concentrate on their training.
Another striker to voice his discontent, not at Mancini’s decisions, but at his footballing career in Europe, is Carlos Tevez. The Argentinean international previously played for West Ham United and Manchester United before famously or infamously joining
local rivals, Manchester City. Tevez explained to the media that “I'm tired of football but I'm also tired of people who work in football. Football is only about money and I don't like it." Indeed Mancini’s team has the most money to squander out of all the
teams in the Premier League with their rich middle-eastern owners, amongst them Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of the Abu Dhabi’s ruler.
Tony Pullis has one long term injury to his squad, player in question being Sidibe with an Achilles injury. Pennant is a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury. Walters and Wilkson may not feature against the Citizens due to a groin (Walters) and knee
(Wilkinson) injury respectively.
Mancini’s squad may not see Barry and Boeteng play this fixture, due to ankle injuries to both players. Nimely is also said to be suffering from an ankle injury but will definitely not feature. Other than that, M Johnson is out with a knee problem.
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