This is where you get to pick City’s best starting line-up for this season. First up, I’ll reveal my selection (based on their squad at time of writing).
My default XI (in a 4-3-3 formation):
Shay Given
Micah Richards, Kolo Touré, Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge
Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, Gareth Barry
Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robinho
That’s the team I’d pick for home games against all but the best teams in the league. With SWP – instead of Nigel De Jong, say – alongside Stephen Ireland and Gareth Barry, it’s very attack-minded, but the immense work rate of Ireland and Barry makes it workable, as we’ve seen already this season. And with Lescott in the back four, instead of the rather unfortunate RIchard Dunne, it really does look like a very powerful team in the making. And who’s at the heart of it, pulling the strongs? Little Stephen Ireland. Madness.
And for games where Mark Hughes wants a more solid formation, with more cover in midfield, he could opt for something like this:
Shay Given
Micah Richards, Kolo Touré, Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge
Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, Gareth Barry, Martin Petrov
Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor
Can’t argue with that XI either – though Robinho might not like it so much. Impressive strength in all positions, and certainly strong enough to challenge the league’s big four clubs.
That’s my take. Let’s hear your XIs…
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