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I can't decide if Lescott being out is a good thing or not - Everton may have used his presence as extra incentive. Toure looked decent enough against Fulham anyway.

He popped up with a goal once too!

Everton have plenty of midfield players who can cause us problems, even off the bench, and I suppose that this is where the game will be won or lost. Despite Mancini's comments about going for a more attacking approach, I'll be surprised if he doesn't play 4-5-1 against such a strong Everton midfield. That will mean no RSC perhaps, or maybe he'll instruct Tevez to play deeper. Is Bellamy up for another game so soon, and can Paddy V get his 100 year-old legs going again, I wonder? I can see City lining up like this, depending on injuries -

----------------Given-----------------------
-Nedum.--Kompany---Toure------Garrido
----------Zaba---------Vieira---------------
-Swp-------------Barry------------------ AJ-
----------------Tevez-----------------------

I'd play Bellamy from the start instead of SWP if he's up to it, but he would make a useful impact player. Although I like De Jong and his appetite for destruction, I'd be tempted to harness Zaba, Barry and Paddy for this one, at least initially - assuming Paddy has a good 60-70 minutes in him. In the Fulham game having a midfield that looks forward really helped us put them on the back foot, and Zabba is tailor-made for the anti-Arteta role, as long as he doesn't foul in dangerous areas. Pienaar's pace and ability to run at defences is a problem, so I've gone with the speed and pure defensive ability of Nedum to help counter the South African. ~Bloovic~

MANY A BLUE MOON

The way we pressurised Sunderland in the second half for the equaliser is something we have been unable to do for many a blue moon and is cause for optimism.

All top teams learn to do this and is why some teams roll over believing in the inevitable that they are destined to lose. This is one of the reasons why we don't beat lower sides - they always believe they have a chance! In short it is about a winning mentality that both Hughes and now Mancini see as critical. Some of our players need to acquire it quickly if they are to make it at the top.

We put Fulham onto the back foot creating several good chances and caught them on the break when they pushed forward. City were a threat whether attacking or defending. I previously had reservations but became confident of winning at Fulham after Sunderland.

I'm now comfortable that we will perform and get results against Everton and Spurs.
~Spiny~