Stoke preview

Unduly, Mancini has found the pressure building on him of late and probably the last two fixtures he would want to face this week would be away trips to Stoke and Chelsea. After tonight, four of Mancini's fifteen games will have been against Stoke and it is a relationship that is souring rather than improving. The type of football at the Brittania, for better or worse, is not something Mancini will have come across in Italy and his patient style of football is not best suited to the pressing and aggression of Stoke.

Speaking after the Liverpool game Mancini said: "We must work on the high ball, on corners and free kicks, long balls and long passes. If we want to win this game, we must play like them." In the opening games at City Mancini proved he is willing to change the system regularly during games to counter the styles of the opposition, but it will be interesting to see if he can adapt to this style, so far removed from the Italian game.

It could be seen as an early test on Mancini's continuing education as a Premier League manager. Many teams in the league without the financial clout of City have to rely on the brand of football Stoke present and Mourinho's comment that Mancini, though an excellent manager, will have to adapt quickly to the English game are likely to have been referring to this type of football.

I imagine the team he selects will reflect his worry about the physicality of Stoke and therefore I think Richards, who was excellent in the air against Stoke last week, will return at right back and I also think that Santa Cruz will be preferred to Bellamy if he passes a late fitness test. With Johnson cup-tied, I think Zabaleta will move into midfield to offer some more bite, with SWP rather than Ireland dropping to the bench.

Possible team (4-3-1-2):

Given

Ricards Kompany Lescott Bridge

Zabaleta De Jong Barry

Ireland

Santa Cruz Adebayor

Or (4-3-3):

Given

Richards Kompany Lescott Bridge

Zabaleta De Jong Barry

Wright-Phillips Bellamy

Adebayor


Given will be key to our success in this game as he will need to remain strong on crosses/throws/long balls (his weak points and Stoke's strong points) - if he can command his box, City have a chance of making the next round.