The game against Sunderland has been a long time coming. After beating Chelsea away with all the attributes that have previously hindered City on their travels - spirit, endeavour, ruthlessness - City would have wanted another game straight away. Yet fifteen days later, here we are, looking to face a Sunderland side who will be looking to build on a midweek 4-0 victory against Bolton that put an end to a terrible run of form. It will be City's job to stop them from believing they have turned the corner.
Statistics are fairly useless, especially when City are involved - Altidore not scored a premier league goal all season? - but City have a remarkable recent run against Sunderland and a win would see the tenth in a row against them in all competitions, home and away. Sunderland will be without Cana - one of their top performers this season - and Cattermole is a doubt after limping off in their win against Bolton. If neither of these two are available, then City's task will be made much easier - and Ireland would perhaps relish a less competitive central midfield, if he gets the chance.
Mancini is in the rare position to pick from an almost complete squad - minus Adebayor (suspension) and Martin Petrov (knee). Vieira returns from suspension and it would not be too big a surprise for him to go straight into the team considering how highly Mancini regards him. If he does, I imagine Mancini will go with another three man hardy midfield, allowing the attacking players a freer reign to break forward. The other option is Ireland in a more advanced role ahead of a screen of two of Barry, Vieira and De Jong.
Despite Toure's return, the defence should pick itself with Zabaleta continuing ahead of Richards. The only other selection issue will be wingers. Bellamy should start and then it is down to either SWP or Johnson. After all the palaver over Shauny in recent weeks, and Mancini rather tamely "berating" him in the press conference, I would imagine Mancini will give him the nod and tell him to prove his worth on the pitch rather than in the papers. As I have written about before, SWP is not going to get the deal he desires on current form, so performances on the pitch are his best option.
Possible team:
Given
Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Bridge
De Jong, Vieira, Barry
SWP, Bellamy
Tevez
With Tottenham winning this lunch time, this is an imporant game for City (as they all are from now on in!), but I shouldn't think it will be as easy as Sunderland's recent form would suggest.
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