Season Preview: Is this our year?!

The Brief

A call for steady, gradual improvement means the official line is Champions League qualification and a cup of any order.


Chances

The chances are decent enough for many people to talk up our title prospects. Settling and harmony are the watchwords - but they were last season and we set our best ever Premier League start. We showed with our results against the previous 'top four' that we can compete at the very top of the league, so an increased consistency and ruthlessness, coupled with the quality that has been added over the summer should see us in a better condition to sustain a Champions League challenge.


The Team

Strong in all areas and arguably the strongest squad in the league - no team can call on the depth City can. There has been creativity added in David Silva, dynamism in Yaya Toure, and defensive solidity (with an attacking option) in Kolarov and Boateng.


Mancini's Task

He has already added a steely factor to a leaky defence and has now had the chance to put his stamp on the team. The big thing will be to keep everyone happy, but in reality every player who is registered should play a part this season - and Mancini has already said it would be in the best interests of the rest to leave. Being sure of his best eleven will be difficult, but if he can find the right mix, we have the talent to succeed. Squad rotation is being mooted, and it will be essential with the sheer volume of games, and the depth at Mancini's disposal will mean he can pick the players for the occasion.


Who plays?!

The big debate! As I have just mentioned, I think this will vary according to the opposition. Mancini experimented with many systems over pre-season, but it seems that the main two will be the 4-2-3-1 of last season, with width, and a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation as evidenced in the Valencia game. The Hart/Given debate rages on and one will be left discontented - and the number of players in midfield causes further headaches - but the two formations could be serviced as follows:

4-2-3-1:

Hart; Boateng, K. Toure, Kompany, Kolarov; Y. Toure, Barry; Silva, Tevez, A. Johnson; Adebayor.

4-1-2-1-2:

Hart; Richards, Boateng, Kompany, Kolarov; De Jong; Barry, Y. Toure; Silva; Tevez, Adebayor.

But then, even in the next few hours, this selection may be further complicated by the arrival of James Milner!


A big season for... Micah Richards

It's a big season for every player on the fringe of the starting eleven, but this is the time for Micah. A few seasons of regression have pushed him out of international contention and out of the City team. He showed signs of improving under Mancini last season but a few injuries hampered the end of his campaign. You get the feeling that if Micah is to make it at City, this is his season to push on. He performed well in pre-season and has reacted well to comments by Mancini about his concentration. Unlike a couple of his contemporaries, he seems determined to stake his claim at City and is unphased by the competition of Jerome Boateng. If he turns pre-season signs into commited performances in the Premier League, it may not be long til he makes the right-back position his own, for club and country!


What the papers say

"they are one season away from catching and overhauling Chelsea and United but this will be the year they make it to a cup final and reach the Champions League." Daniel Taylor, The Guardian (The Guardian writers combine to predict City for 2nd)

"Can this squad win the Premier League this season? Certainly, it could. Will it? It's unlikely." Ian Ladyman, The Daily Mail

"Manchester City could surprise everyone this year and finish in second place, ahead of title favourites Chelsea." Dean Maynard, FourFourTwo

"There is no scope for excusing lapses in form on the grounds that City are a work in progress." Kevin McCarra, The Guardian

"I think their fans are entitled to talk about possibly winning the title this season." Jamie Redknapp, FourFourTwo

"I wonder if Man Utd will be able to cope with their ageing players so well. Could this be the moment their neighbours break into the top four and overtake them?" Ben Clissett, Daily Telegraph Head of Sport (as quoted on the BBC website)


Whatever happens, it is an exciting time to be a City fan. Less than 48 hours to go til kick-off!