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Manchester City legend Peter Barnes urges Roberto Mancini's men to go on the offensive
Attacking verve provides key to fourth place...
| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £26.00 | Draw £32.00 | Manchester City £25.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £27.00 | Draw £31.00 | Manchester City £27.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £27.50 | Draw £32.50 | Manchester City £23.75 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £25.00 | Draw £33.00 | Manchester City £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £26.50 | Draw £32.00 | Manchester City £24.50 |
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8 Mar 2010 10:00:00
By Zack Wilson
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini needs to get his team playing flowing attacking football in order to ensure that they reach the top four of the Premier League this season, according to former England winger Peter Barnes.
Barnes, who used to grace Maine Road with his own brand of attacking flair in two spells at the club in the 1970s and 80s, feels that utilisiing the club's current crop of skilful players is the best way to beat Liverpool to a Champions League spot.
"I'd love to see, and I'm sure City fans would agree, a 4-4-2 with Adam Johnson on the left, Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right, and Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy together up front," he told The Manchester Evening News.
"The more attacking talent you have out there the better, for me, and those four going at teams with pace and skill is a frightening prospect for any opposition.
"Stick two from Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and Stevie Ireland in the centre, and that is your six to try to grab that final Champions League place."
And Barnes believes that a crucial run of games at the end of the season will do a lot to determine City's ultimate fate this season.
"We go to West Ham on the final day, but before that we have United at home, Arsenal away and Aston Villa at home on consecutive weekends," he explained.
"Those are three murderous games. Having said that, we have proved ourselves capable of winning those big games, having beaten Chelsea home and away, Arsenal twice at home, and United in the first leg of the League Cup semi.
"So the real test may be the games against the likes of Sunderland and Fulham, because some of our performances in that type of game have been woeful."
However, to be in the position of challenging for the top four at the end of the campaign will require a lot more consistency according to Barnes, who also enjoyed some time at Manchester United in a well-travelled career.
"All season it has been five paces forward, then six back, and that has to stop," he added.
"But you have to remember that we were a little lucky at Chelsea because we were awful for most of the first half, and their goalkeeper had a stinker."
Barnes, who used to grace Maine Road with his own brand of attacking flair in two spells at the club in the 1970s and 80s, feels that utilisiing the club's current crop of skilful players is the best way to beat Liverpool to a Champions League spot.
"I'd love to see, and I'm sure City fans would agree, a 4-4-2 with Adam Johnson on the left, Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right, and Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy together up front," he told The Manchester Evening News.
"The more attacking talent you have out there the better, for me, and those four going at teams with pace and skill is a frightening prospect for any opposition.
"Stick two from Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and Stevie Ireland in the centre, and that is your six to try to grab that final Champions League place."
And Barnes believes that a crucial run of games at the end of the season will do a lot to determine City's ultimate fate this season.
"We go to West Ham on the final day, but before that we have United at home, Arsenal away and Aston Villa at home on consecutive weekends," he explained.
"Those are three murderous games. Having said that, we have proved ourselves capable of winning those big games, having beaten Chelsea home and away, Arsenal twice at home, and United in the first leg of the League Cup semi.
"So the real test may be the games against the likes of Sunderland and Fulham, because some of our performances in that type of game have been woeful."
However, to be in the position of challenging for the top four at the end of the campaign will require a lot more consistency according to Barnes, who also enjoyed some time at Manchester United in a well-travelled career.
"All season it has been five paces forward, then six back, and that has to stop," he added.
"But you have to remember that we were a little lucky at Chelsea because we were awful for most of the first half, and their goalkeeper had a stinker."
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