Barney's Valencia View From Eastlands

In our second match report from SportCity, VMC Member Barney Daniels checks in with his view of City's performance in the 2-0 friendly win over Valencia...

A crowd of 27000 welcomed City home, the biggest applause reserved for David Silva and Carlos Tevez.

And how astute the City fans are as for 35 minutes I was in awe of Tevez - What a professional! Even though this was a friendly, he chased down every ball.

Silva was very lively too and made City's forwards tick by making short simple passes in front of Valencia's back four. From this, City created a number of chances, something this fan feels has been too lacking under Mancini.

Interestingly, Jerome Boateng and Micah Richards swapped roles half way through the first half and whilst Richards did get forward from right back, Boateng delivers crosses, and what a cross for Barry to give City a deserved lead.

City had played the best football of the pre-season before Tevez and Silva went off after 35 minutes and whilst City dominated the rest of a very one-sided game they threatened the goal less.

Adam Johnson and SWP especially stood out for me but all the midfield closed down Valencia very quickly. I must admit, I do not know whether this was Valencia's first team since they played Villa the previous evening (and drew 0-0) but City looked big and were very strong on the ball.

I did not see Stephen Ireland tonight, which further fuels the rumours that he will go as part of the Milner deal. I have big doubts over Emmanuel Adebayor and some on Jo, so, I hope the deal with Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli is still possible. I just hope he leaves his problems in Italy as this guy makes Craig Bellamy look like a kitten. And of Bellamy, he warmed up with the squad but took no part in the game. I for one would be sad to see Bellamy and Ireland go.

I predict the starting eleven last night against Valencia will closely match the team against Spurs next Saturday and I do not expect defeat.

Hopefully, match fitness will not be an issue and if not, I am confident of a positive result by the odd goal. I just do not see this team conceding many the way Roberto Mancini sets us up and if Balotelli arrives and is as brilliant as the write-ups say he is, then we can realistically believe the future is ours.

The Blues: Hart (Given 46), Richards, Boateng (Kolo Toure 46), Kompany (Ibrahim 78), Kolarov (Cunningham 73); De Jong (Vieira 46m), Barry (Weiss 68), Yaya Toure (Lescott 62), Silva (Wright-Phillips 36m), Tevez (Johnson 36m) and Adebayor (Jo 73).

OAB's Match Report: City End Pre-Season With Victory

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