Rags FA Cup Nemesis Out Of Fortress Etihad Derby

Trebles all round in the Home Counties. On fire City midfield powerhouse YaYa Toure and his brother Kolo are ordered to join the Ivory Coast squad on Saturday in Paris...

YaYa, who terrifies the rags in particular will be severely missed by The Blues, even moreso now that the bang in form Gareth Barry is suspended for the tie thanks to yet another bout of erratic Premier League refereeing.

Toure junior, City's giant engine room patroller, recently clocked up a Premier League record of passes completed in one game amidst his continued capacity to put in a major shift when the stakes are high.

Roberto Mancini had asked permission for The Blues Brothers departure to the African Cup of Nations be delayed until after the troubled rags are dealt with, but François Zahoui, the Ivory Coast coach is having none of it. He told BBC Africa:

'Clubs know the rules. I'm expecting the Toures for the Fifa deadline.'

Certainly, the omission of two experienced key members from a tight City squad on top of Barry's ludicrous suspension evens up the playing field that bit more for Sunday despite the rags flagging performances/ strong second half of the season showing.

That said, events this season have already proved that City have not only deeper pockets than the one-sixers, but a stronger depth in playing talent.

- All eyes on Ivory Coast gaffer Zahoui. Any images of him knocking about in a SHARP shirt in previous years are welcome at the usual address...

How should Mancio set up the City midfield for the might of Carrick, Anderson, Giggs and er...?


UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times East Manchester
Su 8 Jan 13:00 City v Rags, The Etihad, FAC3
We 11 Jan 19:45 Liverpool, The Etihad, LCSF1
Mo 16 Jan 20:00 Wigan, DW Stadium, PL
Su 22 Jan 13:30 Spurs, The Etihad, PL
We 25 Jan 19:45 Liverpool, Anfield, LCSF2

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.