WE SPOKE to Stuart Brennan, the City reporter for the Manchester Evening News, ahead of Sunday's clash at Selhurst Park to get the lowdown on Manuel Pellegrini's side...
What do you make of Man City's season since they played Palace in December? The football has been exhilarating at times, although it wasn't so great when Palace were at the Etihad. Injuries to key players at unfortunate times have taken their toll, even if people claim that with the money spent on their squad City should be able to cover. I reckon City fans will look back on this season with great affection, regardless of what happens in the last four games.Looking back at the game on December 28, Palace were very unlucky not to take something from the Etihad Stadium, do you agree? Yes, they made things very hard for City, and having seen them that day it has been no great surprise that they have steadily pulled themselves out of trouble. But, unlike most teams who go to the Etihad, Tony Pulis' team had plenty of attacking ambition and were unlucky to go away with nothing to show for itWhich player(s) should Palace look out for on Sunday? Sergio Aguero showed signs of being back to his sharpest against West Brom on Monday night, and that spells trouble for any team. David Silva is perhaps City's most influential player, but his potential absence is balanced by the expected return of Yaya Toure.How much of a miss will Toure be if he is still ruled out with injury? Yaya is a strange one, because there are games he dominates through a combination of his football ability and his sheer physical power, but he also fades out of games at times. But he is the man for big occasions, and with nothing less than a win good enough for City, this match qualifies.If you don't win the title, will Manuel Pellegrini be given another season at least? I reckon so. He has won a trophy in his first season, he has improved the brand of football after it became a little pedestrian and predictable under Roberto Mancini, and there are signs of his blueprint for the whole club starting to take effect.What are your memories of facing Palace down the years? I have only been the City reporter for four years, so there haven't been many! I remember Carlos Tevez scoring his first City goal at Selhurst Park in 2009 in a League Cup game.And finally, a score prediction? A tough game for City but they desperately need the win, so I will go 2-1 to City.
What do you make of Man City's season since they played Palace in December? The football has been exhilarating at times, although it wasn't so great when Palace were at the Etihad. Injuries to key players at unfortunate times have taken their toll, even if people claim that with the money spent on their squad City should be able to cover. I reckon City fans will look back on this season with great affection, regardless of what happens in the last four games.Looking back at the game on December 28, Palace were very unlucky not to take something from the Etihad Stadium, do you agree? Yes, they made things very hard for City, and having seen them that day it has been no great surprise that they have steadily pulled themselves out of trouble. But, unlike most teams who go to the Etihad, Tony Pulis' team had plenty of attacking ambition and were unlucky to go away with nothing to show for itWhich player(s) should Palace look out for on Sunday? Sergio Aguero showed signs of being back to his sharpest against West Brom on Monday night, and that spells trouble for any team. David Silva is perhaps City's most influential player, but his potential absence is balanced by the expected return of Yaya Toure.How much of a miss will Toure be if he is still ruled out with injury? Yaya is a strange one, because there are games he dominates through a combination of his football ability and his sheer physical power, but he also fades out of games at times. But he is the man for big occasions, and with nothing less than a win good enough for City, this match qualifies.If you don't win the title, will Manuel Pellegrini be given another season at least? I reckon so. He has won a trophy in his first season, he has improved the brand of football after it became a little pedestrian and predictable under Roberto Mancini, and there are signs of his blueprint for the whole club starting to take effect.What are your memories of facing Palace down the years? I have only been the City reporter for four years, so there haven't been many! I remember Carlos Tevez scoring his first City goal at Selhurst Park in 2009 in a League Cup game.And finally, a score prediction? A tough game for City but they desperately need the win, so I will go 2-1 to City.
