'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As the English Premier League gears for another season full of excitement, the battle lines have been drawn. Besides the challenge for silverware, a lot of other small scale battles will be fought this season. Another such battle will be for a place in the big four. Last season, Manchester City and Tottenham locked horns for this prized possession after Liverpool had a miserable season.
Incidentally, Manchester City and Tottenham will now renew their rivalry in the season opener.
David Silva will be one of the key players on the pitch against Tottenham
Manchester City are coming off another spell of big transfers with Robert Mancini at the helm. With the likes of Robinho, Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Shaun Wright Phillips already in their ranks, Mancini has now brought many new faces at Manchester City. These new faces include Spanish sensation David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure. Manchester City will be renewing their challenge for the big four with greater force this year.
Manchester City have to put on paper a 25 man squad before the start of the season and with Craig Bellamy rumoured to be surplus, he may be on his way out. Manchester City however have retained Robinho in the 25 man squad in spite of his continuous off-the-field remarks. Carlos Tevez will lead the attack for Manchester City after a good World cup campaign for Argentina.
Manchester City are also likely to end up with James Milner in their line-up after Martin O’Neill resigned as Aston Villa manager.
Robert Mancini has to deliver or he might have to bear the same fate as Mark Hughes
Manchester City boast of a dangerous attack force with Adebayor, Robinho, Ireland, Silva, Toure, Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry in the team. If all goes well for Macini and Manchester City, they can make it to Europe this time! Manchester City can make it big only if they make a team out of these players and Mancini will have a job at hand for that.
One man who has made a team is Harry Redknapp. Tottenham surged into the first four last season after thumping their authority over Manchester City. Tottenham will hope to do it again on Saturday.
Tottenham are not wary of Manchester City’s star line-up and they have reason good enough for that. Their performance last season was above par and they looked an adorable outfit on field under Harry Redknapp.
Redknapp and Tottenham have a tough test at hand but being at home will do them good. However, at the same time the pressure will be on Tottenham and the fans will not take anything less than three points. Tottenham will suffer as key players like Pavlyuchenko and Jonathan Woodgate remain uncertain.
Tottenham fans have not had a great hearing from the manager who has constantly been wary of the challenge in spite of their success last season. Redknapp said, “You couldn’t wish for a much tougher start to the season.”
