Martin Petrov returned to the bench for Man City in Thursday night’s UEFA Cup tie. On the face of it, he presents another vibrant attacking option for Hughes and another potential points magnet for us fantasy managers.
Look closer though and Petrov’s return presents Hughes with tactical headache and could threaten to break up a beautiful triangle of talent on City’s left hand side…
Currently Hughes has allocated the attacking left wing role in a front three to Robinho, with fellow Brazilian Elano drifting out left in midfield to work just behind him. Hughes acknowledged their role after the UEFA Cup game on Thursday…
“He [Elano] is playing on the left alongside Robinho and they are working well together. They already have a good understanding of each other and that can only benefit us in the games to come,” remarked Hughes post-match.
Elano himself meanwhile, has also confirmed that role on Robinho’s own website.
“I’ve been playing down the left, alongside Robinho. Because of the language and the understanding between us, we thought it would be better for me to play there, and also because our left-back (Javier Garrido) is Spanish”.
It appears then, that Garrido has been restored at left back over Ball, with the Spanish speaking connection with Elano and Robinho, playing a part in that decision. The return of Petrov however, threatens to break all that up although, judging by Hughes’ comments, he may have to wait for a return to the left wing. The solution would be to hand Robinho a free role, something which Elano again has a view on….
“I told him [Hughes] how Robinho likes to play and how he could help us. Robinho has to be free of worries, with the freedom to move around the pitch.”
That must surely be in Hughes mind right now, although the 4-3-3 has brought City some success and with Wright-Phillips doing the business on the right side of that attacking trio, the team has good balance.
Where does Petrov fit in this system? On Thursday night it was the bench and looking at City’s tactics post-Robinho, I can only see him staying there for next month at least. After that, we have the January transfer window when City bring out the bottomless pocket once again – then the fun with the City lineup will really begin.