WATFORD will be hoping for a generous slice of the ‘Magic of the F.A Cup` this Saturday as they face an intimidating trip to Manchester City in round four.
The Hornets took on the Citizens 12 months ago in the very same competition – though in round three – and were soundly beaten 3-0 by a City side which were eventually beaten in the final by Wigan Athletic as a miserable season ended without silverware.
Fast-forward a year and things could not be more different in either camp. Both clubs have changed manager since the last meeting, with former Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini – affectionately known as ‘the Engineer` – replacing Marmite man, Roberto Mancini.
The Hornets have of course brought in Beppe Sannino in place of Gianfranco Zola, a change which came about thanks to a run of form in total antithesis to the same period last year.
City head into this tie off the back of an imperious run of form, unbeaten in 18 with 16 wins and two draws recorded in that period, not to mention the equally impressive feat of becoming the quickest English side of all time to score 100 goals in a season.
What Pellegrini has achieved by transforming a side defined by petty squables and in-fighting into the most watchable, most potent side in the land in seven short months has been wholly impressive.
In March, the Citizens will return to Wembley to compete against Sunderland for the first silverware of the season in the League Cup final having dispatched of West Ham to the tune of nine unanswered goals in the semi-final.
The smart money says that one way or another, Pellegrini will get off to the ideal start in his hunt for ‘five trophies in five years`, the mandate ominously set by the club`s Abu Dhabi owners.
Indeed, despite being behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race and with Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, skipper Vincent Kompany says the quadruple ‘will happen`.
The Belgian`s confidence is far from misplaced. City have arguably the most talented group of players to ever grace the Premier League and with the camp now in harmony once more, it`s little surprise they are flying.
The tweaks made by Pellegrini have allowed for a more exciting, more free-flowing Manchester City and has also seen his three main strikers, Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko each pass the 15-goal barrier, with Aguero and Negredo both passing the 20 goal mark for the season in all competitions – that despite Aguero missing a good chunk of the campaign to date through injury. An honourable mention should also go to Yaya Toure, too, with the Ivorian powerhouse helping himself to 14 goals from midfield.
The signing of Negredo from Sevilla has proven a masterstroke by Pellegrini, with the 28 year-old not only picking up the slack whilst ‘SuperKun` was sidelined, but also forming a deadly partnership with the son-in-law of ‘El Diez`, Diego Maradona.
Signed in a £16m deal from Sevilla, Negredo has not only kick-started something of a renaissance for the strike partnership in the Premier League, but has also proven that big men aren`t just for winning knock-downs or bringing others into play.
Nicknamed ‘El Fierra de Vallecas` (The Beast of Vallecas), 6ft1in Negredo also boasts an impressive goalscoring record for Spain, with 10 goals from 21 outings for ‘La Roja`.
Starting out in Madrid with Rayo Vallecano, Negredo impressed chiefly with Rayo`s B side before moving to Real Madrid`s B side, where his form in the Segunda Division earned him a handful of call-ups to the first-team under Fabio Capello.
With chances of a breakthrough at the Bernabeu slim, Negredo first joined Almeria and then Sevilla, boasting excellent records with both, whilst winning the 2010 Copa del Rey with the latter.
If Negredo is – as feared- unavailable for the tie, goalscoring duties with fall to Bosnian international Dzeko, who appears to have come to accept his role as City`s third-choice forward, whilst still providing a case to suggest he should be used more frequently by Pellegrini.
Signed from Wolfsburg for £27m in January 2011, Dzeko never established himself as a starter under Mancini, but a return of 36 Premier League strikes in 50 starts is no mean feat, a further 20 goals in 34 cup and European outings testament to the 6ft4in hitman`s unerring accuracy in front of goal.
With 33 goals in 58 appearances for Bosnia & Herzegovina, Dzeko was a driving force in helping the former Yugoslav minnows to this summer`s World Cup in Brazil, scoring 10 times to take his nation to their first-ever major tournament.
Negredo is a doubt for Saturday due to a shoulder problem picked up against West Ham, meaning Pellegrini will be forced into a re-shuffle if the Spaniard doesn`t make it. Samir Nasri is definitely sidelined with knee ligament damage.
Youngster Marcos Lopes impressed against West Ham on Tuesday and could be involved once more.
Watford have Fitz Hall and Alexander Merkel suspended, whilst Mathias Ranegie is working his way back to fitness still.
Iriney and Lewis McGugan were withdrawn at Bournemouth due to injury, with updates due on both.
Essaid Belkalem, Tommie Hoban and Reece Brown are still injured.
Predicted line-ups:
Manchester City: Pantilimon; Richards, Boyata, Lescott, Clichy; Milner (capt), Garcia, Fernandinho, Lopes; Aguero & Dzeko.
Watford: Almunia (capt); Doyley, Angella, Ekstrand; Faraoni, Murray, Battocchio, Abdi, Pudil; Deeney & Fabbrini.
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Mr K Friend
Commentary: BBC Three Counties & Hornets Player
Highlights: ITV @ 22.45 & Hornets Player
