For a creative midfielder why not try Silva in a more creative role in the centre (which he can do and has done before) have de Jong and Toure behind him and Johnson and Balotelli/Aguero on the wings:

------------DeJong----------Toure----------
--Balotelli----------Silva----------Johnson----
-----------------------Aguero---------------------

?

Isn't Silva your creative midfielder?

Hilderbrand who was spotted on CityTV and Nasri... then if Tevez leaves a swap deal with Snejider... God I can remeber being excited about Musampa..

Ahh Musampa!

Over reliance on Silva was a problem last season, 99% of anything creative we did had to come through him.

I don't think there's any chance that Mancini will change the midfield set up of two DMs, Yaya in an advanced central role, Silva on the left, but there is a position available on the right.

If you read an article I recently wrote, you'll see why I don't fancy Adam Johnson for that role. Balotelli is also another option, but can we rely on him for the whole season?

Last season our midfield was tired and stretched when we were still in the Europa League, so far we have done nothing to address this and add depth to this department, and we have in fact lost Viera.

Ideally we would clone David Silva and have two on the pitch, but another player in his mould, one on either side of Yaya, could absolutely run most oppositions midfields and defences ragged.

Well for what it is worth I think Nasri will replace Barry, meaning Yaya will move back(for the tougher matches Milner for Nasri.)

I thought it was Berti that you were excited for

Glauber Berti?

I'd put in Milner for Barry, and then Nasri and Silva on either side of Yaya.

Think it's time we wafted 25m under the Gooner's noses and see what Wenger has to say about that.

In terms of a keeper, I'm a big fan of Cudacini but I think he's just signed a new contract with the Spuds, probably go for Sorenson or Gordon...

Is there any other Berti

Nope

I still love Berti!!

Up there with Salifou is the biggest Premier League legends

I was there when Berti played

so was i, bolton at home, when the great caicedo scored!

... Apparently we're supposed to feel guilty about going from that, to where we are now

I miss Berti

Time to look for the Berti thread on BlueMoon..

Anyone going to wembley next week?
I'm intrigued to see if the southerners will do that fire drill thingy again

Paul
I am going less than 60 squid to see another trophy(hopefully) you going mate?

I like to think there's a bit of Bertie in all of us

I'm not making the trip, already booked off for Bolton away and August is going to be an expensive month as it is without paying £4 a pint in Landan!

Will be watching on the telly though, maybe it will be a bomb threat or gas leak that causes them all to leave this time?

August is going to be an expensive month as it is without paying £4 a pint in Landan!

You could get pi55ed on the train before the match!

Got my ticket online yesterday
What's with the £5 odd booking fee?
Does that go to wembley as we don't normally charge that do we?
I'll be in the Green Man,meeting a couple of blues stranded in Dorset these days who I used to sit with in the north stand at Maine rd years ago
Anyone got season card yet?
No sign of mine yet

I did that in the car down last time, got to the ground and thought I'm not paying that so was sober by the final whistle

No not arrived yet either.

I got our tickets on the phone couldn't get through on line after over 1hr. 15mins on phone. Me and my lad still waiting for our SC's to come.

Cant believe tickets gone on general sale with all categories still open. I know times are hard but how many chances do you get to go to Wemberley.

Hopefully, many more!