Andy's Monday tips - Man City to triumph
Our top tipster Andy Gray offers his verdict on the final game of matchday 18...
Manchester City v Everton
It's testament to Roberto Mancini the manager and Mancini the man that despite everything that has happened at the football club this year, his side are still sitting in third place and very much in this title race.
We've had Roque Santa Cruz saying he wants to leave, players scrapping in training, Mario Balotelli just being Mario Balotelli and now Carlos Tevez and his agents coming up with a different reason everyday as to why he wants to leave Eastlands.
I'm not surprised the Italian's hair is getting a little greyer every time I see him with all this going on, but I think his handling of it all deserves a little more credit than he sometimes gets. One thing we know about Carlos Tevez is that irrespective of what he goes around saying off the pitch, he gives it his all once he steps across that white line.
I wonder what the likes of Jo and Santa Cruz make of the team captain behaving the way he does and then walking straight into the starting line-up but he's Mancini's best player and most consistent performer and while he's still there, you can't blame him for playing him.
The goals have dried up for Everton and David Moyes knows he's got serious problems in this area. Attacking options such as Yakubu, Louis Saha, Jermaine Beckford and Victor Anichebe sound good on paper but they're simply not scoring and as has so often been the case over the years, the side is reliant on the goals of midfielder Tim Cahill.
How they'll cope without him when he goes off to play in the Asia Cup is of course a concern for another day but ahead of this one, Moyes will have to hope Cahill comes good if they're to have any chance of taking anything from Manchester City.
Whatever problems Manchester City have off the field, they seem to be coping on it and I'm left with no choice but to let my head rule over my heart and predict yet another win for Mancini's troops with the man at the centre of this latest storm going back to doing what he does best.
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Back Manchester City to win at [1.76]
Back Manchester City to win 2-1 at [9.0]
Back Carlos Tevez to score first at [6.0]
Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.
Published: 20 Dec 2010
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