Predicting Manchester City's First-Choice Starting XI, Tactics for 2012-13

Manchester City have been unusually quiet this summer, and while Roberto Mancini bemoans a lack of signings, it simply signals to the rest of the league that they are quietly content with their elite squad.

Only careful, quality additions are required for this team and, by the looks of it, we'll only see two or three new faces through the door at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

With that in mind, let's have a look at how City could line up come the opening fixture against Southampton, and indeed with regularity across the majority of the 2012-13 season.

Tactics

Mancini was the most tactically flexible manager in the English Premier League last season, showing willingness to change and the ability to make astute decisions when it mattered the most.

That being said, Manchester City have an identifiable base formation, and with limited summer moves, we should see a similar starting XI to the one present toward the tail end of last season.

It's difficult to predict the opening day's lineup in preseason for a number of reasons, but in conversation with Manchester City's official site player profiler, Daniel Morehead, the above diagram depicts what we thrashed out.

The 4-2-3-1 formation, or loose variations of it, has been a favourite of Mancini's since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium.

It was defensive in the first season, but as the Italian has acquired the players he's wanted over the past two seasons, his system has become fully expansive and is now riddled with attacking intent.

Despite dogged speculation that Nigel de Jong will leave (via Goal.com), the likeliness is that he'll still be donning a sky blue shirt next season. Edin Dzeko remains on the bench, while Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli have the capacity to swap positions on the field.

Incoming players

At the time of writing, City are yet to add a single new face to their squad.

When I previewed the Citizens' top summer targets and how they'd fit into Mancini's squad, two things became abundantly clear.

First of all, the dearth of links suggests everyone agrees City have a top, top squad that requires minimal maintenance. Second, the players who are linked would slot easily into the current 4-2-3-1 formation Mancini employs.

No dramatic changes, no theatrical overhauls.

Daniele De Rossi would slot into Yaya Toure's roaming midfield role, de Jong's anchor role or fill in at central defence with ease. Javi Martinez would fill in as a surging centre-back or anchor midfielder.

Robin van Persie is a player very much used to neat and tidy football, so swapping Arsenal's red for City's blue should be a seamless transition for the Dutchman.

Conclusion

The squad is immensely strong, so only top-tier recruits will cut it. It seems City are more likely to trim the fat this summer and the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz will be finding new permanent homes. 

Central defence is a weakness beyond the starting pair, though, as Stefan Savic cannot be trusted and Kolo Toure doesn't cut it any longer. Darren Lewis at The Mirror reckons Daniel Agger is a £13 million target—and that link makes perfect sense.