Manchester City vs. Newcastle: Tactical Preview of Capital One Cup Clash

The Capital One Cup madness continues on Wednesday evening as Manchester City host Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

It stands a fixture the Magpies rarely win; their most recent in a string of losses to the Citizens came on the opening day of the season at St. James' Park despite a bright start and performance.

Can Alan Pardew spring an upset here?

Manchester City Setup

City, despite their overbearing qualities and depth, are not performing to the expected standard so far this season.

"I think we must improve in general, not just talking about the defending," Manuel Pellegrini told The Guardian ahead of the game. "We must create more chances, we must score more goals. We are working on that and I am absolutely sure we will return to be the same team we were in the most important part of last season."

@stighefootball

The only injury concern on City's books for this one is Frank Lampard, who is definitely out with a thigh injury. Samir Nasri could return from a niggling ailment, and it appears the perfect stage on which to do so.

Squad rotation from Sunday is expected.

Newcastle Setup

Per Sky Sports, Papiss Cisse, Emmanuel Riviere, Mike Williamson and Cheick Tiote will all be absent. Playmaker Siem de Jong and full-back Davide Santon are "long-term absentees."

It means the Magpies could line up in a similar fashion to how they did against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, but bare in mind Pardew has a track record of weakening the side for the cup exhibitions.

@stighefootball

A one-striker formation is expected unless someone such as Adam Armstrong comes in for a surprise role, while Sammy Ameobi and Remy Cabella will both be in with a shout of a start given their good play this weekend.

Ultimately, Pardew is simply happy to still be in a job. He told Chronicle Live: "As much criticism as I have had, I’ve also had some great backing [from the players]. We’ve got young players who are learning their trade and I’m learning about them."

Key Point 1: Remy Cabella

Remy Cabella came off the bench on Sunday and teed up Ayoze Perez's winning goal, impressing in his 30-minute cameo. He began the season as a shoo-in for the XI, but Newcastle have found a workmanlike efficiency in his absence and have begun winning games.

The question is whether or not he comes in for a start here. A rotated lineup is expected, but Cabella somewhat messes with the game plan Pardew will want to install.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

With respect to the Frenchman, he's no use to his own side off the ball. A luxury, quality creator he may be, but in no way is he suited to playing wide—or perhaps even centrally—against Manchester City.

If he plays, it has to be from a central berth and not from the right or left. He played from the right against Aston Villa earlier in the season and had to move because Aly Cissokho was running right past him. Moussa Sissoko took his place and tracked his runners; Cabella, up until that point, showed no willing.

Now, replace Aly Cissokho with the left-sided tandem of Aleksandar Kolarov and David Silva/Samir Nasri, and imagine the bloodshed should Cabella feature wide.

Key Point 2: Defensive Uncertainties

City have struggled defensively this season, conceding 17 goals in 14 games overall, per Sky Sports. It's largely been attributed to Eliaquim Mangala's rocky start, but Pellegrini intimated to The Guardian before the game that an inconsistent line is an issue:

Mail.ru

"

The same happened with Demichelis last year—remember all the criticism for him after he just arrived in the Premier League? Vincent was playing sometime with Martin, sometimes with Joleon Lescott, sometimes with Matija Nastasic.

"

Demichelis and Mangala are different players, and while the latter is struggling, the rotating door next to Vincent Kompany is perhaps the bigger issue. A positive Newcastle side can expose the partnership with pressure and direct runs. Several sides have worried Mangala on the ball, and West Ham ran past him as if he wasn't there on Saturday.

Follow @stighefootball

Thanks to those who read my work and voted for me. I made the finalists list of the 2014 Footballing Blogging Awards. If you have a spare moment and the inclination to vote, I ask you to do so again in the final round.

You can vote by simply clicking here: http://bit.ly/1yyx7Om