Source: Man_City
Holden: Release Johnson and Silva
| Submit Comments| Comments (58)| Printable Version1/1Play SlideshowClose MapSelection head-aches come with the territory as City boss these days? 25 world-class players divided by 11 first-team shirts would be enough to give Albert Einstein sleepless nights, but it?s the challenge facing Roberto Mancini as he plots the Blues? title charge. The Italian has already shown he is a firm believer in the fashionable and fluid 4-3-3 formation and while the spine of Vincent Kompany, Nigel de Jong and Carlos Tevez all but pick themselves, other pitch battles are less clear cut. Not least the Anglo-Spanish war for a place on the right of the forward three, with Adam Johnson and David Silva both vying to get the nod. It?s been very much either-or so far this season with the pair starting together just twice, in the 3-1 win over Lech Poznan in the Europa League and the goalless draw with Birmingham. But even with a wealth of attacking talent ? including Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Jo and Roque Santa Cruz ? former City winger Rick Holden insists there?s room for both in Mancini?s dream team. ?I think they should both play,? said Holden. ?Wingers are almost impossible to mark when you?ve got one on either side. ?The trend at the moment seems to be for wingers to come inside and mess around with the ball on the edge of the box like Argentina, but I would like to see it go wide and the wingers putting crosses into the box. ?I?d much rather see Johnson play on his natural side,? he added. ?Mancini prefers to have him on the right and cutting in which is all very well but if that?s how he?s going to play, he needs to learn to get round the outside and cross the ball with his right foot.? Holden has been impressed with Silva since making his £24m switch from Valencia in the summer. The diminutive Spaniard is starting to look like value for money after taking time to come to terms with the rough and ready Premier League and Holden insists Johnson can learn a lot from his rival. ?David is electric,? he said. ?He?s vastly experienced and he?s got a World Cup-winner?s medal. ?Spain keep producing these tiny players like Iniesta, Xavi, Villa and Silva and they?re all fantastic, especially the way they pass the ball and create openings. He?s the ideal person for Johnson to learn from. ?The wing can be a lonely old place when you?re not getting the ball,? he added. ?You?re relying on someone to give you the ball and the minute you go looking for it, you?ll be in the wrong place. ?You need to have a very strong mentality to play on the wing.? While Silva took time to settle into life at Eastlands, Johnson was an instant hit after his step up from Middlesbrough. He turned Fabio Capello?s head sufficiently to flirt with England?s World Cup squad, but despite his meteoric rise Holden insists he?s not the finished article. ?I think he?s done well,? said Holden. ?He?s come from a poor Middlesbrough team and become a Premier League star almost overnight. He?s come from nowhere and it?s almost unheard of these days. ?I?m pleased that he seems to want to be a winger,? he added.
