IF ONLY MARTIN HAD JURGEN'S JOB...:

Martin O'Neill rejigs Sunderland's backline to stifle Manchester City: The Sunderland manager's choice of full-backs proved a masterstroke as his side squeezed out an unlikely win (David Pleat, 1/01/12, guardian.co.uk)

The Sunderland manager, Martin O'Neill, offers instructions to his side during their win over Manchester City. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images Martin O'Neill has deservedly earned a reputation of utilising his resources to maximum effect at every club he has visited on his managerial journey from Shepshed to Sunderland. This dramatic result will stand out as one of his finest moments. Selecting Craig Gardner and Jack Colback as his emergency full-backs proved a masterstroke.

Deprived of resources through injury and illness he arranged his men into unlikely areas and, with big hearts and fantastic covering, they denied their technically superior opponents.

One would expect Sunderland to look in dire need of a striker, but City?