Tuesday 15 March 2016

Possible history-making tonight – predictions v Dynamo Kyiv



Premier League almost ‘shot’ in terms of us-having a chance at 1st place (following Leicester City’s 1-0 win last night); there’s now, in fact, a bit of a scrap for 2nd to 4th brewing nicely. But, for now at least, it’s 'all focus' on the Champions League.


v Dynamo Kyiv

 


Predicted line-up, subs and outcome…

4-5-1:

____________________Aguero____________________





_____________________Toure____________________

Sterling___________________________________Silva
_________________________Fernandinho___________

_____________Fernando__________________________







______________________Hart______________________



Notable absences: Martin Demichelis (not selected), Kevin De Bruyne (injured), Fabian Delph (injured), and Samir Nasri (injured)…all 3 injured players, however, are about to step-up their return to first team action soon by participating in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break, which starts just after our weekend Manchester v Trafford match.

Hart to continue in net.

Having just played on Saturday and with the game against Manyoo coming up on Sunday, I’m going for our manager to rotate both the left & right-backs, with Aleks & Pablo 'stepping in'. However, as important as this game / progression is, I don’t think they’ll be a rest for the two centre backs.

Neither do I believe there’ll be a rest for Fernando, Fernandinho or David across the middle; although we should see fresh legs [from last Saturday] in Raheem and the return-from-injury Yaya.

Sergio to continue up front.

Willy as keeper insurance; played-at-Norwich pairing Gael & Bacary to, possibly, sit on the side for this one, with Mangala returning to the bench also. Attacking options likely to be Jesus, Bony & Kelechi.

Do I agree with Pellegrini’s (predicted) line-up?


Little bit concerned about playing more-attack minded Kolarov against a side needing to ‘come at us’ but, apart from that, I’m happy.

Result? I think they’ll score one – hopefully no more than one – but I think we’ll score too (and / or two). A home win; a win over the two legs, of course, and progression into the quarter finals for the first time in our history!



2 comments:

  1. Hi Steve...
    Does it seem like that, offensively, everything is random? After watching the match Sunday, I could only find a couple good chances out of the 26 shots. Mostly just desperate shots from outside the area.
    Gary Beesley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gary.

      I think the problem is 2-fold.

      1. No City fan I've spoken to can understand, whenever we need more 'punch' up front, why Pellegrini seems to be insisting on using Bony instead of Iheanacho. Not only does the youngster have more goals and assists than Bony but he's far more fluid and runs the line better.

      2. Our play in general, this season, has been more slow and 'plodding' and less free-flowing and devastating in attack. This often means that with Sergio playing as a lone striker most of the time often then gets surrounded / swamped by defender before any serious support arrives. I'll also stick in there 'THE' most frustrating winger in Jesus Navas; one with bags of pace and energy but 'THE' worst finisher for a forward I've ever seen and one who just CANNOT cross a ball 95% or more of the time. That doesn't help...

      Thanks for continuing to read and for commenting again Gary. Hope you are well. I'm about to release a fairly big piece about our 8-game, league run-in...

      Delete