Back to proper footy…

Glad all that international **** is over. Let’s get back to it…

v Fulham.

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 9/11

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (sometimes 2-7-1):

____________________Aguero____________________

Sterling_________________________________B. Silva

____________D.Silva________Gundogan___________

__________________Fernandinho__________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

____________Kompany________Laporte____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Muric, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus.

Ederson in between the sticks.

Vinny likely to take his place in the middle of the defence and joined, I would think also, by Aymeric. The flanking “defenders”, we’ll call them, should be Benjamin & Kyle.

Fernandinho to sit in front of those and I think the likely attacking quartet ahead of our Brazilian will be Raheem, David, Ilkay & Bernardo.

Sergio to head all of those.

Aro the back-up stopper; John & Nicholas the defensive replacement options. Fabian as cover for both midfield and at left wing-back if needed with Riyad, Leroy & Gabriel the more attacking options from the side.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured, long-term and possibly the rest of the season.

-       Danilo: On his way back from injury / back in light training / not quite ready (but good news as extra cover on both defensive flanks in the near future, all being well).

-       Phil Foden – Not selected.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko: Not selected.

-       Kevin De Bruyne: Injured for around another 8 weeks.

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

No probs with that.

Result? I like the look of Fulham and they do have a few tasty players who could cause us some issues if we’re not careful in defending. I can see them nipping a goal against us but I’d be very surprised if we didn’t win this one, which is what I’m going for.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Not a BAD day; mostly overcast but with little chance of any wet stuff. In fact, even the sun might pop out towards the end of the game and at 63F, that’s not a bad temperature for mid-September in the North West of England.