…ex-Manchester City player Nigel Clough, we should also look to put ourselves into a strong, winning position in this, the 1st leg of the League Cup semi-final.
v Burton Albion
 |
| 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:
___________________Aguero____________________
_________________Fernandinho_________________
____________________Muric____________________
Banana-skin grounds and quick-fire fixtures…
I think we’ll see Pep field a strong
team against Burton and why? Well, firstly, in a two-legged game we don’t want
to be going to the Pirelli Stadium with a
close score-line or, worse, needing a
win to go through – just look at some of the results in the last round of results in the F.A. Cup!
Secondly, if we attempt to put this leg all-but out of sight then we can
afford to crucially-rest some players in the return leg; with an away league
game just 2-½ days before our trip to Staffordshire
and with an F.A. Cup game against Premier League opposition just 3-½ days after
that!
So, if I’m right…
It looks like Aro is being given this competition, having not featured
in last Sunday’s other cup game, and starts in net.
I think we’ll see red-card-returning Fabian have a pop at the left-wing
back slot for this one and before Benny’s return towards the end of January,
with Danilo likely to start on the opposite flank of the defence. Aymeric &
Vinny provide a strong pairing in-between those.
Fernandinho is probably good to get them legs going again for another 70’ish-minute
run out and ahead of him in a more attacking role is the very strong quartet of
Leroy, David, Bernardo & Raheem.
I’m going for Sergio to make a return for this one too and, like
Fernandinho, would be looking at a 65 to 75-minute game.
Ederson to ‘kick back’ on the side with Kyle & John ready to come
off the bench to make any defensive changes. Ilkay, Phil & Riyad provide
midfield & wing replacement options and Gabriel will hope to-either replace
or play up front with Sergio at some stage.
Notable
absences:
-
Benjamin Mendy – An injury update has revealed
the left-wing back to be closer to 2 to 3 weeks away from a return, rather than an
initial forecast, at this stage, of around 7 weeks. The big, attacking
French international is currently training alone but is apparently making good recovery-progress.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Huff…if I’m right and those
players play like they would against Premier League opposition then God help
our visitors! I sure do.
Result?
Again, it’s all about the attitude of our players in competitions like this and
although we sure went at it against Rotherham recently and it’s not in Pep’s nature
to allow his players to drop their effort nor standards; I have seen us do so
from time to time when faced with lower league oppo.
I’m betting, however, that we’re gonna be up
for it and, if so, it’s a big home win from me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during
the game: Cold (2C) but with no breeze nor wet stuff falling from the sky. Nice night for a game of footy in fact.
No comments:
Post a Comment