Heroes likely to be rested against The Millers

Not wishing to take our South Yorkshire visitors nor this competition lightly at all, but the players who played so very well in last Thursday’s, high intensity & crucial Premier League clash deserve a weekend break.

Of course, we still need to field ‘an 11’ & subs in order to attempt to progress to the 4^th round so it’ll be interesting – ahead also of a semi-final 1^st leg in the League Cup on Wednesday – who starts and who gets omitted completed from the 18.

v Rotherham United

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sterling________________________________Mahrez

___________Foden__________De Bruyne__________

__________________Gundogan__________________

Zinchenko______________________________Walker

_____________Garcia______Otamendi____________

____________________Muric____________________

Subs: Ederson, Danilo, Humphreys, Fernandinho, D. Silva, Sane, Aguero.

Should we progress, I’m not suggesting that Aro will be in net for other rounds in the F.A. Cup but I’m pretty confident that he’ll start in this 3^rd round home tie and why not.

Aro Muric

The most likely back-4 for me looks like Oleksandr in at left-wing back with Kyle returning to the opposite defensive flank and, renewing their central defensive partnership from our League Cup victory over Leicester, is likely to be Eric & Nicholas.

Eric Garcia in action in his last, first-team outing

Ilkay is most probably our deepest midfield with the fresh legs of Phil, Kevin & Riyad ahead of him. I can only think that Raheem will be asked to go again on the left flank, this time, of that attacking 4 (5).

Gabriel to get a stab at this one up front.

Ederson the reserve keeper; Danilo & Cameron the likely defensive options from the side. Needing a rest but there if needed for defensive midfield duties is arguably last game’s MotM Fernandinho with David, Leroy & Sergio the more attacking choices from the 7 should that department need a change at some point.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured long-term / likely for the rest of the season.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Injured for around another 7 weeks.

-       Vincent Kompany – Not selected / rested.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Not selected / rested.

-       John Stones – Not selected / rested.

-       Fabian Delph – Serving the 3^rd of a 3-match ban.

-       Brahim Diaz – With reports that the young midfielder has all-but-left the club, I can’t see him featuring in this one, even as a farewell game.

-       Bernardo Silva – Not selected / rested.

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

Looks good to me!

Result? Our visitors are having a poor season and although they managed a win in their last Championship game at home to Preston North End, it was their first league win since 3^rd November 2018, which was a same scoreline victory at home to Swansea City.

They leak like crazy too, 41 in their 26 league games so far.

However, this is the cup and we should not take anything for granted. I’m sure Paul Warne - in his 3^rd season as a Manager at the New York Stadium after 2 long spells as a player - will have ‘em fired up for it. But it’s a home win for me.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Very dull / dreary but with little chance of any rain and 9C isn’t too bad.