3…is the magic number.

Some might argue that we already have 3 trophies, having won the Community Shield and that debate will go on and on and on. I’m easy with either and I’m just enjoying this wonderful time in general and this season’s marvellous achievements so far.

v Watford.

Wembley

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

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

___________________Aguero_____________________

Sane____________________________________B. Silva

__________D. Silva_____________De Bruyne________

___________________Gundogan___________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

____________Laporte__________Kompany___________

_____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Muric, Danilo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Stirling, Jesus.

There’s a good chance I could slip from recent 9s & 10s out of 11 in my ‘starting 11 predictions’ but what I’m suggesting here is a little shuffle from Pep for this game; respecting the opposition, the competition and realising, of course, the immense opportunity ahead to be the first English men’s football team to complete the domestic treble (or quadruple)…but ALSO rewarding some players who missed / largely missed the final league game of the season last week.

So…

Ederson in net.

I think the back-4 will remain the same also, with Oleksandr & Kyle either side of Aymeric & Vincent.

I think we’ll see Ilkay start again too as the deeper-lying midfielder but, this time, with David joined by the returning Kevin, who should by now have had enough ‘getting back up to speed’ time after his latest injury setback. Either side of that trio, I think Leroy will be given a ‘Thanks for your patience / understanding’ start on the left flank where he should enjoy the open spaces, with Bernardo in his arguably most effective area on the right.

Sergio to be the lucky recipient of all that creativity ‘up top’.

Aro the reserve stopper; Danilo & John the only ones on the side as recognised defenders. I’m sure Fernandinho will be part of ‘the 18’ and I’m guessing, having-had just 2-full days training up to yesterday, that any minutes on the pitch will come via a substitution. Riyad, who had a much better game last weekend, Raheem & Gabriel provide a frightening array of attacking threat from the side.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Travels…but not selected.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Injured.

-       Nicholas Otamendi – Not selected (and could be getting twitchy for a summer move with a lack of playing time this season and most certainly of late).

-       Fabian Delph – Not selected (and unlikely ever to be again for Manchester City, I would say).

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

Against any pacey attack – and, let’s face it, most attacks have some pace in them somewhere across the line; even if it’s not the ‘centre forward’ – I will always be a little twitchy with the older legs of Vinny ‘in there’, especially in the wider spaces the Wembley pitch offers. Would I pick John or Nicholas instead for that reason? Probably not given our skip’s fine form and other attributes that can keep him and the team safe / get him out of trouble. As long as Ilkay & Aymeric look after any “pace issues” I’m fine with that.

I’m also fine with the other 10 and hope that both Kyle keeps his head and recent form going and that Kevin doesn’t OVER do it and lasts nearer ‘the 90’.

Result? Do NOT take these for granted. That’s both my message and one, I hope, Pep will have told his buoyed players.

I watched the Watford v Wolves semi-final as it was a match that intrigued me – one team, Wolves, with excellent organisational and defensive capabilities but, sometimes, lacking REAL firepower; while Watford are much more skilful and pacey in their attacks with goals likely from a number of sources BUT, who, can be quite vulnerable at the back a lot of the time.

Even when The Hornets went 0-2 down to the Midlands club, I just got a feeling that they had it in ‘em to bounce back which, of course, they did to face us. And, of course, it’s the latter set of attacking qualities that we’re facing this evening.

As I’ve already stated, this is why we need Ilkay to be ‘on his guard’, should he start…or might be the reason my predicted 11 is off and we’ll see a return from injury of Fernandinho. It’s definitely something we need to be mindful off, especially with a ‘pumped up’ Troy Deeney spearheading their attack.

But while I’ve gone on long enough about the threat they pose and potential issues we might have in our rearguard, of course they’ll be looking at the attacking 8 of Oleksandr, Kyle, Ilkay, David, Kevin, Leroy, Bernardo & Sergio and might wonder how the HELL they’re gonna keep ‘em out, let alone get the ball for a sustained period in order to generate their own form of assault!

Could be a crackin’ game!

I’m going for a ‘domestic 3’ (4) trophy, City win today.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Little chance of rain in an overcast sky; hardly a breeze and a pleasant 17C / 63F. We might even see the sunshine towards the end of the game and certainly as fans make their way home from HA9.

Hyperlinks to be completed later - I'll miss the flippin' kick off releasing this blog-posting in time at this rate!