I’m seeing nothing about our manager holding a pre-match press
conference ahead of tomorrow night’s game, so I’m sticking this blog-posting
out now…
 |
| Etihad Stadium |
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____________________
__________________Gundogan__________________
_____________________Bravo____________________
Claudio steps in to wear the gloves for this one.
I think we’ll certainly see a change to the wing backs from last
Saturday, with Angelino & Kyle in for Mendy & Cancelo. However, I’m
just not sure what Pep’s thinking might be
with regards to the central defensive pair. With options limited even MORE following the sending off of Fernandinho
last Saturday; on the one hand, he could well use this competition - and
home-tie - to stick Garcia and Harwood-Bellis together
for a much-needed go in the first team. I know that would certainly thrill a
lot of City fans to see that bravery / trust from our manager against a Premier League side and with the issues that we’ve
had at the back since Vincent Kompany’s
departure in the summer. I’d like to see it to, tomorrow evening, but this
is a “prediction” from me and I just feel that Guardiola will want to use
Tuesday night’s game to say to John & Nicolas, “Go out there and show me
that you can work well as a pair”. Sort of a…last chance before other options at
central defence start to trickle back for us over time, if you like. I could well be wrong, of course.
I think Ilkay (to ‘go again’) will be asked to
patrol in front of whoever it might be, with an attacking / creative 4
of Raheem (to ‘go again’), Phil (brought in), Kevin (to ‘go again’) & Riyad (brought in) ahead of the German.
Sergio to come back in with the rotation as it is with his striking
partner, I would think.
Scott should be the reserve stopper for this game; Benjamin, Joao
and Eric the defensive replacement choices from ‘the 7’. Bernardo & Gabriel
might be joined by young, left-winger Jayden, I have a little hunch about,
and if so - and the game suits - that should give us the option of resting / protecting
Raheem fairly early on in the second half, at least.
So, if I’m right, we do have some youth
included either in the starting 11 or on the bench, in the form of Angelino, Foden,
Garcia & Braaf.
Notable
absences:
- Fernandinho – Suspended for this game following ‘2
yellows’ at the weekend.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Despite what I’ve said
about the 2 central defensive positions, I do actually. A decent mix and a
chance to rest / rotate & test a few ahead of our next league game which,
as my headline suggest, is against the same opponents at the same venue on
Saturday (3pm GMT).
Result?
I actually don’t know how I feel about facing a team who’ve just been WHALLOPED 0-9 at
home just 4 days earlier. On the one hand, they could-well, still be shell-shocked
and may have been looking at each other for who to blame; leaving a sour taste
in the camp and doubts about the manager, perhaps (it’s all me speculating, of course).
On the other hand, they may well spend at
least 3 of those 4 days analysing and training hard to ensure that they don’t
make whatever mistakes they may have made
last Friday again; especially when-facing a as free-scoring
as we can be. We could,
therefore, be facing 2, very-tough defensive walls to break down; even harder
than we’ve been used to!
However, having said all of that, this is the
League Cup and I can see their manager having a look through his fingers at
the league table and see that his team are already looking like they’re gonna enter
a relegation scrap if they don’t turn things around ‘big time’ and quickly. Therefore,
I can see them-also making personnel changes in preparation for meeting us again
in the league fixture just 4 days later and for that reason alone, I think this’ll
be a home win.
We might have to be patient again just
as we had to be last Saturday (perhaps not) but either way, this is a home win
and progression into the next round for me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during
the game: Chilly, at 6 or 7C for sure, but nice and dry! Warm coat, gloves and a hot pie and it should be a lovely night for watching footy under the floodlights.
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