Oxford United…again.

Strange how football often throws up coincidences – although it was in the 3^rd round last season; we find ourselves facing the same team, at the same ground and in the same competition as we do tonight.

Sorry for the late posting – been busy…

v Oxford United

Kassam Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

____________________Jesus____________________

Zinchenko______________________________Mahrez

___________Foden___________De Bruyne_________

__________________Gundogan__________________

Angelino_______________________________Cancelo

____________Garcia_________Otamendi___________

____________________Bravo_____________________

Subs: Carson, Mendy, Walker, Harwood-Bellis, Rodri, Bernabe, Sterling.

Claudio ‘in goal’ for this one.

Changes to the back 4, I think, will look like Angelino, Eric, Nicolas & Joao.

Ilkay to be given the midfield, deeper-holding role.

I’ve got a feeling that ‘the boss’ will give some attacking freedom to Oleksandr on the left wing; a position more familiar in his even-younger days for the just-turned 23-year old. Riyad on the opposite, attacking flank with, I think, Phil & Kevin in the middle to start off with.

Gabriel to ‘head up’ the attack.

Scott the replacement ‘stopper’ option from the side, with Benjamin, Kyle & Taylor the defensive replacement choices on the bench. Rodders, Adrian & Raheem provide a midfield / attacking department in ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Ederson – Not selected.

-       Aymeric Laporte – From last we heard; the timescale for his return should be about 4-½ to 6-weeks away from a return.

-       John Stones – Injured…and still no update as-to-how-long.

-       Fernandinho – Not selected / rested / protected.

-       David Silva – Still not fully recovered from a knock, by all accounts…but I suspect he’s being ‘primed’ for a weekend return.
- Bernardo Silva - Not selected / rested / protected.

-       Leroy Sane – Back in training! Could be looking at an early January return?

-       Sergio Aguero – Still considered injured for this one but, like David, I’ve got a feeling he may have been training secretly and might be available for the weekend too.

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

Yeah, I’d be fine with that.

Result? Our League One hosts are the top scorers in their division with 37 from 19 games and just 5 defeats from those 19 sees them sitting just two places and 1-points of the play-offs; with a game-in-hand over most above them.

However, some big wins and some good away wins too have been recently replaced by draws, as they’ve dropped off the pace in League One a little. Still, I think The Us will provide a stiff test at home as well as some threatening moments (and see the weather forecast below) – I think they might nick a goal…

Oxford's top goal-scorer / assist king, James Henry, could miss tonight's game through injury.

However again, as long as we show ‘grit & graft’ on a wet night / slippy pitch, I think we’ll have too much for ‘em ‘over the 90’ and will progress to the semi-final. An away win.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: A strong, southerly breeze also sees rain turning to heavy rain as the game progresses. Could be a game 'equalising factor’. It’s a milder wind though, at least, at 9 or 10C…