Rest, oxygen tanks, ice baths…and more rest.

Ex-football pros - and even semi-pros who also have to have a “normal job” and play for a non-league side with a heavy, heavy fixture list - are more than likely to ‘sniff’ at the suggestion that our footballing heroes / stars will be suffering this heavy festive fixture list. Indeed, I have recently seen some ex-City players from various eras being interviewed about that very subject and they all pretty-much said the same thing – “Naaagh…get on with it!”.

 

Additionally, ex-pros might also ‘chuck into the mix’ how much they get paid to run around a patch of grass and kick a bag of air and, more relevant, remind us of the sports science and advances in equipment available to the modern footballer.

 

I’m sort of somewhere in between.

Yeah but…

I absolutely get those arguments and, furthermore, that we’re talking about most of ‘em who are in their 20s and are fitter than a butcher’s dog. Additionally, I get the case also that these professionals are, or at least should be, in the game because they LOVE football and, therefore, as long as they’re not injured; should WANT to play every game, regardless of how slightly tired they might be from the last match.

Here’s comes the "however"…

The players I saw interviewed came from eras that was nowhere NEAR the level of such high-intensity football we watch today. Sure, they had to be fit; the ball wasn’t as light and the pitches were more of a challenge. And to add to that, I’m sure they walked into the dressing room both at half and full time with a few more bruises than are “allowed” to happen these days; certainly in pro-football, I’m talking about.

But I think that the fitness levels have to be far, FAR higher than in the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90/00s (the eras those players interviewed were from) – they have to be 'finely tuned athletes' more than they were ever asked to be decades ago.

Then we have Pep’s expectations on top of general athleticism – our boss simply DEMANDS 100% in every training session and in every minute of every game!

Indeed, 2 games in less than 48-hours - or even 2 games in 3 days at Premier League level - is going to test even the fittest footballer and reports, following the Sheffield United game, made a point of noting how ‘low on juice’ Raheem Sterling looked and how ‘leggy’ Kevin De Bruyne was towards the end too.

That’s why I’m hoping that our football club will have those modern science machines running overtime in the 3-day rest our players have been handed; before a game against an in-form, [often] bogey side…

v Everton

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

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

____________________Aguero____________________

Sterling__________________________________Mahrez

___________De Bruyne_______B. Silva_____________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

__________Fernandinho_____Otamendi____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Zinchenko, Cancelo, Stones, Gundogan, D. Silva, Jesus.

According to Pep, the only two players not available injury / fitness wise are the two, long-term patients, Aymeric & Leroy…

Ederson takes the gloves back, following his 1-match ban.

Benjamin, I would think, to get his place back too on the left of the defence; Kyle likely to start again on the other flank and Fernandinho, most-probably, being joined once more with Nicolas in the middle of those.

Rodders has the deeper midfield job with a likely attacking 4 ahead of him of Raheem, Kevin, Bernardo & Riyad, who should all be feeling fresher after a 3-day gap in fixtures.

Sergio likely to retain his place ‘up top’.

Claudio back on the side as the reserve stopper; Oleksandr, unhappy Joao & John the defensive replacement options on the bench. Ilkay, a returning David & well again Gabriel provide the midfield / attacking changes available in ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Aymeric Laporte – Now in light training; the French defender could be joining the rest of the team for full training sessions in about a week to 10-days. From then on, he’s possibly then 2 to 3-weeks away from a return to first team action.

-       Angelino – Not selected.

-       Phil Foden – Not selected…and if he IS left out of the match-day squad and replaced by a just-returning-from-injury David Silva, it could be the biggest kick in the teeth the young England man has ever had; especially as he has also seen so little action over the busy festive period so far.

-       Leroy Sane – Continues to work on his comeback fitness, following serious injury.

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

No, I’d have Zinchenko on the left of the defence. I might also be tempted to let Joao stretch his legs on the opposite side; show us what he can do and give Kyle a break. Can’t see that happening though.

Result? There are always those slight jitters whenever we face Everton; perhaps less so these days and we did do the league double over ‘em last season.

However, under both their Caretaker Manager and current boss; The Toffees are in very good form, with their last-5 league games looking like: W D D W W. In-between those, you can add another D in there in normal time against Leicester City in the League Cup.

Clearly, they’ve found a formula that makes them difficult to beat.

So, I think it’ll be tough and I think they might nick a goal too. But with almost everyone back fit and following an almost 3-day, welcome gap since our last game / victory; I think the sky-blue camp will be feeling buoyed.

I’m forecasting a really good game this evening…and I believe it’ll be 3-points for us.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Remains overcast, cool (6C) with no breeze and dry!

Happy New Year all!