…is the marching sound of these strange times at the moment; as alternate competitions early on in the season continue to fly at us at a fair ol’ rate of knots.
With changes in ‘the 11’ inevitable, it’s not exactly a game to get that last, disastrous result ‘out of our system’. But a victory over a Premier League side and progression to the 5th round of the League Cup might just act as a small dose of tonic before we march on back into league action away at Leeds United on Saturday.
v Burnley
 |
| Turf Moor |
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
_____________________Delap_____________________
___Foden______________________________Torres___
_____________Doyle__________Palmer_____________
__________________Fernandinho__________________
Zinchenko_________________________________Garcia
____________Laporte_________Harwood-Bellis______
_____________________Steffen____________________
Subs: Carson, Mendy, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Sterling, Mahrez.
It seems like ‘pass the parcel’ at the moment - Zack gets handed back the gloves for this one.
Having been given an early, unexpected place on the bench last Sunday; Oleksandr should return from muscular injury to make his first season start at left-wing. SURELY Pep has to give Kyle Walker a rest now before our weekend league fixture and if so, I can only think that Eric will be asked to both ‘go again’ and cover in that position, as Guardiola doesn’t appear to be dipping into the EDS for right-wing backs in such circumstances. I don’t think there’s much doubt that Taylor will get another start in this competition in the middle of the defence and I suspect that we might see Aymeric get his first start of the season, following Covid-19 isolation, to partner the 18-year old Stockport lad.
Having been withdrawn as early as 51 minutes last Sunday, I’m going for Fernandinho to ‘get the nod’ as our one & only defensive midfielder.
Ahead of the Brazilian, a couple of lads whose combined age is just 36 – Tommy and possibly making his first-team debut, is Wythenshawe born Cole. Phil could well be asked to start another game, which is likely to be a role that sees him coming in from the left wing with, surely, Ferran starting on the attacking right.
Liam to be the recipient of some considerable creativity from the midfield / wing departments.
Scott gets his second ‘bench spot’ in a week; Benjamin & Nathan make up the only defensive change-option from the side. Rodders, Kevin, Raheem & Riyad are the midfield & wing choices from ‘the 7’.
Notable absences:
- Ederson – Not selected / rested.
- Joao Cancelo – Out until about mid-October with a foot injury.
- Kyle Walker – Not selected / rested / protected.
- John Stones – I’m just not sure. The last time I heard he was deemed as not fit enough to be in the [last] match-day squad. Does that mean that he wasn’t really fit enough when he faced Wolves the other week? I don’t get it…
- Bernardo Silva – Out until about mid-October with a quadriceps strain.
- Ilkay Gundogan – In Covid-19 isolation up to and including 30.09.2020, so this should be the last game he’ll be missing for, in relation to the Coronavirus at least. However, as was the case with Laporte, Ilkay may-then-have-to take time to get his fitness levels up, so he may-not-necessarily be available for Saturday’s game.
- Gabriel Jesus – Out until at least mid-October with a muscular injury.
- Sergio Aguero – Training alone / recovering slowly from knee surgery. Expected to return around early-to-mid November.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Well, it’s not ideal in some ways but I’d have to say, yes.
Foden is most-definitely more effective when-playing more centrally, in my opinion, and although Garcia has covered at right-wing back before; don’t be expecting lung-busting runs up & down the wing, Kyle style, to support the attacking play & defend in equal measures.
As for the other flank, we can only hope that Oleksandr is fit enough to play at least 60 minutes in his first game back, should he start of course.
I think it’s definitely right to give Tommy Doyle & Ferran Torres staring places in this fixture and to give Cole Palmer his debut too.
Result? It’s really hard to call this one.
If Sean Dyche decides to put out a strong side containing mostly ‘first 11s’, then I can see us struggling a little with that young and, in some ways, adaptive team.
If our hosting manager deploys a ‘mixed bag’ or even a very-much-weakened side and our guys put on a good display – particularly from Ferran, Phil & Liam - then I can see us winning this encounter in normal time.
So...I’m ‘fence sitting’. I’m going for a draw after 90 minutes and, therefore, it’s anyone’s penalty shoot-out to win which, of course, I’m just not gonna attempt to predict.
Another League Cup game I’m not going to be able to watch for more reasons than one… ☹
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during the game: Wet, breezy & chilly. Light rain continues during the match; following all-day rain that’s gonna leave a soggy pitch for sure. 12C is the late September temperature for this fixture.
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