Please…not again

We face a side who held us to two draws in the league last season. No repeat of that, PLEASE!

v Southampton

St. Mary's Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (possibly 3-6-1 at times):

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

 

____________Silva_____________De Bruyne________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Ake______________________________________Stones

____________Dias_______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Walker, Laporte, Phillips, Gundogan, Palmer & Alvarez.

Ederson has the gloves.

I think we might see the same 4 starting at the back, which would be Nathan, Ruben, Manuel & John.

There was a lot of talk in the pre-match press conference about Kyle Walker’s strengths & weaknesses as well as the England man’s omission in recent games and when trying to ‘pick the bones’ out of all that was said; Pep hasn’t lost faith in the soon-to-be 33-year old and was, in fact, keen to predict that Kyle would still have pace even when he reaches the age of 63! A very specific number, I thought…

However, our manager made it quite clear that Kyle doesn’t possess the qualities to pop into midfield as both Rico Lewis & John Stones are asked to do, in order to occasionally-join Rodri as ‘a pivot 2’. Instead, Kyle can only play either on the right-side of ‘a 3’ or at right-back / right-wing back in ‘a 4’; the latter which, Pep was also quick to point out, Kyle is the best at.

But when asked what Kyle must do to get back into the starting 11, Pep’s response was to say, be himself and train good…so read into all of that what you want. Perhaps Kyle might have to train SO well that he changes his manager’s mind about how to set up the team tactically, I dunno.

Anyhoo…Rodders to sit just ahead of the back line, either on his own or with an occasional partner from the right-side of our defence.

Ahead of the Spaniard is an attacking quartet of very-much-in-form Jack, Bernardo, Kevin & Riyad.

Erling to start? He has been training for a couple of days and I have little doubt that he will be given some minutes following his recent groin niggle. I’ve just got a feeling that Guardiola might cast his mind back to his starting line-up away at Southampton in the League Cup Quarter Final and recall how he had to throw Haaland, along with Akanji, Ake & De Bruyne, on all at once straight after the break in order to try ‘n’ salvage something from being 2-0 down at half time. I think he might be tempted, therefore, to go with a strong line-up and to ask the big man to start this evening in the hope that he can be withdrawn at some stage ahead of our Tuesday night game against Bayern Munich. Erling to start.

Stefan is the reserve stopper; Sergio, Rico & Aymeric are the defenders on the side waiting for their chance. Kalvin, Ilkay & Cole are the midfielders in ‘the 9’, while Julian might think himself unlucky to find himself as back-up striker once again.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Phil Foden – Still recovering from an appendix operation – possibly another 10-days to a fortnight out, going off the initial assessment report.

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

Yep.

Result? As I’ve already said, The Saints frustrated us twice in the Prem last season and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again. And let’s not forget also, while I’m looking back, that they knocked us out of that very same League Cup quarter final clash just 3 months ago. What is it with certain teams?! 🙄  Pep has said that he expects a difficult game similar to recent meetings.

Having said all of that, I think it’s a different scenario as we head to the south coast this time around – our hosts are not in good form at all with no wins from their last four, which includes two draws and two defeats; as they sit ‘rock bottom’ of the pile. There is the danger of an animal fighting for its very life, of course, and if we ‘rock up’ to their ground thinking that it’s 3-points ‘in the bag’ before a ball has even been kicked, then we could come unstuck…and that’s the LAST thing we need!

However, we’re in terrific form that now spans either side of the recent international break and I just can’t see that happening…even as a Blue who goes back to the old ‘typical City’ days; where we all too often lost winnable games and shot ourselves in the foot more times then I care to recall. This is an away win for me.

And, I’d like to add, should we get a win, I can see us gaining some ground on Arsenal this weekend; whether it’s by 2 or a full-3 points. Huh…c’mon Liverpool!

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Drew

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Well, it might be a 5:30pm kick off (BST) but the blue sky and bright sunshine that will have been lighting up the area all day is still around for the match. 12 or 13C, at the start of the game, in the sunshine and with just a light, south-easterly breeze should feel quite pleasant for the fans but in the shade – and especially as the clock ‘ticks on’ – it could feel a little chilly…and certainly will do for the journey home under clear skies if you’ve been fooled into just wearing just a t-shirt top during the day. Perfect weather for a game of football though – the players should relish these conditions.

Solidarity