I just wonder if…

…our manager might just tweak our formation for this one.

v Inter Milan

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

I could be way off here – I may be misreading the situation completely.

In addition, I haven’t watched Inter Milan and know nothing of their strengths and potential weaknesses this season, other than knowing that they sit 3^rd in Serie A after 4 games played; having won 2 and drawn 2. They are the divisions joint-top scorers with 9 from those 4 games (conceding 3) and they do have a dangerous looking Little’ish & Large show up front, in Lautaro Martinez (5’ 9”) and Marcus Thuram (6’ 4”).

And not just because it’s “Inter Milan” and not just because we still appear a little vulnerable at the back either…but rather a combination of both reasons, really. Plus the fact that I get the feeling also that, with the addition of occasional inverted wing-backs, Pep might just fancy the extra man/men in midfield for this one.

But there is definitely a nod towards some defensive issues in my reasoning; being especially vulnerable, as in previous seasons, to fast counter attacks. We’ve only managed one clean sheet from the Community Shield game onwards way back on 10^th August and a tweak, tonight, just might steady us; while the likes of Kevin, Bernardo, Phil and Erling attempt to inflict damage at the other end.

We’ll see soon enough, of course, but here goes…

A very fluid 5-4-1 / 3-6-1 / 5-3-1-1:

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

_____________________Foden_____________________

 

_______De Bruyne________________Silva___________

_____________________Rodri______________________

 

Gvardiol___________________________________Lewis

____________Dias_____Stones_____Akanji__________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Carson, Ortega, Walker, Wright, Kovacic, McAtee, Gundogan, Nunes, O’Reilly, Doku, Grealish and Savinho.

Ederson continues in net.

So, if I’m right we’ll be seeing a centre-back 3 of Ruben, John & Manuel, with Josko and Rico either side of the trio. I imagine Rico Lewis being selected ahead of Kyle Walker because he can do the ‘inverted midfield’ role, whereas it’s been decided by his manager that Kyle can’t. Plus, of course, the soon-to-be 20-year-old has started the season in very good form. 👍

Rodders to add extra security to that strong defensive unit, although with those behind him I expect he’ll be given a little licence to roam forward in support of the attack whenever possible.

A trio of attacking / creative midfielders in the form of Kevin, Bernardo and Phil, who maybe slightly more advance than his two attacking midfield colleagues, are all in support of Erling, who is currently hunting down his 100^th Manchester City goal.

A 12-strong bench includes two reserve keepers in the form of Scott and Stefan, while we may see only one defender on the side in the form of the aforementioned Kyle; unless we pluck a defender from our youth-reserves. Jacob, Mateo, James, Ilkay, Matheus and Nico make up SIX central midfielders available to Pep should he fancy shaking it up at any point; each one having their own defensive, creative and attacking skills. That’s all finished off with…“just” yer Jack, Jeremy and Savinho as back-up wing men to give us a change of formation / look. What a bench to have!

Notable absences:

-       Nathan Ake– Out injured with, what we were told, is a thigh / muscular issue. Another source has it down as a hamstring injury. Either way, the Dutch international will be out for around 6 weeks from the date we were given the information, which was 13^th September. 6 weeks does sound “hammy” to me…

-       Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training. Expected return is anywhere between mid-November and mid-December going off the initial assessment / information released.

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

Yeah, I’d be happy with and also interested to see how it plays out, should he go with this or something similar.

At least we know we have scope to make such changes to our starting 11 if and when needed…and when we have most of our personnel available, of course. And at least we know, also, that with the addition of a second goalie and a couple of EDS lads, we can fill a bench of 12 too. 👍

Result? Whenever my thoughts briefly flicked to this fixture as we were approaching our last domestic outing and since; I’ve gotta be honest that I kept thinking this match would end up being a draw; again largely due to a small concern I have about our defence.

Then, and as you now know, the idea shot into my head about our manager possibly ‘shaking it up’ a little for this fixture and when I now look at it written down; I like it to the point where it’s changed my mind.

I’m going for a City win.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a beautiful day with hardly a cloud in the sky; when that sun sets and the sky remains cloud free, the temperature will start to drop. It’s starts off at a pleasant enough 15C and ends on a not-too-bad 13C too. There is, however, a slight, easterly breeze as well; so I would suggest to fans that a light jacket at least is advisable. Perfect conditions for playing an intense game of football, though; no excuses for players whatsoever on that score.

Solidarity

 

 

Beware break-away Bees

One of three international breaks before Christmas out of the way, just one casualty from that set of matches and, so, it’s back to domestic football; with a 3:00pm (BST), Saturday kick-off. 👍

v Brentford

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1:

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

 

Grealish_____________________De Bruyne___Savinho

___________Silva________________________________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

 

Gvardiol___________________________________Lewis

____________Dias_______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Kovacic, McAtee, Gundogan, Nunes, Foden and Doku.

Ederson continues in net.

I think it’s going to be ‘go again’ with regards to our back 4 (occasional 3), so that’ll be Josko, Ruben, Manuel and Rico, who continued his fine domestic start to the season with a good display also for his country last Tuesday.

Something Mateo Kovacic won’t exactly be cheering about - but probably fully expected - is a likely return to the starting lineup, I would say, of ‘our Rodders’. I think he’ll need some gametime in his legs before the visit of both Inter Milan and Arsenal in the following eight days. Whether he’ll get a ‘full 90’+ is another matter; players returning from hamstring issues need to be treated with a lot of kindness and patience, right Kev?

Ahead of the returning Spaniard, I’m going for our manager to pick Jack, Bernardo, Kevin and Savinho, who was back in training also following his second little knee niggle of the short season so far.

Erling ‘up top’, I’m guessing, and that’s despite reports of the passing of a very close family friend. The Norwegian international has apparently been told that his club will allow him time off for compassionate leave at any time should he want it.

Stefan continues to provide keeper insurance from the sideline; Kyle and John are the only defenders that sit near the German stopper. Mateo, James, Matheus and Phil provide a rather impressive looking set of midfielders waiting for their turn, while Jeremy is the replacement wide man in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Nathan Ake– Out injured with, what we are told, is a thigh / muscular issue. Another source has it down as a hamstring injury. Either way, the Dutch international will be out for around 6 weeks from the date we were given the information, which was 13^th September.

-       Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training. Expected return is anywhere between mid-November and mid-December going off the initial assessment / information released.

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

Erm… I think our opponents will need to be unpicked at the back and although his ‘end product’ could do with some improvement / more consistency; I believe that Doku would be better suited for this fixture to do that on the left ahead of the more-conservative Jack. Other than that, I’m fine with it.

Result? A side who have beaten us both home and away in the Premier League; two results which total a third of all meetings between the two clubs in the Prem. A side who, after the first three games of the season, sit 6^th and just 3 points behind us.

They’re a side also who have French-born-pairing Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa – a dangerous attacking pair who already have 5 goals and an assist between them in the league. I also think that, in Mark Flekken, they have a decent keeper too.

Strangely enough, those qualities that I have highlighted pretty much sum up our visitors; as one Bees fan posted on a site very recently, ‘How we currently play hasn't changed in years - we just sit back and then break, while only having 35-45% of the possession’.

So, as we know all too well, this’ll be yet ANOTHER game where we’ll spend a vast amount of time attempting to break down walls. However, what we City fans know all too well also is that teams can exploit us with the very same, fast-breaking qualities which is part of Brentford’s current philosophy.

The warning signs are laid out in front of us. ⚠

As for us, we appear to be in fine shape personnel wise – only recently injured Nathan and long-term injury, Oscar, are missing from the squad.

I look at that predicted starting 11 and, for the most part, it looks very, very strong indeed; especially in central midfield, down the whole right-hand side and, of course, up front.

However, if I was to be slightly critical and even a little anxious, then I believe that there’s a small weakness on the left-hand-side of our defence. Josko, it has been noted on more than one occasion by a number of observers, can, at times, get pulled out of position or ‘forget himself’ when it comes to his defensive duties on the flank; while next to him we do [in that predicted lineup] have a good defender, in Ruben Dias, but one who could-very-well be exploited against fast-breaking sides. A turn of pace is not the Portuguese international’s strength, it has to be said.

If I was their manager, that’s the side of the pitch I’d be telling my player to pressure if and when possible.

I appear to say this with most of my outcome predictions but I make no apologies for it – I reckon our visitors will breach our defence but, in the end, we should have way, WAY too much for them at the other end; as long as we remain patient and play to the strengths of our various, very talented players.

It’s a Manchester City win for me.

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

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

Expected weather conditions during the game: A very pleasant day indeed. After summer was very briefly replaced by something much, much cooler, especially in the early hours of the mornings; 18 / 19C, a light, southerly breeze and some sunshine should feel very nice for those about to enjoy a 3:00pm, Saturday afternoon game. ⛅😎⚽

Solidarity