The Trafford v Manchester Derby

·       Trafford versus Manchester

·       Red versus Blue

·       One side trying to find some consistent form versus…a side trying to find some consistent form

·       One team with just domestic league pride to play for versus a team desperate to finish in a Champions League position

Flip a coin for this outcome! 🤪

Quick check back…

Two back-to-back wins achieved…but wasn’t it sad and disappointing that we didn’t “burn” Leicester last Wednesday, as one other City fan put it?

With goal difference quite likely to prove pivotal in a couple of months’ time, that was a wasted opportunity against a side who were simply there for the taking.

Still, I’ll take the two wins on the trot and 3 points in the league, especially with Bournemouth and Brighton both losing in midweek.

And…Bobb’s back! 😊

v Manyoo

Scaffold Trafford

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

____________________Marmoush___________________

 

 

Grealish____________________________________Doku

 

________De Bruyne_______________Silva____________

____________________Gonzalez____________________

 

O’Reilly____________________________________Lewis

__________Gvardiol______________Dias_____________

 

 

____________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Ortega, Khusanov, Reis, Kovacic, Gundogan, Nunes, Foden, Bobb and Savinho.

Ederson between the sticks.

Josko to be given his second, back-to-back outing in his more natural position of central defence? Well, with attacking midfielder, Nico O’Reilly, now doing a pretty good impression of a left-wing back then why not? I can see Pep thinking the same. Ruben and Rico to join ‘em, I’m guessing (surely the Matheus Nunes right-wing back experiment has failed and won’t be attempted again).

Nico to patrol in front of those.

Ahead of the Spanish defensive midfielder I’m going for Jack to start once again but, this time, being asked to slip back out to the left; Kevin and Bernardo in the middle with Jeremy on the right.

Stefan is reserve stopper; Abdukodir and Vitor are two defenders on the side waiting for their turn should they be needed. Mateo, Ilkay, Matheus and Phil make up four midfielders in ‘the 9’, while both Oscar and Savinho give us two different wing options.

Notable absences:

-       John Stones – Out with a thigh injury for another 2-½ to 4-½ weeks, going off the initial assessment and timescale information given.

-       Manuel Akanji – Initial thoughts were that he could be out for the rest of the season after badly damaging his abductor muscle, for which he had surgery on 15^th February. However, an update from his manager on 1^st April confirmed that the Swiss international was making progress and feeling better. Return date unknown but it sounds like we might see him back in action over the coming weeks.

-       Nathan Ake – Recovering from a fractured foot, for which he has had surgery. This one sounded like it could be a season-ending injury.

-       Rodri – Continues to train as he maintains his long journey back to fitness following an ACL injury last September.

-       James McAtee – Not selected.

-       Erling Haaland – Out for the majority of the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

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

Some question marks about the flanks of our defence (isn't there always?) but, generally speaking, that’ll do for me.

Result?

This is probably going to be the briefest result section I’ve ever done.

In a lot of ways as I finish this piece off on the morning of the game, it doesn’t even FEEL like derby day to me for whatever reason. Perhaps that’ll change as 4:30pm approaches.

I just can’t call it either way and, therefore, I’m going for a draw and hope, in the right way of course, that I’m wrong.

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

Prediction: Draw

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: During this fine, settled period of dry weather it’s more of the same for the match - wall-to-wall blue skies and bright sunshine. 15C is the forecasted temperature with that continuous easterly breeze just shaving the edge off it by a couple of Celsius (feels like 13C and might be a little nippy if your stand is in the shade). ☀😎🥧🍺⚽

Leaving at the end of the season - A true club legend

Solidarity

Predictions v Leicester City

I thought the first 30 minutes against Bournemouth last Sunday was pretty poor from us once again but we showed a lot of character and with some early, proactive substitutions for once; we were by far the better side for the majority of the match. Still some irritating missed chances though 😒.

We’re going to need that strong character to keep shining through in our pursuit of a top-4 (5) finish. The optimist in me looks at the league table noting that a win tonight will take us to within 6 points of 3^rd-place Forest. On the other hand, my belly flips with nerves a little when I see FIVE teams in hot pursuit of us who are all tucked in just behind; with one of those sides, Newcastle, having a game in hand.

We’ve got to start putting together a run of victories and get rid of this chaotic form.

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I did recently suggest that it was highly unlikely that I would get a pre-match blog posting out for this one but while I remain quite unwell and now on antibiotics; I at least had the time to sit quietly and slowly put this one together in time.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

v Leicester City

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: A very poor 5/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (occasional 3-6-1):

____________________Marmoush___________________

 

 

Doku_____________________________________Savinho

 

_________Grealish_________________Silva___________

____________________Gonzalez_____________________

 

Gvardiol____________________________________Lewis

____________Dias_______________Khusanov_________

 

 

____________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Ortega, O’Reilly, Reis, Kovacic, Gundogan, McAtee, Nunes, De Bruyne and Foden.

Ederson retains the gloves.

A back-4 of Josko, Ruben, Abdukodir and Rico would be my guess.

Nico is the deepest-lying midfielder.

I suggested last game that we might see Jack start in the middle of the field and it didn’t turn out to be the case. However, I thought that when he came on he looked sharp and really in the mood. I still wish he’d go more direct and try to beat his man from time to time but I’ll take any 7+/10 performance at the moment. Anyway, with Phil way, WAY out of form and with Kev unlikely to start two games within the space of three days; I’m going to suggest a starting place for Jack tonight. Bernardo is likely to be able to start once more alongside the England international and give us at least 60-65 minutes and I’m going for Jeremy and Savinho to have another crack at finding some end product from the wings.

Over to you Omar – I have faith in the Egyptian international and I’m actually quite excited at the prospect of him getting a regular starting place.

Stefan continues to provide keeper insurance; Man of the Match last time out, Nico, and Vitor are two players on the side ready to provide changes in defence. The rest are made up of SIX midfielders in the shape of Mateo, Ilkay, James, Matheus, Kevin and Phil.

Notable absences:

-       John Stones – Out with a thigh injury for 3 to 5 weeks, going off the initial assessment and information given.

-       Manuel Akanji – Initial thoughts were that he could be out for the rest of the season after badly damaging his abductor muscle, for which he had surgery on 15^th February. However, an update from his manager on 1^st April confirmed that the Swiss international was making progress and feeling better. Return date unknown but it sounds like we might see him back in action over the coming weeks.

-       Nathan Ake – Recovering from a fractured foot, for which he has had surgery. This one sounded like it could be a season-ending injury.

-       Rodri – Continues to train as he maintains his long journey back to fitness following an ACL injury last September.

-       Oscar Bobb – Continues to train with his teammates as he makes his way back from a fractured leg that he suffered last August.

-       Erling Haaland – Out for the majority of the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

      Forgetting the injury-prone nature of the first three players there, just look at the quality of missing players. All long-term injuries too!

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

Yep, looks good to me. And who wouldn’t be excited by the PROSPECT, at least, of a front-three of Doku, Savinho and Marmoush?

Result?

Surely even a 2024-25 Manchester City can’t mess this one up, can they? Our visitors are in poor, poor shape and look utterly doomed as they sit second bottom and 12 points adrift of safety.

P29 W4 D5 L20 / F25 A65 (GD -40) and with no win since 26^th January tells its own story. Even pain in the City arse, Jamie Vardy, can’t find the net and that’s despite playing almost every minute of every game.

There ya go Blues – fate well and truly tempted. You’re welcome.

I have to believe that we have enough in that (predicted) starting 11 and match-day squad to beat these tonight and, dare I suggest, that we might even be able to muster a clean sheet; as goal difference could be all important for us at the end of the season.

It’s a home / sky blue win for me.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a beautiful sunny day, blue sky is replaced with a dark, starry one. After a daytime high of 15C, the match starts off at 11C and ends on 9; with a ‘feels like’ of just 7. If you get fooled by the pre-match sunshine giving out some warmth and don’t take a warm coat for the journey home then I think you might regret it. Lovely evening though for a match under the floodlights. ✨🥧☕🍺⚽

Solidarity