The players need to use…

…the Champions League win & progression to grow in belief & increased confidence, as we head into a crucial, packed schedule that includes 4 different competitions in 4 games; starting with a real tester against a restructured Chelsea side.

v Chelsea

Wembley Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

______________________________________________

 

 

Foden___________________________________Mahrez

 

________De Bruyne___Gundogan___Silva___________

 

___________________Fernandinho_________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

 

_____________Stones____________Dias____________

 

 

______________________Steffen___________________

Subs: Ederson, Cancelo, Mendy, Ake, Laporte, Rodri, Sterling, Torres, Jesus.

A change in keeper for this competition is likely to see Zack step in ‘between the sticks’.

No changes in defence from last Wednesday night’s win in Germany, though-I-reckon, with Oleksandr, John, Ruben & Kyle all protecting our goal.

Also helping to keep The Pensioners out is another change from midweek; as I’m going for our captain, Fernandinho, to start in the defensive midfield role.

In another ‘no recognised striker’ formation that I’ve suggested, I’m guessing we’ll see same attacking midfield 5; as Phil, Kevin, Ilkay, Bernardo & Riyad will be asked to ‘pull on their reserve tanks’ of energy, which I hope will have mostly refilled by the time we come to 5:30pm (BST) in the evening. Of course, any of those midfielders / wingers are capable of acting as a 'false 9' and, indeed, they may well rotate that position between them as the play dictates.

Ederson takes a rare ‘back seat’ as reserve keeper; Joao, Benjamin, Nathan & Aymeric make up the defence cover from ‘the 9’. Rodders, Raheem, Ferran & Gabriel are the midfield / wing / attacking choice-options from the side. A reminder that 5 substitutes are allowed on no more than 3 occasions in this competition this season.

Notable absences:

-       Eric Garcia – Not selected.

-       Sergio Aguero – Still hasn't recovered from a slight muscle niggle to be ready for this game.

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

Yeah, I love it. On the big pitch that is Wembley and after an energy-sapping game just 69-½ hours earlier; I think we’re gonna need a packed midfield against a side who, I reckon, will deploy similarly.

And with the fresh, fast-attacking legs of Raheem, Ferran & Gabriel on the bench as late-game options when legs are tiring on both sides; I think it’s good to have that in our armoury too.

Result? Real tough one to call, is this. There’s no doubting that Hard task master, Thomas Tuchel, has solidified his new side in the 2-½ months, there abouts, that he’s been at SW6; tightening the defence from his predecessor’s reign and building a more robust midfield, as he’s ‘chipped away’ at results; gathering mostly decent draws or good wins.

It’s not his team yet, however, and despite also progressing to the semi-final stage of the Champions League and parking themselves in 5^th place of the Prem ready to strike for a 4^th or even 3^rd-place finish; they did get walloped 2-5 at home to all-but-doomed West Brom, admittedly when down to 10 men after 29 minutes, and did lose their home leg of the quarter finals of the Champions League, so they are by no means impenetrable.

But, in the main, they are more of a solid unit than they were when we put 3 past them on 'their patch' in early January and so for me, it’s all about whether we’ve got our decision-making heads & shooting boots on because…as our opponents have solidified, they have, in general, become a little less threatening at the ‘business end’ of the pitch.

Get those crucial, in-the-box decisions right and put the correct boots on and I can see us winning this in normal time…but at the same time I can also easily envisage a draw in ‘the 90’ and then it becoming a game of who has ‘the legs’ and the concentration to finish it off. I just hope it doesn’t come to penalties, as I don’t think we’d come out of that too well...

I think our lads will be buzzing after beating a very good Borussia Dortmund side twice, 2-1, and will take that fizz into this game like having an extra man on the pitch. It’s a City win for me.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Lovely. Not exactly t-shirt weather, especially in the shaded areas of the ground as the sun dips away, but 12C with sunny intervals sounds like a perfect evening for a game of footy.

The last time we…

…received a bucket of cold water in the face in the form of a home defeat, we went on to win 6 games in a row; scoring 16 goals and conceding just 3. If we repeat that feat, we’d find ourselves in the semi-finals of the Champions League, the final of the F.A. Cup; we’d have likely wrapped up the League title and would have another League Cup sitting in our trophy cabinet.

Sounds great…but I think some of our players need to step up a gear or two now and show some consistency for that to happen.

A quick look back on that very defeat…

First of all, I thought it was a crackin’ game – one that you just couldn’t take your eyes off for a second for fear of missing something, the pace was that frenetic. I did, for a moment, and initially missed the horrible challenge that eventually led to Leeds going down to 10-men.

We played well, in the main I thought, and pressed really, REALLY well. John Stones had an outstanding game and I was shocked to see the Manchester Evening News awarding him “just” a 7/10. He easily gets an 8.5/10 from me.

I think mentions also have to go to Nathan Ake, Fernandinho & Oleksandr Zinchenko; the latter, of which, got a rare, largely-defensive midfield role.

But…my word do we need to practice, once again, shooting and in-the-box decision making!

Lots and lots…and LOTS of credit has to go to the visitors for the way they defended (and for their clinical counter attacks) but for us to create so many opportunities and have only 7 shots ‘on target’ from 29 efforts is, once again, a little alarming…and harks back to many-a-period that has seen us shoot ourselves in the foot; leaving some City fans questioning some players abilities and even MORE City fans calling for a killer-striker to be bought ASAP. It’s hard to disagree with them for the most part.

For all his creative talent and hard work – and I really like him by the way – I thought Bernardo Silva was fairly ineffective at the weekend. And although he got the goal, I was hoping to see more from Ferran Torres’ starting opportunity; a player who, I think, has ability aplenty but seems to be suffering ‘first season settling-in syndrome’…although I say that with a big nod towards the fact that he has been getting limited ‘game time’ and, therefore, doesn’t get the opportunity to build any momentum.

Joao Cancelo too – a player seemingly re-born and reinvented but one who seems to be slowly reverting back to the less-than-impressive, expensive purchase that had many of us scratching our heads. I hope that stops and reverses very soon.

But the biggest concern for me, though, is the BIG drop-off in form of one Raheem Sterling. Putting it bluntly, he’s regressed. He’s regressed to the player many City fans warned others about when we were about to sign him way back in 2015…before he was turned into a rampaging, creative / goal machine (facts don’t lie).

But there’s something that just seems to ‘click’ in his head from time to time and in most seasons, which turns him into some kind of dithering mess in the final 3^rd and, most certainly, in the opposition box; despite his impressive assist & goals stats per games played.

I don’t know what it is…and I’m not sure Pep does either. Not fully anyway.

But one thing is for sure – and I’m not just pointing the finger at Raheem nor any of the others that I’ve mentioned less favourably (and I’m certainly not going to waste my time talking about Benjamin Mendy or HIS performance last Saturday) – is that with very tough, crucial games coming up in 3 cup competitions in the coming weeks, we need some of our players to step back up to the level we all know they are capable of; find that extra bit of quality and strong-mental belief & consistency to truly become, record-breaking, Manchester City legends.

v Borussia Dortmund

Signal Iduna Park

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

Fluid 5-1-4-0 / 3-7-0:

______________________________________________

 

 

Foden___________________________________Mahrez

 

___________De Bruyne________Gundogan__________

 

______________________Rodri____________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

 

__________Laporte_____Stones______Dias__________

 

 

_____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Trafford, Cancelo, Mendy, Ake, Garcia, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Torres, Jesus.

Ederson continues to take charge of the gloves…although he too just needs to keep an eye on a certain aspect of his game, I would suggest; stop some silly-dangerous play and realise that, sometimes, ‘wellyin’ it’ is the preferred / safer option.

Now…I could be WAY off here by suggesting that our manager is gonna go with 3 central defenders along with 2 wing-backs…and a defensive midfield tonight (8:00pm KO BST). Then again, I could be right with the formation but-then-there-are-so-many personnel options that we have at our disposal, the permutations any numerous. Laporte could be used as left-wing back and Nathan Ake could take up the left-side of ‘the 3’ or, of course, Cancelo could be given either of the wing-back positions etc. etc. Anyhoo…I’ve gone for a back-3 of Aymeric, John & Ruben which, on paper, looks like a pretty formidable wall to say the least. Kyle is on the right and I’ve gone for Oleksandr on the left flank, despite him-playing the whole 95+ minutes last Saturday. I’ve gone for the 24-year-old Ukrainian purely on decent form and tireless work rate; something I assume his manager will have observed and will want to reward him for.

Rodders is the defensive midfielder and then, ahead of the Spaniard, it’s an attacking quartet of Phil, Kevin, Ilkay & Riyad with no striker.

“Just” yer 11 on the bench from an-allowed 12 still allows scope for 2 keepers which, in our case, comes in the form of Zack & James (sounds like a children's double act). Joao, Benjamin & Eric are the trio of reserve defenders while Fernandinho, Bernardo, Raheem, Ferran & Gabriel make up the midfield / wing / attacking change-options from the side.

Notable absences:

-       Sergio Aguero – Hasn’t made the squad due to a slight muscle injury. It’s nothing major, we are told.

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

Not only do I like the look of this set-up for this-particular fixture but I fully endorse it!

Well…I say “fully” – if I thought that Fernandinho was capable of putting in another lively shift having also played 95+ minutes just 4 days earlier, then I might be inclined to give our Brazilian skipper Rodri’s spot. Although, having said that, I would have some trepidation about that decision; having noticed in recent appearances that our captain’s old trait of becoming a little too rash in his challenges has crept back into his game, which could be a liability in such a crucial, deciding fixture.

But I’d like that set-up and if Rodri could have an 8/10 game - helping the 3 defenders behind him - then I think that would provide a very solid base to allow a marauding, attacking 4 midfielders / wingers plus 2 wing-backs to pepper the German side’s defence from all angles.

Result? I think it’s time for experienced players / leaders in our squad to step up and ‘rally the troops’ for this one and if they can create a strong mindset throughout the whole team and all play to their potential tonight; then I can honestly see us winning this leg too.

Of course, they have attacking threat in abundance but in their league fixture since we last met, which was away at mid-table Stuttgart, they conceded twice and it took an 80^th minute goal to secure all 3 points for Die Schwarzgelben.

They can be ‘got at’…and they have to come at us tonight to stand ANY chance of progression to the semis.

I think we need to score too, though, and I believe we will; especially if our attacking players have the confidence to go forward knowing that we have the personnel at the back to protect our goal…hence my prediction of how Guardiola might want to set up; giving our forward-thinking players ‘peace of mind’.

Although a draw – and even a 3-2 defeat - would still clinch the round for us, 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: Largely overcast, dry, with a slight northerly breeze and nippy, at just 5 or 6C. No game-influencing conditions at all.

 

Marchin’ on together…

We just keep ‘chalkin’ ‘em off’, don’t we, regardless of the competition.

Straight to a predicted line-up for this one as I need to get this one out ASAP due to the early, Saturday KO (12:30pm BST)…and I’m going to suggest something a little out of the ordinary for this clash.

v Leeds United

Etihad Stadium

 

I’ve already said that I need to get this-particular blog-posting out quickly and to go one stage further (made the decision this morning), I’ve now decided to publish it before Pep Guardiola’s pre-match press conference due to time constraints for one reason or another; leaving more room for error in my predicted line-up section.

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

Fluid 4-2-3-1 / 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-4-2:

____________________Aguero____________________

 

 

 

Sterling______________Jesus_______________Torres

 

_____________________________Silva_____________

__________Fernandinho__________________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

 

____________Laporte__________Garcia____________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Cancelo, Mendy, Ake, Dias, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Mahrez.

Although there’s possibly-even a case for protecting the keeper before the very important 2^nd leg of the quester final of the Champions League on Wednesday night; I think Ederson will start ‘between the sticks’ tomorrow afternoon.

Ahead of him, I see an almost complete change to the back-4 from last Tuesday that’s likely to see Kyle being asked to start once more against The Whites and if so / if the game suits at the time, it’s likely that he’ll be subbed at some point in the second half to rest / protect him ahead of next week’s trip to Germany. The change, I believe, comes in the form of Eric, Aymeric & Oleksandr, who all step into ‘the 11’.

Fernandinho comes back as defensive midfielder and in a kind of 5-man midfield that morphs into a 2…attacking-3 / 1…attacking-4; with the Brazilian joined by Bernardo, Raheem, Gabriel - in a deeper role - & Ferran.

Sergio, I think, gets a rare season start tomorrow in a rare, also, 2-striker set up.

I’m not quite sure what’s going on with the reserve keeper situation at the moment – we saw Scott Carson get the back-up stopper job in the last Premier League game and then both Zack Steffen & James Trafford in ‘the 12’ for the Champions League clash 3 days ago. Perhaps that’s how it is at the moment; I can see logic in it and, so, ex-West Brom & Derby County man, Scott, gets in ‘the 9’ on Saturday. Joao, Benjamin, Nathan & Ruben are the defensive replacement options from the side, while Rodders, Kevin, Phil & Riyad are the only attacking midfield / wing options from the bench, as my prediction sees a lot of attacking personnel in the starting line-up.

Notable absences:

-       Zack Steffen – Not selected / protected.

-       John Stones – Not selected / rested / protected.

-       Ilkay Gundogan – Not selected / rested / protected.

UPDATE (11:10am, Saturday 10th April): 2 players are doubtful with injury niggles but have yet to be named. Obviously we'll find out in around 20-minutes' time when the team sheet is released and where we may get an explanation / more detail before KO on who they are and to what extent they are injured.

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

For this game and in these circumstances [way clear at the top of the Prem and in the middle of two crucial Champions League games] I’d say yes…definitely.

There’s still enough quality & pace in that defence (Garcia aside, pace-wise) to cope with our visitor’s marauding counter attacks, I’d say, and more than enough quality attacking threat in our side to worry an-often-leaky, Leeds defence.

It could look as though we’re leaving ourselves a little thin in the middle of the park where, possibly, the Yorkshire side might ‘pack ‘em in’ but there should be plenty of legs & work-rate in the form of Silva & Jesus to counter that.

Result? Entertainment-wise, this could either be a crackin’ game with multiple goals at both ends or a rather dull affair; whereby we set up to ‘keep ball’ and reserve our energies / not risk over-stretching ourselves ahead of Wednesday night and hope to hit THEM on the counter.

Either way, I think this is gonna be a home win with, perhaps, both sides scoring.

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Blue skies and unbroken sunshine! Don’t get the deckchairs out just yet, though - the temperature is only gonna be around 6 or 7C with a light, northerly breeze making the ‘feels like’ temperature even chillier. Perfect, I would say, for a game of footy where high-intensity is a possibility which could, therefore, see the players being glad of cooling the air.

v Borussia Dortmund

I get the feeling this could be a crackin’ game…

v Borussia Dortmund

Etihad 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:

____________________Jesus_____________________

 

 

Foden____________________________________Silva

 

_________Gundogan__________De Bruyne_________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Cancelo

 

____________Stones___________Dias______________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Carson, Steffen, Mendy, Walker, Ake, Garcia, Laporte, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Torres, Sterling, Aguero.

With some rested / protected at the weekend, I think we’ll see some rotation from last Saturday’s game…but Ederson isn’t one of ‘em; as he keeps hold of the gloves for this one.

I think we’ll see an almost completely different back 4 from our win over Leicester City, with Oleksandr, John & Joao coming in to join ‘go again’ Ruben, who I think might get a rest in our weekend’s clash with Leeds United.

Just one defensive midfielder, I reckon, for this one and it’s Rodders who ‘gets the nod’ for that place. Ahead of the Portuguese protector I think we’ll see 3 rested / protected figures coming into ‘the 11’, with Phil, Ilkay, Bernardo all joining Kevin, who is likely to be asked to start again in the hope of us-going into the second leg with a significant result before we travel to Germany.

If we are to go with a striker for this home leg, and I think we will, then I’m going for Gabriel to get that spot.

That’s 6 changes / rested players to start this one…

Not sure what happened to Zack at the weekend as Scott got the reserve keeper slot on the bench of 9 at the King Power Stadium but I’ve got no reason – and no news either – to suggest that both stoppers should be in ‘the 12’ tonight, as we’ve seen in previous rounds. Benjamin, Kyle, Nathan, Eric & Aymeric provide the rather large contingent of back-up defenders; similarly, Fernandinho, Riyad, Ferran, Raheem & Sergio as midfield / wing / striker replacement options from the side. Not a bad (large) bench, hey?

Notable absences:

None. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that which is, of course, down to us-having no injuries but also because of the large bench allowed in this competition this season.

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

Yep, happy with that.

Result? A side packed with talented players but who, for whatever reason, aren’t having the best of seasons Bundesliga-wise, which sees them laying 5^th with an even bigger gap between them and leaders Bayern Munich than sits between us & Manyoo.

Erratic league form with a last 5 that reads, W L W D L and 4 injuries to what can be classed as ‘first team regulars’ both long-term and recently-suffered (including a certain Jadon Sancho) should be sources of good news to us. And they are, in a way…but Pep won’t see it like that and nor should he – even in a 2-legged round these matches are like finals in themselves and our visitors are more than capable of winning a 'one-off, final-like game', even against top opposition.

I’m not sure whether you, the reader, feel the same as I do about us this season but whereas I think we’ve had more vibrant, trophy-winning teams in recent years under Guardiola; this season, I feel more confident of getting a win because we seem far more professional in the way we control games, along with the ability to nullify (completely sometimes) the opposition for the most part and in most games.

If our manager doesn’t OVER think this one and every player does their part, as they usually do, then I go into this game feeling assured that we’ll lead at the 2-legged, “half time interval", as it's often referred to as. I think it’s crucial that we have so many key players coming back into tonight’s 11, assuming I’m right of course, all of whom were rested in our last domestic outing and I’m going for a City win tonight (8:00pm KO BST). A clean sheet would be nice but, if not, at least a 2-goal cushion to take to Germany next week would be good.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Cold. The game starts at just 3C and then dips a degree or two as time ticks on. However, the northerly breeze of 7 to 9MPH that accompanies those official temperatures is likely to make it feel like zero or below and, so, I think we’ll see at least half as many pairs of gloves being worn by the players as boots. No conditions that will affect the game though and, in fact, the players ‘busting a gut’ for 90+ minutes might just appreciate the chill in the air.