Spirit but same old issues resurface

I don’t think anyone would say that, certainly when it’s needed, this team of ours lacks spirit and it was that determination which saw us claw a game back from 3-1 down to earn a share of the points away from home last Bank Holiday weekend; a crazy end to the game after we dominated the first half.

However, as we’ve seen all too often both last season as well as this, at one end of the pitch mistakes cost us dearly while at the other, especially in a good first half for us, we were hitting shots high, wide, across goal or straight at the keeper and both of those cost us 3 points in the end.

Advantage Arsenal.

v Brentford

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

____________________Haaland(VC)_________________

 

 

__Doku______________________________Semenyo__

 

__________Silva(C)_______________Cherki__________

 

____________________Gonzalez___________________

O’Reilly___________________________________Nunes

___________Guehi_____________Khusanov_________

 

 

__________________Donnarumma__________________

Subs: Trafford, Ait-Nouri, Ake, Stones, Kovacic, Foden, Reijnders, Savinho and Marmoush.

Gigi in goal.

A back-4, occasional 3, of Nico-O-, Marc, Abdukodir and Matheus.

Nico-G- should keep his defensive midfield starting place for now at least.

In this unchanged 11 that I’m suggesting, ahead of the Spaniard is likely to consist of Jeremy, Bernardo, Rayan-C- and Antoine.

Erling up front.

James is reserve keeper; Rayan-A-, Nathan and John make up three defenders on the side. Mateo, Phil, Tijjani are a trio of midfielders in ‘the 9’, while Savinho and Omar continue to provide wide / forward options for us on the bench.

Notable absences:

-       Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.

-       Rico Lewis – Not selected.

-       Josko Gvardiol – Update on 8^th May was that Josko was training and feeling good. 👍 It’s been a long recovery journey for the 24-year-old Croatian.

-       Max Alleyne – Not selected.

-       Ruben Dias – On the same day, the boss also suggested that Ruben was close to a return.

-       Rodri – During the same pre-match press conference, Pep said that they would further assess Rodders later that afternoon and he could, therefore, make the bench this evening (5:30pm KO BST).

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

Yep.

Result?

I said in my last piece that two games in particular, of our remaining fixtures, concerned me. We’ve played one and after throwing away a 0-1 away lead to trail 3-1, we somehow managed to salvage a draw. The other ‘danger game’ for me is Bournemouth away.

All that being said, this is a real tough one too today, I don’t think any Blue would disagree. I will likely speak more about The Bees in one of my regular close season postings but to put it mildly, they’ve shocked many this season, myself included. As I say, more on that in June / July.

For now, they’re a really hard team to beat and their strong showing in the Premier League sees them currenting sitting in the Europa Conference League place (7^th); just 1 point from a Europa League spot and just 7 points from a Champions League position before weekend games commence.

Following FIVE successive league draws, they were apparently undeserved of their 2-1 away defeat to Manyoo but went on to rectify that with an impressive 3-0 home win against relegation threatened West Ham.

Not wishing to focus on one player simply because of their tremendous team spirit and work ethic; Igor Thiago is not only their top goalscorer but is second only to Erling Haaland in the league with just 3-less goals than the Norwegian.

As for us, I do believe that we’ll shake off last Monday’s weird second half period wobble but we’ve got to be far more clinical when we get the ball in the final third…PLUS be as sharp as a pin in readiness for Brentford’s inevitable counter attacks. In short, we need to outwork the workhorse side whilst adding some craft and class when it’s needed most.

This isn’t a game for shrinking violets and when I look at some of the players on our bench and the lack of form they’ve been in this season, I’m largely looking at the starting 11 to get most of the job done today. Prove me wrong Phil, Tijjani, Savinho and Omar.

Hard game indeed but I’m going for us to prevail. It’s a home win for me – anything less would be a disaster in terms of keeping our title hopes alive.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Sunshine and showers and possibly some heavy, thundery downpours is the story. Bit of a north easterly breeze too and a temperature of around 12C. Pitch should be nicely watered by nature throughout the day, just as Pep likes it. 🌦️🌂🥧🍺⚽

CHAMPIONS!

City team celebrating after watching Brighton vs Arsenal

Congratulations to our women’s team who won the WSL with one game to go. We won the league over an Arsenal side who had 3 games in hand towards the end of the season but only managed to draw the first one; meaning that we won the league last Wednesday night without even kicking a ball.

P21 (of 22), W17, D1, L3. F58, A18.

Solidarity

This one is on my danger list

Very few games are easy, of course, especially so in the Premier League and to assume that one is going to be easy before the ball as even been kicked could be seen as naive, arrogant and/or disrespectful.

However, when we recently went top of the league, I looked at our remaining fixtures and two of ‘em set alarm bells off in my head – Bournemouth away and this one.

Again, no disrespect intended whatsoever to the other sides we’re yet to face this season but these two fixtures in particular do come with added warnings.

v Everton

Hill Dickinson Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: An appalling 3/11, as I completely misread Pep’s mind / intentions…but who then had to call on some of his ‘A Team’ to get us through to yet another final. He took a bit of a risk with so many rusty players in a starting 11 but got away with it.

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

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

__Doku______________________________Semenyo__

 

__________Silva(C)_______________Cherki__________

 

____________________Gonzalez___________________

O’Reilly___________________________________Nunes

___________Guehi_____________Khusanov_________

 

 

__________________Donnarumma__________________

Subs: Trafford, Ait-Nouri, Ake, Stones, Kovacic, Foden, Reijnders, Savinho and Marmoush.

Gigi returns in goal for this league fixture.

A back 4, occasional 3, of Nico-O-, Marc, Abdukodir and Matheus.

Nico-G-, I reckon, will get a start tonight, with Jeremy, Barnardo, Rayan-C- and Antoine across the middle in more advanced positions ahead of the 24-year-old Spanish Under-21 international. If it’s not going to be him, we often see Rayan Ait-Nouri brought in at left-wing back and Nico O’Reilly pushed into the middle as a half-twin pivot with Bernardo Silva.

Erling up front.

James returns to the side as reserve keeper following another triumphant Wembley trip and will, I’m sure, be relishing a third return in a City shirt on 16^th May. Back-up defenders come in the shape of Rayan-A-, Nathan and John, with midfielders Mateo, Phil and Tijjani waiting to get the call from their manager during the 90+ minutes. Savinho and Omar give us two wide / forward options in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.

-       Rico Lewis – Not selected.

-       Josko Gvardiol – Update on 1^st May was that Josko is getting better.

-       Max Alleyne – Not selected.

-       Ruben Dias – For Ruben, read Josko.

-       Rodri – For Rodri, read Josko also.

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

Yep.

Result?

🚨 I mentioned warnings in my subheading so what are they tonight?

1.    A side who have surprised many, despite “only” being mid-table, are still pushing for a European place finish when you look at team’s ‘points tally’ column in the table. There’s something for The Toffees to fight for, for sure. Finish 7^th place and you’re in the Europa Conference League.

2.    An unfamiliar ground. 🗺️ This’ll be our first ever trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.❓

3.    Our hosts are a very tough outfit to break down. Of the top-11 sides, as I prep this piece in midweek / before weekend fixtures, only 3 teams have a better defensive record. They have a goal difference of 0 after 34-league games played. 🧱

4.    They are just ‘one of those teams’. One of those teams who, yeah okay, we have taken all-3 points from them many-a-time but who, from memory, have a bloody awful knack of doing the same to us, especially when least expected or we badly need all-3 points.

What is going for us is that Everton are actually slightly better away from home than they are at their new stadium. In fact, of the 17-league games played at their new stadium this season, they’ve only managed 6 wins; drawing 4 and losing 7.

In addition, we go into this game with by far the better form – you have to go back all the way to 17^th March to find a game that we didn’t win, which was a defeat to Real Madrid. Since then we’ve played 6, won 6, scored 14 goals and conceded just 2.

Personnel? I think we’re in really good shape. Some sides losing the qualities of Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias AND Rodri might seriously struggle and although we are certainly weakened by the loss of the best defensive midfielder on the planet; in Marc Guehi, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva, we have a more-than-solid and competent ‘central core’.

With some serious challenges yet to come as we fight to not let Arsenal pull mathematically clear of us, I’m looking for a spirited performance tonight. A tough fixture, yes, but I’m going for us to nick this one. It’s another vital City win for me. 💪

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a rather gloomy Bank Holiday weekend yesterday, at least, Monday brightens up a little once again. However, this is a flippin’ 8:00pm kick off so there’ll be no sign of the late evening sun apart from, perhaps, some glimmer on the highest parts of Everton’s new stadium roof. 10 or 11C with a “feels like” of just 8 or 9 and with a slight northerly breeze sounds a bit chilly to me but at least it’s dry. 🧥🍵🥧🍺⚽

4 games in 11 days – Comment

When I first heard about this outcome, following discussions between Manchester City, AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and the Premier League, it did sound somewhat alarming considering we’re not only scrapping it out at the top of the table for the league title but also attempting to keep players fit, fresh ‘n’ firing for another trip to Wembley; all towards the end of another very long campaign on four fronts. No wonder the club are making extra sure that Josko, Ruben and Rodders are all fully ready to return; avoiding any risks as the season approaches its various conclusions.

Then, when I looked at those fixtures and dates between the 9^th and 19^th May, it’s didn’t initially seem all that bad.

However, I then factored in two long away trips, one of which is the F.A. Cup final, and then began to scratch my head as I moved beyond 16^th May. Why on Earth are we playing Bournemouth on the Tuesday after the Saturday final when we weren’t playing our last game of the season until the following SUNDAY? Then I read the part about how we / the Premier League are basically controlled by UEFA. Different entities, I know, but didn’t we leave the flippin’ EU?

WTaF?! To then read that Arsenal were given permission to play their league game at Wolves on 18^th February, despite FOUR Champions League knockout matches taking place on that same night, just made my piss boil. 🤬

Here’s a thought City / Bournemouth? Why don’t we propose playing that fixture on Thursday 21^st May at 7:30pm instead? We all don’t kick off until 4:00pm on Sunday 24^th May so that would give both sides almost 3-full days in between fixtures. 🤔

Makes sense to me…or would clashing with both the Scottish Premiership and German Bundesliga Play-off finals be a big “No-no” too? 🙄

Goodbye to a class player.

It’s official – John Stones has added his name to a summer departing list next to Bernardo Silva’s. 🚕✈️

You would surely be forgiven for forgetting John’s huge contribution over a trophy-filled, 10-year period, such were the amount of injuries the England defender eventually collected over time. For me he was one of those Rolls Royce-type players; a class defender with decent pace and a more than decent midfielder too when called on to fill that role. He got my Player of the Season at the end of 2022-23.

I think it became even more apparent in the last couple of years that John’s body was telling him to call it a day at the very top level of a very demanding league but I hope, as a final reward for everything he has done for our football club, we can finish by getting at least one more trophy and that he then finds a footballing home who will look after him so that they can then benefit from what he still has left to offer.

Like Bernardo, he is another true, just-get-on-with-it professional both on and off the pitch.

Solidarity

Two of the country's most in-form…

…teams coming head to head at Wembley. Sounds to me like a mouth watering treat that we’re all in for. 🍽️⚽😋

v Southampton

Wembley Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game which, for me blog wise, was our fabulous home win against Arsenal: 11/11.

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

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

__Doku______________________________Semenyo__

 

__________Silva(C)_______________Cherki__________

 

____________________Gonzalez___________________

O’Reilly___________________________________Nunes

___________Guehi_____________Khusanov_________

 

 

____________________Trafford____________________

Subs: Donnarumma, Ait-Nouri, Ake, Stones, Kovacic, Foden, Reijnders, Savinho and Marmoush.

With no game for a full-9 days after this fixture, why wouldn’t our manager put out exactly the same line-up, the injured Rodri aside, that faced Liverpool in the last round? A starting 11 that has gelled so well and is producing great results. Why should he change it just because we’re facing a Championship side?

Rightly or wrongly, I’m going for Pep to think the same in this predicted line-up…

James takes the gloves for this domestic cup competition and if we apply ourselves in the correct manner this evening (5:15pm KO BST) then he’ll be putting ‘em on again on 16^th May.

A back-4, occasional 3, of Nico-O-, Marc, Abdukodir and Matheus.

Although not selected to start last Wednesday despite the absence of Rodri, I reckon Nico-G- will get his chance today, with Jeremy, Bernardo, Rayan-C- and Antoine all in support of Erling up front.

Gigi takes a side seat for this one as reserve keeper; Rayan-A-, Nathan and John provide defensive insurance. Mateo, Phil and Tijjani are a trio of midfielders in ‘the 9’, with Savinho and Omar giving us wide / forward options from the bench.

Notable absences:

-       Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.

-       Rico Lewis – Not selected.

-       Josko Gvardiol – On the 10^th April, our manager revealed that Josko was getting better, following a long injury lay-off with a fractured tibia, but would take longer to recover. No further updates since.

-       Max Alleyne – Not selected.

-       Ruben Dias – On 21^st April we were informed that the Portuguese international was not yet fit enough to return to action. There was no further update in yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

-       Rodri – Recovering from a groin injury and when asked about the Spanish international on 24^th April, his manager said that he was getting better but wouldn’t be risked for the F.A. Cup semi-final.

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

Yes, definitely, but I would hope for us to be in a position at some point, mid-second half, to be able to rest some legs that have seen many minutes recently - despite the 9-day gap in fixtures - and give some time to the likes of Stones, Kova, Phil, Tijjani and Marmoush.

Result?

I’ve got little doubt that a side who is unbeaten since January and riding on the crest of a wave will have their moments to score and may well do so. It would also be ‘very F.A. Cup’ for them to do so first to give their fans – and many neutrals I’m sure – some hope of a cup shock.

It’s also the 50^th-year anniversary of the last time they won this competition and that was against a Manchester team…well, sorry 🙏, from nearby Trafford at least. In fact, Southampton will be wearing a special yellow and blue kit today, as they have done for their previous rounds this season, to commemorate that occasion in 1976.

I think it’s going to be a good game with chances at both ends – when I look at their league record after 44 games played, they are the second top scorers in the division, as I type this on Saturday morning, but have also conceded the second highest amount of goals of the top-6 sides. They sit 4^th in the table with 2 games remaining.

As for us, last Wednesday’s performance was, for me, an expected drop-off in intensity and overall quality after five intense games against Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal x2. Wow! 😮

But it didn’t stop us creating plenty of chances, especially in the second half, and Pep appeared a little frustrated that his players didn’t take more of those opportunities.

Burnley had theirs too on the night, particularly in the first half, and the game ended on a nervy tone; with travelling blues urging the ref to blow his whistle to end the contest. Still, it was a well earned 3-points that put us top of the tree. 🙂

I think we’ll look more energised today and we most certainly have the players with ‘big occasion’ experience. Right attitude against a team from a lower division is crucial, for me, and the rest should take care of itself. I’m having this down as a City win.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: What a glorious day. As the temperature slowly builds in the region throughout the day, any white-fluffy clouds will also disperse to leave a beautiful, sky-blue ceiling above. 20C is the official temperature for the area at kick off but I reckon it’ll be closer to 23-24C inside the stadium. Enjoy! ☀️😎🍦🌭🍔🍟🥤💷🍺⚽

Solidarity