City kits – Opinion

As I do most seasons, here’s an opinion piece on how our lads & girls will look in the coming season; whether you’re bothered about the subject matter or not.

Hey, why not I say?

As is often the case with this blog posting, the release date does appear quite late following the release dates of the various kits.

However, not only do I choose to wait until all-3 kits are released but other, more important and often long pieces take priority at this time of year, such as last season’s player ratings, last season’s predictions results; this season’s predictions as well as pre-match blog postings for the start of our season.

Opinion varies…

Some fans simply can’t WAIT for the new gear to come out; some even just buy it regardless of what the kits look like and often get a shirt within minutes of the official first day of sale.

Others wait & see what they look like and make decisions accordingly…while some fans just couldn’t care less – for them it’s more about who wears the kit rather than what it looks like and that’s fair enough too.

Over the years, particularly in my younger days, I have bought loads of tops. So many, in fact, that I once donated a dozen or more old tops to one of City’s overseas charities. However, even then I only ever mostly bought one when I felt that it represented our club / traditions and / or was significantly different, design wise, from the previous one. There were periods in the 90s & 00s where the club appeared to get a bit lazy to me and produced home tops / kits with very little change from the previous season.

That’s where I most-definitely stand now – they have to ‘look Manchester City’ for me…although I buy far, FAR less than I use to regardless of their appearance, I have to say; with price being the main ‘driving factor’. Absolutely crazy prices!

The home kit

Love it. Love the fade-to-white design and the shade of sky blue. Nice simple collar and the white cuffs and sides are good.

It loses a little for me in that it doesn’t have our full-colour badge on; choosing, as they have done instead, a white / metallic-looking badge which is ‘the fashion’ in a lot of our kits these days [to align the badge colour with the kit colour choice].

However, other than that it’s a really good shirt in my opinion.

Nothing wrong here and matches the top well.

I know there are City fans who say it should always be sky blue socks in our home kits. Those who know me might recall that I don’t personally like us in navy blue socks…and that navy blue generally should, for me at least, not be anywhere near our kits; despite there being a history of navy blue socks for the first 57 years of our Manchester City Football Club history from 1894.

However, and for whatever reason, I’m absolutely fine with all-white socks as part of the occasional City home kit and with this one in particular, I think it completes it perfectly.

Altogether, I think it’s a really clean and smart-looking kit.

Marks out of 5? The club’s rating system whenever they decide to send out fan surveys? 4.75/5 - loosing just 0.25 for the badge thing.

The away kit

Here’s what I said exactly 12-months ago during this same blog posting last season about our then-new black away kit:

I don’t usually like us havin’ an all-black (or all-navy) away or third kit – I often think of ‘em as a lazy, ‘Here ya go - it’s got a City badge on it what more d-ya want?’ type of kit.

I went on to say, however, that I liked last season’s away kit; particularly the metallic features on it. It looked classy.

And, for similar reasons, I really like this one too and what wins me over, aside from the fact that it’s another smart one and isn’t garish, is the Manchester bee design. I’m all for kits representing the football club itself but the ‘bee thing’ just does it for me – a great link to our great City. The mainly black top is finished nicely with pastel yellow trimming.

Shorts: Plain, simple with just a small amount of the same tone of yellow.

Socks: Same colour of yellow with a black hoop design (three of ‘em). I do like a hoopy sock design. 👍🐝

Again, they’ve messed with the badge and made it all yellow.

Marks out of 5? 4.75/5.

The 3^rd-choice kit

Smart – I like it. Similar to a City kit from a number of seasons ago with a comparable colour / style stripe; this time down the middle instead of down one side. As a bonus, they’ve not fecked around with the badge on this shirt either! 😊👍

Yep, suits the top perfectly well.

I like ‘em.

Marks out of 5? For not messing around with the badge and with nothing negative to say about this whole kit from my perspective, this gets a full 5/5.

That’s makes this season’s scoring a most excellent, 14.5/15!

Thanks as always for taking the time to read.

Sunderland – “…will be the toughest game…

…since the start of the season". Our manager’s words in the pre-match press conference. I can’t disagree.

They continue to be a very organised and tough side; just as they were last season. They’ve also just registered their first European win after 53 years away.

Game on indeed!

Firstly, a quick look back…

…at last Thursday night.

For my records and end-of-season player rating piece, I don’t score players against non-Premier League or European teams. On this occasion, I sort of regret that policy slightly because I witnessed SO many excellent performances right throughout the team against Championship side, Norwich City, in the 3^rd Round of the League Cup.

I’m tempted to mention names but to be absolutely honest, there weren’t many at all who didn’t impress me a lot against side who started the game with some real gusto and as we then started to assert ourselves; threw up two yellow and green walls.

Fantastic performance - 👏👏👏👏👏…

v Sunderland

Etihad Stadium

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

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

_____________________Haaland(VC)__________________

 

 

__Semenyo_______________________________Ndiaye__

 

_________________________________Cherki__________

__________Fernandez______________________________

_____________________Anderson___________________

Gvardiol____________________________________Nunes

___________Guehi(VC)_______________Dias(C)__________

 

 

___________________Donnarumma(VC)________________

Subs: Rulli, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, Khusanov, Reis, Bouaddi, Kovacic, Doku and Elias.

Gianluigi returns in goal for this league encounter.

A back-4 of Josko, Marc, Ruben and Matheus.

Elliot is our deepest midfielder, Enzo ahead of him and Rayan-C- furthest forward in the middle of the park.

Antoine and Iliman either side of those with Erling up front.

Geronimo returns to the bench after his cup clean sheet in midweek; Rayan-A-, Nico, Abdukodir and the calm, composed Vitor provide defensive cover from the bench. Speaking of calm and composed, Ayyoub is joined by Mateo, Jeremy and Allan as midfielders and wingers in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.

-       Rico Lewis – Not selected.

-       Phil Foden – Suspended for another 2 matches.

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

Yep.

Result?

A bit of a weird fact for you:

Of the top-10 sides in last season’s end table, only Sunderland (7^th) had a minus goal difference (-6). They somehow, very professionally I’m keen to add, manage to consistently work their socks off and grind out results. Purely from memory, they were getting a fair ol’ number of 1-0 and 2-1 wins; plus a good number of draws in the first third of last season.

I think what happened then was the loss of so many players around winter time, due to the African Cup of Nations, and that threw ‘em off track. All of a sudden, a one-goal win or a draw turned into 2-0 and 3-0 defeats for a time; hence the minus goal difference. With the help of a strong finish, they made it into Europe and gained a lot of plaudits along the way.

I agree with our manager – I think we’re facing that same resilient side this afternoon. 💪

What more can I say about us other than 6 wins from 6 in 3 different competitions; 15 goals scored, just 2 against and 4-consecutive clean sheets in our last 4 outings.

Going off everything I’ve just said about both teams, this should be a fascinating contest. 😃

I’m going for a narrow City win.

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: Very pleasant. Not exactly The Bahamas but I don’t think you’ll hear too many fans complaining a 16C with part-sunny skies. A slight westerly breeze but that’s about it. And for those of you who live locally, next week is more than decent too; with temperatures possibly reaching 21C at times, which is 70F in old pennies. ⛅😎🍺⚽

A ‘must mention’

Well done to our women’s team who played a vital game in the WSL on Friday night and came out of it 4-2 winners against title challengers, Liverpool.

What an end to the game which, going into the 90^th minute, was standing at 2-2. In the 90^th minute a forced own goal and then a 95^th minute breakaway strike saw us take all-3 points. I watched the highlights and it was a very good game with some terrific goals.

I said that it was a vital game - that result sees us now 3 wins from 3 league games played and, crucially, 5 points clear of last night’s opponents. 👍

That’s it now until 4:30pm on Sunday 11^th October! 😮 All thanks to an extended (3-week) international break.

Oh…great. 😒

Put another way, the next ball we kick in anger will be just 10.7 weeks before Christmas Day. 🤬

Solidarity

 

League Cup 3rd Round v Norwich City

Lots of changes expected. Straight to it…

v Norwich City

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

A fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-3-3 / 4-2-4:

________________________________________________

 

____________________Semenyo(C)___________________

__Ndiaye__________________________________Elias__

 

_________________________________Cherki__________

__________O’Reilly________________________________

_____________________Bouaddi____________________

Ait-Nouri____________________________________Lewis

____________Reis________________Kushanov________

 

 

______________________Rulli(VC)_____________________

Subs: Donnarumma, Nunes, Braithwaite, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Doku, McAidoo and Samba.

Geronimo takes the gloves for the first time as a Blue.

A back-4 I’m going for Rayan-A-, Vitor, Abdukodir and Rico.

Ayyoub to make his first start as defensive midfield with Nico and Rayan-C- ahead of him centrally.

Iliman and Allan, who also gets his first start, on the offensive flanks and I think, we might see Antoine start centrally up front.

Marcus Bettinelli could get the reserve keeper seat on the side but I’m going to suggest that it goes to Gigi instead. Defensive reserves come in the shape of Matheus, Kaden, Ruben and Josko. Midfielders, wingers and forwards in 'the 9' are likely to be Mateo, a returning Jeremy, Ryan and Floyd.

Notable absences:

-       Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.

-       Marc Guehi – Not selected.

-       Elliot Anderson – Not selected.

-       Enzo Fernandez - Not selected.

-       Phil Foden – Suspended for 3 matches starting tonight.

-       Erling Haaland - Not selected.

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

Yes.

Result?

Our Championship visitors have played 7 league games and not drawn once – winning 3 and losing 4; scoring 13 and conceding 13 also. They currently sit bang in the middle of their division in 12^th position from 24 sides.

Our form is fantastic and regardless of VAR, I think we deserved that victory last Sunday and I was so proud of how we reacted to going down to 10-men on 23 minutes. 🩵

This is a sky-blue Manchester 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: A cool 14C with showers and a light, westerly breeze. 🧥🥧🍺⚽

Solidarity

The Trafford v Manchester derby – 13.09.2026

Unpredictable is the word.

Firstly…we’re going NOWHERE! 😮

Well, not very far at least. 🛣️

After our trip to Porto last Tuesday (crackin’ win!), we’re certainly not putting in the miles over the next six weeks. Our next seven fixtures are:

-       Manyoo (A) Just outside of Manchester…

-       Norwich City (H)

-       Sunderland (H)

-       Liverpool (A) Our furthest distance – Merseyside (around 36 miles each way).

-       PSG (H)

-       Ipswich Town (H)

-       AEK Athens (H)

Even after those seven games we’re only travelling to the Midlands…and then we’re at home again! Wow and 👍.

Addendum:

I simply cannot end that little section without making a comment regarding the festive period fixture list release. 🎅📆 Have you seen it! Clearly done by someone, or some people, who just do not like Manchester City FC nor their loyal, away-travelling fans.

-       Saturday 26^th December, AKA Boxing Day – Newcastle United (A) – 8:00pm KO (GMT). Yeah, thanks for that and happy f***in’ Christmas! Those away fans who will be travelling straight back to Manchester should get home about 2:00am on 27^th December, if they treat themselves to a service station stop-off on the way home.

-       Then, despite a big list of Premier League fixtures on Wednesday 30^th December, we’ve been given another game just 72-hours and 15-minutes later on Tuesday 29^th December and are away at Everton, 8:15pm KO this time. Yeah, once again, cheers and happy f***in’ new year too!

Knobheads.

v Manyoo

Scaffold Trafford

I think our manager will go for both Premier League and derby experience with his starting line-up today…

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

_____________________Haaland(VC)__________________

 

 

__Semenyo_______________________________Ndiaye__

 

_________________________________Foden___________

__________Fernandez______________________________

_____________________Anderson___________________

Gvardiol____________________________________Nunes

___________Guehi(VC)_______________Dias(C)__________

 

 

___________________Donnarumma(VC)________________

Subs: Rulli, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, Khusanov, Reis, Bouaddi, Kovacic, Cherki and Elias.

Gianluigi in goal.

At the back I’m going for Josko, Marc, Ruben and, following his stop-start beginning to his season, Matheus to make it two starts in a row.

Elliot to resume his starting place in the side in deep midfield and I think he’ll start with Enzo and Phil for company; with the latter possible getting the nod not because of form but his usual impact that he has in derbies.

Antoine left, Iliman right and Erling up front.

Geronimo is the one and only back-up stoper today; Rayan-A-, a returning from back niggles, Nico, Abdukodir and Vitor make up four defenders on the side. Midfielders and wide attackers come in the form of Ayyoub, Mateo, Rayan-C- and Allan.

Notable absences:

-       Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.

-       Rico Lewis – Not selected.

-       Jeremy Doku – Still out with a calf injury. Expected return was 2 to 3 weeks from 21^st August 2026. He sounds close to a return 👍 but not quite yet.

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

Yes…but hoping that if Foden does start ahead of Cherki he not only plays very well but that Cherki can then make a secondary impact on the game as a sub if / when called upon.

Result?

Derby games are so very unpredictable a lot of the time with form often going out of the window and replaced by emotions. What’s also unpredictable form our hosts’ point of view is that, just like Chelsea have been over the last few seasons, Manyoo continue to be the masters of win-draw-lose-repeat. Even United fans don’t know what they’re going to get from their team each time they turn up or tune in.

Then there’s the fact that with so many new summer signings by both clubs, they’ll be plenty of players with no experience of the Trafford-Manchester derby. Even our manager hasn’t experienced one, as main boss at least.

If logic was to prevail then, on form, this is ours to lose. We’re in terrific shape with 4 wins from 4 matches played in 2 difference competitions; scoring 9 and conceding 2 with two cleans sheets already.

Will time make a difference? By the time the game kicks off today (4:30pm KO BST), we’ll have had around 4-½ days of rest and preparation and they will have had just 2-½.

As for The Red Devils, if they get it right on the day they do very much have the tools to pose a dangerous attacking threat from the midfield upwards – they’ve scored just as many leagues goals as we have, despite sitting 11^th before the weekend fixtures began. On the other hand, their defence is as flimsy as a cardboard box left out in the rain.

I can see goals at both ends on Sunday afternoon / early evening but I think we’ll score more. I’m going for a City win.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Lost

See what I mean?! 🙄

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: The autumn equinox doesn’t actually start until 23^rd September this year and so for me it’s still summer. Therefore, I say with little surprise that it’s going to be a lovely 21C today with a forecasted “feels like” of 23C. With sunshine and white-fluffy clouds, it makes for a lovely afternoon to watch footy. 😎🍺⚽

Solidarity

Porto v Manchester City – 08.09.2026

Straight onto my predictions…

v FC Porto

Estádio do Dragão

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11, which would have been 10 had Nico O’Reilly not pulled up having felt a back niggle during the warm up.

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

_____________________Haaland(VC)__________________

 

 

__Semenyo_______________________________Ndiaye__

 

_________________________________Cherki__________

__________Fernandez______________________________

_____________________Anderson___________________

Gvardiol_________________________________Khusanov

___________Guehi(VC)_______________Dias(C)__________

 

 

___________________Donnarumma(VC)________________

Subs: Bettinelli, Rulli, Ait-Nouri, Lewis, Nunes, Reis, Bouaddi, Kovacic, O’Reilly, Foden, Elias and McAidoo.

Gianluigi in goal.

I’m going for a same back-4 as our last game of Josko, Marc, Ruben and Abdukodir.

Elliot and Enzo are likely to team up as fire suppressants in midfield with Rayan-C- given more licence to start the fires further up the pitch. Antoine and Iliman are likely to be our flank men.

Erling up front and, therefore basically, the same line-up all round!

With 12 allowed on the bench for this one, our manager may choose to have the luxury of two reserve keepers or he may choose just one and go with an extra youth outfield player instead. I’m guessing the former and, so, both Marcus and Geronimo get seats on the side just in case something happens to Gigi. Rayan-A-, who I was a little surprised to see on the bench at the weekend having had it made clear that Enzo Maresca would have been happy to see him leave in the summer, Rico, Matheus and Vitor make up four defenders in ‘the 12’, leaving us with six midfielders and wingers in the shape of Ayyoub, Mateo, Nico, Phil, Allan and academy product, Ryan.

Notable absences:

-       Jeremy Doku – Still out with a calf injury. Expected return was 2 to 3 weeks from 21^st August 2026. There’s a chance he might make the matchday squad for Sunday’s game.

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

Yep.

Result?

With a tough Champions League group stage draw, in my opinion, and with no disrespect intended to some of the other teams; I see tonight’s competition opener as our 3^rd-toughest of the 8 fixtures ahead of us.

Unbeaten in their opening 5 league games of the season with 5-straight wins, 11 goals scored and just 1 conceded, our hosts also had the luxury of playing their last match on Friday night; giving them a precious few extra hours and a full Saturday off in the build-up to their clash with us.

They also, of course, don’t have to travel / fly and we do.

There are quiet a few ticks in the positive column for them there but there is a mark in the negative column next to injuries; with a number of players out including one from their last outing who was taken off with concussion.

With less recovery time and our one an’ only striker apparently posting on his YouTube page that he was feeling a little jaded already, whether through very little rest time between the World Cup and back-to-club training OR the fact that he’s now a dad; I can’t see us looking overly fresh tonight after disembarking into some Portuguese humidity.

I’m going for a draw tonight.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a dry and sunny morning and for the most part, afternoon too, rain then moves into the region and remains for the match. So there’s a damp feel inside the stadium but it’s a warm night for all involved, with the thermometer showing 21C but with a muggy feel of 23C or higher (73 to 79F in proper money is possible). 🌮🐟🍥🌶️🥮🍺⚽

Solidarity