…for a bit of an ‘early one’.
Sorry, not for the first time, for the lateness and
lack of blog-posting this week. I appear to be coming to the end of a difficult
period family-wise (hope so anyway) that clearly affects my time with regards
to Blogging.
Thanks, as always, for your patience.
Question marks
As is always the case following (another damn) international break it leaves question marks against
your players with regards to injury and / or general fitness & fatigue. I
was going to attempt a posting as early as Thursday but it didn’t work out and
so, I suppose, posting one just 6 hours before the game gives me the advantage of
having far better, more up-to-date information about who is, isn’t and might be
available to play early Saturday afternoon (12:45pm KO BST).
Out is definitely Eliaquim Mangala who,
Manuel tells us, should be okay for the trip to
CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night; a televised game
to be played behind closed doors due to the previous behaviour of the home fans.
Nasri too is still about a week away from re-joining
training with his colleagues.
Kolarov, Toure & Jovetic
all arrived back late and although they carry no injuries, they may only make the bench due to excess
travelling and a lack of game preparation time. Jovetic, however, got some crucial ‘game time’ for his country and came
though that with no issues.
Fernandinho, we are told, is
fit and has no problems; this following reports that his injury against Aston Villa was not going to clear up in time.
Although others, including Demichelis
and Aguero, travelled long distances also, they
arrived back slightly earlier; Martin having not-even come off the bench and
Sergio only playing the first 60 minutes of his country’s last game.
There have been “issues” surrounding some of our stars
whilst they’ve been away; the worst so far being that of the disgraceful scenes
between Albania and Aleks’ Serbia
And after a traumatic time personally at the end of last
season, Yaya and his African colleagues now find themselves in a situation
where their long-awaited (due to a year-delay ‘reshuffle’) African Nations Cup competition may be cancelled due
to the horrendous Ebola crisis. Concerns too
for the travelling Ivorian star were put to Pellegrini in his pre-match press conference. I’m
sure some of the players concerned have friends and relatives who know people
caught up in the catastrophe.
Straight to it then…
With the clock ticking down on this late posting of mine
I’ll get straight onto trying to predict our manger’s starting 11, subs and ‘match
outcome’. This, as I’ve already alluded to, is made more difficult on this
occasion due to the afore mentioned, various fitness issues.
4-4-2:
____________________Dzeko__________
__________Aguero___________________
_________Fernando__________________
_________________Hart________________
I think the keeper and the back 4 pretty much pick
themselves for this one; I suppose we could see Sagna start if Zabaleta too had
a long journey and tiring game-play with Argentina
Similarly I don’t think there’s any doubt in the defensive
midfield position, which should see a start for Fernando. Silva ‘attacking’ and
flanked by Milner and Navas.
Now this too comes with some possibility of error - Frank
Lampard has, for example, had a big rest and buoyed too, I’m sure, by his
recent ‘Player of the Month’ award; he could well be thrust straight into this
one from the start. If that’s the case then Jesus will most likely be the one
to step down; switching Silva more out wide (but still ‘floating’ of course)
and ‘Lamps’ in the middle. But I’m sticking with my prediction above.
Front two of Edin & Sergio is almost a given for this
game.
As for the bench…
More than decent goalkeeping insurance, of course, and
despite the notable lack of any obvious central defensive cover in my ‘18’;
that’s a strong, strong bench.
Cover on the defensive flanks also comes with the ability,
if needed, of Sagan; who can operate as a central defender we were told
when he signed.
As for the rest…huh,
well, there’s some serious ‘impact’ and ‘game changing’ players there should
they be required.
And “required” I think they will be. I’ve got a lot of time
for Mauricio Pochettino and he brings to a Spurs side
full of talented players exactly what he brought to his exciting Southampton side last season. He has ‘em
organised at the back – they don’t concede many – and can definitely hurt you
on the break.
And
that’s not to suggest for one moment that they are a ‘sit deep and counter’
type team either – I find that Pochettino’s sides are flowing, open, attacking ones…just
with a bit of added steel at the back thrown in for good measure.
Result? There’s no doubting that this
will be a very good game indeed and with the added ‘doubts’ that inevitably
follow an international break [with regards to how your players return &
react] it does rather make this a difficult one to predict. But that’s what I
have to do.
Last
season saw us utterly smash a very different Spurs side home and away in an amazing 11-1
league aggregate; this time will be a little closer I’m sure. What I’m going
for is a close start to the game, perhaps even coming in at half time with a
0-0 or 1-1.
However,
I think we’ve got enough ‘gears’ in us – especially
with that bench – to take these today and, eventually, to take them quite comfortably. At home, it’s a City win and one by a decent (perhaps slightly flattering?) margin…in the end.
Due to the lateness of this this pre-match Blog posting I haven't the time to comment on the fantastic cup victory of our women's team (and terrific, title-deciding win over Chelsea just before that too). I'll give them far more 'Blog time' soon...
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