First of all, apologies for no pre-Napoli Blog-posting. With ‘all that is [still] happening’ in life in general I’d rather concentrate on getting, at the very least, Premier League postings out for the time being.
Speaking of which, apologies also for not putting a post-Stoke City Blog-posting on, a wonderful performance that certainly deserved me doing so! WHAT a brilliant, attacking display from our lads that was!
“Testers”.
Not mentioning every fixture we’ve played
so far this season; I think it’s fair to say we’ve faced many different “tests”
already.
I definitely include Brighton away – their opening fixture back in the ‘top
flight’; all pumped up and televised ready for the ‘banana skin’
moment that just didn’t happen, as we came home with a clean sheet and 3 points
with a professional 0-2 away win.
Everton, often our bogey side, came next
at home and it was a travesty that we didn’t win that one after battering the
Toffees for the most part. Still…we passed that bogey test by not losing at
least.
Bournemouth away a tricky test? Well although they’re havin’ a ‘mare’ of a
season with just 4 points from a possible 24, it’s never an “easy” place to
visit. And, sure enough, they thumped in a CRACKER of a narrow-angle goal to
take the lead against us. But we are far more resilient than we were last
season and we came thought that tester too with a 1-2 away win.
Are Liverpool at home a
test? It sure can - and has been - for us over the years. And forget those embitteRED lot from Trafford who point out (or
have to me at least) that Liverpool were (deservedly) reduced to 10-men; we dismantled
the Merseyside Reds 5-0.
Shakhtar Donetsk attract praise aplenty from ‘those in the know’ and did indeed give
us a right good game of it. But, once again, we came through that 2-0 winners.
Biggest test of all, so far, Chelsea away? Well if it was, we passed that one
with another clean sheet and 3 away point, with a 0-1’er.
Would tricky, ‘rough & tumble’ Stoke be
a test? Well certainly on ‘their patch’ they can be and, perhaps then, not SO much on our own soil…although
we did only manage a draw at home against these last season. But if we were to describe this one as a tester, then coming out
of it 7-2 winners certainly fits into the “Passed with flying colours” column.
Italian League leaders, Napoli, at home? A
team who are drawing all sorts of praise from sporting Journalists and pundits?
Definitely a test and one we passed with some excellent, individual
performances again in a 2-1 win.
And so that brings us to a Burnley side who sit a very respectful 7th,
with just 1 defeat from 8 (drawing 4 and winning 3) and who have only conceded
6 goals from those 8 outings. Furthermore, The Clarets are yet to be beaten
away from their home ground this season; with 2 wins and 2 draws.
Another “test” against a well-drilled,
organised, resilient outfit? I’d say definitely so.
v Burnley.
 |
| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct
from starting line-up in the last game: 11/11…and all subs right too!).
Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Jesus____________________
_________________Fernandinho__________________
___________________Ederson____________________
Not much to say on the line-up, I don’t
think; I’m confident it’ll be ‘same again’.
If they’re not too tired – and I’m sure a lot of ‘em will get a rest in
midweek against Wolverhampton Wanderers in
the League Cup before our next Premier
League game in a week’s time – then why change a very-much winning formula?
Yep.
Result? We
might have to be even more patient than we had to be against Stoke and one or
two other sides but, I believe, we have both the craft and fitness to overcome
yet another Premier League side. It’s another home win for me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Win
Expected weather conditions during
the game: HORRIBLE! Very wet, very windy and very cool at just 53F (12C). Yuck…
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