…the City train keeps flying along at a rapid ol’ pace.
As I suspected, both Huddersfield & Southampton proved difficult opposition to (A) break down and (B) by-breaching our otherwise solid defence. But we keep passing each & every different examination placed in front of us, even if we have to come from behind or leave it very, VERY late.
Will West Ham United at home prove to be another type of test? Well there are rarely any easy games in the Premier League, of course, and our visitors are in the process, under their relatively new Manager, of taking a long, hard look at themselves and so will be, I’m sure, working hard on improving; as well as on possible ways to derail our momentum on Sunday evening.
But surely this is another 3 points for us…
v West Ham United
I’ll crack on with this one without too
much more waffle; preparing some of this Blog-posting as I have done in advance, to some degree, in
case more ‘life issues’ get in the way either side of Pep’s
pre-match press conference.
 |
| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct
from starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).
Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
___________________Aguero____________________
__________________Gundogan__________________
___________________Ederson____________________
I could be WELL wrong here but I picked up on Guardiola's understandable concerns when asked in his pre-match press conference about
Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and Leroy Sane (who
has also only just recovered from illness) all being just one booking away from
a 1-match suspension…and with the Trafford v
Manchester derby up next in the league.
So with that in mind…
Ederson to
continue regardless.
However,
I think we’ll see one personnel change for the reasons I’ve just mentioned;
with Eliaquim stepping in for ‘our skip’, Vinny, who I also think will be
rested in the Champions League game in
midweek as preparation for our trip to Scaffold Trafford. The rest of the defence, I think, will be the same, with
Nicholas partnering Mangala and Fabian & Kyle either side of those.
Another
of those possible changes with the same thought in mind could be Ilkay in for
Fernandinho. Not exactly a defensive midfielder but one who can sit deeper and
spray the ball around to more advanced colleagues. Those being, I think, David,
Kevin, Gabriel & Raheem all in support of the more advanced Sergio.
Claudio
the keeper in reserve; Danilo, Vinny and Oleksandr who is, for those who don’t know, primarily an attacking midfielder-come-left-winger but who can cover at
left wing-back. I think we’ll see Yaya back on the bench for this one (might
even start instead of Gundogan but doubtful) with Bernardo & Leroy on the side in
case we need to freshen-up/change the attacking situation against The Hammers (although
Leroy could be rested / protected completely and we might see Brahim Diaz as part of ‘the 7’ again).
Notable absences: John Stones (injured
for about another 4 weeks) & Benjamin Mendy (continues his rehab following
injury / surgery…or will continue to speed-hobble
up the side of the pitch in celebration with his teammates; risking his
newly-fix knee) & Fernandinho (not
selected / rested / protected).
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
If I’m correct, I am a
little concerned about having both
Mangala as WELL as the lesser-defensive midfielder, Gundogan, on at the same
time. And although he’s a wonderfully talented player; I don’t think we always
see the best of Jesus when he’s pushed out wide. Other than that, though, I
have no qualms at all with that still-very-strong starting 11 at home to a
struggling West Ham side.
Result? Home win.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Win
Expected weather conditions during the
game: Chilly & overcast but not TOO bad at 7C. And at least it’s gonna be dry.
why not also give danilo a spell at left back.delph can have a break then..
ReplyDeleteYep, at home against West Ham, that's 'do-able'. Although I suspect that Pep will want to secure this one before giving most of his 'first 11' a rest in mid-week's Champions League game.
DeleteThanks for reading & commenting.
Delp in for Fernandinho and Danilo as the left back, why not?
ReplyDeleteYep, that's a possibility too.
DeleteBut as I've just replied to another comment, I suspect that Pep will want to secure this one before giving most of his 'first 11' a rest in mid-week's Champions League game. I'm not saying that he sees Danilo as a liability on the left but to put both him AND Mangala on that side could weaken us a little too much, even at home to West Ham.
Thanks for reading & commenting!