What’s in your head, Mr Guardiola?

Lots of points to get through and, so, I’ll just ‘crack on’ and probably best to bullet-point what’s been in my head since Wednesday night / Thursday…

The 1^st leg v Liverpool

·         “They’ve ‘done us’ again” was basically the message I conveyed in some texts to fellow Blues the evening of the 3-0 hammering at Anfield. Why is it, I continued, that when a team really…REALLY presses and hassles us our players lose their composure; our ‘zip’ disappears and our crisp passing ‘goes to pot’?

·         But also…why, when this happens, does Pep not see what’s happening and change something - something meaningful that could make a difference and stop the opposition from being so effective in closing us down in packs; (very) effectively stopping us playing our wonderful football? Don’t get me wrong, Pep’s ‘PLAN A’ is the most wonderful football to watch in the WORLD! And, I will admit, during a game that needs ‘tinkering with’, you can-indeed see the team push-up the back 4 and, in particular, the full-backs even FURTHER… and I have seen the intensity increase a lot when required; all of which has been prompted by ‘the boss’. But, if I am being honest, he doesn’t really have a ‘PLAN B’ as such if all isn’t well, as was the case away to Liverpool in the Premier League, at Wigan Athletic in the F.A Cup and again against the reds of Merseyside in the Champions League.

·         Pep’s philosophy is a wonderful thing - the most exciting, jaw-dropping and marvellous football to watch. But I have heard our manager being described by many as stubborn and, in some ways, even arrogant in his decision making and I am starting to see that in him a little and at times (but would gladly put up with that for many, many years to come, don’t get me wrong).

Saturday…and the return leg on Tuesday

·         So…IF Pep wants to ‘have a crack’ at clawing this one back on Tuesday night against Liverpool, what the HELL does he do tomorrow against the reds from Trafford?! Well…IF he wants to stand a chance of scoring at least 3 against Liverpool and conceding none then could I be so bold as to suggest that he then largely plays a ‘second string’ against our neighbours from the borough of Trafford; risking a draw or, worse, a defeat in a game where a victory would see us win the league against Jose Moaning’s men?

·         If he doesn’t think we’ve got a chance to progress in the Champions League now then, fair enough; perhaps he should largely go with the same personnel as in midweek, perhaps even strengthen that side who faced Liverpool and let the players’ frustrations from last Wednesday night be unleashed on Manyoo; wiping them off the park and securing the Premier League title in real style, which would also be one for the history books.

My thoughts on the latter?

Well, like many Blues I know for sure, if you’d have asked me my thoughts on this a long while back on attempting to win the Champions League against winning the Premier League or, indeed, a collective of domestic trophies, I wouldn’t have hesitated in telling you that our ‘bread & butter’ lies here at home; despite the prestige of it all and the attraction for top players the European competition brings with it.

However, we’ve superbly reached a stage already in our domestic league where, without wishing to sound arrogant for one minute, we’re going to win it this season regardless; whether that be against Manyoo, Spurs, Swansea, West Ham, Huddersfield, Brighton or Southampton.

So, who gives a **** about winning the league against the team from Trafford when the inevitable is gonna happen in the league and we have a sniff of turning the tie around in midweek.

Who gives a ****? Well I can only think those are either the City fans out there who don’t think we’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell of turning it around against Liverpool (and who could blame them) and / or those Blues who simply couldn’t stand the thought of us putting out a weakened side against ‘the enemy’.

So, I have changed my mind with regards to domestic silverware v Champions League at this stage and for THIS weekend and it’s for this reason alone.

-       Does anyone think that, as fit as Pep Guardiola has his players, the men who were run ragged just 3 days before this Manchester v Trafford derby won’t still be creaking a little?

-       Does anyone then think that, should our manager choose his strongest team on Saturday, that they’re then going to be fully energised for yet another brutal encounter just 3 days after that in the 2^nd leg?

Well I don’t.

A quick word on the Police

1.    Shame on the Merseyside Police for not planning and preventing the horrendous scenes we witnessed prior to last Wednesday’s game (and shame on the 100s of public citizens who displayed such abhorrent behaviour). And I hate this phrase in general from pundits, “It was a minority”. For flip’s sake, 49% is a minority! Let’s have it right, 100s, perhaps even over 1,000 took part in that debacle and saying it was a “minority” makes it sound like not many took part.

2.    Shame on the Greater Manchester Police for allowing Saturday’s game to KO at 5:30pm…

v Manyoo

Etihad Stadium

Unusually, for regular readers at least, I’m gonna start off with what ‘my 11’ would be, going off what I’ve already said / my thoughts are on this one before we face Liverpool again.

4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1:

___________________Nmecha___________________

Diaz___________________________________B. Silva

____________Foden__________Toure____________

____________________Delph____________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Danilo

____________Laporte________Stones_____________

___________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Bravo, Walker, Adarabioyo, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Jesus, Aguero.

Disclaimer: This line-up has been written before Pep's pre-match press conference, which will include fit & available players etc.

Rested:

-       Any unused subs, of course…

-       Kompany

-       Otamendi

-       Gundogan

-       Sane

-       D. Silva

-       Sterling…

…all being given a full 6 days off to recovery, freshen up and prepare for Tuesday night.

I know some might say it could be a traumatic experience putting so many young kids in the starting line-up of a derby where any CHANCE of a victory would secure the Premier League title…then again others might say there’s the ‘no fear factor’ you often get from youngsters and that it could be the best experience of their lives!

For me…it’s simply a side to rest our better players ready for Tuesday, simple as that.

Okay, now for the…

…more-usual 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:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sane___________________________________Sterling

_________De Bruyne __________B. Silva___________

____________________Delph_____________________

Danilo___________________________________Walker

_____________Laporte________Stones_____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Zinchenko, Kompany, Fernandinho, Gundogan, D. Silva, Aguero.

With Pep Guardiola giving very little away in his pre-match press conference about the fitness & availability of players pending a 3:00pm training session this afternoon, along with consultations with both doctors & fitness coaches; it makes it even more difficult to predict what he will do in this potentially, title-winning game / derby against our visitors from Trafford.

BUT…here goes.

With no exhaustion issues for him; it’s a league game and, so, our Brazilian ‘stopper’ is ‘between the sticks’.

I think we’ll see Danilo on his less-favored, left-sided wing-back role and is likely to be joined by Aymeric, in his MORE-favored central position alongside John and ‘go again’-Kyle on the right.

I’m guessing that Fabian might give some rest-relief to Fernandinho ahead of Tuesday night in a defensive midfield position and slightly ahead of him is ‘going again’ Leroy & Kevin with starts for Bernardo & Raheem.

Gabriel likely to ‘get the nod’ again up front.

Claudio the insurance with the gloves; Oleksandr & Vinny (the latter for a possible appearance, league-winning celebration outing) the defensive replacement options. Further changes from the side in midfield to come in the form of Fernandinho, Ilkay & David, with a possible bench spot for Sergio.

So…a mixed bag of ‘first choicers’ & ‘Second stringers’ really.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy: Still on his way back to fitness and waiting, I’m sure, to make an appearance or two some time in April & May.

-       Nicholas Otamendi: Rested in preparation for Tuesday.

-       Yaya Toure (not selected).

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

No, I’d rest Walker, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling & Jesus at least. Ederson makes more sense…

Result? If he goes with this ‘mixed 11’, as I see it, I think it’ll be a draw.

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

Prediction: Draw

Result: Draw

Expected weather conditions during the game: A very soggy day should leave the pitch with a ‘zip’ in it. However, for the match it should start to dry up a little and even be dry for the second half and journey home for the fans. Not chilly at all, really, at 10 to 11C.