100 up?

All sorts of records already broken in this fantastic season of ours and it’s great that we have another one to aim for in our final game of 2017 / 18.

Great send off!

I’ve spoken to other Blues since Wednesday night’s game v Brighton and all have said they enjoyed that game far more that the trophy-receiving game the previous Sunday v Huddersfield.

New kit and Yaya's last game.

The home fans were in better voice; the match was FAR better, we had a new home kit to view and the presentation at the end went far more smoothly and…just seemed more enjoyable for some reason. Strange…

I thought it was a really good “farewell” to our Ivorian ‘big man’; a great servant and such a pivotal figure over the majority of the last 8 seasons. I hope, if he feels he has it in him, he manages at least one more season in the Premier League with someone.

And…HAPPY 35^th BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW FELLA!

 v Southampton

St. Mary's Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game which for me, Blog-wise, was the Huddersfield fixture: 10/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sane__________________________________Sterling

___________D. Silva________De Bruyne__________

_________________Fernandinho_________________

Delph__________________________________Walker

____________Stones________Otamendi___________

___________________Ederson__________________

Subs: Bravo, Mendy, Danilo, Kompany, Foden, B. Silva, Diaz.

I think we’ll see a lot of rotation here from last Wednesday’s game and, also, some selections in the match-day squad with some medals in mind…

Ederson back in net following a night off in midweek.

An entire new back-4 from Wednesday to, I think, with Fabian, John, Nicholas & Kyle.

I think we’ll see Fernandinho go again; Leroy to ahead of him but joined tomorrow by rested David, Kevin & Raheem.

Gabriel the only other one of three to make another start, I’d say.

Claudio back on the side and joined by defensive replacement option in Benjamin, Danilo & Vincent (he’ll wanna be there or there abouts for a shot at 100 points…). With them being on 4 appearance and needing 5 for an automatic medal; I think we’ll see Pep make room for both Phil & Brahmin on the bench and joined by the ever-more-threatening Bernardo.

Notable absences:

-       Aymeric Laporte: Not selected despite a terrific performance against Brighton.

-       Ilkay Gundogan: Possible not selected / rested ahead of World Cup in order to fit Brahim Diaz on the bench for a 5^th appearance, winners medal.

-       Yaya Toure: Given his last game for the club last Wednesday

-       Sergio Aguero: Injured.

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

Yes indeed.

Result? Well it would take something like us beating Southampton 5-0 and Swansea beating Stoke by the same scoreline to send our hosts down on Sunday and as free-scoring as we can be, I just can’t see both of those happening.

Therefore, we MIGHT face a side who is half on their holidays…or we might just face a team who just aren’t going to take any chances and give it their all.

Either way, I think we’ll have every gun trained on this 100-point mark and I think we’ll get it too. Should be a very good game.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

Expected weather conditions during the game: Very pleasant indeed at around 60F and mostly sunny.