Same points as last season…

…going into our 4^th game of this season’s, Premier League campaign. Gotta be happy with that despite only coming away from our last game with a point and with strong starts from a few of our competitors. 

 

A bit late posting this one but first…

…a few words on the Wolves game.

Before moving on to a pre-match blog-posting for this evening’s game, a quick look back at last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Molineux and my ‘thoughts on’.

As I suspected I would be, I was impressed with Wolves and I’m sticking to the idea that they shouldn’t have many issues whatsoever surviving their first season back in the ‘top flight’. They have good players and a manager who has them very well organised and working hard.

I thought they pressed us from the very beginning and, despite our 71%, overall possession they continued to close us down for the most part and stifle our passing game to a good degree. And although we hit the woodwork 3 times, which included one fantastic save from their keeper, they had more than a couple of chances to come out of the game with all-3 points too; especially in the last 10-minutes where I thought we reached an, ‘anyone could win this / next goal does’ scenario.

Having said all of that in-praise of the home side, their goal should not have stood, let’s not forget – a goal that was a definite handball with a chance of an off-side too. The challenge on David Silva too definitely comes under the column of, “I’ve seen them given” and, on second & third viewing, probably “given” more than “not” too!

The officials were quite poor on the day overall, in my opinion, and we definitely got the worst of their failings. I include, in fact, plenty of Wolves players who were not booked and / or took an age and several fouls before only one of the home players received a yellow; although I will add that both Fernandinho & Vinny to say the least were walking on thin ice throughout the game for silly challenges after passing errors.

It wasn’t a free-flowing performance from City at all and I have to say that I sensed this in the first 10-minutes. However, if we can come away from home with a point against a very good side that were ‘well up for the fight’ and who still appeared to have their ‘tails up’ after being promoted as champions last season then you can’t be too critical, despite expectations rising season on season at City. Many decent sides will fair far worse at WV1 this season…

This was a game that I went to and I had hoped to do a more-detailed write-up soon afterwards / this week about my experience. However, more family illness issues got in the way and before I new it…TA-DAAAAA! 5 or more days had passed! However, as this was my first competitive away trip in a long while, I do hope to give my opinion on how the whole day felt for me in a separate piece; perhaps drawing comparisons to the days where I used to travel away quite a lot in the late 80s / early 90s.

v Newcastle United.

Straight onto a predicted line-up & subs against our North East visitors…

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: Well in the days where even the very most informed City pundits are struggling to guess what might be in Pep’s head, I think I deserve some kind of prize for getting 10/11 correct v Wolves. No?

Fluid 4-1-3-2 / 4-4-2:

_________________________Aguero_______________

______________Jesus___________________________

_______D. Silva_____Gundogan_____B. Silva________

__________________Fernandinho__________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

_____________Stones_________Laporte____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Muric, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph, Mahrez, Sane, Sterling.

Slightly different line-up than we’re often used to with hints of the shape that faced Huddersfield in our last home game? That’s what I’m going for.

Ederson, who pulled off a fine save himself in the Wolves encounter, to keep the gloves.

Although he saved us with some typically-vintage, Vincent Kompany positioning & tackles last Saturday, he was also most noticeably slow-of-feet, which got him / us into trouble on a few occasions too. Therefore, I get the feeling that we’ll see John step back up to ‘the 11’ today. The rest to make up a back-4 - with attacking wing-backs - is Benjamin, Aymeric & Kyle.

Fernandinho to sit in front of those.

This is where it all gets a bit fluid / interchangeable; as I’ve set it out like a narrow 3 of David, Ilkay & Bernardo with Gabriel sitting as a deep-lying striker but, as we saw against Huddersfield, I think we’ll often see Bernardo wider on the right flank and Gabriel more in a Leroy Sane role on the left in more of a fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (and don’t forget those attacking wing-backs often making it a 2-7-1).

Sergio has the job of being ahead of all of that craft & creativity.

Aro continues to deputise for Ederson, Vinny likely to be back on the bench, as I've said, and joined, defesive-wise, by Nicholas. Fabian to provide both midfield & left-wing-back cover; a quite amazing reserve of attacknig tallent then follows in the form of Riyad, Leroy & Raheem, which make up 'the 7'.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured, long-term and possibly the rest of the season.

-       Danilo: Injured - unknown status / return date.

-       Phil Foden – Not selected.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko: Not selected, despite now staying at City and not now going out on loan.

-       Kevin De Bruyne: Injured for around 10 weeks.

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

I’d like to see Leroy get some game time under his belt and back to his very best (will it work with Mendy bombing up & down that side?) but, yep…sure do.

Result? Although Rafa Benitez has solidified the team a little and certainly towards the back-end of last season within a still-turbulent football club, I can’t see anything other than a home win here; albeit we might struggle to break 'em down at times and for a while.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

Expected weather conditions during the game: A largely warm but slightly overcast day should turn into a fairly sunny & warm one for the late KO, as the sun is forecasted to pop out for a visit from around 5pm to 7pm; with temperatures a pleasant 70F and very little chance of any rain. Lovely day for a game of footy…and some joker Geordie to get his top off in the away stand (oh how we almost took notice).

·        With the outgoing transfer window now shut, I’ll be getting to work soon on some season predictions to put into a blog-posting as usual.

Differing opinions.

With little time between Pep’s pre-match press conference this afternoon and tomorrow’s early KO, this posting comes with some uncertainty about available personnel.

 

That aside, I’ve heard opinions in the last few days both from Blues and non-Blues alike that this, “…should be an easy win for City” and that, “…this could be a tricky one”. 

 

I tend to agree with the latter despite our terrific start to the season…

v Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Molineux

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: Unbelievably after some surprising changes & starting line-up, I still somehow managed to get 8/11).

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

____________________Aguero____________________

Sterling_________________________________B. Silva

___________D.Silva__________Gundogan__________

__________________Fernandinho__________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

_____________Stones_________Laporte____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Muric, Kompany, Otamendi, Foden, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus.

Ederson a ‘dead-cert’ to start.

I’m confident that we’ll see a back-4 of Benjamin, John, Aymeric and a return to ‘the 11’ of Kyle; although that means dropping Vinny and, so, who knows what’s in our Manager’s head!

I’ve heard (hence the reference to some uncertainly) that there might be a doubt about Fernandinho but, for now, I’ve ‘stuck him in there’ just in front of those 4.

I think we’ll see Raheem start and possibly on the left; leaving the rest of the attacking midfield looking like David, Ilkay & Bernardo.

Sergio to head ‘that lot’.

Having been recalled from loan due to a serious injury to Claudio Bravo, I think we’ll see Aro Muric as the back-up stopper (gotta feel a little sorry for Daniel Grimshaw after being announced not long ago and our No.3 keeper for the season). If he doesn’t start again in a “whatever” line-up, Vinny to at least make the bench and joined by Nicholas as defensive-replacement options. Phil, Riyad & Leroy make up the attacking midfield / wing options; Gabriel might have to wait his turn in this game despite being pitched along-side Sergio in the last route.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured, long-term and possibly the rest of the season.

-       Danilo: Injured - unknown status / return date.

-       Fabian Delph – Not selected.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko: Not selected and soon to be / likely going out on loan.

-       Kevin De Bruyne: Injured for around 2-½ to 3 months.

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

Does it for me! But what’s happening with Fabian who has always impressed me / is so very useful?

Result? I agree with those that say that this isn’t gonna be an easy game. Wolves were impressive last season; have a decent Manager, good players from their last campaign, have ADDED to that very well and were unlucky to come away form Leicester with nothing last weekend. However, although I think they might breach our defence, I think also that we’ll come away with all-3 points tomorrow; a game I’m going to if nothing happens beforehand family-illness-wise.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: It’s gonna be a fairly pleasant day! Not too bad at 61F; sunny intervals and no reported rain.

“Good job” done against a…

…“slow-to-start” Arsenal who offered little threat last Sunday. 

 

Now for a home test against a team we struggled to break down for long periods at their ground last season and, who, prevented us from scoring at all at the Etihad; one of only two teams who managed to do that to us in the league all of last season.

A few words on our last game

By the time I’d got myself together it seemed like the ‘time had passed’ for me to do any kind of post-match posting, which is something regular readers will know it’s something I don’t always do anyway.

But it was our opening game and, so, here’s what I thought of it.

Apart from a quiet one from Ilkay Gundogan (6/10), I thought the rest deserved 7s, 7.5s & 8s with a couple of higher-end 8.5s in there; namely from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva. I thought the whole back-4 were excellent, especially super charged Kyle Walker - what pace at times!

I thought the tempo was good from City and that, for large parts, we not only controlled the game but were hunting in packs and at speed whenever the home side dared to take possession of “our” ball. 😊

Truthfully, though, Arsenal offered very little threat and didn’t look half the side we were on the day; perhaps taking charge for brief periods but then failing to take a few chances they created, which could have changed the game albeit it against the run of play.

We’ve played better and not won in the past but for our opening game and without the likes of Vincent Kompany, Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne & David Silva starting, a 2-0, clean sheet away win against a home team with a new manager to impress is surely a very good result in anyone’s book.

Any negatives at all? Only minor ones from me.

Riyad Mahrez is still to find his feet a little; plenty of effort but he seems to be fumbling when dribbling / taking on a defender and not finding his crosses nor shots either. That will come I have no doubt.

Did anyone else notice how we nearly fluffed our lines in the last 8 to 10 minutes or so; arsing around with it both in their half and our own; giving Arsenal the impetus to have a late pop at us and exacerbating it further with little stupid errors at the back…not least from Ederson? Well whether you did and your heart fluttered as much as mine did or you didn’t, I’m sure Pep and his staff will have noted that period and may well have sat ‘em down for a time on Tuesday morning to play back that mini horror show because a better team would have truly punished us for some of that lax, crazy play. Just a little blip though…

v Huddersfield Town.

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

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

____________________Aguero____________________

Sterling__________________________________Mahrez

___________D. Silva___________B. Silva____________

__________________Fernandinho__________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

_____________Stones_________Laporte____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph, Foden, Sane, Jesus.

Ederson between the sticks.

A back-4 with attacking wing-backs, of course, and ‘same as’ last Sunday, I think, of Benjamin & Kyle on the flanks with John & Aymeric in the middle of those.

Fernandinho the protecting midfielder; Sterling & Riyad the attacking flankers and could we see a ‘Silva duo’ in the middle? I think so and it what I’m predicting for the visit of The Terriers.

Sergio up front.

Claudio the back-up stopper; Nicholas & Vinny make up defensive replacement options; I almost went for a ‘Vinny start’ and I think he’ll see some game time depending on how the game is going. Fabian, who didn’t make the bench last weekend, likely to get a spot in ‘the 7’, which gives cover both in midfield and at left wing-back. Phil, Leroy & Gabriel make up the more attacking subs.

Big blow, of course, losing Kevin for 10 to 12 weeks but I think we have enough quality to cover his absence, albeit him-missing for so many games. Despite his HUGE quality, my biggest concern is how David Silva will “cope” without a player who compliments him so very, very well (and vice versa). We’ll be fine though…

Notable absences:

-       Danilo: Injured - unknown status / return date.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko: Not selected.

-       Kevin De Bruyne: Injured for around 2-½ to 3 months.

-       Ilkay Gundogan: Not selected.

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

Erm…largely, yes. However, I think I’d like to see Raheem, who was impressive against Arsenal, on the right; allowing Leroy to step into the left-hand-side, wing role and replacing Riyad, who still looks like he needs more ‘settling in time’ and perhaps coming off the bench as legs tire. Other than that? Absolutely fine.

Result? Well, I’ve already mentioned how we struggled to break these down twice last season and they can be a very organised side. Having said that, they did ship-in 3 goals at home in their opening against Chelsea and as long as we keep playing our game and the crowd remains patient then we should have too much for the Yorkshire side. It’s a home win for me.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Draw

Expected weather conditions during the game: The TV forecast seemed to suggest that it’ll be a largely overcast but dry and fairly warm day on Sunday. However, the same media on-line suggests that it’ll be a cooler, gloomier day with drizzly wet stuff falling both before and during parts of the game. Please come back summer!