Let’s keep this machine motoring on!

After a crackin’ performance and win (0-5) in our last league outing as well as another good’n in the League Cup in midweek, I’m very hopeful for momentum to continue at home tomorrow afternoon; our first home game in 3 matches.

v Brighton & Hove Albion.

Etihad Stadium

Once again, with time pressing before this clash I’ll ‘crack on’ with a pre-match blog-posting…

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 9/11

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

____________________Aguero____________________

Sane___________________________________Sterling

___________D. Silva___________B. Silva___________

__________________Fernandinho__________________

Delph____________________________________Walker

_____________Laporte________Otamendi___________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Muric, Danilo, Stones, Gundogan, Foden, Mahrez, Jesus.

Ederson back ‘between the sticks’.

A strong & dependable back-4 of Fabian, Aymeric, Nicholas & Kyle.

After a full week’s rest, Fernandinho to play in front of those and a frightening (for the oppo) 4 ahead of the Brazilian of Leroy, David, Bernardo & Raheem.

Sergio to come back to head-up all of those, I would think.

Aro back on the side after a quite Tuesday night (but good experience for him I’m sure); Danilo & John make up the defensive replacement options with Ilkay, Phil, Riyad & Gabriel the more creative / attacking choices from the bench.

Notable absences:

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

-       Benjamin Mendy – Back in light training / recovery (and in a bit hot water after getting ‘back to camp’ late following a night out…but nothing that is apparently being treated as TOO serious by his manager / the club).

-       Vincent Kompany – Not selected.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko: Not selected, despite a fine performance in midweek.

-       Kevin De Bruyne: About to start light training next week by all accounts (yaaay!) and could be back within 3 weeks’ish.

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

Oh yes.

Result? Our visitors could have summer signing Florin Andone fit following a lengthy injury and the apparently-hard-working striker could either, therefore for me, be a little rusty or want to ‘burst onto the scene’ and impress. Could cause us some issues if it’s the latter. Otherwise, I can only see one outcome for this fixture; a win for City and possibly by a good margin too if we don’t take ‘em for granted and work hard ourselves.

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

Prediction: Win

Result:Win

Expected weather conditions during the game: Beautiful day for footy – perhaps slightly chilly in the shade but dry with plenty of sunshine; with a high of 14C.

Back to the cup we won last year…

These games are already coming ‘thick & fast’ so straight onto a pre-match blog-posting…

 

v Oxford United

Kassam 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:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sane___________________________________Mahrez

___________Diaz_____D. Silva____Foden__________

Zinchenko_______________________________Walker

____________Kompany_______Stones_____________

_____________________Muric____________________

Subs: Ederson, Delph, Otamendi, B. Silva, Gundogan, Sterling, Aguero.

I could be WELL wrong with this one and dent, what has largely been, if you don’t mind me saying, good starting-11 predictions so far. But this League Cup fixture – our first in this year’s competition – of course comes with a few doses of…

·         How many younger players will get thrown straight into the first 11?

·         How many will make the bench?

·         Which players who are fit but haven’t played much first team footy so far will ‘get the nod’?

·         Which one of those main ‘first team choice’ players will be asked to ‘go again’ after playing in the Premier League just 3 days earlier and with just 3 ½ days to go until our next league encounter?

Lots to consider there but, as you can see, I’ve gone with…

Aro being given his first-team chance with the gloves. Why? Well if we’re not gonna use the 6’ 6” stopper in this competition then I would have to question when WILL he get his chance and does that mean we intend to play Ederson in all 60-odd games this season in all competitions? I mean, I’m sure this would have been a Claudio Bravo game had he been available…

I think with Benjamin Mendy being injured, Pep would like to protect his main replacement option, Fabian, and, therefore, I think we’ll see Oleksandr’s first start of the season at left-wing back. Kyle to ‘go again’ on the opposite, defensive flank with no other obvious options. Surely this will be a ‘Vinny game’ and I’d like to think that our manager would also like to give John some much-needed minutes also, as the Aymeric & Nicholas partnership seems to be largely working very well indeed.

I don’t think we’ll necessarily see a defensive midfielder deployed in this game but, instead, a tight & creative midfield 3 of youngsters Brahim (despite him now being linked with a loan move away very soon he might just get a final, City run-out before he leaves) & Phil being nurtured by the far more experienced David, who got a rare rest last weekend. Either side of those I think Leroy will be asked to play at least 60 minutes from the start and ahead of a home league game this-coming weekend and surely Riyad has earnt another test-start, following his brace against Cardiff after coming on as a sub and looking both lively and more dangerous.

I think Gabriel will get a chance to put in a much-needed productive performance also.

Ederson to “enjoy” an infrequent view from the sides, I would say; Fabian & Nicholas provide back-up to the defence (Delph Midfield also) should it all go a bit ‘pear shaped’ with that less-familiar-4 starting at the back. The ever-impressive Bernardo, the very much restored (from last Wednesday) Ilkay, Raheem & solid Sergio, who made it 300 City appearances last Saturday, all make up the more attacking replacement-options from ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

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

-       Aymeric Laporte – Not selected / rested.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Injured / unknown return date

-       Danilo – Still not quite ready, apparently.

-       Fernandinho – Not selected / rested.

-       Kevin De Bruyne: Injured for around another 6 weeks.

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

Does it for me…and will be interesting to see, if I’m anywhere near-correct.

Result? Our hosts are really struggling in their league so far and although we should never take anything for granted having seen top teams being stung in competitions like this, not least ourselves (and I’m sure they’ll want to be well up for this one); I think that despite the possible big changes we’ll get through to the next round without too many issues.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Could be a little chilly at around 10 or 11C but it should be dry, clear and with little winds. Definitely a warm coat and a hot pie for the fans (it’s quite an open stadium too) and I bet some of our players, at least, will adorn themselves with gloves for this one.