…soaking up our injury list as we visit our last Manager’s new / latest club.
Their names vil also go on ze list. Vot are they?
Another injury in
recent weeks to Kevin De Bruyne and now
another, also-recent setback, to Benjamin Mendy add to other players in recent
weeks such as Nicholas Otamendi, Danilo and, latest this week, Bernardo Silva; have made me realise even MORE
just what an adaptable squad of players we have.
Lose Kevin – one of the best midfielders in the Premier League / Europe – and, for the most
part, we don’t look like we’ve missed the hugely talented Belgium; with
Bernardo Silva alongside David 'filling the
hole' incredibly well. Lose Bernardo and we have more-than-capable Ilkay Gundogan or Phil Foden to step in. And if something
were to happen to both of those then, I would argue, we’ve got Brahim Diaz and even the likes of hard-working Gabriel Jesus who could be deployed as an advance
midfielder; with Raheem Sterling &
Riyad Mahrez who could do likewise (with the option also of using
John Stones as a defensive midfielder;
allowing Fernandinho to, perhaps, advance a
little).
Lose Benjamin and we
have, who many would agree is, a more-solid player to slot in at left-wing-back
in Fabian Delph. Lose Fabian? Then we have a
player who performed solid 7/10’ers in that role last season - Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Wow!
 |
| London Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct
from starting line-up in the last game: 11/11 – 100%…with only
one wrong on the bench too!).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Aguero____________________
___________D. Silva__________Gundogan___________
__________________Fernandinho__________________
Delph_____________________________________Walker
____________Laporte___________Stones____________
_____________________Ederson____________________
Ederson
the ‘main man’, of course, at the very back.
Fabian, so excellent for England recently (as well as is often the case for
us), ‘steps in’ at left-wing back with Kyle on the opposite flank in the defensive
department. Aymeric & John in-between those.
Fernandinho continues his so-important, duel-role ahead of those; I
think Leroy will see himself back in his position ahead of Delph (good 'combo' in my opinion) on the left-attacking
flank and joined by David, Ilkay & Raheem in an attacking quartet across the
middle.
Sergio the head-up all of those.
Aro the reserve stopper; Danilo & Vinny should make up defensive
replacement options from the side. Oleksandr, Phil, Riyad & Gabriel make up both
impressive & young, mostly attacking options from ‘the 7’.
Notable
absences:
-
Benjamin Mendy – Injured for
10 to 12 weeks.
-
Nicholas
Otamendi – Mixed reports suggest he’s
no longer injured, still injured, okay again but not ‘match fit’! Dunno really... (Update on 24.11.2018: Latest reports I've heard is that he IS back in contention but I'll leave him out blog-wise at this stage).
-
Bernardo Silva – Injured / not ready for this one and possibly mid-week too.
-
Kevin De Bruyne – Injured for about another 5 weeks.
- Brahim Diaz - Not selected.
- Brahim Diaz - Not selected.
Sure do!
Result?
Well it’s a post-international break, an away game against a Premier League side,
we have injuries for sure and, of course, we’re facing our ex-Manager as well
as an ex-player, in Zabba. All of those things, in the past, would have
pointed towards to a difficult trip with some alarm bells sounding in City fan's heads of a certain era...
AND,
I will add, West Ham have solidified somewhat after a dodgy start; with a DWD
in their last 3 league games. However, we might
concede - and rumours suggest that useful-at-times Andy Carroll is
available for selection again - but I think we’ll have enough to have a good day
in London.
It’s an away win for me.
It’s an away win for me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win.
Result: Win
Expected weather conditions during
the game: Dreary. Chilly at 8 or 9C and damp before, during and after the game.
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