I already made my excuses for no pre-match blog-postings before both the Fulham & Southampton home fixture but apologies for no pre-match posting – nor warning / explanation – for no pre-match posting before the Shakhtar game. I’ve just been so flippin’ busy since coming back from holiday!
So…ANOTHER home game (our 4th in 11 days) and straight to it!
v Manyoo
 |
| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct
from starting line-up in the last game which, for me blog-wise, was the
Shakhtar AWAY game! 8/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Aguero____________________
__________________Fernandinho__________________
_____________________Ederson____________________
Ederson
the last line of defence.
I think Benjamin was rested in midweek in the hope that he'll
terrorise our visitors on the left-hand side; Kyle, meanwhile, was substituted on
61 minutes on Wednesday night and is sure to start on the opposite flanking-defence
position. John & Aymeric likely to continue their excellent partnership and
to ‘go again’ in between those.
Fernandinho played all but 14 minutes of 'the 90' 4 days before this match and
should have no problem filling his usual duel role as 'defensive protector' & 'link man'
to our more attacking midfielders; David & Bernardo being the 2 ahead
of him in the middle of the park. Although Leroy saw the whole game against
Shakhtar from the side and has played well whenever he’s been on the pitch; I
think we’ll see starting-wing-places go to both in-form & confident pairing
Raheem & Riyad.
Sergio had a full rest and should be more than ready to fire tomorrow late
afternoon (4:30pm KO GMT).
Aro the back-up keeper; Danilo, Vincent & Fabian give our manager
left, right & central defensive replacement options as well as defensive
midfield cover. Ilkay, Leroy & hat-trick hero Gabriel provide more in the
way of creative & goal-threat options from ‘the 7’ on the side.
Notable
absences:
Well…I’m giving a nod to my instinct that I’d like to see Delph
& Sane on the left; I think any team with threat down their
right-side-flank can expose our French “left-back’s” attacking instinct.
Similarly, I believe that Fabian provides a better defensive / attacking-support
balance and I think Leroy is a fantastic player but, who, doesn’t quite seem the same with Benjamin [so close] behind /
next to him.
However, I understand
the added-double-threat that Mendy brings, which can really press the
opposition back and, so, that
predicted line-up is an excellent one that I’d be absolutely fine with.
Result?
Predicting a derby is like trying to successfully pick a winner in the Grand National. However, I’m simply gonna go with…
An excellent side with so much confidence, work-rate,
creativity, goal threats AND the best defensive record in the Premier League
Versus
A side that looks so out of sorts so much of
the time; concedes most games despite
having a decent keeper but which also contains threats and has a nasty, horrible little habit – certainly more
recently – of having better second halves and scoring
very late on.
We might well concede our 5th
league goal of the season on Sunday but, all things considered, this is a home
win for me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Draw
Result: Lost
Expected weather conditions during
the game: The sun will be fading over the horizon as the game kicks off but it should be dry, if not a little chilly at around 9C. Definitely a warm-coat-match for the fans under the floodlights.
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