Newport / pitch v Manchester City.

Well, I had to mention the pitch – everyone seems to be talking about it and it was mentioned SO many times in Pep’s pre-match press conference I lost count!

 

Personally, I’ve not seen it - I watched the highlights of their F.A. Cup game before the Boro one but wasn’t particularly drawn towards a bad pitch; one that has both rugby as well as The Exiles playing on it. 

 

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t gonna do a pre-game blog-posting before this evening's match due to family illness distresses all week and up to Thursday, which left me utterly exhausted yesterday. Instead, I’ll push out a very quick one in order to get it out on time (and please take time to read a small Blog announcement at the very end).

v Newport County A.F.C.

Rodney Parade

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).

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

___________________Aguero____________________

Sane___________________________________Mahrez

___________D. Silva__________Foden_____________

_________________Fernandinho__________________

Delph____________________________________Danilo

____________Laporte_________Stones_____________

___________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Muric, Zinchenko, Walker, Otamendi, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus.

Don’t forget folks, we’ve got an away Champions League game coming our way just 4 days after this game…

I think Ederson will have this one.

Slight change in defence? Well it’s not too much in my prediction but our manager might not want to risk Oleksandr ahead of Wednesday's game and after a fine performance last Sunday. Fabian, then, to be the ‘fodder’ for this one in the left-wing back slot. Danilo likely to take up the other flank and with our hosts having big, strong players in their ranks, I can see Guardiola sticking with Aymeric & John in the heart of our defence.

Again, with height in mind, I think Fernandinho might have to start this one at least; with the hope that there’s scope for him to be withdrawn ASAP ahead of our trip to Germany. Ahead of him, I think we’ll see the pairing of David & Phil with a return for Leroy on the left and Riyad on the right wing.

Sergio might be the better ‘rough & ready’ build for this encounter – that could be in Pep’s thinking and, which, I’m going for.

Aro the reserve stopper and then Oleksandr, Kyle & Nicholas provide defensive cover on the left, right & centre. Kevin, Raheem & Gabriel are the creative & attacking replacement-choices from the side.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Continues his rehab following serious injury.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Not ready to return, is the message from the manager.

-       Vincent Kompany – For Vinny, read Benny.

-       Ilkay Gundogan – Rested / Protected.

-       Bernardo Silva – Rested / Protected.

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

Yep, especially the non-weakening of the defensive midfield and inclusion also of our main & taller central defenders.

Result? I think it’ll be a really good game and I think the Welsh side might get a goal (watch for those set pieces Blues!). I hope it’s a clean game (5:30pm KO GMT) ending with 11v11 and that the pitch isn’t TOO much of an issue.

If all those factors happen, then I can see this being an away win. I’ve got a slight, edgy feeling about the game if I'm being honest and if we’re not careful / ‘on it’ and we will face a 12^th man in the form of the home fans at a ground, I understand, that has had temporary seating installed taking the capacity from 7,850 to around the 10,000 mark.

I’m going for an away win but because it’s so hard to call in some ways, either a very close one or one where we’re almost out of sight just either side of half time.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Bit of a Southerly breeze and a chance of some drizzle but nothing much doing really and very mild at 11C for mid-February.

Break in service.

I’m going away for a much-needed, short break in a few days and, therefore, they’ll be no Blog-postings ahead of our game on Wednesday night against FC Schalke 04 nor, sadly, before our League Cup final game against Chelsea; a game I'll definitely be watching though!

Sorry for the break in service and enjoy both games!