v Brighton & Hove Albion

All sorts going on around ‘Blue chews-daze towers’ non-football related and, so, straight to it…

v Brighton & Hove Albion.

Etihad Stadium

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____________________

Sterling_________________________________B. Silva

___________D. Silva___________De Bruyne_________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

_____________Laporte________Otamendi___________

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Bravo, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez.

Just one change form the last game, I am thinking for this one.

I WAS, initially, gonna put more than one extra rotation of players in for this game; in that Joao might have come in on the right of the defence in my predicted line-up, which isn’t unusual at this early stage of the season; as some players have early-season ‘niggles’ and fitness issues and, additionally, others need to be given ‘game time’ to progress their match-fitness levels / new players need to be introduced to ‘the system’.

However, having read the early team news from our manager’s pre-match press conference…

Ed has the gloves, of course.

The the same back-4 as the last outing, I would now suggest, as Kyle has been left out of the England squad for the up & coming internationals and, therefore, Cancelo might now be given some more ‘easing in time’.

Rodri to take back his place but ahead of him, I think Pep will stick with the same ‘attacking 5’ of Raheem, David, Kevin, Bernardo and Sergio.

Claudio the reserve stopper; Joao and the possibly-recovered John are the defensive replacement options from the side. Fernandinho, Phil & Ilkay are the midfield 3 choices from ‘the 7’, with Riyad the most attacking change-options from the bench.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Continues his full training regime.

-       Angelino – Not selected.

-       Leroy Sane – Expected to be ready around February / March 2020 after surgery was completed in August 2019.

-       Gabriel Jesus – Injured until after the international break, after suffering a small injury during training before last weekend’s game.

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

Does it for me!

Result? Can’t see anything other than a City win here.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a showery morning to keep the pitch moist, it should brighten up considerably as the game progresses. 63F shouldn’t feel too bad either in the sunshine.

AFC Bournemouth, VAR & duel handball rule.

After my last post, where I said I won’t be posting a pre-Bournemouth piece due to a holiday; I just felt I had the time to ‘stick a late one out’, despite arriving home head-long into news of family illness / hospitalisation.

VAR and the duel handball rule.

I promised myself I wouldn’t give VAR any ‘air time’…or as little as possible. Why? Well to be blunt, I think it’s taken the enjoyment out of football.

Yes, we’d all like decisions to be the right ones and yes, most of us did scream at the TV before flippin’ VAR whenever we thought the officials got something wildly wrong. And…YES, perhaps things will ‘equal themselves out’ for most over the season and, in fact, I was going to keep a score from the start of the season of “for” and “against” VAR decisions but, to be honest, from ‘match 1’ I’ve already been sent into a head spin. I’m sure other people will be collating stats and will release the results at various times…

But the VAR system failed miserably for me in our last game in that it seemingly failed to see – or at least give the obviously correct decision for – the manhandling of Rodri in their penalty area; where he was grabbed and shoved to the floor for all in the stadium, at least, to see! Yet…that same system managed to spot the ball grazing the hairs on Aymeric Laporte’s arm and the cross came in for Gabriel Jesus to brilliantly control and find the back of the Spurs’ net; only for it to be disallowed of course. It was deja VAR all over again…

So, we were all told of the handball rule change before the season started and having seen it in action a week ago yesterday, how stupid is it?! Even worse still, having watched the whole game live whilst on holiday and then again, the following morning, watching the highlights; my wife asked me what would it mean if it had grazed the arm of a defending player. I had to admit, I just don’t know [anymore].

Well since then, I’ve learnt that the farce gets even more, well…farcical! I just about managed to catch some football chat on the radio where that very topic was being discussed and, unless I misheard, apparently the “same” rule doesn’t apply in that case! Instead, for the defending side the old “intentional or not” rule still applies which, for me, should be the case for the attacking team too. THAT makes far more sense to most, I would suggest.

It’s just all…hufffff…

v AFC Bournemouth.

With less than 3 hours to go before KO, here’s a quick finishing off of this article – with hyperlinks to be completed later / probably after the match (now complete)…

Vitality Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

____________________Aguero____________________

Sterling_________________________________Mahrez

___________D. Silva___________De Bruyne_________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

_____________Laporte________Otamendi___________

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Bravo, Cancelo, Garcia, Foden, Gundogan, B.Silva, Jesus.

Ederson in net.

Having recovered from cramp / exhaustion after the Spurs game, Alex likely to take up the left-wing back slot. Kyle likely to retain the opposite flank of the defence with Aymeric & Nicholas in-between.

Rodders to run the space ahead of those with the more-attacking quartet likely to be Raheem, rotated David, Kevin & rotated Riyad.

I’m expecting angry, angry Sergio to have a cracker this afternoon ahead of all of those!

Claudio the back-up stopper, Joao and possibly Eric the defensive choices form the side. Phil, Ilkay, Barnardo and Gabriel are the rather impressive, more creative / attacking options on the bench.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Back in training and getting his fitness ‘up to speed’ in preparation for ‘take 3’ since he signed over 2 years ago.

-       Angelino – Not selected.

-       John Stones – Injured for just a short time, hopefully, with a muscle strain. Continuing niggles with John are a concern for me.

-       Fernandinho – Fit to take part, I would think, but Foden likely to given the nod ahead of the Brazilian who might be-being given as much preparation time while the fixtures are light.

-       Leroy Sane – Expected to be ready around February / March 2020 after surgery was complete in August 2019.

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

No probs there.

Result? I think we’ll most definitely ‘have our tails up’ for this one and although our hosts are a dogged side with a high work rate and players who can get behind you; I expect us to bombard their red & black wall until it cracks a few times.

An away win.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Not nearly as hot as Manchester but 75F and part-sunny isn’t a bad forecast for an afternoon watching footy. Could be a little hot for the players who might just value a few VAR-rest periods…