Despite the much-deserved 0-5 win in last weekend’s opener, West Ham away for our first game of the season always looked like a challenge when the fixture list first came out.
And, indeed, the opening 10 to 15 minutes was more about us having to defend several of the home side’s attacks and even then, it was only after a period of time where our passing radar was off, did we finally ‘click’ and took control of the game.
I’m not gonna mention VAR…
Although our next match is on home soil; Spurs most definitely provide another challenge for us and, personally, I’m glad the nuisance that is Heung-Min Son is suspended.
Quick announcement: I’m going away on holiday for a week on Saturday (watching the game soon after arriving) so it’ll be unlikely that I’ll get a blog-posting out before the AFC Bournemouth game on Sunday 25th August.
v Tottenham Hotspur
 |
| 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____________________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
____________________Ederson____________________
To be
honest with you - and rather than going through the predicted starting 11
etc. in the usual format with my notes about the line-up - I can only see
one change from last weekend’s selection.
There’s
a case for giving a debut at home to right-wing back Joao but Kyle redeemed
himself somewhat after a flaky start to last Saturday’s game, with a
full-thruster-run to cross for our opening goal; enough for him to face his
former employer tomorrow, I would suggest.
The only
change, therefore, I can see is the now-surly-fully-rested & 'ready to go',
Sergio to come in for Gabriel. Jesus might feel himself a little ‘hard done
to’ should he be dropped; following another hard-working performance, a goal
and getting himself in positions to get more last Saturday.
Other
than that, why would our manager feel the need to change a side that rolled
over West Ham, especially at this early stage of the season and with no game to
come after this match for over a week.
As for
the subs bench - Claudio is the back-up stopper; Joao & Nicholas the
defensive replacement options from the side. Fernandinho, Ilkay, Bernardo &
Gabriel make up the midfield / attacking contingent, which includes the more creative
/ attacking reserves from ‘the 7’.
Notable
absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Still recovering from
long-term injury and should be back in full training soon, apparently.
- Phil Foden – Likely to be the one
to make way for the, apparently ready, Fernandinho to return to the
match-day squad.
- Leroy Sane – Has now had surgery on his
knee and is expected to be ready around February / March 2020.
I am a little
concerned about why Kyle can’t seem to find some consistent form, especially
with the defensive aspect of his game but, other than that, I sure do! It’ll be a big game
for Rodders, I expect.
Result?
I think it’ll be a close one. I’ve already mentioned the suspended Son but, of
course, our visitors have plenty of quality all over their team; not least
their new, powerful signing, Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Kane of
course and their seemingly happy to leave,
Christian Eriksen.
But if we can find that swagger early on from
the second half of last Saturday’s game then, especially in our first home
game of the season, we should come out on top.
I think it’ll be close though and we might
even concede our first goal of the season…but I can see us scoring more than
them. It’s a home win for me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Win
(Didn’t do a pre-match blog posting for that game)
Expected weather conditions during
the game: After a Friday soaking, it looks to be a fairly fine one for the match. 66F
and mostly sunny isn’t too bad for an evening kick off, although there will be
a rather stiff, Westerly breeze. It still should be better than this for mid-August in my (moaning) opinion…
No comments:
Post a Comment