Well, we face
the south coast side at home again just 4 days after we pushed past them in the
League Cup to secure ourselves a quarter
final trip to Oxford United and, for this
match-up, I’m sure there’ll be changes in both starting 11s.
 |
| Eithad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct
from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11, in the midweek, cup game)
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Jesus____________________
__________________Gundogan__________________
__________Fernandinho_____Otamendi____________
____________________Ederson___________________
Ederson comes back to be our last line of defence.
Suspended and, therefore, rested-also last Tuesday; Fernandinho is likely
to ‘get the nod’ from our manager to act as central defender…although with other
options in that position now available and with Rodri currently injured; there’s a good
argument that he should move up the pitch and take his old job back for now.
However, that’s what I’m predicting and, guessing also, that he’ll be
partnered by Nicolas in the heart of the defence. Benjamin almost certain to
take up the left-wing back slot and with Walker getting more minutes on the
pitch than his right-wing back colleague; I think Joao will start tomorrow
afternoon.
Completely rested / protected, as he was, last Tuesday strongly suggests to me that
Ilkay will be asked to start and play the defensive midfield role, with a trio
of also-rested players coming back into ‘the 11’ ahead of the German in
the form of Raheem, David & Kevin. It’s definitely a ‘toss up’ who gets the
right-wing job, as both played the ‘full 90+’ on Tuesday and both had good
games. I think Riyad might have edged Bernardo on the night though and if Pep
saw that too and uses that as 'a decider', then I think the Algerian will be chosen
over the Portuguese international tomorrow.
I think the rotation will continue in the striking department (if you can call 2 strikers a “department”), with Gabriel
starting up front and ahead of all that craft & creativity.
Claudio sits back on the bench; Angelino, Kyle & John provide
defensive replacement options form the side. Phil, Bernardo and Sergio are in
‘the 7’ as creative / attacking change-options.
Notable
absences:
I think I’d be tempted
to stick 'a Stones & Otto combination' in the middle of the defence and use
'Fern' as the defensive midfielder but I’m fine with that.
Result?
I’m sure a changed Southampton side will be looking to grab something from the
game as they hope not to slip further into trouble and might, therefore,
provide a stiffer test than they did in midweek.
But we’re bringing back so many strong,
top-quality players that I just can’t see anything other than a City win and, in
some ways, I fear
for our visitors a little following their last league drubbing. So, it’s a home win for
me.
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Win
(There was no pre-match blog posting for that game as I had just
come back from holiday and didn’t have enough time)
Expected weather conditions during
the game: Well, as is often the case around this time of year when you swap cold
for slightly milder temperatures…the rain comes with it. After rain throughout
half of the night prior to the game, the pitch starts to receive its next dose
of water from around 7am on match-day, which is going to get heavier for a time
and most-certainly lasts right throughout the game and continues also as the
fans make their way home. Marvellous. Shouldn’t affect the play too much though, I wouldn’t think; as the playing area was ‘pounded on’ both before & during the Villa game recently and I didn’t notice any issues because of it…
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