Weird.

As stated in my last blog posting, I was unable to watch last Wednesday’s semi-final, second leg against Manyoo but I have since watched limited highlights; have been in contact with a mate who was there and listened to, watched and read reports on the game.

Weird…

A lot of City fans leaving the ground after the midweek game found themselves in a confused state…and it wasn’t because of extra visits to the bar before the game as well as half time. Most of ‘em, in a video that I watched post-game at least, talked about not feeling like celebrating the fact that we’d reached Wembley – AKA Etihad of the South – again and for the 3^rd, successive season in the League Cup.

The reason was obvious, of course; we’d just been beaten at home 0-1 by our neighbours from the borough of Trafford and this was the second home defeat to them in around 7 or 8 weeks! For most fans, getting beat by your local rivals hurts more than most other things in football and, so, of COURSE it took some of the shine off our progression to the final; especially as the close scoreline left fans chewing their nails, scarves and anything else to hand as we scraped through 3-2 on aggregate.

Weird also, from what I’ve now seen and have studied slightly, was Pep’s personnel choice on the night, especially at the back and from what I’ve heard some Blues say, a lot of our players didn’t look too comfortable with it and appeared slightly confused themselves. I’ve heard it was a dominant but frustrating first half and a weird, slightly lacklustre second from our lads…

Weird can also be a word used to describe the fact that, despite all of the attacking talent we have at our disposal; why is it that we so-often appear to struggle to hit the target when you consider how much we create?! Of course, I say that with high-scoring games in mind, such as the many from our brilliant 2018/19 season and the 8-0’er against Watford this season…but I think most Blues know what I mean / where I’m coming from.

So, it’s no wonder that despite having Sergio Aguero – a player most teams in the WORLD would [still] like to have in their team - and a “decent” back-up forward in Gabriel Jesus; a lot of Manchester City supporters have been saying for a few seasons now that a club like ours, one that is fighting for all titles, should have an additional, top-class striker in the squad. That’s a debate which, I’m sure, will ‘reignite’ as we approach the summer transfer window...and despite the fact that our manager likes to play with a predominantly-packed, attacking midfield with attacking wingbacks in support.

Weird(o)…

 

v Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 6/11).

Fluid 3-5-2 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

___________________Aguero_____________________

___Jesus____________________________B. Silva___

___________De Bruyne_______D. Silva_____________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Mendy___________________________________Walker

____________Laporte________Fernandinho_________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Stones, Gundogan, Mahrez, Sterling.

After getting successive 9s/11 in my predicted line-ups for a few weeks, Guardiola’s going through another ‘unpredictable phase’ and in the last 3 games I’ve got an 8; followed by a 7 and then a 6. Therefore, I’m roughly going for a combination of ‘if fit’ and general form... 

Ederson ‘steps back in’ with the gloves.

Although he has apparently been suffering with some muscle fatigue in recent days / weeks, I’ve got a feeling that the Frenchman will be selected to start this one. On the opposite flank? I could suggest that Pep might consider the fact that this is against Kyle’s former club for better or worst but I don’t think he thinks like that. I’m going for him to start regardless. If fit - and I can only guess that they are after being considered to be suffering with fatigue / lack of fitness both – I’m going for Aymeric & Fernandinho to ‘partner up’ in-between those.

Rodders ‘to hold’ in the midfield. Ahead of him, I think we might see Gabriel being given the left-sided wing / forward role; Bernardo the right-side with, what was once a ‘dream pairing’, of Kevin & David in the middle.

Sergio to head all of those.

Claudio the reserve stopper; Joao, Oleksandr & John the defensive ‘back ups’ from the side. In & out of form Ilkay & Riyad, along with still-off-form Raheem, are the midfield / wing options from ‘the 7’. 

Notable absences:

-       Nicolas Otamendi – Not selected.

-       Angelino – Has been loaned out for the rest of the season - what the heck was that [buying him back / hardly impressing] all about. Weird...

-       Phil Foden – Not selected.

-       Leroy Sane – Continues to train with his teammates now (following conflicting messages which circulated about that particular detail in recent days) ahead of a…“sometime in February return”, we continue to be told.

Update (02.02.2020 - weird mirror date there!): Unless Pep is playing mind games, apparently Mendy & Fernandinho aren't going to be fit enough to make today's game and Laporte will be 'looked at' closer to KO, although there are also reports that Aymeric didn't travel south with his team-mates (?). Such is the cost of not having much time to push out a blog-posting...and all the mixed reports just adds to the weirdness of it all.

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

Yeah, I like the look of that.

Result? I am so leaning towards a City win; I really am. However, here’s another “weird” reference – I just can’t get the feeling out of my head that this is gonna be a draw. That’s what I’m going for, I’m sorry to say.

As always when I predict a draw, I hope I’m wrong in the right way, of course.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won
(Didn't do a pre-match blog posting for that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: February: Traditionally the very depth of British Winter. Modern weather patterns / for the match: 11 or 12C (52 to 53.5F!), cloudy & dry with a bit of a westerly breeze that won’t, I’m sure, be felt inside the stadium.