Blog annoucement.

For a variety of reasons, I am unable to get a pre-match blog-posting out before tonight's Champions League game against Real Madrid. In fact, due to work I'm not even going to get to see the flippin' game!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a posting out before our League Cup final match on Sunday.

Enjoy the match everyone - c'mon Blues!

Nothing to see here…yet.

Ian Cheeseman recently described the ‘banning by UEFA news’ as being as big as the day the news broke about the Sheikh Mansour takeover and I totally agree – this could rock both us and football for years to come!

However, I’m sure most of you will have heard the phrase, ‘Judge, Jury & Executioner’…

You've been judged...

What I posted…

…on one forum the next day:

My initial reaction was, "Well...that's Pep gone and good luck to us recruiting some of the best players now".

I have to be to be honest and say that, although from the outside I was impressed and even astonished, in some ways, in how MCFC went about bringing in all sorts of investors; at the back of my mind was always the hope – but also fear - that we were doing it correctly and not breaking any rules. That may not have happened and is yet to be rightly contested but that little voice of fear / doubt that has been at the back of my mind is now shouting very much louder.

The irony, though, is that our accusers are a very questionable organisation indeed and I do agree with others that they are ‘elitist’ and have never wanted the likes of us joining the party.

Although I started with my fear about Pep now leaving because of this, wouldn't it wonderful if it galvanised both him and the club and the next piece of huge news was that Pep has signed a 3-year extension to his current contract as a ‘two-fingers up’ to UEFA.

Even before they announced that they would be doing so; there was (is now) absolutely no way Manchester City Football Club would / are not going to appeal this and if we are found to be not guilty and / or that the rules brought in by UEFA are found to be unlawful / too restrictive; we should then pursue, for however long it may take, suing UEFA themselves and see that certain people in that organisation lose their jobs and are never involved in sport ever again.

On the other hand, if we are found guilty by an independent body, then the club not only has to gracefully accept that decision, move on and try to conduct themselves far better in the future, but they should also issue a public apology to the fans and staff of MCFC (I've heard some fans already, prematurely in my opinion, feeling so aggrieved and potentially let down by the club that they are demanding recompense).

And, I hate to have to say this, if we are found guilty after appeal, then I have to agree with many that there’s a good case that we could (perhaps should?) have certain domestic titles removed for whatever the period of time that's being scrutinised, which seems only fair IF we have cheated and-have-been-able-to, therefore, bring in players on funds that have not come from legitimate, sponsorship funding).

However, SHOULD we be found NOT guilty, then I hope all of those sniping, gloating and sniggering voices that have emerged in the last few days come back out once more and eat (choke on?) their words for all to hear! That would only be fair also.

Moving onto footballing matters…

…these were my feelings after the Spurs game; a match that seems SO long ago now!

I think 18 shots, only 5 on target and, of course, no goals versus Spurs' 3 shots, all-3 on target and 2 goals just sums us up at the moment.

Ilkay Gundogan's poor / saved penalty at Spurs

In our previous game v Manyoo, we had 13 shots only 4 of which were on target and, of course again, no goals…versus Manyoo's 6 shots, 2 on target and 1 goal.

It's not just the defence that needs sorting in the summer, I would suggest, and this low, on-target percentage isn't just a recent thing. For all our hard, creative work we need to be doing ourselves a favour and be more clinical and consistent in our shooting. Very frustrating.

We need to-now go into the break with a good win next weekend (game since postponed of course) and then spend the time working on those issues AND, with-hopefully, a return of Leroy when we come back too.

v West Ham United

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: A WOEFUL 5/11).

With no pre-patch press conference, from either side, having already fulfilled their press obligations prior to the postponed game, it’s makes it a little trickier to predict a match-day squad; not being fully aware of player availability.

Here goes…

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 3-6-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Aguero____________________

__Sane________________________________B. Silva__

__________De Bruyne_________D. Silva____________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Mendy__________________________________Cancelo

____________Laporte________Fernandinho_________

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Bravo, Walker, Stones, Gundogan, Foden, Mahrez, Jesus.

Ederson in net.

A ‘back 4’ of Benjamin, Aymeric, Fernandinho and Cancelo, I would think; adding that I can see our manager wanting to use Kyle on the right for our next, away match.

Rodders to sit in front of those / drop back as a 3^rd central defender at times.

Ahead of him…here comes a very bold one from me! I’m going for Leroy to actually start on the left wing! Why am I thinking that? Well, he’s been training alone for weeks and, more recently, has been doing likewise with his teammates. The postponed game has given him even more recovery / preparation time and, I think, this would be a perfect game to ease him in / test him and then, perhaps, leave him out at the weekend, which'll give Guardiola time to assess how his knee & body reacts before considering him for any Champions League involvement. There…that’s my impression of / attempting to be a football “expert”. Kevin, David & Bernardo to join the German wing man in the attacking midfield department. Can Leroy take penalties?

And, 'up top', the recipient of all that creativity is likely to be Sergio.

Claudio as reserve stopper; Kyle & John the defensive replacement options from ‘the 7’. Ilkay, Phil, Riyad & Gabriel provide back-up midfield, wing & striker choices from the side.

Notable absences:

-       Nicolas Otamendi – Not selected.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – Suspended for this match.

-       Raheem Sterling – Injured for a number of weeks.

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

Yes.

Result? I think we’re gonna tear these apart. City 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: Hey, guess what folks! MORE rain! Between ‘Storm Dennis’ and warnings of a yet-to-be-named storm supposedly heading our way this weekend (our 3^rd, successive ‘deluged weekend’ on the trot); fans on Wednesday night will be “treated” to heavy rain both before and after the match, which might ease to light rain during parts of ‘the 90’. 8C isn’t too bad though for February and the heavy winds, of late, will be a mere 11 MPH average on the night.

My shoulder is a little better, obviously, despite a secondary, partial dislocation last Wednesday, following my last blog announcement. In fact, I’m going away for a brief but much needed break on the day of the game...but I've located a pub to watch it in.

However, because I’ll be away, I won’t be able to do a pre-match blog-posting before our trip to Leicester the following Saturday.

Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read.

Blog announcement.

Hi folks.

Due to an accident at work a few days ago that briefly left me with a dislocated shoulder, I'm not able to sit in front of the PC for very long; especially typing, and, so, I won't be able to do a pre-match blog posting prior to our home game against West Ham United.


Had I been able to, I may have commented on the following, in addition to focusing on the actual game of course:

1. Sterling's injury and the 'impact of'.

2. Leroy getting closer to a return...and it being timely in light of Raheem's potential absence after our winter break.

3. The baffling Angelino affair and, in general, how the club went about - or rather didn't go about - their business in many ways last summer; a situation that has most-definitely contributed to our troubles this season.

3. Another game [v Spurs] where we played well enough but, once again, just couldn't...flippin'...SCORE! A situation that is now SO bad that even a German missed a penalty!

4. My slight concern about a possible 'unhappy camp' or, at least, some of the players who look like they're not really enjoying their jobs at the moment; despite being paid so very well and working for a team that sits second in the Premier League, is off to Wembley in March and is still in two other cup competitions.

5. Pep needing some time to evaluate himself too - time to reflect in front of a mirror, a little, during the up & coming break and following 'an honest debate' that he apparently had with his players for 45 minutes in the away dressing room after the Tottenham defeat.

6. Lastly, whether the game will go ahead at all; with 'Storm Ciara' forecast to bring winds on Sunday that could reach gusts of 70mph or more in the north west of England, along with driving rain. Perhaps nothing that will effect gameplay inside the deep-set stadium but Police and other officials may deem weather conditions too dangerous for travelling fans, especially for our visitors from 217 miles away (stadium to stadium).

Sorry for the lack of a pre-match blog posting - I'm still mostly in a sling and most-definitely on pain killers but would hope to be able to type before our next match...perhaps.