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__
_____________________Rodri_____________________
____________Laporte________Fernandinho_________
____________________Ederson____________________
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 3rd 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:
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
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 3rd, 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.
https://mol.im/a/8013475
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you have seen this Steve. An article on our side for a change.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'd not seen that one. I did, however and from the same online paper, read this one:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8012835/MANCHESTER-CITY-FAN-VIEW-UEFA-cartel-run-protect-interests.html
Cheers.