Those were the days...

...and moments section of Blue chews-daze has been updated during this time of lockdown.

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Stay safe / keep each other safe everyone!

GLASS HALF FULL!

BLUE CHEWS-DAZE BLOG ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to work commitments, it’s going to be difficult for me to get out a pre-match blog-posting prior to the Burnley game anyway but with a doubt over the fixture now as well; there may be no point.

The latest as I understand it…

The Premier League are to hold an ‘emergency meeting’ today to discuss future fixtures. Now, whether that includes this weekend’s matches I just don’t know but in light of two-already-cancelled City games, one last Wednesday against Arsenal and one next midweek against Real Madrid; I’ve taken the decision to suspend all plans to prepare pre-match blog-postings, at least, for the time being.

For those that don’t know, even if our fixture goes ahead against The Clarets on Saturday it will be played without Benjamin Mendy, who has been told to self-isolate as a precaution, following a family member being admitted to Hospital after displaying symptoms of the coronavirus.

If games do get cancelled for the foreseeable future but there’s something worth blogging about…and I get the time; then I’ll be back soon. If not, we’ll just have to see how it all ‘pans out’ and I’ll be back ‘whenever’.

Stay safe everyone.

- UPDATE 10:23am: Pep Guardiola's press conference has been cancelled ahead of any possible game against Burnely, which has now been described as being in, "serious doubt". Clearly the picture appears to be changing by the minute country-wide. As far as I am aware, the Premier League emergency meeting is still taking place and, no doubt, they'll be an annoucement by them soon.

Next…

Real Madrid away in the Champions League, Aston Villa away from the Etihad in the League Cup final and Sheffield Wednesday away in the F.A. Cup. 3 games, 3 different competition and 3 wins.

Away in the Borough of Trafford in the Premier League next…

v Manyoo

Scaffold Trafford

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 3-7-0:

______________________________________________

____________________Aguero____________________

Jesus___________________________________B. Silva

_____________Foden________De Bruyne___________

Mendy_______________Rodri_______________Walker

____________Otamendi______Fernandinho__________

____________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Bravo, Zinchenko, Stones, Gundogan, D. Silva, Mahrez, Sterling.

As you can see, I’m going for our manager to deploy one of those formations that we’ve seen from time-to-time; one that he has used against Manyoo before and one, where, we don’t necessarily have someone playing in an out & out striking role…

Straight-forward one though first – Ederson reclaims the gloves for this encounter.

I think the central-two defensive players will take the form of Nicolas & Fernandinho and will be periodically joined by both Benjamin & Kyle on the flanks. Additionally, when the gameplay / shape suite and those wing-backs ‘push on’ to support the wingers higher up the pitch, Rodders will join them in ‘a 3’ at the back. It's all very techical & fluid, isn't it?

Then, I think, we’ll see a very fluid-also, attacking 5 of Gabriel on the left, Bernardo on the right with Phil, Kevin (has had a niggle in his back but has been improving in the last few days / I’m going for him to start) & Sergio more down the middle.

Claudio takes a seat after two, back-to-back games; Oleksandr & John provide defensive cover from the side. Ilkay, David, Riyad & Raheem are the rather impressive midfield / wing options we have in ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Aymeric Laporte – Out for around 2-½ to 3 weeks with a hamstring injury.

-       Joao Cancelo – Not selected. Didn’t really take his midweek chance and isn’t playing with a happy face. I think he’s just seeing out his time now in a very expensive move that just hasn’t worked out and, from what I’ve seen and heard, I think our manager just doesn’t see the desire in his eyes; no willingness to fight for his place that he may think should be his by default.

-       Leroy Sane – Has apparently made big progress but his fitness is not 100% for game participation just yet.

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

Yeah, I like that.

Result? They certainly have players who can cause damage on their day and a new threat also, which comes with the name, Bruno Fernandes; a winter transfer signing who has a good range of accurate passing and who can both score & create aplenty...if allowed to.

They’re in decent form and there’s definitely more riding on this fixture for them too. However, if that predicted set-up works and our players are on their ‘A game’; I can honestly see this being another City masterclass at Cold Trafford.

I’m going for a City win.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Sunshine & showers and quite blustery. 8 or 9C is the official temperature forecast during the game but those conditions might make it feel a little cooler sat (or stood) in the stands. Rain continues for the ride / walk home…

Another day, another competition.

Games are coming think & fast again and including this-coming Sunday’s trip to the Borough of Trafford just west of Manchester; that’ll be 3 games all away from home in 7 days and in 3-different competitions...4 away and in 4 different competitions if we take it back to last Wednesday!

Reflection on last Sunday

I really enjoyed that game and thought it was a very measured and professional performance from our lads - I thought we played very well without looking spectacular; with some precise passing moves.

Villa too, I thought, more than played their part in a decent cup final and had short spells of attractive, attacking football. 2-1 perhaps flatters them a little…but only a little.

I thought that was Foden’s finest match for us and hey…we have a new, right-sided option in the lad from Stockport!

v Sheffield Wednesday

Hillsborough Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

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

____________________Jesus_____________________

Sterling_________________________________Mahrez

_____________Foden________De Bruyne___________

_____________________Rodri____________________­_

Mendy__________________________________Cancelo

____________Otamendi______Fernandinho__________

_____________________Bravo_____________________

Subs: Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Stones, Gundogan, B. Silva, Aguero.

5 to ‘go again’, 6 rotations is my guess…

Claudio started between the sticks in the last round and I get the feeling he’s gonna be ‘domestic cup man’ this season and in this competition also. Did himself no harm with a very good, vital save last Sunday…

I think we’ll see an almost completely new back-4 from last weekend; with only Fernandinho keeping his place I recon. The others to come in are likely to be Benjamin, Nicolas & Joao…and it’ll be interesting to see how the Portuguese right-wing back reacts on a chilly night away at a Championship ground in Yorkshire.

I could be wrong with this one in-thinking that Pep will ask Rodders to start again but our hosts have a fairly prolific, 6’ 1” striker in their ranks that our manager should be aware of and, therefore, he might want to keep some height of our own in his side. That’s the thinking I’m going for.

Ahead of the ‘big man’, a creative / attacking 4 of Raheem, Phil, Kevin & Riyad.

Gabriel to be out ‘top man’ but, who, might be involved in a fluid, attacking 5 rather than an out & out striker in front of 4 supporting.

Notable absences:

-       Aymeric Laporte – Out for around 3 weeks with ‘a hammy’.

-       David Silva – Rested / protected.

-       Leroy Sane – Closing in on a return but his manager says not just yet; he’s not quite up to standard to be able to return after such a long time out.

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

Looks good to me!

Result? The Owls’ form is all over the place at the moment and their mid-table position probably reflects that. League-wise, at least, they also concede almost as many as they score.

What could be a threat is the fact that they are both safe from relegation, baring any implosion I would say, but are also far enough 'off the pace' that make it unlikely that they’ll finish in a play-off place; although most of the immediate 8 teams ahead of them also seem to be in erratic form in a crazy-looking division, from first glance at least.

That could mean that they’d be willing to throw themselves right into this competition and, as I’ve already hinted, they have a veteran striker in the form of Scottish international Steven Fletcher who has impressive ‘goals to games’ ratios pretty much wherever he’s been.

With a sure-to-be vocal home crown in a packed, floodlit stadium; I can see ‘em breaching our defence…but I can also see our class and continued, buoyed mood carrying us into the 6^th round. It’s a City win for me.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Quiet night really – very little chance of light drizzle, hardly a breeze and just a little chilly at 5C.