Machine!

Occasional blip aside since the restart…we are one hell-of-an-attacking-force in irresistible form at the moment.

Jaw dropping

Running through some of the team, post-Brighton…

-       Kyle Walker has clearly benefited from the break in play, as well as being well managed by his boss as the fixtures fly at us at an incredible rate. I personally like my wing-backs to be able to defend first & foremost but whilst hardly being tested in that way at the moment, his forward runs / support play is excellent…and those afterburners of his – wow!

-       Aymeric Laporte is just so solid and such a calming influence on the whole defence. He just produces 7.5 or 8/10s as standard. And speaking of which…

-       …Eric Garcia is so cool for such a young lad too. His positional awareness, ability to spot dangers before they arrive and passing are all there right now.

-       Another mention [after my recent blog-posting] for Rodders too. Our solid, main ‘protector’ in the middle loves to help out at the ‘business end’ whenever possible – when he’s not havin’ a good crack at goal himself he gets the odd assist.

-       Even when he doesn’t score or get a direct assist himself, Kevin De Bruyne STILL produces an immense performance. He’s in incredible form right now and that’s on top of a terrific season so far.

-       Riyad Mahrez ran Brighton ragged at times in an attacking unit that was, once again, like a swarm of hornets around the opposition box. I seem to say this a lot about him…more of those performances please, Riyad.

-       Gabriel Jesus is looking both sharper and more assured. Another goal for him last weekend - he’s definitely benefitting from an extended run in the side; something he rarely gets in our largely ‘1 striker system’ and has been craving for a long time, I’m sure.

-       Then there’s Raheem Sterling – he’s gone from someone whose brain often short-circuited in front of goal; badly affecting his decision making and frustrating many a City & England fan time and time again TO being a wing-forward goal machine! As time has moved on under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, Raheem has added goals to his pace, trickery and creativity. After a good start to the season he actually went really quiet in the ‘middle third’ but he’s been back to his very best in recent weeks and the team is benefiting greatly from it.

And not only can he score with his head too; not only did he do so twice last Saturday…but he even managed to nutmeg the keeper with one of his headers whilst lying on the flippin’ floor!

v AFC Bournemouth

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

_____________________Jesus____________________

 

Braaf____________________________________Foden

___________D. Silva__________Gundogan_________

__________________Fernandinho_________________

Zinchenko______________________________Cancelo

_____________Stones_______Otamendi____________

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Carson, Mendy, Walker, Harwood-Bellis, Doyle, Palmer, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling.

This is the league game, now, where Pep has to decide who to risk and who to rest before an all-important F.A. Cup semi-final at the weekend. Does he, indeed, start to ‘blood some youngsters’ whilst at the same time not-wanting to stir up controversy by compromising the integrity of the league; by breaking up our strongest team too much as we face sides fighting for their very Premier League lives?

Ederson is the likely, senior keeper (although I just get the feeling that he might give Scott Carson a go).

Oleksandr & Joao are the likely wing-backs, with John & Nicolas being given starting places in-between those.

It seems like the right time and fixture to give Fernandinho a run from the start in the defensive midfield slot and ahead of him, I’ve gone for a starting debut for Jayden on the left, Phil, who only saw 29 minutes of action last Saturday, on the right, with David partnered by Ilkay, who I’m guessing may get a rare, attacking midfield starting role.

Probably wanting to keep his momentum going, I think we might see Gabriel start again this evening, despite Wembley looming on the horizon.

Scott, possibly, the reserve stopper on the bench; Benjamin, Kyle & Taylor the defensive replacement options from the side. Tommy, Cole, Kevin, Riyad & Raheem make up the rest of ‘the 9’ as our more attacking / creative choices.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Your guess is as good as mine why he's been missing from the match-day squad(s). Another little injury niggle perhaps? Just being properly protected to give him the F.A. Cup game(s) ahead? Being protected before a potential summer move, so-as-to not risk scuppering any such transfer with a bad injury? I just don’t know and, so, I’m just gonna leave him out.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Rested / protected.

-       Eric Garcia – Rested / protected.

-       Rodri – Rested / protected.

-       Bernardo Silva – Rest / protected.

-       Sergio Aguero – Recovering from knee surgery and could be ready for the next game after Real Madrid IF there is a next game for us this season after Real Madrid.

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

Yeah, there's nice mix there. And it would be nice to see some of those youngsters on the bench get a go too at some point.

Result? Well-well-well! AFC Bournemouth 4-1 Leicester City is not a result & scoreline I expected to see in their last outing…and that’s despite Leicester’s bizarre post-restart form. That game had it all – injuries to an important Bournemouth player before half time; a penalty, a red card, an own goal and a 0-1 half time lead overturned in a big way!

If there were thoughts of no hope and relegation on the minds of The Cherries' players, staff and fans then that result certainly will have give them a HUGE shot of optimism; that there might be a slim chance of survival.

I wish them well – no-one likes to see sides relegated. Well…most sides at least. But I tend to think that was one of those ‘mad periods’ in a game where it just all went haywire, rather than today’s visitors suddenly finding their ‘can of spinach’ to take into this game.

It could well make for a better game than it may-otherwise have been though…but it’s a City win for me.

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: A proper manchester day, in many ways - the middle of July sees dark, cloudy skies; a little mizzle-drizzle and a below-average 15C for the time of year. Bit of a westerly breeze too but nothing that will effect the game in any bad way.