Our restart form is not only impressive but it also adds weight to the argument, by Pep Guardiola, that on the build-up to both the F.A. Cup and Champions League, it’s important to keep the group of players ‘motoring along’ so that come the crucial games v Arsenal & Real Madrid (and hopefully beyond), our players can more-easily enter ‘slipstream’ mode when truly needed.
That post-restart record in all competitions and all against Premier League opposition reads:
Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1. For 15, Against 1 and we, once again, have the most goals scored and best goal difference in the league, for now at least.
The concern
But as we push to secure a Champions League finishing position, of which we are just 4 points away ahead of tomorrow’s fixture; our manager - and us fans - will want a runners-up final place, I’m sure. In order to achieve that, it’s going to require an additional 3 points (7 in total from a possible 18).
That leaves us with the other side of the coin in that, if we want to finish 2nd, we’ll need 2 wins and a draw from our remaining 6 fixtures and those come mostly against sides that are, or should be at least, scrapping for their Premier League lives!
So, does our manager ‘go strong’ in all of those games; see out the league in style, finish 2nd by a good margin and, crucially, keep that momentum…OR, in the coming games and once those minimum points have been hopefully achieved, does he then protect crucial players and start to introduce both fringe & youth-team personnel?
Other than sayin’ I think he’ll mix & match a little and assess each player & situation accordingly, I just don’t know of course – I guess that’s why both he and his advisory staff get paid more than the minimum wage.
A quick word on the last game?
Wow!
A few more words on the last game?
No-one could have predicted that. Well…that’s not exactly true.
My wife came home from work about 2 hours before the game and said that one of her City-fan-colleagues said that the game would end 4-0 to City. As she said so, I gave a most-definite, one-eyebrow-raised, sceptical glance in her direction.
Well, fffffff….lippin’ ‘eck! As the 5th goal went in, I felt really sorry for the guy, especially, I briefly thought to myself, if he’d put a bet on!
The 5th goal was chalked off anyway and I still don’t know if he backed-up his incredible, instinctive prediction with ‘a flutter’.
After the game, I found myself nodding in agreement with ex-footballer / manager and now TV pundit, Roy Keane, when he said that the match could-easily have finished 5-3. In fact, I’ll take it further and say that if good chances had been taken, we could have come out of it 7-3 winners! Crazy.
I thought we played really well and I say that even more so because I don’t think Liverpool played particularly badly or had a relaxed attitude either – I just think it was a case of sharp v blunt when it came to crucial moments. Sharp, as you would expect, won.
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| St. Mary's Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 3-6-1
_____________________Jesus____________________
Braaf___________________________________Mahrez
___________D. Silva____________B. Silva__________
_____________________Rodri____________________
Zinchenko______________________________Cancelo
_____________Stones________Otamendi__________
____________________Ederson___________________
Subs: Bravo, Mendy, Walker, Laporte, Garcia, Gundogan, Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling.
I think we will see a number of changes tomorrow but that doesn’t mean that our hosts can look forward to facing a weak side – in fact there are plenty of rested, high-quality players who I reckon will start on Sunday evening.
Ederson is likely to play in the remainder of the Premier & Champions League games, so starts in net.
A completely new back line, I’m going for, with Oleksandr & Joao flanking a rare pairing of John & Nicolas. Yikes…
Unless we blood someone like Tommy Doyle in the defensive midfield position, I can only see Rodders having to ‘go again’. Both Rodri & Gundogan played a full 90+ against Liverpool just 3 days earlier but with the different-looking defence that I’ve just mentioned, I think Pep will see that it might need a bit of looking after and the 24-year old Spaniard is the specialist man for that role.
Ahead of the 6’ 3’’ defensive midfielder, I’ve gone for a £2-coin in central, attacking midfield…a Silva middle (sorry, I couldn't resist that). On the right is likely to be Riyad, having only seen the last 30-odd minutes of Thursday night’s game. On the left, attacking flank, however, I had to do a bit of head-scratching. Does our manager risk going again with Mendy and, therefore, allowing Zinchenko to play there; does he make David less effective by sticking him out wide or does he risk using again / tiring Raheem or Phil? So instead, I’ve gone for none of those options and seeing as he’s been training with the first team for around a week now; I’ve chosen soon-to-be-18-years of age, Jayden. He might not yet be fully up to ‘game speed’ and I might be talking rubbish…but that’s what I’m predicting.
Ahead of all of those I think has to be Gabriel. I don’t think Pep will see any benefit in dropping the just-turned 23-year old – he only saw 58 minutes of action the other day and he desperately needs a consistent run and the chance of getting some goals / gaining some confidence & momentum in my opinion.
Claudio waits his turn on the side as back-up keeper; Benjamin, Kyle, Aymeric & Eric provide a very strong, reserve-defence back-up team. Similarly, Ilkay, Phil, Kevin & Raheem should worry the home side, should they be called upon to bolster the creative / attacking department.
Notable absences:
- Fernandinho – Sees out the last of his 3-match, domestic suspension. Sorry, late update (05.07.2020): Our Brazilian midfielder only recevied a 2-match ban for his handball - of course! So, we could see 'Fern' in his usual defensive midfield position or as one of two central defenders.
- Sergio Aguero – The latest update is that there’s no way that he’ll be back in action domestically; that there’s also little chance of being ready for the Real Madrid game but that the hope is he’ll be ready for some action should we reach the semi-final of the Champions League.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
I can’t deny that I have some concerns seeing both Stones & Otamendi’s name on the predicted team sheet and when you put either side of them a converted left-wing back and a player I think most of us are still trying to decide on, on the opposite flank; then I hope you can see why I have a little doubt in my head.
Other than that? No worries beyond the back-4.
Result? I did hear a radio pundit say just yesterday that Southampton seem to be better ‘on the road’ than they are at home, so I thank whoever that was for the research / information.
They’re safe on 40 points really and although their last-5 form of L L W L W doesn’t look great, their manager has got ‘em playing better generally. Danny Ings is also a player in form and one that should be of some concern to that predicted defence of ours.
But put our form and that starting 11 against theirs and I just can’t see anything other than an away win, if our attitude is right on the night. I am predicting The Saints to score…but I’m predicting us to score more than them. A City win it is, 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: Dry, mild at 18C but a gusty, coastal wind averaging around 17MPH could affect any high balls played.
ReplyDeleteReally helpful Thanks For sharing..
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