I really enjoyed that City performance on Boxing Day – I thought it was really well-rounded team performance in a sometimes-bruising encounter that showed real unity.
Nearly every single player played well in their own way (I have seen further criticism of Rodri from some City fans on-line) but special mention has to go to in-form Joao Cancelo and Nathan Ake.
Joao looks a completely different player to the one we saw in the first 6 months after his move and playing in his favoured right-wing back slot last Saturday while Kyle was dealing with his Covid-19 isolation, he was intelligently going forward both inside as well as on the touchline; creating all sort of additional problems for our visitors and gaining an assist for our second & final goal. Perhaps he wouldn’t have been so potent against a more-attacking side but still…
I thought Nathan was a commanding throughout – so dominant in our own box whenever we had to defend and his runs forward in the left-wing back position were powerful and full of real intent too; liking up well with his more-advanced colleagues. I can’t believe the Manchester Evening News reporter only gave him a 7 with an underwhelming write-up that described the Dutch international’s contribution on the night as, “…useful”.
Weirdly – and apart from a couple of really intelligent passes - I thought Kevin was our least effective player and rightly deserved a 6 from the same publication. We need him and his creativity…but I just wonder if he needs a rest as we ‘hit the road’ later today for the 1st of 3, back-to-back away games.
v Everton
 |
| Goodison Park |
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).
Difficulties with this prediction come in the form of ‘late player assessments’ by the manager and his coaching / physio staff on the day of the match with the quick turn-around of games; assessing who has recovered enough to ‘go again’ as well as looking at those who may have a knock or two.
The good news is that after this fixture, the players get a rare, near-6 days before they have to kick-off again so any temptation to rotate in key areas might not be such a big issue.
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:
______________________________________________
____________________Torres____________________
Sterling_________________________________Mahrez
_____________Foden________De Bruyne__________
__________________Fernandinho_________________
Mendy_________________________________Cancelo
_____________Stones_________Dias______________
____________________Ederson___________________
Subs: Steffen, Zinchenko, Ake, Laporte, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Palmer, Aguero.
Ederson keep his place ‘between the sticks’.
Same back-4 as Saturday night? Well, I was hovering for some time over the left-wing back position. As I’ve already said, I thought Nathan had a terrific game last time out but I JUST get the feeling that Pep will want to give Benjamin a run-out for this one; stretching the home side as much as possible and, perhaps, taking some emphasis off Joao on the opposite flank after his notable display at the weekend. Similarly, I was gonna slot Aymeric ‘in there’ alongside John who will be keen, I’m sure, to take his good form to his ex-club. However, if they’re both deemed to have recovered well enough, I think Guardiola will stick with the pairing that’s working so well at the moment. Dias to partner the England man once again.
Here’s another one that I dithered over – to go with (ever present in the league?) Rodri or to predict Fernandinho being ‘given the nod’? In the end, the fact that the Spanish midfielder got a bit knocked around less than 48-hours earlier – together with the high number of minutes he’s seen this season so far – I’ve gone for the veteran Brazilian to start instead, in a dedicated, deep-lying protection role.
It’s all about the attack after that with Raheem, Ferran & Kevin all being asked to start again; supplemented by rested Phil & Riyad, I would think, in a fluid, attacking 5.
Zack continues in his role of reserve keeper in the league; Oleksandr, Nathan & Aymeric are the defensive replacement options from the side, which definitely has a left-sided look to it. Rodders, Ilkay, Bernardo, Cole & Sergio are the midfield / wing / attacking back-ups in ‘the 9’. I get the feeling that Sergio will get a few more minutes this evening if the game situation suits; likewise, Kevin might get withdrawn as soon as is possible ahead of Sunday’s trip to London.
Notable absences:
- Eric Garcia – Injured and going off the initial assessment, he could be back in contention in the next 5 days or so.
- Kyle Walker – Still isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.
- Gabriel Jesus – For Gabriel, read Kyle.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? Our hosts’ season started with a BANG and had pundits asking a very early question about their title credentials. Then the wheels started to wobble and it seemed to take a good while to stabilise them. Well…they’re well-secure now.
They’ve hit form for sure and, as I’m prepping this piece on Sunday 27th December, they sit proudly in 2nd place.
This is also a ground that, for a good while, was a real thorn in our side and although we appeared to overcome that for the most part as we improved over time; it’s still a fixture that has me, at least, frowning in doubt whenever it appears on the horizon. Their form and league position has done nothing to help my underlying doubts going into this clash…
They have good players too and…purposely avoiding going through several of ‘em; I want to single out Dominic Calvert-Lewin – a player I wouldn’t mind seeing change colours from dark blue to sky blue. I think he has a bit of everything, 23-year-old England international – a high work rate, great attitude and a fine ability to score with both feet as well as being a real ariel threat. I’d love to see either him or Erling Haaland being the subject of a serious pursuit by our club; if not in January-coming, which is highly unlikely, then in the summer of 2021…
But that’s enough about them…
Not only are we also in good form but I really like how solid as a unit we are and I don’t just mean our good defensive record; one that’s so superior to most other teams in the league. Although we might have lost some dynamism when compared to recent seasons, the whole side is playing well as a unit at the moment and has been for some weeks, as we began to gain traction.
Out hosts do have some notable injuries and have an even shorter turn-around time than we do, following their 6:15pm (GMT) KO time last Saturday.
Before the Newcastle game I was glancing over to this fixture with a preliminary result of a "draw" in my head but the more I look at it as the time ticks towards KO (8:00pm GMT), I’m changing my mind. I think we’re gonna bring all-3 points back from Merseyside.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Won
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
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