Some personnel changes and what…

…MUST start to change also is more goals and more ‘points on the board’ for the rest of this month and next, which sees a fair number of very winnable fixtures amongst 3 slightly-more-tricky league games.

There’s definitely an opportunity to start that change tomorrow night (8:00pm KO GMT)…

v West Bromwich Albion

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

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

____________________Jesus____________________

 

 

Torres___________________________________Silva

___________De Bruyne_______Foden_____________

 

__________________Gundogan___________________

Mendy_________________________________Cancelo

 

____________Stones__________Dias______________

 

 

___________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Steffen, Walker, Ake, Laporte, Fernandinho, Sterling, Aguero.

Ederson who, I thought, had a poor ‘kicking game’ at the weekend in a match where he had little to do otherwise, keeps the gloves.

A back 4 of Benjamin, John, Ruben & Joao.

Ilkay has the deeper midfield role; Ferran, Kevin, Phil & Bernardo the more-attacking personnel in the midfield / wing department.

Gabriel continues ‘up front’.

Zack, who might now be ‘rubbing his hands’ to take over the No.1 spot, sits on the side for now at least as reserve keeper; Kyle, Nathan & Aymeric sit with him (social distancing of course) as defensive replacement options. ‘Our skip’, Raheem & Sergio the likely midfield / wing / attacking choices from ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Eric Garcia – Injured for another 2 to 2-½ weeks.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – Injured – both 'reason for' & length of time out are unknown at this stage.

-       Riyad Mahrez – Not selected / rested.

-       Rodri – Not selected / rested.

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

Looks good to me, with a lot of attacking / creativity ‘in there’.

Result? A quick look at the league table and at West Brom in particular tells the story of The Baggies’ woes. 1 win in 12; scoring just 9 and conceding 25 leaves the Midlands’ side 2^nd bottom.

It’s 3 points to the home side for me and, hopefully, a fair number of goals flying into the visitor’s net too.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: A ‘nothing sort of evening’ in many ways - chilly, at 6C; dry and hardly a breeze.