Again…Aguero to start?

In my last post, I suggested and, indeed, predicted that the game against Borussia Monchengladbach may just feel right for our manager to bring the Argentine striker back in from the start; despite obvious risks going from hardly any minutes on the pitch to a starting place. As it turned out, he was given a 10-minute run-out at the end.

It was a very professional, controlled performance from City, I thought, but for all their fine ‘game management’ and excellent passing moves against the German side; for me it was tinged with a little frustration that we should have scored more. Against far better opposition, those stuttering hesitancies in front of goal could be the difference between progressing in - or even winning - this competition for the first time...or walking away with nothing once again.

And yes, I am going to point the finger and single out both Jesus & Sterling - as skilful and has hard-working as they are, they both seem to suffer with their own type of periodic ‘mental blocks’ when faced with goal-scoring opportunities; far more than they should do, in fact, in such a creative team.

There…little moan over but with Pep himself saying both very early on and again later in his post-match interview on Wednesday night that we have to be more clinical in front of goal; it left me wondering for a second time in less than a week whether Sergio will ‘get the nod’ in this early afternoon KO (12:30pm GMT)?

v West Ham United

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:

____________________Aguero____________________

 

 

Sterling__________________________________Mahrez

 

____________Foden__________Silva_______________

 

____________________Rodri______________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Cancelo

 

______________Dias_________Stones______________

 

 

___________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Steffen, Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Torres, Jesus.

Ederson continues between the sticks.

Having not played in midweek and with the form they were in before that match, I’m going for Oleksandr & John to re-join Ruben & Joao at the back.

Rodders continues to be the deeper-lying midfielder, although Pep does also have a fully-rested [in midweek] Fernandinho to choose from too. Perhaps we’ll see each player share the game if the situation suits.

Although Pep seems to prefer to play Phil wider left for the time-being in his continued development; I just have a feeling that he’ll keep that slot for Raheem today but may also want give Ilkay a bit of respite. SO…I’ve gone for Raheem on the left, Riyad, who only came on with 21 minutes of ‘the 90’ left on Wednesday, on the right with Phil & Bernardo in the middle.

Huh…Sergio to start? I think he might but who knows during a time where games in different competitions continue to fly at us at some pace and Pep has to manage his squad carefully – Kevin may even start this afternoon…

Zack is the reserve keeper; Kyle, Eric & Aymeric are the back-up defenders in ‘the 9’. Fernandinho, Ilkay, Kevin, Ferran & Gabriel make up the midfielder / wingers / forwards cover from the side.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Not selected.

-       Nathan Ake – Once again, the Dutch international is the only first team player unavailable to our manager. For now – and as far as I know - Nathan continues light training alone to aid his recovery from a hamstring / muscular injury.

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

Yeah, I’d be happy with that.

Result? How ARE our visitors 4^th in the table? Before anyone thinks that I’m being disrespectful there, I’m not. In fact, ‘big respect’ to a manager who was once more-than-decent as boss at Everton before he was, in my opinion, kind-o’ ruined at Manyoo; I think that David Moyes is doing a fantastic job at The Hammers, especially as he’s spent little since his second stint at ‘the helm’.

But the reason I say it is that…

-       They’ve not won around half of their 25 games played so far – drawing 6 and losing 6

-       They “only” have the 7^th best defensive record in the league

-       They “only” have the 7^th best goal-scoring record in the league

But there they are, currently sitting in a Champions League place in 4^th.

Does that say more about the teams around them than about themselves? Again, I’m really not being disrespectful there.

Clearly, they have character as well as some decent players – going to the likes of Aston Villa, Everton & Leicester and coming away with all the points from those games suggests both a resilient side as well as one that can hurt you. They got a draw from us on their patch early on in the season, admittedly when we’re weren’t exactly firing…

Could be a bit of a toughie then.

If our manager does change things on the pitch to include Sergio and if he does move Phil inside (and / or possibly gives Kevin a starting place) then, perhaps, those small changes might upset our current rhythm at first. But whether it does or it doesn’t, I think we’ll eventually click and make 19-straight wins 20 by around 2:20pm.

It's a City win for me, albeit perhaps a close one and one that we’ll have to work hard for.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(There was no pre-match blog-posting for that game following an injury that I had, which left me with an arm in a sling)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Feels almost like spring! On the day of the match, it’ll be the 3^rd, back-to-back dry & fairly sunny day in the area. Although a high of just 8 or 9C doesn’t sound like much at all; with no wind, then-whenever the sun might pop through the white, fluffy clouds, it’ll feel a little warmer than that I’m sure. Nice for those watching & working on the sides; perfect for the players leggin’ it around for 90+ minutes.