…our clash with Spurs.
Rodders & Ruben are deemed both okay for tomoz.
v Tottenham Hotspur
 |
| Etihad Stadium |
(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____________________
___Foden___________________________Sterling___
__________Gundogan________Silva______________
____________________Rodri_____________________
Zinchenko______________________________Cancelo
_____________Dias__________Stones_____________
___________________Ederson____________________
Subs: Steffen, Mendy, Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Gomes, Doyle, Torres, Mahrez.
Ederson steps back in net following cup action on Wednesday.
Another complete change of back 4 [from midweek] with Oleksandr, Ruben, John & Joao all starting.
Rodders to continue in front of those despite suffering a painful-looking knock on Wednesday night; Phil, Ilkay, Bernardo & Raheem ahead of the Spaniard, with Raheem starting on the right if I’m correct with my predication.
Back-in-form-Gabriel to ‘top the lot’ in this fluid, interchangeable system.
Zack ‘back on the side’ as reserve stopper; Benjamin, Kyle, Eric & Aymeric provide defensive cover in ‘the 9’. Claudio, Tommy, Ferran & Riyad are the midfield / wing / attacking choice-options from the bench.
Notable absences:
- Nathan Ake – Injured and still no update on a possible return date.
- Fernandinho – Injured with some muscular issues and no indication of how long he might be out for.
- Kevin De Bruyne – Still injured and going off the initial assessment, we could see the Belgium midfielder back anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks.
- Sergio Aguero – Still not ready to return - presumably he’s still reintroducing himself back into training; partly with the rest of the squad and part-alone.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? I don’t mind admitting that I have a niggly “draw” feeling in the back of my head with this one…and that’s despite our wonderful form of course.
The ‘Weird one’ does seem to have an annoying knack of getting something from our encounters and, indeed, against top sides in general which, of course, we can most-certainly class ourselves as.
They have ‘danger men’ in, not least, Son & Kane and I think this might be one of the toughest tests for our rejuvenated defence…and I say that with in the knowledge that we’ve just come away from a visit to Anfield with a win and another clean sheet from ‘open play’. Usually under Jose, Tottenham ‘pack the numbers in’ and try to break quickly and whether or not that will be their manager’s plan tomorrow evening (5:30pm KO GMT); we have to be aware of their forward capabilities.
For me, this is one where Oleksandr, Joao & Rodri have to be even more mindful of their defensive duties [to help Ruben & John] and if they do that well then, for me, our visitor’s vulnerabilities at the back are ‘there for the taking’ otherwise. Do that side of things well and we should see our amazing 15-game winning streak turn into 16.
I am [still] sort of teetering on the edge of saying a draw…but I’m going for a home win.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Draw
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: The game kicks off with the temperature in the minus zone; starting at -1. With a still-brisk south-easterly breeze too, there’s still a wind-chill factor around and that should make it feel more like -4, or there abouts. No real issues with regards to the playing conditions but the kettles might be prepped / kept warm for all those working around the pitch.
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