Marchin’ on together…

We just keep ‘chalkin’ ‘em off’, don’t we, regardless of the competition.

Straight to a predicted line-up for this one as I need to get this one out ASAP due to the early, Saturday KO (12:30pm BST)…and I’m going to suggest something a little out of the ordinary for this clash.

v Leeds United

Etihad Stadium

 

I’ve already said that I need to get this-particular blog-posting out quickly and to go one stage further (made the decision this morning), I’ve now decided to publish it before Pep Guardiola’s pre-match press conference due to time constraints for one reason or another; leaving more room for error in my predicted line-up section.

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

Fluid 4-2-3-1 / 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-4-2:

____________________Aguero____________________

 

 

 

Sterling______________Jesus_______________Torres

 

_____________________________Silva_____________

__________Fernandinho__________________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

 

____________Laporte__________Garcia____________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Cancelo, Mendy, Ake, Dias, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Mahrez.

Although there’s possibly-even a case for protecting the keeper before the very important 2^nd leg of the quester final of the Champions League on Wednesday night; I think Ederson will start ‘between the sticks’ tomorrow afternoon.

Ahead of him, I see an almost complete change to the back-4 from last Tuesday that’s likely to see Kyle being asked to start once more against The Whites and if so / if the game suits at the time, it’s likely that he’ll be subbed at some point in the second half to rest / protect him ahead of next week’s trip to Germany. The change, I believe, comes in the form of Eric, Aymeric & Oleksandr, who all step into ‘the 11’.

Fernandinho comes back as defensive midfielder and in a kind of 5-man midfield that morphs into a 2…attacking-3 / 1…attacking-4; with the Brazilian joined by Bernardo, Raheem, Gabriel - in a deeper role - & Ferran.

Sergio, I think, gets a rare season start tomorrow in a rare, also, 2-striker set up.

I’m not quite sure what’s going on with the reserve keeper situation at the moment – we saw Scott Carson get the back-up stopper job in the last Premier League game and then both Zack Steffen & James Trafford in ‘the 12’ for the Champions League clash 3 days ago. Perhaps that’s how it is at the moment; I can see logic in it and, so, ex-West Brom & Derby County man, Scott, gets in ‘the 9’ on Saturday. Joao, Benjamin, Nathan & Ruben are the defensive replacement options from the side, while Rodders, Kevin, Phil & Riyad are the only attacking midfield / wing options from the bench, as my prediction sees a lot of attacking personnel in the starting line-up.

Notable absences:

-       Zack Steffen – Not selected / protected.

-       John Stones – Not selected / rested / protected.

-       Ilkay Gundogan – Not selected / rested / protected.

UPDATE (11:10am, Saturday 10th April): 2 players are doubtful with injury niggles but have yet to be named. Obviously we'll find out in around 20-minutes' time when the team sheet is released and where we may get an explanation / more detail before KO on who they are and to what extent they are injured.

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

For this game and in these circumstances [way clear at the top of the Prem and in the middle of two crucial Champions League games] I’d say yes…definitely.

There’s still enough quality & pace in that defence (Garcia aside, pace-wise) to cope with our visitor’s marauding counter attacks, I’d say, and more than enough quality attacking threat in our side to worry an-often-leaky, Leeds defence.

It could look as though we’re leaving ourselves a little thin in the middle of the park where, possibly, the Yorkshire side might ‘pack ‘em in’ but there should be plenty of legs & work-rate in the form of Silva & Jesus to counter that.

Result? Entertainment-wise, this could either be a crackin’ game with multiple goals at both ends or a rather dull affair; whereby we set up to ‘keep ball’ and reserve our energies / not risk over-stretching ourselves ahead of Wednesday night and hope to hit THEM on the counter.

Either way, I think this is gonna be a home win with, perhaps, both sides scoring.

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Blue skies and unbroken sunshine! Don’t get the deckchairs out just yet, though - the temperature is only gonna be around 6 or 7C with a light, northerly breeze making the ‘feels like’ temperature even chillier. Perfect, I would say, for a game of footy where high-intensity is a possibility which could, therefore, see the players being glad of cooling the air.