That’s how our September looks, which includes 2 proper-challenging fixtures and all before we kick October off with a trip to Anfield.
If we come out of those 7 games (the October/Liverpool one included) relatively unscathed, then we really will have set ourselves up with a firm base in which to launch into the rest of the season…
(Blog announcement at the bottom)
 |
| King Power Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).
Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-1-2-3 / 4-3-3:
_____________________________________________
___________________Torres____________________
Grealish_________________________________Jesus
_________Gundogan__________Silva_____________
____________________Rodri____________________
Cancelo________________________________Walker
____________Laporte_________Dias______________
___________________Ederson___________________
Subs: Carson, Zinchenko, Ake, Stones, Fernandinho, Palmer, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling.
Right…the first thing to mention is that I'd planned to release this piece yesterday afternoon following Pep’s pre-match press conference but, at that point, we were STILL awaiting an outcome from a meeting between FIFA, the Premier League and other bodies about the situation with regards to Brazilian, Chilean, Mexican & Paraguayan players being banned for playing for their club sides for 5 days; a situation that arose when their respective clubs refused to release them to compete for their countries in Covid, red-listed countries; whereby they would be both putting themselves at higher risk as well as having-to-then isolate for 10 days upon their return.
WELL…I’ve seen from one source earlier this morning – a source I have to believe is credible – that a decision has been made not to evoke that rule; meaning for us both Ederson & Gabriel Jesus are free to player this afternoon. As I’m completing this blog-posting, I’m still looking for a secondary source on that but here goes for now… (Now confirmed by the BBC also).
Ederson to breathe a sigh of relief and grab the gloves and then, what I’m going for, is that our main keeper will be 1 of the same-starting 11 that ran out 5-0 winners against both Norwich City & Arsenal.
4 of our English players, at least, played the full 95 minutes only last Wednesday, but…
…a back-4 of Joao, Aymeric, Ruben & Kyle.
Rodders just in front of them and ahead of our Spanish defensive midfielder is Jack, Ilkay, Bernardo & cleared-to-play, Gabriel.
Ferran is, once again, the more advance, central player ‘up top’ in a-now-familiar, fluid system.
Scott gets a bench-side-view as reserve keeper; Oleksandr, Nathan (who was released by his international side for personal reasons but who has since been seen back in training at City) and John are the back-up defenders in ‘the 9’. Fernandinho, Cole, Kevin - who has been training for around a week now both alone as well as with a few teammates and who is, therefore I would say, likely to make the match-day squad - Riyad & Raheem make up the midfield / wing / creative/attacking options from the side.
Notable absences:
- Zack Steffen – Isolating for 10 days from 06.09.2021 due to contracting Covid-19. Currently in the USA, Zack needs to complete 2 negative PCR tests before-then travelling back to the UK; with his manager suggesting that could all take up to 15 days in total for him to be fully cleared and available once more.
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Phil Foden – Only recently back in light training, so this fixture would appear to be too early for a return by the sounds of it. I don’t think he’s been totally ruled out though so I suppose there’s a small chance we might see him on the bench…
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? I mentioned, in my sub-heading, ‘2 proper-challenging fixtures’ and while I wasn’t including today’s hosts as one of them (it was Chelsea & PSG as if you needed to ask), this match is by no means one to be taken lightly.
Leicester can be a strange team at times though, I think – they can be almost unplayable as they swarm over and rip through sides with devastating effect; then they seem to hit an ‘off patch’ and take some time to find traction again as they appear to transform into a shadow of their-better-selves. Which one will we face this afternoon, I wonder?
We’ve got a patchy record against The Foxes under Pep with results going either way – I don’t recall a draw between our two sides in the last few seasons. They have been boosted by the return from injury of two of their highly-rated players in midweek in the form of Timothy Castagne and Youri Tielemans and I expect them to ‘give us a game’ and perhaps a fright or two…or three.
As for us, two back-to-back, 5-0 wins suggests a side that shrugged off our opening day 1-0 defeat and wiped it from memory whilst, at the same time, finding a system that they’re all really comfortable with.
However, Mr Perfection (AKA Mr Guardiola of course) suggested that we looked a little frightened in the early stages of our last big win. I’m assuming, therefore, that he may have spotted a little lack of belief in his players before we eventually steamrollered The Gunners and if he’s right; we can’t afford to do that away to fast-breaking Leicester – we need to take control ‘from the off’ and make them concerned about the many threats that we carry.
I often find the immediate fixture following an international break even-trickier to “read”; it’s the same for our opponents, of course, but we can, sometimes, ‘look a little off’ or slow to restart. That’s not always the case but these games can be a little harder to predict.
But I think confidence is high in so many of our attacking players at the moment and in Aymeric & Ruben, at least, we have two defenders we can rely on to ease any nerves our more advanced players may have.
I think it’ll be a really good game, this one, and I believe we’ll bring home all-3 points. It’s an away win for me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Draw
Result: Won
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: Overcast and 70F sounds a little humid but what comes with that also is a fairly brisk, westerly breeze to keep the players cool. Sounds like perfect conditions for both players & fans really.
I’ve been considerably less than diligent in-getting a post-transfer window / season prediction piece out this year but it is to follow soon; I am working on it and I’m not far off finishing…
No comments:
Post a Comment