Perfect opportunity to rest our main stars; give others some much-needed gametime and an opportunity, also, to give some young players some vital experience.
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| Red Bull Arena |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).
Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:
______________________________________________
Foden______________Sterling______________Mahrez
___________Palmer___________De Bruyne_________
__________________Fernandinho_________________
Zinchenko____________________________Egan-Riley
_____________Ake_____________Stones___________
_____________________Steffen ___________________
Subs: Carson, Ederson, Wilson-Esbrand, Walker, Dias, Lavia, Gundogan, McAtee, Grealish.
With 12 allowed on the bench in this competition, our manager has choosen to have “just” 9 for this one.
A change of keeper perhaps? I think so – Zack takes the gloves for this game.
A Completely difference back line to say the least, which I think will look like Oleksandr, Nathan, John and a possible ‘starting debut’ for Conrad; a defender who is largely a central but who has plenty of experience for the EDS playing in a right-sided, defensive role. I could be wrong about Conrad starting but if Kyle starts instead, then I expect the him to be swapped for Conrad either at half time or certainly before the 60-minute mark.
Fernandinho is highly likely to take over defensive midfield duties while our attacking, interchangeable 5 is likely to look like Phil, Cole, Raheem, Kevin & Riyad.
Two keepers on the bench come in the form of Scott & Ederson; Josh, Kyle & Ruben are the defensive replacement options in ‘the 9’. Romeo, Ilkay, James & Jack are the midfield / wing attacking choices from the side.
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Cancelo – Not selected / rested / protected.
- Aymeric Laporte – Not selected / rested / protected.
- Bernardo Silva – Not selected / rested / protected.
- Rodri – Not selected / rested / protected.
- Ferran Torres – Out with a foot injury until around Christmas time…and heavily linked with a move away in January.
- Gabriel Jesus – Still suffering after a knock he received (I’m being polite to the offender there) in our last outing.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? In a way, it’s a bit of a tough one to call for more than one reason – quite a number of changes and players rested for this one from us and as for our hosts, they’ve just parted with their manager after a poor set of results but also find themselves in a position that if they better Club Bruges result in the last of the group stages game, they can still qualify for the Europa League.
So, on the one hand they might feel in a little disarray but, surely, they will want to go for a win tonight to be absolutely sure that they continue to play in a European competition this season.
Sadly for them, in my opinion, unless they have an absolute blinder; whether they ‘come at us’ for the win or not, I still think we’ll have too much for ‘em.
Pep will certainly want to remain professional and they’ll be players in our squad who will want to ‘stake a claim’ with their manager watching on. I’m going for another City win tonight.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during the game: 1C, overcast, dry and very little in the way of a breeze. Basically, it’s a very still night, weather wise, whilst at the same time quiet in the stands; with no fans due to local Covid-19 rates.
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