v Manyoo
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| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).
Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:
______________________________________________
Sterling_________________________________Mahrez
____________________De Bruyne_________________
__________Foden_________________Silva__________
______________________Rodri____________________
Cancelo__________________________________Walker
___________Laporte_____________Stones__________
_____________________Ederson__________________
Subs: Carson, Steffen, Zinchenko, Mbete, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Grealish, McAtee, Jesus.
Ederson in net is a ‘no brainer’.
Our back 4 is highly likely to consist of Joao, Aymeric, John & Kyle.
Rodders, who I’m hoping rediscovers his near-season-long good form, ‘sits in’ / shields and then ahead of the Spaniard is a fluid, interchangeable, 'attacking 5' of Raheem, Phil, Kevin, Bernardo & Riyad. Jeeeze…if all those are on their ‘A game’ on the day, God help Maguire & Co!
2 keepers in the form of Scott & Zack on the bench, I would say and in case recently-recovered Zack ‘feels a niggle’ and a change of goalie is required. Oleksandr & Luke are the only defenders on the side, while Fernandinho, Ilkay, Jack, James & Gabriel provide midfield / wing / attacking options in ‘the 9’.
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Nathan Ake – Having landed awkwardly / flat on his back in our last outing following an aerial challenge, the Dutch international defender will be missing for a short time with an…“undisclosed injury”. It looked flippin’ painful at the time, I recall quite clearly…
- Ruben Dias – Picked up a hamstring injury in our last match and will be out for 4 to 6 weeks. Worst case scenario [6 weeks], we could lose the Portuguese central defender for 7 games; the 7th game being 50/50 / about the end of that recovery estimate and, which, would be the Liverpool clash.
- Cole Palmer – The good news is that the 19-year-old attacking midfielder has now been deemed fit enough to resume training in the coming days, following a foot injury that he received a full 2 months ago.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? I regularly speak to a red who, in fairness to him, has always been so-very honest about his own team’s performances; even if they somehow achieve an underserved win or manage to scrape a draw, he very often tells me how poorly they defended / defend generally; how terrible they were / are at passing and how wasteful they were / are in front of goal. Personally - not that I pay too much attention to that side, of course - I think it’s a largely unhappy and disjointed camp; full of ‘big egos’ vying to be ‘top dog’ in the dressing room and players who, otherwise, just don’t appear to care enough for the club that pays their wages.
As for us, generally speaking I think we’ve lost about 10% of our powers in recent games; I think our passing has been a little off and some key, previously in-form players have looked a slightly ‘off colour’; as well as, perhaps, a little jaded. We've slowed are attacking play a little too, I would sauggest. That being said, I still think we’re playing well and we just need to both tighten & ‘sharpen up’ a tad.
All things considered? I’m putting this down as a home win…and that’s despite our visitors achieving some positive results on ‘our patch’ in recent seasons.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Prediction: Win
Result: Lost
Expected weather conditions during the game: Although low in the sky, the start of the game (4:30pm GMT on Sunday afternoon) should see a bit of sunshine. Dry throughout the match but as daylight turns into night, it starts to get a little chilly; with a finishing temperature of 6C perhaps feeling a little colder as a light, easterly breeze wafts over the ground.
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| Solidarity |
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