If you turn up too early, City fans…

…you might just get a game in our defence!

v West Ham United

London Stadium

There will be assessments made on Aymeric Laporte (knee) & Fernandinho (muscular) as late as possible tomorrow ahead of our 2:00pm KO (BST), who both left the field of play looking uncomfortable last Wednesday night.

It’s left us potentially – and likely, I would say – desperately thin at the back and, therefore, I’m going to suggest another makeshift defence on Sunday afternoon…as well as going a bit ‘rouge’, otherwise, in my first 11 forecast.

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

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

_____________________________________________

____________________Jesus____________________

 

Grealish________________________________Mahrez

____________________Foden____________________

 

__________Gundogan_________Lavia_____________

Zinchenko______________________________Cancelo

 

_____________Ake_____________Rodri____________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Egan-Riley, Laporte, Wilson-Esbrand, Mbete, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling,

Ederson takes his place between the sticks for the last time away from home this season.

Another new back-4 consisting of Oleksandr, Nathan, who himself is only just getting right from an-apparent ankle injury (I thought it was his hip), Rodders & Joao.

Ahead of that unlikely quartet could be a ‘double pivot’ of Ilkay & Romeo; the former having played the whole of the 94 minutes in midweek whilst the latter would be making his Manchester City starting debut; certainly in the Premier League, at least.

Ahead of that largely defensive midfield pairing is an attacking 4 of Jack, Phil, Riyad & Gabriel.

Zack is the reserve keeper; Conrad, Aymeric, who might make the bench at least, Josh & Luke make up the defenders in ‘the 9’; some of which may well be needed at some point for this one. Like Aymeric, Fernandinho might be deemed fit enough for a place on the bench and if so, he could well be joined by Kevin, Bernardo & Raheem as midfield / wing / attacking options in reserve.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Kyle Walker – Out for the remainder of the season with an ankle issue.

-       John Stones – Out for the remainder of the season with a muscular / thigh injury.

-       Ruben Dias – Out for the remainder of the season with a muscle issue in an area close to where he recently had a hamstring problem.

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

I’d like for us to go a little stronger from the attacking midfield upwards because if we do have a weakness at the back, then I think it’ll be a good idea to give the home side – who are sure to come at us - something to worry about themselves; keeping them on the back foot and away from our end as much as possible.

That’s a long-winded way of saying, ‘the best form of defence is attack’…

However, I can envisage – and could understand to some degree – our manager going with something like this; needing to be protective of-a-somewhat crude back line as well as resting at least 2 vital, attacking midfielders who, once again, ran their Belgium & Portuguese legs off just 4 days earlier – we need them injury free & fresh for our final push / game; although the players do have a full week off before they play that one.

Result? Up to being knocked out of their European competition, our hosts were in poor league form. Since that cup disappointment, like us they shrugged it off with a comprehensive 0-4 away win; albeit against already-relegated, Norwich City.

Like most sides in the Prem, they have both good and threatening players and it won’t have gone unnoticed by them what issues we’re having at the back. They’ll see this as a good chance ‘have a pop’ for sure…and they do still have it within their own hands to finish in the Europa League (6^th) rather than the Europa Conference League (7^th).

One of their threats is a doubt for tomorrow, with Algerian left winger, Said Benrahma, coming away from their last outing with an ankle problem. Like Aymeric & Fernandinho for us; West Ham will assess him tomorrow. Forward Michail Antonio, however, has been passed fit following a knock and defender Craig Dawson is deemed fit to play also following an issue with his calf.

Since OUR exit from Europe, we’ve won 5-0 & 1-5 but I wouldn’t expect anything like that tomorrow. I think this is going to be a close one and, perhaps, if our manager DOES go a little cautious / protective of the back line, as I’ve suggested; it could end in a draw…or worse.

However, I think regardless of the side he puts out, I just 'have that feeling' that we’ll get the win tomorrow. I’ve got to be honest and say that I wish Jack wasn’t in the starting line-up because I feel that we need more of an attacking threat than he, more often than not, fails to provide. I'd like to think also that we could find a solution so that we didn’t have to throw Romeo into this crucial fixture and perhaps Pep will ‘go stronger’. That’s fine…as long as we’re not over-stretching even MORE of our key players; running the risk of them breaking down ahead of the final game of the season.

It might be a narrow one but I’m going for an away win.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Draw

(There was no pre-match blog-posting for this game due to going on holiday at that time)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Dry, warm (21C / 70F) but largely overcast. There will be fairly brisk breeze blowing over too, averaging 11MPH throughout the match. A more than decent day for the fans though.

Solidarity