I think it’s fair to say that some of our players haven’t yet found traction 4-league games in and while some will escape ‘the chop’ for lack of experienced cover…some might not be so lucky under a manager who likes to rotate anyway, generally speaking.
Looking back…
Calamitous defending again against Crystal Palace! And if I could TRY ‘n’ keep it simple whilst attempting to explain why I think that might be happening (other games included both this season and the back end of last), I believe it’s a combination of injuries / rarely having the same central-defensive partnership; defenders who just haven’t yet found form this season so far as well as them-adapting to a new system this season; where our flanking defenders are being asked by their manager to dip into midfield at times. ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’, springs to mind with that last one.
And…here’s one that Ian Cheeseman pointed out at half time last Saturday: Including the Community Shield, we’ve gone 2 goals behind 5 out of the last 7 competitive games. Wow…that fact definitely tells a slightly-concerning story, doesn’t it?
Now, it would appear, we’re in for a new central defender who’s in his last year of his contract at Borussia Dortmund; in the form of Swiss international, Manuel Akanji. With Luke Mbete, who is currently injured anyway, looking likely to sign for Huddersfield Town on loan for the rest of the season and with every one of our central defenders seemingly prone to an injury or two every season; clearly this £15M bid is an attempt to bolster that department with a player who has 41-full international caps for Switzerland and having made 119 league appearance for the German side since January 2018. He’s just turned 27 and stands at 6’ 2” tall.
Further up the pitch, I don’t think everyone is exactly ‘firing’ as yet either and are largely being carried by the usual class suspects, Bernardo Silva & Kevin De Bruyne; possibly more-so the former of the two at the moment. Ilkay Gundogan is playin’ really well too, whenever he ‘gets the minutes’.
The Manchester Evening News actually described Erling Haaland’s display before he scored last Saturday afternoon as, “…rubbish”, which backed up exactly what my mate text me not long after the game. Then…BANG! ‘The Terminator’ engaged his target. He too is adapting to a new system; new colleagues and a new league as well and whenever he’s given the correct supply, he’s just a colossal, powerhouse-killer of a striker!
But, of course, despite some of the negative observations that I’ve mentioned there, we still sit 2nd and just 2 points off the top so imagine how we’ll be when they all ‘click’!
Now, looking forward…
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| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 11/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (possibly 2-7-1 at times):
____________________Haaland___________________
Foden__________________________________Alvarez
_____________________________Silva_____________
__________Gundogan____________________________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Cancelo__________________________________Walker
____________Dias______________Stones___________
____________________Ederson_____________________
Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Wilson-Esbrand, Lewis, Gomes, De Bruyne, Knight, Mahrez, Palmer.
Ederson keeps his place ‘in-between the sticks’.
Same back-4, I’d say, with Joao, Ruben, John & Kyle.
Rodders to ‘go again’ as ‘the anchor’, with Phil, Ilkay, Bernardo…and Julian all in attack mode. I’ve just got a feeling that the Argentine forward will get his starting chance tonight and if my ‘gut feeling’ is correct; I might then go with my ‘spider sense’ once more and suggest that he may then get a starting place once again against Aston Villa on Saturday but ‘up top’ in place of Erling Haaland. Mmmmmm…we’ll see soon enough, of course.
As for this game, Erling to start as our central striker once again and I’ve just got a feeling also that Kevin might be taken out for a little reset-rest but that we could see him play some part later on in the match.
Stefan is the reserve stopper; Sergio, Josh & Rico are the 3, very-young defenders on the side. Claudio, Kevin, Ben, Riyad & Cole make up the midfielders & wingers in ‘the 9’. By the way, I hope that rumour which circulated the other day about Cole Palmer being loaned out for the season was a horrible one being stirred up by someone…or that, should it be true, Pep insists that the 20-year-old Manchester lad is going nowhere this season.
A little bit extra that I don’t usually do in this section and in line with my opening subheading…
· I think Ederson hasn’t had a good start to the season, as he appears to be doing his best to give validity to the argument of those who have already been expressing doubts about the Brazilian’s goalkeeping ability; beyond being a good passer, that is. However, on the strength of Stefan Ortega’s lack of Premier League experience, he survives for now at least, I’d say.
· Now, this might not necessarily be their fault but both our flanking “defenders”, Joao & Kyle, have also had pretty rotten starts to the season; in a defence that’s conceded 5 goals in the last 2 games. There’s a possibility, therefore, that Pep might view newly-promoted Forest at home as an opportunity to give a start to new signing, Sergio Gomez, and should he do so; he has the option of dropping Cancelo to the bench or moving him over to his more-natural position of right-wing back and dropping Walker instead. However, I think our manager will resist this change for now and will want both Joao & Kyle to practice their new roles until they can (hopefully) perfect them. As I’ve suggested, I do have a little sympathy for the pair – I’m not sure even the most observant Manchester City fan knows where their positions should be at the moment or can track their in-game whereabouts most of the time and I’m guessing the two players themselves are a little confused and have feelings of doubt.
· What’s wrong with Ruben Dias? Fair enough, he had injuries last season that I believe he was feeling something building with his hamstring before he eventually broke down but he’s not really been playing that well since his first season, 2020/21, up to / including the beginning of last; where his performances then-slowly started to ‘tail off’ as I say. His current partner, John Stones, is very slowly ‘getting there’ following his pre-season injury / lack of match fitness. Both should survive, however, with Aymeric Laporte out for another 4 to 6 weeks and with Nathan Ake trying to recover from a recent groin issue.
· Riyad Mahrez…AGAIN with Riyad Mahrez! I just can’t figure this fella out at all – full of talent; highest scorer in all competitions last season with a lot of assists too and yet he seems to choose when to turn all of that on! When he’s not doing a complete invisible man impression, he can be so frustrating and wasteful and, unfortunately for us, he’s going through one of those spells yet again. I’d be shocked if he got a starting place against Forest ahead of other options we have in that position.
· Phil seems to be playing a little within himself at the moment, don’t you think? He doesn’t ever really have BAD games, as such, and his season rating so far from me stands at a “good”, 7/10. He never, EVER lacks desire but he just doesn’t appear to be expressing himself quite the same as we’ve seen him do so many times before and, yes; he’s had two glorious chances this season to get two additional assists with Erling Haaland SCREAMING for Phil to tap the ball to him on both occasions. One City fan when interviewed after the Palace game said that Phil Foden was, once again he notably added, “…a passenger”. I wouldn’t go quite that far. I’d have him there any day of the week ahead of Jack Grealish and I’d say he’s gonna get another chance to shine tonight.
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Aymeric Laporte – Recovering from a knee injury / surgery. Expected return at the end of September / early October.
- Nathan Ake – Reportedly back in training but it sounds like he won’t be risked for this game.
- Jack Grealish – For Jack, read Nathan.
- Kalvin Phillips – For Kalvin, read Nathan also.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? There are transitions and there are TRANSITIONS! Newly-promoted Forest did not mess around in clearing out those who they felt just wouldn’t ‘cut it’ in the top flight and brought in a heck of a lot of new blood who they believe will, at the very least, help them survive their first season back in the Prem. A whopping 19 have arrived at the City Ground so far while an even MORE whopping 29 have departed!
Of course, that brings with it the risk that the ‘new lot’ will need time to adjust & gel but their manager, Steve Cooper, is a decent boss with tonnes of coaching experience behind him prior to moving into management full time.
And they’ve started okay too, registering a win and a draw alongside 2 defeats. In those 4 league outings they’ve “only” conceded 5 goals too, which suggests to me that the Welsh manager has already got ‘em organised quite well. They have only managed to find the net twice in the league though.
Therefore, I think we’ll find our hosts well organised and tough to break down and while we push forward, as we do, we of course have to be mindful of ‘the counter’. I haven’t looked to see if they have any pacy players who could damage us with counter attacks but we might want to be mindful of 6’ 3” forward, Sam Surridge, whenever they get the chance to pop the ball over to him.
However, that’s a very strong 11 that I’ve suggested there and I think it’s one that will grab us all-3 points. It’s a home win for me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during the game: Pleasant for the 7:30pm (BST) KO. Around 17 or 18C and whilst it’s still hanging in the sky, the sun could well poke out from time to time. Might be worth some fans taking a light jacket for the journey home depending on how far they have to walk as there will be bit of a breeze too…
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| Solidarity |
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