A lot of changes for Copenhagen but…

 …am I about to suggest a few too many; with some ‘out there’ predictions?

v F.C. Copenhagen

Parken

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).

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

____________________Alvarez____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

______________________________Palmer__________

_________Gundogan____________________________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Gomez____________________________________Lewis

___________Laporte____________Akanji____________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Carson, Cancelo, Wilson-Esbrand, Ake, Dias, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland. 10 subs from an-allowed 12 there.

Giving a Champions League start to both Rico Lewis & Cole Palmer, as well as a second-only start in a City shirt to Julian Alvarez; with no Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne OR Erling Haaland in the starting 11? Some might think I’ve lost the plot, while others might feel I’m being a little disrespectful towards our Danish hosts.

Ederson keeps the gloves, I would suggest.

I’m going for a back-4 of Sergio, Aymeric, Manuel & Rico.

Rodders to ‘go again’ as defensive midfielder; Jack, Ilkay, Cole & Riyad ahead of him in the midfield department.

Julian to get a ‘staring role’ in the middle and ‘up top’ of the attacking players.

Two keepers on the bench in the form of Stefan & Scott; Joao, Josh, Nathan & Ruben make up the defenders on the side. Bernardo, Kevin & Phil are the rather impressive midfielders / wingers waiting to come on if needed; Erling to get a rare view from the side-line for this one. That’s 10 substitutes from an-allowed allocation of 12.

So…lost the plot? Being disrespectful? I don’t think either, really.

First of all, despite being 13 points behind us in the league already, albeit with a game in hand over us, we’ve got a certain away game at Liverpool coming up on Sunday afternoon and regardless of their stuttering start, they’re still a side packed with talented & dangerous players; backed by an often-noisy Kop end. I think they’ll also be keen to find an antidote to their 3-2 league defeat – their 6^th league-game from 8 without a win! - away at Arsenal last Sunday; a game they fell behind three times over the 98 minutes played. Why wouldn’t we, therefore, rest / not risk key players when we’re already ‘3 from 3’ in our European group stage with a goal difference of +10?

Disrespectful? If you can call putting out a side with the likes of Ederson, Akanji, Laporte, Rodri, Gundogan, Grealish, Mahrez & Alvarez in it who have a total of 283-full international caps between them disrespectful then, yeah; I suppose I must be.

With a lot of experienced players around them, what an opportunity to give an emerging right-wing back and a young-attacking midfielder a taste of full, first-team action against European opposition, as well as European experience also to Julian Alvarez.

This is a “predicted 11” and not “my 11”, I have to reminded myself…but I can see our manager possibly going with this side or something similar, at least. Time will tell, of course…

Notable absences:

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

-       John Stones – Has a hamstring injury and going off the initial assessment / timescale issued, he could be out for a few more days, possibly more.

-       Kyle Walker – Out for an unspecified number of weeks with a groin / abdominal injury.

-       Kalvin Phillips – Out until after the World Cup while he recovers from a shoulder injury / surgery.

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

Sure do.

Result? I think it’ll be closer than the fixture in Manchester last week but regardless of whether we go with a starting 11 similar to this or “go stronger”; I believe we’ll put the group stages to bed with another win this evening (5:45pm KO BST).

 

 

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Not too bad – it’s forecasted to be dry but with a fairly strong breeze and temperatures hanging around the 11 to 12C mark; I’d definitely take a warm coat if I was a fan in the stands. No problem playing-conditions wise.

Solidarity