That is likely to be on the minds of a lot connected with The Seagulls ahead of this afternoon’s clash (3:00pm KO BST).
I’m hoping for a reaction from us too after we lost ground on league-leaders, Arsenal, last weekend and perhaps this IS a match where we can use this occasional, in-game, 2-7-1 formation-switch; or the one where our back-4 melds into a back-3 and so on and so forth…
Why make a point of mentioning that?
Because on Sunday, Pep didn’t appear to take heed of his own words; where, speaking more-so about the 2-7-1 with inverted wing-backs, he recently stated that it’s a system he’s used at different clubs in the past when-playing with one striker…but that he has to be careful when and who to use it against.
A quick look back…
Firstly, I have to tell you that I was so ill following a reaction to the Moderna vaccine, winter booster that I had last Saturday morning that by the time the game kicked off at 4:30pm the following day, all I was up for was listening to the match on the radio via the upstairs’ TV while I was curled up in bed; barely able to stay awake, at times, nor concentrate very well.
So…the Liverpool game.
Radio Manchester was my choice of listening and the co-commentator was ex-City midfielder, Nigel Gleghorn. Time and time again in commentary it sounded like we were a little weak, once again, on the flanks of our defence. Non-specialist left-wing back, Nathan Ake, was forced into a couple of errors and with a system that morphed from ‘a 4 at the back’, with Joao Cancelo on the right-hand-side, to ‘a 3’ when Joao practically doubled-up as a secondary right-winger, which then left Manuel Akanji as the right-sided defender; we sounded a little bit all over the place at times and vulnerable to counter attacks to say the least.
Nigel was repeatedly bemoaning this fact; wondering why Pep couldn’t see it OR, if he could, why he wasn’t doing something about it.
Pep wasn’t having a good day in Nigel’s eyes and later on after Liverpool scored with 14 minutes to go of normal time (24 minutes in total, as it turned out), the ex-City man kept questioning why our manager wasn’t making any changes – not for ‘changes sake’, he was keen to point out, but, he added, “…that’s why you have a squad of players”. Eventually Pep did…one substitute (Julian Alvarez)…with 1-minute of normal time to go.
In my dishevelled state, it sounded like Guardiola was having one of his ‘big game’, ‘head wobble’ moments…
From what I listened to live and have since heard also, it seems like some key players were playing a little below par too – most notably Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and even Erling Haaland for missing a couple of very good chances. Having said that, both sides had quite a number of opportunities to score and didn’t.
One City fan interviewed whilst still in his seat waiting to be let out of the ground said that he was rubbing his hands before kick off when he saw that Phil would be up against 36-year-old James Milner…but it just didn’t happen for the player 14-years his junior. That sentiment was soon echoed by another City supporter who was also sat in the away end; where he added that, as a team, we just weren’t brave enough and looked a little scared of the fact that we were at Vile Anfield, as I’m now going to refer to it as.
Again…that sounds like another ‘big game’ ‘head wobble’ moment from an over-thinking Pep; although another City fan & mate of mine did say more recently that Kevin has played successfully well in that higher position in the past.
On the plus side – and this was my impression even from “just” listening to it – another City fan said that Bernardo Silva was fighting like his life depended on it. What a crackin’ player with a great attitude and if we do lose him in the summer of 2023, I hope we have someone of equal ability, energy, adaptability & attitude lined up.
We also had more possession (63% to their 37%); 3 more shots than them and 4 more on target than the home side.
Regarding last Sunday, I just want to end on one final point, which is this. I hope, at some stage, although it’s highly unlikely now, there’s going to be some enquiry into why, when the referee had clearly decided that he was going to send Jurgen Klopp off and into the stands...WHY he chose to stop play for an off-the-field issue when we were, not only in possession, but also in attack with seven advancing players?! Surely questions have to be asked of the referee about that one.
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| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (possibly 3-6-1 at times):
____________________Haaland___________________
Grealish__________________________________Foden
____________________________De Bruyne_________
_____________Silva_____________________________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Laporte_________________________________Cancelo
_____________Dias_____________Akanji___________
____________________Ederson____________________
Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Ake, Stones, Gundogan, Palmer, Mahrez, Alvarez.
Ed in net.
The big guessing game continues with regards to our defence – I’m going for hugely-rested Aymeric to come in on the left of a 4-come-3, with Ruben, Manuel & Joao being asked to go again after a near-full week’s rest also. Nathan didn’t particularly have a bad game against Liverpool and dealt with most things quite well - I just think that if there’s going to be any kind of defensive rotation for this fixture, then one left-footer for another one might just be the case. Nathan might not be too happy about any-such rotation policy after starting the season in solid form…
Rodders continues as our defensive midfielder, while I reckon our attacking midfield department will consist of Jack, Barnardo, Kevin & Phil. I suppose that Riyad could be included in ‘the 11’ at the expense of one of those - I’m guessing not but I could be wrong, of course.
A hungry [to find the net again] Erling to ‘top the lot’.
Stefan is the reserve stopper; Sergio, Rico, Nathan and a returning-John make up the defenders on the side. Ilkay, Cole & Riyad are the midfielders / wingers in ‘the 9’, while Julian is likely to be itching to come off the bench as our back-up striker.
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Kyle Walker – Still out for an unspecified period of time following surgery on his groin.
- Kalvin Phillips – Out for us until after the World Cup while he recovers from a shoulder injury / surgery. An update from his manager suggests that he continues to make good progress.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Other than that and further up the pitch, I think this might be the right sort of game to give Jack another go on the left wing.
I’m quite happy with that predicted 11 but I’m hoping also that there’s scope in the game, at some stage, for Sergio, Rico, Cole & Julian to ‘get some minutes’; John too, of course…
Result?
Our visitors have had mixed results under their still-new manager and one of Pep’s ‘bezzy mates’, Roberto De Zerbi. I think two of those outcomes can be ones to be proud of, in some ways; certainly games to draw encouragement from, at least – a 3-3 draw at Vile Anfield and a narrow 0-1 home defeat to high-flying Spurs; after The Seagulls enjoyed 59% of possession with 4 shots on target to Tottenham’s 3.
The other two, however, might be viewed as a little disappointing; drawing further blanks away at Brentford as well as at home to struggling Nottingham Forest, as they registered a 2-0 away defeat in the first of those followed by a 0-0’er at home in the latter.
“Mixed” definitely sums up that run of games under the watch of their new gaffer.
Unless they’re REALLY in the mood on the day and / or catch a side on the break; scoring does seem to be an issue for the south-coast side; registering just 14 goals in 11 league games, 3 of which came in one outing.
However, they remain a largely disciplined, hard-working and organised bunch; leaking just 11 in 10-league games, which is the 3rd best in the league (with 3 teams on joint 2nd with 10 conceded). And despite not being able to find the back of the net as much as they would like, they do tend to create a lot of chances for themselves.
Yes folks, we face yet another side who are likely to be very difficult to break down whilst, at the same time, have players in their team who are dangerous on the counter attack. It does feel, sometimes, like Groundhog Day watching Manchester City these days, especially at home, don’t you think?
Once again, league table position and fewer points accumulated by our opponents should have no bearing on how we approach this fixture – take our eye of the ball, literally or metaphorically, for a second and we stand a good chance of either sharing the points this afternoon or worse.
Thankfully, the Spaniard remained steadfast in his belief that focus on our next opponents is all that matters. I have no doubt that he will have passed that attention onto his players in the week just gone whilst I’m hoping, at the same time, they’ve not taken on the percentage of anger he’s clearly feeling inside at the moment; otherwise they could be in danger of trying to over-express themselves rather than playing their natural game.
I think the first 15 minutes will act as a barometer of how the players are feeling / how they’re reacting after an emotional day and defeat last weekend. However, regardless of whether we start the game well or may need to shake it out of our systems before calming down and re-focussing, this is a City win for me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Won
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
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| Solidarity |
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