The Trafford v Manchester derby

If I was to do a proper write-up about our last, starting-11 set up, dismal performance and eventual (inevitable?) result, I feel like could well be typing ‘til Easter…even if it were just to vent my frustrations at our somewhat erratic-thinking manager in recent weeks. I love the guy and I’m reluctant to be too critical but that’s just how last Wednesday’s team selection and performance has left me feeling as I begin to ‘put pen to paper’ on this, the morning after.

I don’t know about other Blues but I think it’s only fair after heaping tonnes and tonnes of praise on the team, individual players and our manager for years that, on occasions when it’s justified, measured criticism is only right also…otherwise we’ll be turning into fans that we’ve seen in the past who support other teams; where they can ‘do no wrong’.

Instead [of typing until Easter], I’m simply going to ask the question, why is Pep trying these inexplicable experiments which are, for the most part, leaving us lopsided and very much disjointed throughout the side?

Once again, following my blog-posting on 5^th January where I talked a lot about form, Guardiola’s unexpected “tinkering” has put a dent in any sort of ‘form gathering’…and it’s dragging the season-long score-ratings down of nearly every one of his players along the way; players who look a little confused and frustrated on the pitch, some of the time, as a lot of the failed experiments blow-up in our manager’s face. Ilkay Gundogan has had a few words on the current situation too.

Are some of the players to blame also? Yeah, I’ve seen some really bad passing too and that can’t-possibly be down to Pep. There is a lot of blame to go around in a season that, in large parts, now feels like 3 or 4 steps forward and 1 step sideways or back but I believe that blame lies both in the playing AND management staff in these often-avoidable ‘blip’ games.

Right starting-11 personnel choices please, Mr Guardiola…and ‘round pegs in round holes’ too would be good.

Having to throw so many ‘A’-list players on the pitch in order to try and salvage something from the first half carnage last Wednesday and just 2-½ days before an important league fixture & derby was, for me, just as embarrassing as it was irritating.

We can’t always perform brilliantly, of course, and we have no divine right whatsoever to win every game…AND, by the way; well done Southampton who deserved the win on the night. But what annoys me when things do go slightly awry is when it’s self-inflicted / avoidable. Do you know what I mean? Perform well but get beaten ‘fair & square’ by an equal or better side on the day and, yeah; fair enough.

Anyway, spleen vented – moving swiftly on…

v Manyoo

Scaffold Trafford

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (possibly 3-6-1 at times):

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

 

___________Silva________________De Bruyne______

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Ake______________________________________Lewis

__________Laporte______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Cancelo, Gomez, Walker, Phillips, Gundogan, Foden, Palmer & Alvarez.

Ederson is back ‘between the sticks’.

A back-4 of Nathan (our new, best left-back?), Aymeric, Manuel & Rico.

Rodders comes back in the starting-11 as our defensive midfielder; Jack, who only saw 11 minutes of the second half in midweek, Bernardo, Kevin & Riyad are ahead of the Spaniard in the attacking midfield / wing department.

Erling is the recipient of all that creativity behind him.

Stefan steps back as reserve keeper; Joao, Sergio & Kyle are the defenders on the side. Kalvin, Ilkay, Phil & Cole are the midfield / wing back-ups; while Julian provides a striker replacement option in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

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

-       John Stones – Not “injured”, as such by the sounds of it, but out again due to…“fitness issues”. Read into that what you will…

-       Ruben Dias – It sounds like the Portuguese central defender might have been training to some degree following his hamstring injury that he picked up for his national side because when asked yesterday; his boss said that he could return soon (to squad training?). 👍

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

Personally, I’d like Foden on the left-attacking flank for this one; even though, like a few of his teammates, he’s struggling to find consistency / decent form, for whatever reason that may be. Other than that though…definitely, yes.

Result? A home side with really solid form against an away side with a ‘run - run - slip’ refrain, at the moment. That doesn’t sound too good for us, does it?

However, I just have a good feeling about this one and, yes; I think our latest midweek ‘blip’ will give us an ‘extra push’ / desire to get back on track…again.

I do-also think that we’ll start the game ‘all guns blazing’ and although I will give our hosts a goal; I honestly believe that we’ll score more. It’s a City win from me.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: The pitch will-have-had a RIGHT ol’ soaking for a good number of hours before the early KO (12:30pm GMT), as heavy rain swept in overnight. It doesn’t end there either; with lighter but persistent showers blowing over into the early part of the game, at least. The high-sided stands should provide a lot of protection from the 18MPH average wind speeds so I can’t imagine the ball being affected by that but that’s gonna be one ‘zippy’ pitch for some quick passes as well as some-possible mis-judged tackles. It should have all dried up in time for fans to make their way to their various destinations after the match.

Solidarity