Somebody told me the other day that there was some off-the-field news regarding Manchester City in connection to the Premier League. Aston Villa at home it is, then…
v Aston Villa
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| Etihad Stadium |
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 (possibly 3-6-1 at times):
____________________Haaland____________________
Grealish___________________________________Silva
_________Gundogan___________De Bruyne_________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Ake_______________________________________Lewis
___________Laporte_____________Akanji___________
____________________Ederson____________________
Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Walker, Dias, Phillips, Foden, Palmer, Mahrez & Alvarez.
The pre-embargoed section of the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon lasted over 20 minutes and there wasn’t one question from any of the journalists asking about player fitness / availability; such was the interest in a certain off-the-field matter. I could have waited until the morning of the match itself to finish and release this in the hope that we might get a player update in the embargoed section tonight but, whatever…
Ederson continues in net.
I’m going for a back-4 of in-form / impressive Nathan, Aymeric, Manuel & Rico.
Despite his last performance on the back of slight dip in form generally, I’m sure Rodders will start as defensive midfielder once again. I’m sure also that he must need a rest and was why we brought Kalvin into the club last summer.
Ahead of the Spanish international I’m going for a back-4 of Jack, Ilkay, Kevin & Bernardo.
Erling will be hoping to get the right passes so that he can ‘do his thing’ up front.
Stefan is the back-up stopper; Sergio, Kyle & Ruben are the three defenders on the side. Kalvin, Phil, who was spotted in training a few days ago, Cole & Riyad are the midfielder / wingers in ‘the 9’, while Julian is the reserve striker.
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- John Stones – Out for around 3 weeks with a hamstring injury.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? Up to last weekend, our visitors were undefeated in 4 league games; registering 3 wins and a draw. That came to an abrupt holt at home to Leicester with a 2-4 defeat but with that being a West vs East Midlands affair, which is sort of derby like; those games have added unpredictability and, therefore, I have to believe that we still face a good, in-form, organised side who also carry some threat. They have a good, very experienced manager at the helm too.
As for us, 3 wins in a row against Premier League opposition where we scored 8, conceded 2 and kept 2 clean sheets was marred, once again, with a defeat in a season where, first 9 games aside, we just can’t seem to gather much momentum before hitting a bump in the road; something Pep-himself admitted on Friday in his pre-match press conference – a lack of real consistency.
However, that defeat last Sunday was at a venue that continues to be a bogey ground for us to say the very least with not only no wins but with no goals scored either so, in a way, I suppose we can ‘write that one off’. I don’t think it was helped though – and not for the first time – by some questionable player selections by Pep…
I think we’re in for another tight affair, I’m sorry to say Blues; one of those, yet again, where patience and persistence might have to be the tools of choice. However, I get the feeling that they’ll be a collective determination from our lads to get the wheels back on track ASAP - and bring everyone’s focus back onto the pitch - and if our manager can put some round pegs in round holes and select the right personnel otherwise; it’s definitely a winnable fixture.
That’s what I’m going for – it’s a home win for me…but perhaps not without a scare or two. 😨
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: Win
Result: Won…in the end…3-2…in THAT title-deciding fixture; the last game of last season.
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: Decent! 8 or 9C with hardly any breeze should feel quite pleasant in the sunshine, of which there should be plenty in-between white, fluffy clouds. Fans might want to bear in mind that the temperature will drop away fast after the game and ‘go armed’ accordingly depending on the length of the journey home…
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| Solidarity |
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