The season has already commenced, of course, but now that we finally have a little break before our next fixture on Sunday afternoon (2:00pm KO BST), it gives me a little time to do one or two non-match related articles, starting with this one.
Here’s what’s on my-particularly ‘looking forward to seeing’ list (in no specific order):
· Phil Foden getting more ‘game time’ and having less injury interruptions. Dare I say, also, hoping to see him start to fulfil his huge potential. I prep-typed that before our last outing – and his superb performance – against Newcastle on Saturday and, hopefully, that’s a sign of things to come and not just a ‘flash in the pan’. He appears to revel in that more-central role, doesn’t he?
· Getting Kev back from another serious-looking injury so that he can push us on for the second half of the season.
· Seeing how Josko Gvardiol can improve a defence that was the joint-1st-best in the Premier League last season.
· Seeing Mateo Kovacic maintain his good start to the season and ease any midfield concerns a lot of fans appear to have at the moment. I think we’ve signed a solid 7/10-type player and with regular gametime and under Pep’s management; I think we’ll start to see more 8s before too long.
· Should they remain at City and be in & around the first-team squad, seeing both Cole Palmer & James McAtee progress and improve by being given as many opportunities as possible.
· Seeing Jack Grealish continue the kind of form he was in post-World Cup 2022. He’s had a somewhat quiet start to the short season so far but…🤞🏼
· Seeing one more, additional signing? Sort of.
I’d love to believe that we could say to Cole Palmer that the right-wing position is yours, fella; he then grabs the opportunity and has a stormin’ season down that flank. And with James McAtee seemingly being brought into the first team after a season out on loan; for him to-also be given plenty of ‘cover opportunities’ as well as many cup starts as possible…and shines also. With a returning [from illness] Bernardo Silva apparently staying AND signing a new 3-year contract with a release clause-fee ‘kicking in’ next summer; Pep can then decide whether to play the exceptionally skilful & hardworking Portuguese international either inside or on the right-wing. Chuck into the mix Rodri, Phillips, Kovacic & Foden and it seems laughable to suggest that we need to make additions to our midfield / wing department.
However, we don’t know how James & Cole are going to fair – we don’t even know if Cole WANTS to stay or will end up staying beyond the summer transfer deadline day. Going off recent interviews, he doesn’t appear to have a clue himself – he’s at a very important crossroad in his young life. Kalvin has barely featured since signing for us just over a year ago and, from my perspective, doesn’t appear to have the confidence of his boss. Lastly, we don’t know whether Phil’s excellent performance last Saturday was a sign of things to come or just one of those occasional, unplayable, excellent games he’s had dotted throughout his City career.
After looking at that second side of the coin, all of a sudden – and with further FOUR cup competitions to play for including the Club World Cup that will then see us lag behind by a fixture or two in the league – making an addition to either the central midfield or the right wing appears to make some sense. Answers on a postcard on that one (or in my comments box below).
· This new time-wasting / time added on rule actually having an effect; stopping players doing the sorts of things we’ve all witnessed over the last few seasons, which can often be very infuriating when it’s not in your / your team’s favour. Hopefully the rule is used sensibly, however; I don’t want to see TOO much extra time being played where it gives more opportunity for player injury and/or fatigue. I hope to see an eventual reduction in incidents and, therefore, reduced minutes beyond the 45 & 90 as the season progresses.
· Covid-19 not disrupting the season…nor making too many people ill in general, of course.
It didn’t last year, so why on earth mention it?
Well, for one, cases have been on a slow rise in the UK in recent weeks and we’ve not even reached autumn, let alone winter. And with a new rule-change starting in September which states that if you’re under 65 with no underlying health conditions and/or don’t look after a vulnerable person or work for the NHS (there may well be another category or two you might want to look for), you won’t be getting a free Covid OR flu jab this year and will, instead, have to source private ways of getting the jabs you want / feel you need. Wow.
I’m sure football clubs will look after their own non-playing & playing staff but I’m a little concerned that with the vastly-reduce numbers across the UK being able to access free jabs; this is a winter to keep an eye on for sure (🤞🏼 hope all goes well, of course).
Thank you, as always, for taking the time to click on and then read my ramblings.
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| Solidarity |
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