11 from 11?

Whisper it, fellow Blues…but we’re quietly building a nice-little unbeaten run.

We’re now undefeated in 10, back-to-back games in all [4] competitions since 10^th December; with 9 wins and a draw.

All achieved, incidentally, without Erling Haaland and mostly without Kevin De Bruyne & John Stones too…

v Burnley

Etihad Stadium

No injuries whatsoever, which is great news! Plenty of options in all departments – plenty of chances, therefore, to get the starting-11 quite wrong…

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-2-3-1 / 4-5-1:

____________________Alvarez____________________

 

 

Bobb____________________________________Foden

_____________________________De Bruyne________

____________Silva______________________________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Gvardiol__________________________________Walker

_____________Ake______________Dias_____________

 

 

____________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Stones, Kovacic, Nunes, Doku, Grealish & Haaland.

Ederson steps back into goal for this league encounter.

I’m going for the same back-4 from our last outing, which is Josko, the well-in-form Nathan (a BRILLIANT, all-round performance from the Dutch international last Friday!), Ruben & Kyle.

Rodders is the roaming link-up man between those and the more-advanced midfielders, which I think will consist of Oscar, Bernado, Kevin & Phil. Even if I’m right with those attacking 4 across the middle, they might not necessarily line up like that. Again…so many options!

Julian to continue as our furthest forward attacker.

Stefan returns to the bench despite a very good game last Friday, I thought; Rico, a-returning [from injury] Manuel & John are the defenders on the side. In-form Mateo & Matheus are two central midfielders in ‘the 9’ waiting for their chance, while Jack & Jeremy make up the wingers in reserve.

Erling is back! He could start…but I recon he’ll be ‘eased back in’ and will be used as an ‘impact sub’ tonight.

Notable absences:

-       Sergio Gomez – Misses out / not selected.

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

I most-certainly do!

Result? Our visitors sit second bottom and they have a terrible record against us. I don’t think there’s much more I can add without sounding like I’m forcibly ‘padding it out’.

If we play anywhere NEAR as well as we did last Friday night in the F.A. Cup away at Spurs then I can only envisage us stretching our unbeaten run to that aforementioned figure of 11; with ‘win-number 10’ in that run.

3-points to City.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a few days respite in the region, the wet stuff returned on Monday and makes another visit for tonight’s game. Nothing too heavy during ‘the 90’, I don’t think, but persistent both before and during the match nonetheless. Quite breezy too, which could make 6 to 8C feel closer to 2 to 4. Should be a slick pitch for some quick passing and I would suggest to fans that they wrap up from the wet & windy elements and consider either a comforting pie with your cold pint or a warm drink at the very least. 🥧 🍺 ☕

Solidarity