Another game where we’re sure…

…to-have-to-work very hard if we want the right result. That’s how it should be, of course, but I did find myself agreeing with some City fans the other day who were questioning whether some sides are putting 100% effort in against us; whilst at the same time perhaps only 90%+ against other top-4 teams.

WHAT?!

Yeah, a little bit of a shock statement / accusation there, I know, and perhaps that assertion has a bit of…“Boo-hoo, poor us” about it too.

However, after seeing a few City fans suggest it very recently; I did find myself slightly agreeing with their sentiment, rightly or wrongly.

A quick look back at last Saturday…

It was every bit as hard-a-game as I suggested it might be in my pre-match blog-posting for that fixture and, therefore, another good win; one that makes it 17 games unbeaten in all competitions, with 15 wins and 2 draws.

Stand out performances in our side for me include, John Stones, Rodri, Phil Foden & Mateo Kovacic. Matheus Nunes had a good first half too but came out a-much-less-effective player after the break.

In fact, that could be said of our entire side in the second half; a sentiment that was echoed by a number of Blues, post-match, on a vlog I regularly watch. Here’s what I posted on that vlog the following day.

Coasted first half but we’re just not killing teams off. I’m not the sort of City fan that feels disgruntled just because we didn’t thrash a team 4 or 5-0 but when we drop a couple of gears like we did once again today, we look vulnerable and a better side yesterday would have punished us big time.

I don’t know what that might be other than exhaustion – it surely can’t be a lack of confidence, although Haaland might be suffering that personally, because we’re actually SEVENTEEN games unbeaten in all competitions, not 13 [as one Blue said]; with 15 wins and 2 draws! Perhaps some of the players do need to have word with themselves or each other and shake a little bit of doldrums out of their heads because Liverpool & Arsenal will destroy us if we lapse like we’ve been doing on occasions recently.

I think Pep can sense it too because he went a little overboard after the game calling his men Supermen. Of course they are, generally speaking, and we have played more games than every other Premier League side; with the Super Cup and Club World Cup. However, I think that was him defending his players because he too saw that alarming ‘drop off’ in the second half.

But we keep that incredible run going with a very difficult period coming up – perhaps that will focus some of those heads.

Answers on a postcard if you have an idea why, while we’re maintaining our excellent run, are doing so with a slight limp at times…

v Luton Town

Kenilworth Road

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).

Some rotation for the cup? Not necessarily BECAUSE it’s the cup and nor we can really afford to – this is a Premier League side we’re talking about and a flippin’ difficult place to go for sure.

However, some players were rested or largely rested at the weekend; it might also be wise for a couple of other players to ‘sit this one out’ in terms of the starting-11 and it’s an opportunity to give some other lads a chance - those who haven’t seen many minutes this season.

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

____________________Alvarez____________________

 

 

Bobb______________________________________Doku

 

_________De Bruyne____________Foden___________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Lewis____________________________________Walker

_____________Dias_____________Akanji____________

 

 

_____________________Ortega_____________________

Subs: Ederson, Gomez, Ake, Stones, Kovacic, Nunes, Silva, Grealish & Haaland.

Of course, it can be a little more tricky predicting cup line-ups and I’m prepared to get a few more than usual wrong. However, one place for sure goes to Stefen Ortega, as the league / cup goalkeeper rotation continues.

Although naturally a right-sided defender, I’m going for Rico to fill in at left-wing back, as he has done before, especially as Kyle was an unused sub last weekend and could return on the right. I’m going for Ruben & Manuel to start in-between the two England men.

Rodders to ‘go again’ but SURELY to be withdrawn if there’s a possibility before our crucial weekend fixture just 5-days later.

Ahead of the ever-present defensive midfielder, I’m going for Oscar, Kevin, Phil & Jeremy; with the latter hopefully given a chance in his more-natural / regular berth (I think some fans might forget that and I’ve even noted that one website has changed his “more-natural position” from right to left since we signed him and largely played him on the left flank).

I’m guessing that Julian will be our lone striker on this occasion.

So, Ederson steps back to the bench for a change; Sergio, Nathan & John provide defensive cover in ‘the 9’, with Ake & Stones possibly being rested / protected ahead of Sunday’s league game. Mateo, Matheus, Bernardo & Jack are the midfielders / wingers on the side, while I think we might see Erling drop back to the bench as our only striker change-option. I could be wrong about our Norwegian forward but I just get the feeling that our manager might want to take this opportunity to pull him out of the on-pitch limelight for a short time and have him fit & hungry for this Sunday’s derby.

Notable absences:

-       Josko Gvardiol – Apparently he is training alone without much pain but I’m guessing won’t be quite ready for this fixture.

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

Yep.

Result? Going against some of my opening statement, I think a lot of us – City fans, myself included of course, AND non-Blues alike - should heed what Pep said in his pre-match press conference ahead of this one.

He said, it doesn’t matter if you are at the top of the [Premier] league or in the bottom or the middle; [teams have] the courage to play against us.

It’s an increasingly difficult division to play in for sure and we have to be prepared for that – perhaps “we” should stop criticising our team when we don’t roll-over sides, as we’ve been accustomed to in seasons gone by.

I think this fixture might…might come down to ‘who wants it more’ but I could be wrong.

Our hosts have just been unceremoniously dumped into the relegation zone and, literally overnight, have found themselves cut adrift of the ‘safety zone’ due to the Premier League’s decision regarding Everton’s points deduction. I’m quite confident that if I was to ask Luton Town fans - and perhaps even the Luton Manager himself - whether they would like a place in the F.A. Cup final and be relegated OR to survive their first season back in the ‘top flight’; Premier League survival would be the overwhelming majority answer. Now, following the Everton decision, even more energy & focus may have to be applied to their league-survival efforts.

Personnel & threat-wise, they still have danger man Carlton Morris available but 6’ 4” striking threat, Elijah Adebayo, is out with a hamstring, which he picked up during the warm-up against Manyoo recently.

As for us, we’ve got one hell of a difficult fixture list coming up, starting with a never-can-be-quite-sure Manchester v Trafford derby this weekend…followed by Liverpool & Brighton away in the league and then Arsenal at home; not forgetting a Champions League second leg to try ‘n’ finish off. Wow…

Therefore, it could be tempting for our manager not to risk certain players tonight, whilst at the same time hoping for energies to be used wisely and no injuries; all in a ‘blood ‘n’ thunder’ away cup tie under the floodlights. There’s also the possibility of extra time & penalties in this round and that’s something we could do without…

But it’s not like our manager to think that way; not all that often anyway. Plus, going off what he said in his pre-match press conference, the player’s desire to win all games and any trophy is not in question in the slightest.

It’ll be another tough one, I’m sure, but I’m going for us to progress into the quarter final stage. It’s a City win.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Chilly, dry, bit breezy. 6C is the forecasted temperature but I’m guessing that the 10MPH westerly breeze will make that feel closer to 3C. Definitely ‘wrap up’ fans.

Fantastic news, came through very recently, I’m sure most of you have heard, that Oscar Bobb has signed a new contract to June 2029.

What a crackin’ player he already is and an amazing prospect for the future. A really grounded and humble person too and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Solidarity

Will we bore fans once again?

It has been suggested recently. Why is that?

v AFC Bournemouth

Vitality Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

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

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Doku______________________________________Silva

 

_________De Bruyne___________Foden____________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Ake______________________________________Walker

_____________Dias_____________Akanji____________

 

 

____________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Stones, Susoho, Kovacic, Nunes, Bobb & Alvarez.

Ederson in goal.

A small amount of rest & rotation in defence, I think, which will result in a back-4 of Nathan, Ruben, Akanji & Kyle.

Rodders, of course, to ‘go again’ in front of those.

With some question marks surrounding Kevin having his recent comeback from long-term injury monitored; I’m still going for the Belgium international to start this one. If I’m right, then joining the 32-year-old I’m going for Jeremy, Phil & Bernardo.

Erling ‘up top’.

Stefan to provide keeper cover; Sergio, Rico & John are the defenders on the side. Mahamadou, Mateo & Matheus are the central midfielder on the bench, while Oscar & Julian, who could do with some respite I think, are the wingers / forwards in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Josko Gvardiol – Making progress but still out with an ankle injury for about another 10 days, going off the initial assessment.

-       Jack Grealish – Similarly, making progress but still missing with a minor groin / hip injury and is expected to return in around about a week’s time.

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

Yes…as long as we find Phil in the middle rather than on the right flank, I might add.

Result? You have to go back as far as Boxing Day to find a Bournemouth win in the league, which was a 3-0 home victory against Fulham. While they’ve marched on in the F.A. Cup to reach the 5^th round by dispatching two lower league sides, scoring 8 and conceding just 2; that still leaves The Cherries winless in 2024 in the Premier League…and we’re not far off March!

In addition - and bringing it closer to home - you might not want to mention this within earshot of a Bournemouth fan but the south-coast-side’s record against us is woeful to say the very least.

So…that all bodes well for us then, doesn’t it? On the face of it, most definitely yes.

However, don’t be fooled by their last six league-game-results, which reads: L L D D L D. Commentators / pundits have been reporting that our host’s results haven’t quite been mirroring their performances; with some saying that only late slip-ups have snatched a draw or a win away from our Saturday evening opponents. They may sit 13^th and just 8-points above the relegation zone as I prep this piece on Thursday 22^nd February but had they landed on the right side of some of those fine margins; they’d be closer to a Europa Conference League place for sure.

Andoni Iraola’s somewhat controversial appointment when he replaced the popular Gary O’Neil in the summer of last year didn’t get off to a very good start, if memory serves. In fact, Gary’s current side, Wolves, sit 2 places and 7-points ahead of Bournemouth with a far better goal difference…again as I prep this 2 days before the weekend.

However, once the Spanish boss had come to grips with his first ever job in English football, they really did start to produce performances and results to make a few people sit up and take note.

There’s also the ‘Solanke factor’ against our defence. The 1-cap, England international striker is the league’s 3^rd-top scorer so far this season and only 3 goals behind our own Erling Haaland; although I don’t believe the Bournemouth forward has been out through injury as long as Erling.

As for us? Well…we’re doing okay, aren’t we? 2^nd in the league; just 4 points off the leaders with a game in hand and 13 games to go is a position most other sides would LOVE to be in! So why doesn’t it feel quite like that to some; me included on the odd, very brief, wavering occasion?

I think the answer to that lies somewhere between the actual watching of performances and some ‘hard facts’.

As for the watching, we don’t quite look as fluid as we’ve seen our City sides under Pep. Final balls, misfired shots and losing our defensive shape to leave us exposed have all been evident for large parts of this season. I think only ‘possession dominance’ has saved us in many cases – something which is, apparently, now boring dear ol’ Gary Neville.

I even watched online a Manchester City fan having a RIGHT good rant at the Etihad immediately after our disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea; blaming our style of play being forced on us by us-accommodating Erling Haaland in attack. Another season ticket holder that I know has since told me that they didn’t bother going to the Brentford game, adding, “…I’m glad I didn’t go as I’ve heard it was boring”. 😲

There’s that word again…

So what is it? Have we turned into a, boring-boring Arsenal of old? The answer to that is quite simply, “No”; didn’t that boring-boring Arsenal side keep clean sheets most games? Ouch…

I don’t fully know the reason(s) why we appear to be plodding our way through games some of the time, rather than seeing the swashbuckling City of seasons gone by, but there is one thing that I have noticed for sure and it’s regarding the opposition.

Whenever it may have started, it became apparent, at some stage, that a side had to defend like CRAZY in order to avoid a right-good thumping by us. At first, a lot of teams started to play with ‘1 up top’ and then pack the midfield; largely in their own half. Then, “their half”, slowly became the 18-yard box.

Now? I seem to spend a large part of my City-watching shaking my head in utter disbelief at just how many of the opposition players are camped at the edge of their 6-yard box!

I’ve seen smaller walls defending free kicks, for flip’s sake!

Of course, it’s their prerogative AND it’s up to us, then of course, to find ways to get around or through that compact, human wall. In fact, Pep said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Chelsea game that he had to find different ways to try ‘n’ beat sides. Gary Neville calls those methods & efforts boring, apparently.

As for hard facts?

-       We are rarely in a position at this time of the season where we don’t have the highest goal difference; often by a country mile too. We’re currently 3^rd on that score.

-       We’re also usually top scorers. We’re joint 2^nd at the moment.

-       I don’t think we’ve ever conceded more goals in the league than ‘games played’ under Pep but we’ve played 25 and conceded 26 up to now.

If you didn’t read them and want to; in my last few posts I’ve written about our shots to ‘on target’ ratio as well as our defensive lapses and I think both stats are hurting us a little bit at the moment.

HOWEVER…Worzel Gummidge positive head now screwed on!

In ALL competitions, both domestic and otherwise, we look like this in our last 16 matches: W W D W W W W W W W W W W W D W. “Boring”…but I-personally will take that all day long, I don’t know about you.

This season, we’ve also won the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup; we’re still in F.A. Cup, we’re through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League and our league status I’ve already covered. Again…boring, hey? 😂

Our last defeat was way back on 6^th December away at Aston Villa, in case you were wondering, and we just about edged the possession stat that night; shooting just twice but getting both on target without scoring, sadly.

We’re in good shape in terms of having just two players sidelined due to slight niggles; with perhaps just 2 or 3 players that need to be wrapped in cotton wool (De Bruyne) and / or given some minutes off if possible because they’ve played so much football so far this season – I’m thinking of the likes of Rodri & Alvarez at the very least there.

What may go in our favour is what Pep said in the first half of his pre-match press conference, which is that we are apparently about to face a side at their home ground who are aggressive in their forward play. So…perhaps we might not see, quite so often, a 6-yard box crammed with opposing defenders & midfielders plus a keeper. We’ll see.

Whatever [boring] method our manager chooses to deploy this evening in order to try ‘n’ obtain another victory; a victory is what I think we’ll achieve. It’s a City win for me.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(There was no pre-match blog-posting for that game due to a holiday break)

Expected weather conditions during the game: It’s looking decent for the 5:30pm (GMT) KO. There will be a few light showers from mid-morning to late afternoon in the area, which should help the ground staff with their pitch preparations. However, for the build up to the game and FOR the match itself, it’s dry and even quite sunny to start with. For fans travelling away from the ground, the temperature will start to dip from a not too bad 8C to a rather chilly 6C with fairly clear, winter skies.

Solidarity