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…
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| 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?
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.
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| Solidarity |
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