Time for a rest, Rodders.

It was something suggested by one radio pundit just a couple of days after our poor defensive showing against Palace. Now, Rodri has had two, back-to-back, very uncharacteristic ‘off games’.

Note: I started to prep this piece early in the morning just-following our away draw in Spain and SINCE then, our defensive midfield maestro admitted in a media interview that he does-indeed need some ‘time out’ and I don’t think any City fan would argue against that. He also added that John Stones is currently battling through pain following his latest comeback from injury he suffered whilst on international duty. 🙄

I would suggest that both of those issues should have been kept ‘in house’.

And the Spaniard is not alone in terms of struggles, form wise….

I’ve not ‘waded in’, as many-a-City fan has in recent weeks…even months, but Erling Haaland is not havin’ a good time of it at all, is he?

Whether it’s due to the fact that he is being crowded out, closely marked one-to-one; simply not receiving the service or misfiring whenever he does get a chance has all been discussed or suggested at least.

At the other end of the pitch, I think Ruben Dias’ performances have declined as the season has progressed and he currently sits on 6/10 on my-personal season ratings chart. In fact, it prompted me to have a look at my ‘end of season’ player ratings over the last few years; specifically at Ruben Dias, of course, and just to see what I gave him at the end of each campaign.

I think there’s a somewhat notable trend:

-       Season 2020-21: 8/10, where I also noted that he got my official vote on City’s website for ‘player of the season’ and where he also got the Football Writers Association award for ‘Men’s Footballer of the Year’. 👍 I also remarked that the Portuguese international was on 9/10 for quite some time before a slight drop-off towards then end of the season.

-       Season 2021-22: A bit of an injury-hit season that had a huge impact on his performances. He started on – and then held – a score of around 7.5 or 8/10 but then dipped to a 7; then 6.5 and actually ended on a 6, such was the decline in his season displays. As I say, though, he did have the excuse of being out for 6 weeks with a hamstring issue, which was then followed by a second muscular injury in the same area, which is often the case we are told. After each injury, he just didn’t look the same player, I mentioned at the time also.

-       Season 2022-23: After having his gametime managed by Pep and his medical staff / physios following those injury issues the previous season; Ruben slowly gathered momentum and he ended up on a very good 8/10 from me.

As I say, in his fourth season with us he currently sits on 6/10 on my ratings list.

The trend I mentioned? One very good, 8/10 season was followed by an average 6/10 campaign. One very good 8/10 season followed, once again, but he currently sits on an average rating of 6/10 this footballing year. Answers on a postcard as to why those up & downs might be happening…

And while I’m at it, is anyone else underwhelmed with two of our summer signings, Mateo Kovacic & Matheus Nunes? Not that they’ve had too many ‘game minutes’ but they currently sit on 6 & 5.5/10 respectively with me.

At times, Mateo has looked decent and I’ve quite rightly singled him out for praise. However, whether it’s limited selection from his manager or whether little injury spells have interrupted his momentum; dips in performances seem to soon follow good games / short periods. As for Nunes, his decision making / end product is simply shocking. A confidence issue perhaps? I just don’t know. Huh…and rumours on Wednesday morning suggested that Pep is interested in going back to Wolves in the summer to try ‘n’ get Pedro Neto. Yeah, like we need ANOTHER winger (Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb & Micah Hamilton plus others who can play on the flanks well enough). Are we thinking of selling one or two of those first? Besides, I think a left-sided wing-back, a central defender with some pace and who has a track-record of very few injuries; an additional defensive midfielder and an attacking central midfielder are more of a priority over another winger.

Before anyone thinks…what the hell is this fool going on about with all this negativity; especially just after a very good away draw at Real Madrid? There are a number of players who deserve mention for all the RIGHT reasons.

For a start, Josko Gvardiol’s performances have been getting better & better for sure and last Tuesday night he scored a cracker to make it 2-3 before the home side equalised 8 minutes later. To get a goal and ratings from two publications of 7 & 8/10 at such a difficult ground and against such a good opponent – especially following a slight injury niggle / scare – is proof indeed of his recent rise in the last few weeks. And he’s not playing in his natural position either, let’s not forget.

Phil Foden is simply WOW, especially when he plays centrally behind the striker.

But I want to give praise also to Rico Lewis. He’s a player who sits very patiently, for now at least; doesn’t ‘kick up a fuss’ about limited ‘game time’ and to his HUGE credit, and despite seeing so few minutes he, more often than not produces around a 7/10 performance, sometimes 8. He’s versatile too, as any City fan is likely to know.

But this isn’t an ‘end of season’, player ratings blog-posting - that’s for next month…possibly even June. Time for me to focus on our next opponents.

v Luton Town

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1 (perhaps occasionally a 3-6-1):

____________________Alvarez____________________

 

 

 

Doku________________________Foden________Bobb

_________De Bruyne_____________________________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Gvardiol___________________________________Lewis

_____________Dias_____________Akanji____________

 

 

_____________________Ortega____________________

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

Stefan continues ‘between the sticks’, although it sounded, from what Pep said yesterday afternoon, as though Ederson is likely to return on Wednesday night. We shall see in good time if I understood his words correctly.

I think we’ll see a back-4, occasional 3, of Josko, Ruben, Manuel & Rico.

Despite all that I’ve said and HAS been said by the player himself and others, our manager suggested quite strongly towards the end of his pre-match press conference that Rodri will start this afternoon; largely driven by the player himself and how well his manager knows him. Of course, we shall see but if he does start, I would fully expect him to be withdrawn ASAP in the second half if the gameplay situation suits.

In attacking support, I can foresee some rest & rotation and, therefore, a starting quartet of Jeremy, Kevin, Phil & Oscar.

A change / refresh up front too, with Julian in for Erling. I could well be wrong there but I’m going with my gut.

Ederson continues as reserve stopper; Sergio & John are two defenders on the side waiting for their chance. Mahamadou, Mateo, Matheus, Jack & Bernardo are the midfielders / wingers in ‘the 9’, while Erling steps back as a striker change-option. 

Notable absences:

-       Kyle Walker – There was no training session before the pre-match press conference and, therefore, no update as to Kyle’s condition.

-       Nathan Ake – For Nathan, read Kyle.

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

Yeah, I’d be happy if that team sheet was read out at 2:00pm.

Result? If some of the players are-indeed playing through fatigue and / or pain then they’re not going to like the plain truth that lies just ahead of them, which is that they’ve got a battle on their hands for sure if they want to earn themselves 3 points today. Luton, despite their league position of 18^th and amount of goals they concede, like to put up a fight for sure. They also have some players who can hurt you on the counter and we do often seem vulnerable to that tactic whenever the opposition transitions quickly.

Despite difficulties, I think we’ve got the tools both in ‘the 11’ and on the bench - as well as team spirit and loads of experience - to see us through this one and I’m going for a home win.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: A bit of everything really – sunshine, rain showers and a stiff, westerly breeze. 14 or 15C is the forecasted temperature, which is just above seasonal average…all ahead of Monday’s 5C “feels like” temperature; hailstones, sleet & gale-force winds in the region. Lovely…

Solidarity