…neither is the Spurs’ Manager, understandably.
So much chatter
For at LEAST a fortnight now, I’ve listened, as I’m sure most of you have, to so much pundit & fan talk about how tonight’s hosts might not want to…‘turn up’ in this fixture; simply because a win for Tottenham - or a draw at least - will then do their neighbours / local rivals a MASSIVE favour in the title race.
It’s bored me, it’s irritated me at times AND, with our poor league record against them at this stadium, such talk, which could provoke a response from their players, has actually made me a little more nervous than I perhaps should be; going off the current form of both sides.
Thankfully, unsurprising words from Ange Postecoglou in his pre-match press conference eased some of those feelings as he, quite rightly, expressed contempt for any such suggestion.
So, all that silliness aside…game on!
v Tottenham Hotspur
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 / 4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1 (occasional 3-6-1):
____________________Haaland____________________
______Foden_______De Bruyne_________Silva______
____________________Kovacic____________________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Gvardiol__________________________________Walker
____________Dias______________Akanji____________
____________________Ederson___________________
Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Ake, Stones, Nunes, Doku, Grealish & Alvarez.
Ederson in goal.
With a little doubt about Nathan Ake following early withdrawal in our last game with an ankle / foot issue, there could be a small tweak to our defence tonight. The Dutch international could start and Pep needed more time to asses him after his pre-match presser yesterday afternoon. It is, therefore, 50/50 for me and so I’m going for a back-4 of Josko, Ruben, Manuel & Kyle.
Other than that, why would our manager change, at this stage, what’s been working so-very well of late? With that in mind – Rodders to patrol just in front of those but with Mateo for close company once again.
The same, very fluid & dangerous attacking trio of Phil, Kevin & Bernardo ahead of the Spanish & Croatian pair and all behind Erling ‘up top’.
Stefan provides keeper cover; Sergio, Rico, Nathan & John are the defenders on the side. Matheus, Jeremy & Jack, who is apparently feeling better following a slight illness, are the midfielders / wingers in ‘the 9’, while Julian is the reserve striker.
Notable absences:
- Oscar Bobb – Not selected.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? I’ll take any help we can get in pursuit of a record-breaking 4th title in a row – God knows we’ve most certainly done OUR bit; being, as we are, 33-games unbeaten in all competitions.
The ‘take anything’ offered to us right now is the fact that our hosts had 7 players ruled out with injury before yesterday’s update from their manager…they now have 8, possibly 9 I've since read also.
If you believe that teams or grounds hold some kind of dark magic over another side that simply cannot be broken then we’re not going to come away from this game tonight with the extremely vital 3-points needed. It has frustrated me how, on the many occasions we’ve visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we’ve come away with nothing. Similarly, how many times they’ve come to our ground and grabbed either something or everything.
Dark arts? No, of course not. And if we’re going to suggest something closer to reality - or science at least - such as physiological barriers in player’s heads when facing certain opposition; then I believe that the mentality / focus of our players is just way too strong at this moment in time.
I expect that we’ll face a front-footed team either from the start, like Fulham were last Saturday, or at some point in the game but, for me, this is a City win.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: Win
Result: Lost
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: After a fairly wet day in the area, it begins to dry out as the hours tick along towards the 8:00pm (BST) kick-off. So, it’s dry for the match with a temperature of 15C and a light, south-easterly breeze.
Solidarity
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