You don’t get a Manchester v Trafford Derby F.A. Cup final EVER…and then two come at once. 🚌🚌
v Manyoo
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 (occasional 3-6-1):
____________________Haaland____________________
______Foden________De Bruyne________Silva______
____________________Kovacic____________________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Gvardiol__________________________________Walker
_____________Ake______________Akanji___________
_____________________Ortega____________________
Subs: Carson, Lewis, Dias, Stones, Nunes, Bobb, Doku, Grealish & Alvarez.
Stefan continues in net.
Sentiment doesn’t usually, if ever, come into our manager’s reckoning when it comes to team selection but I just wonder if we might see a return to the starting 11 of Nathan Ake; a player who I believe has not only played far better than Ruben Dias this season but has continued last season’s consistently good form into this. He has, in fact and along with Manuel Akanji, formed a terrific partnership in the heart of our defence in the final third of our season.
Because of a niggly injury he received around this time last season, Nathan only came on in the 89th minute in last season’s final and I think he thoroughly deserves this one for more reasons than one.
He’s been out for a short time once again with a minor injury but did make a substitute appearance on 71 minutes in our final league game of the season last Sunday. Therefore, if fully fit I’m going for the 29-year-old to start alongside Manuel, with Josko & Kyle either side of ‘em.
Rodders just in front of those and with our opponent’s midfield department being generally considered to be the weakest of them all, I believe Pep might look to exploit that and swap Jeremy Doku, who started last weekend, for Mateo Kovacic; who would be deployed in the area just in front of Rodri.
Three out & out attacking-creative midfielders come in the form of Phil, Kevin & Bernardo and all behind Erling ‘up top’.
Scott is likely to be the reserve stopper, despite both Ederson and EDS keeper, True Grant, also travelling in a 22-man squad; Rico, Ruben & John make up 3 defenders on the side hoping to grab a piece of the action. Matheus, Oscar, Jeremy & Jack are 4 midfielders / wingers in ‘the 9’, while Julian is the back-up striker.
Notable absences:
- Ederson – Still out with a fractured eye socket and would have been on the bench regardless; providing keeper cover in the domestic cups as the Brazilian does. That appeared to be the case in the pre-embargoed section of Pep’s pre-match press conference yesterday until he was asked the question about the fitness status of his squad, where he answered that all were well. Did he forget about Ederson when asked or was he just thinking about the rest? I’m assuming the latter.
- Sergio Gomez – Not selected.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? Yes it’s a derby; yes it’s a cup game and, more accurately, a cup FINAL game. In other words, the unpredictable often seems more likely in any one of those circumstances; let alone all three in the same match.
And, yes, if our opponents from Trafford do properly ‘switch on’ and engage their very best game, they do have some individuals who can hurt opponents.
But come on…if we don’t beat these this afternoon (3:00pm KO BST) then it would truly be a cup shock akin to a League One side knocking out a Premier League club in Round 3, disrespected intended.
Another issue I didn’t expect to ‘chuck into the mix’ in this pre-match blog-posting was the news that broke just yesterday; regarding the ALLEGED decision by Manyoo to sack their Manager after today’s game regardless of the outcome.
The only reason I decided to mention it was the fact that it reminded me so-very-much of the situation we had when we faced Wigan Athletic in the 2013 final; the occasion where Bobby Manc had-apparently been told he was to be replaced by Manuel Pellegrini after the final whistle had been blown.
The result? Not only a 1-0 defeat for us but a REALLY, largely-abject performance from our side; including our hero, Sergio Aguero; a player who chose to wear THE most hideous pink & white-speckled boots that afternoon. I recall being SO disappointed with our team’s apparent lack of true effort or full interest in the fixture on the way home from London that day; not long at all after I started this Manchester City blog, in fact.
That decision by our owners did not galvanise our side in the slightest and I honestly don’t expect that to happen to our opponents this afternoon…but I could be very wrong; football can be a very weird animal at times, of course.
All things considered? I would be shocked if we didn’t make history once again – that being the only side to win both the English top-division title and the F.A. Cup twice in successive seasons. A double-double.
It’s a City win for me and my WORD don’t we just deserve it, after the way our heroes held up and then overcame Chelsea in the semi-final whilst on their knees for the most part; playing, as they did, less than 72-hours after an extra time & penalties fight against Real Madrid. C’mon City!
Expected weather conditions during the game: After a week which saw heavy rain return to most areas at some stage following a brief, decent spell of weather; the Climate Gods & Football Gods (no, not us) have shaken hands and blessed the game with sunshine, warmth and no wet stuff. 19C (66F in old money), sunshine & white fluffy clouds are on the menu to accompany the fish, chips, pies, hotdogs, burgers & beers. A light, southerly breeze is likely to feel very pleasant also. Enjoy… 🌤😎🌭🥧🍔🍟🍺⚽
Solidarity
No comments:
Post a Comment