Back to London we go.

First it was Wembley / Etihad of the South, then it was Chelsea and now West Ham United; all within 22 days.

        

 

 

v West Ham United

London Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game which, for me blog wise, was our opening day fixture away at the aforementioned Chelsea: 8/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-2-3-1:

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

 

Doku________________________De Bruyne___Savinho

___________Silva________________________________

____________________Kovacic____________________

 

Gvardiol___________________________________Lewis

____________Dias______________Akanji____________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Walker, Ake, Stones, Rodri, McAtee, Gundogan, Nunes, who appeared to avoid being transferred out in the last few days and, presumably, now has a further opportunity to show his manager why he was wanted last summer and Grealish.

Ederson continues in net.

I see the same back-4 of Josko, Ruben, Manuel and Rico continuing and, unless Pep sees something else either in training or about our opponents that I don’t, then why not hey?

Despite getting a knock last Saturday, I think we’ll see Mateo continue in “the Rodri role” for another game at least.

The Croatian is sure to get some assistance from the slightly more advance Bernardo who joins Kevin in central midfield; while Jeremy and Savinho continue to flank all three.

Erling up top.

Stefan, who signed an extended contract in the summer around the same time that Ederson was considering his future with us, continues to deputise for the Brazilian. Kyle, Nathan and John are the rather impressive-looking defensive reserves on the side, while Rodri could be fit enough for a place on the bench and is joined by James, Ilkay, Matheus and Jack.

Notable absences:

-       Phil Foden– Still not fully recovered from an illness that he contracted a week ago.

-       Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training. Expected return is anywhere between mid-November and mid-December going off the initial assessment / information released.

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

Yep.

Result? I haven’t seen The Hammers play this season but it’s a fairly decent start to the campaign for our hosts; taking into account also a 2^nd round League Cup win against Premier League opposition (AFC Bournemouth). Domestic cup included, their 2024-25 record reads, P3 W2 D0 L1 – F4 A2. Their only defeat came in their opening day clash with Villa at home but it took a goal from the visitors 11 minutes from ‘the 90’ to grab all-3 points.

Their results so far suggest to me that they’ve become a tight outfit and still carry a potent counter-attacking threat; whilst remaining dangerous from set pieces too.

As for us, we really have taken that Community Sheild, penalty shoot-out victory and ran with it, haven’t we? Two very good performances since sees us one of only four sides with a 100% record after two league games played.

Ipswich, however, proved last weekend that we are still a little vulnerable at the back to counters and with what I’ve just said about today’s challengers, that should be of some concern to Guardiola and his staff.

That leaves me with the simple task of saying, I think they might score…but I think we’ll score more. It’s ‘3 from 3’ with a City win for me.

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

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Prediction: Win.

Result: Won.

Expected weather conditions during the game: Bloomin’ lovely. A very pleasant 68 to 70F; a fair amount of sunshine and a fairly strong, cooling easterly breeze, which, strangely and by all accounts, comes despite it feeling humid ‘down south’. Enjoy…

Solidarity

 

 

Predictions v Chelsea

I’m off on holiday soon, so straight to it…

v Chelsea

Stamford Bridge

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:

____________________Haaland___________________

 

 

 

Doku________________________Foden_____Savinho

___________Silva_______________________________

___________________Kovacic____________________

 

Gvardiol_________________________________Walker

_____________Ake_____________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Dias, Stones, McAtee, De Bruyne, Nunes, Jack, who MAY have recovered from a hamstring niggle in time to make the bench but I’m not TOO sure ahead of the embargoed section of the pre-match press conference (such are my time constraints), and Ndala. Nico O’Reilly could get a place ahead of Ndala…

Ederson continues in net.

I’m going for a back-4 of Josko, Nathan, Manuel and Kyle but with a nod towards the fact that we have additional defenders back in training / available also.

Mateo takes up, once again, defensive midfield duties.

Workhorse Bernardo is likely to have a dual-defensive and offensive role just ahead of the Croatian, with Phil likely ahead of the just-turned 30-year-old. Either side of those? Jeremy and Savinho are my predictions, with the latter making his Premier League debut.

Erling ‘up top’, who is likely to be hoping that he gets better service on Sunday afternoon than he received last Saturday.

Stefen continues to provide keeper insurance; Rico, Ruben and John are the defenders on the side. James, Kevin and Matheus are the midfielders on the bench, while Jack and Joel are the wingers in ‘the 9’

Notable absences:

-       Joao Cancelo – ‘The exile’ is actually training with the squad, according to Pep, but I’m guessing is unlikely to feature in Sunday’s squad.

-       Rodri – Only arrived back for training on Wednesday and his manager has stated that there is no chance of him taking part at the weekend.

-       Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training. He could be out for three-to-four months, we are told… ☹

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

Yep.

Result? Well, I think it’s another tough one to call [following a tough-to-call also, Community Shield], as are a number of opening-day fixtures, generally speaking. One thing I am definitely hoping for is that our hosts haven’t yet had enough time to work fully on their massive defensive frailties which have plagued them pre-season; no less against us in our last game in the USA, where we breached them four times.

Losing Oscar Bobb is a blow and although we’ve lost a player in, arguable, our now-strongest department, the wings; I personally had high hopes for the Norwegian international and he was reinforcing that feeling in pre-season with some excellent displays. However, it is, as I say, a department packed with talent and that’s despite the very disappointing permanent exit of youth product, Micah Hamilton earlier this week.

If we get the Jeremy Doku playing who has ‘end product’ in with his massive ‘box of tricks’ on one side of our attack; we then have the possibility exciting-looking Savinho on the other and that, along with an array of excellent midfielders, fills me with hope that we can do some damage to that flimsy-looking defence of theirs.

I think they’ll score – hopefully not four as was the case last time we visited ‘their place’ – but I’m going for an opening day, City win.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Draw

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Very warm with plenty of sunshine. 75F (24C for those who prefer Celsius speak) is likely to feel much hotter on the pitch; although the humidity levels are low for a change and it all comes with a very light, westerly breeze. Enjoy Blues fans! 🌤😎🍻⚽

Just a reminder that they'll be no pre-match blog posting ahead of our next fixture due to the aforementioned holiday.

Solidarity