One side struggling in so many ways facing a side attempting to learn a new way of playing.
It makes for an interesting derby - good luck to anyone attempting to guess how this one will play out…
v Manyoo
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| Etihad 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 2-2 away draw at Crystal Palace: 9/11).
With our manager saying in his pre-match press conference that, due to a shortage of available defenders, he may have to change his system for this one and perhaps use wingers as wing-backs in one possible rethink scenario; that’s the premise of my predicted starting 11 and formation for this fixture…
A very fluid 3-4-2-1 / 5-4-1 / 3-6-1:
____________________Haaland____________________
Doku____________________________________Savinho
____________Nunes___________De Bruyne___________
_Grealish__________________________________Silva_
________Gvardiol______Dias_______Walker_________
____________________Ortega_____________________
Subs: Carson, Ederson, Wilson-Esbrand, Simpson-Pusey, Kovacic, McAtee, O’Reilly, Gundogan and Foden.
Well, Ederson returned in net for our midweek European game; we conceded two goals and the Brazilian managed a goal-line fumble for the first one. I might be wrong but I’m going for Stefan to get the nod for this one.
In what would be a change of system, I’m going for a back three of Josko, Ruben and Kyle. I mean, without dipping into the reserve / youth team, they’re the only defenders we have left; with three definitely out and one most-likely missing. Either side of those I’m going for Jack and Bernardo in the wing-back positions.
I’ve got a feeling that Matheus might get a starting place later day, simply because he should have the stronger legs. Having played three, almost full back-to-back games, I wasn’t going to put Kevin in ‘the 11’ at first. However, his manager did indicate that the Belgium international was getting stronger by the day and he will have had a near-full 4 days since his last outing. Jemery and Savinho either side of those.
Erling up top.
I assume Scott is okay – he didn’t travel to Italy during the week, so... 🤷♂️ If my assumption is correct, both he and Ederson provide keeper cover, while Josh and Jahmai are two defenders on the side should they be needed. Mateo could have recovered enough to be on the bench and, if so, is likely to be joined by four other midfielders in the form of James, Nico, Ilkay and Phil who, like Mateo, may be on his way back from another period of absence.
Notable absences:
- Manuel Akanji – Pelvic / abdominal issue. Unknown return date but it’s not expected to be too much longer and he could even make the bench later today.
- Nathan Ake – Injured with another suspected thigh / muscular issue. Unknown return date.
- John Stones – Continues to be absent with an ongoing foot injury. Unknown return date.
- Rico Lewis – Suspended for this game following his two yellow cards in our last league outing.
- Rodri – Out with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury and will be missing for the remainder of the season following surgery.
- Oscar Bobb – Out injured with a fractured leg that he received in training last August. A likely return is deemed to be January / February.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result?
Voice of the fans…
I feel like starting this section off by quoting some fans’ after-match comments who travelled to Juventus last Wednesday; all just before they left the stadium to make their way back to their accommodations, coaches, trains and planes:
“I think the season is over for us now”.
“Lots of possession; chances very limited and didn’t take ‘em. There are people out there who aren’t performing”.
“I don’t see where goals are coming from in any way, shape or form. It’s slow, it’s lethargic. I can’t see where the next win is coming from”.
“They’re void of ideas – they’re struggling to create”.
“It’s just sideways, sideways; lots of possession and no cutting edge up front at all. The team needs an injection. I can’t remember the last time I was worried about ‘them lot’ but I’m worried about Sunday.
“Maybe we need a signing or two in January to get some fire in their belly and get going”.
There are so many issues for us at the moment but I think there’s one stand out theme from those fan observations and comments, which is slow, side-to-side possession that’s just not hurting teams and just not working generally anymore.
Do I have my own theory as to why that is happening? Yeah, Pep is trying to play the same system he knows so very well; one that’s been tried and tested successfully for YEARS…but now using old, slow and probably aching legs. We used to be slow, slow, quick-quick-KILL! Now we’re just slow.
Question: Why is James McAtee nailed down to the substitute’s bench? Even when we are told by our manager that players are tired and / or playing through pain, the 22-year-old, City youth graduate, England Under-21 international midfielder never gets a shout to come on in order to freshen it up / inject a bit of energy at least.
We need a BIG refresh in the summer but in the interim and to salvage something out of this season, if we are to assume that our injury crisis is not going to improve or improve much, then to ensure that we at least finish in a Champions League place; if our manager is not going to trust what we have in the EDS then we need the help of some decent loan players in January to lessen the burden on our creaking squad. On the assumption that permanent transfers are unlikely to happen in the winter transfer window; that temporary boost, at the very least, would allow our struggling players to get the proper respite they need to, hopefully, come back stronger and closer to what we’ve come to expect from their collective abilities. We are still only in December and, therefore, they have a further 5-½ months to get their fitness back and form sorted.
Note: We do have attacking midfielder, Claudio Echeverri, joining us in January; a player we purchased in the summer and allowed him to stay with his club on loan until Christmas. Every little helps but that’s a big responsibility to try to change the fortunes of a struggling side when you’ve never played outside of Argentina and only turn 19-years of age on 2nd January. But… 🤞
One thing that none of those fans being interviewed brought up was another ongoing concern for us and that’s both the calamitous defending and ease in which sides pass through our sometimes-empty midfield to get to that tissue-like defence. Once again, just like at Palace, Juventus’ second goal saw USA international, Weston McKennie, in acres of room in midfield in which to run and find a colleague; for his colleague to then find McKennie once again this time in our box surrounded by absolutely no one in a Maroon shirt.
We really don’t look anything like the Pep Guardiola Manchester City side we’ve all come to love and enjoy for so many wonderful years.
Deep breath and hold your nerve, Blues, because I’ve mentioned us-trying to finish in a Champions League position come the end of the season and that, I’m starting to think, is what we’re left with, plus the F.A. Cup of course, in an attempt to salvage something out of this season. However, even that’s not going to be easy when you look at some of the various teams’ squads and form around us. Having said that, Liverpool and Arsenal have drawn their last two league games and Aston Villa have hit some bumps in the road of late. It’s up to us to capitalise on those dropped points now.
At least one good thing has emerged recently – a few months ago when the horrendous Noel Gallagher 4th City shirt was revealed and played in at home to Inter Milan, we were informed that the team would be wearing it on three more occasions; all would be in the Champions League and all away from home.
Since that announcement, it’s not been seen 😁👍; with us choosing, instead, to play in maroon at Slovan Bratislava, sky blue away at Sporting CP and maroon last Wednesday at Juventus. Huh…every cloud, hey? I wonder why the change of mind – it would be interesting to find out.
Back to Sunday and as for our guests, they’re a side who are trying to adjust to a new manager’s style and that looks like it might take a little longer than some Manyoo fans were-perhaps hoping. That being said, I think they’re certainly playing a bit better since a change of boss.
One of those fans of ours that I quoted said he was worried about this game. For me, I just can’t read us OR our Trafford neighbours at the moment – I just haven’t a clue what performance either side is going to produce on the day; such is the erratic nature of both teams.
It’s not for that reason that I’m about to go with this but rather a little frustration with myself that I didn’t go with my gut instinct ahead of our trip to Selhurst Park last weekend. For that one, I said that I was really, really close to predicting a draw but, instead, I just about put us down for a win ahead of our eventual 2-2’er. This time, my instincts have been screaming a draw all week and, therefore, that’s what I’m going with. Points shared.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: Win
Result: Won
(Pre-match blog posting from that game).
Expected weather conditions during the game: Overcast with a damp feel and a slight westerly breeze. After a somewhat chilly week, however, the temperature is up to a slightly milder-feeling 11C. For those watching at the stadium it’s still-definitely a warm’ish coat sort of day, I would think, but I don’t think you’d be too bothered if you forgot to grab your hat, scarf and gloves before leaving the house. No weather conditions that will affect the game. ☁☕🥧🍺⚽
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| Solidarity |
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