WARNING:
This particular blog posting is not for the faint-hearted City fan!
Sorry to start on a dour note (I’m afraid that same tone continues) but we’re about to face a side who have most certainly got THEIR act together, at least, at the back.
On Boxing Day, we host a side who have not only been beaten just once in their last six outings but in that time have kept FIVE clean sheets (7 in 10, I heard without looking that up)…and two of those were Arsenal away and then Chelsea at home; Cole Palmer an’ all…
Post (mortem) Villa…
One Manchester publication used the word “limp” to describe our performance last Saturday; another Manchester City fan and journalist said that he thought it was our worst performance of the season, which is saying a lot considering. The same Journo later added that 2-1 to the home side flattered us. I would agree.
I think, generally speaking, we Blues all agree on the underlying issue that’s seen us stuck in this horrible slump and that is an aging squad with slow legs and an injury prone team at that; whether that’s to do with the huge amount of games they have to play for both club and country or whether it is indeed just an age thing. The latter should have been addressed slowly over the last couple of years and the fact that it hasn’t been has irritated many Blues, myself included it has to be said and despite the success those players have brought us.
The same fan really questioned the commitment of a lot of our players and the aforementioned journalist said that, at times, some of our players were walking around the Villa Park pitch. 😠 That is not what we want to see at Manchester City Football Club no matter who the manager might be and I hope Pep has taken note of who they were.
The fan being interviewed was scathing about Kyle Walker in particular – that wasn’t to single him out because, he was very keen to state, there are many players who are underperforming and have been for a while.
However, Kyle is our Club Captain and to walk straight off up the tunnel rather than go to applaud the Man of the Match travelling supporters last Saturday was a disgraceful act. I feel so peeved as I begin to write this very early on Sunday morning whilst wearing my 1960s replica red and black away top that I’d love to say never play him ever again and play Rico Lewis instead but do you know what? I’ve only ever praised Rico Lewis and had high hopes for him but he is way off being anywhere near good enough for a Pep Guardiola side in my opinion; whether that’s at right-wing back (his best position in my humble), left-wing back or some kind of midfield role. He’s far too lightweight / easily knocked off the ball and there are far too many poor performances from him generally. After having a near 10-day rest due to suspension, I really hoped he would have a performance in him last Saturday but, nope…
But that supporter was correct – this isn’t a time to single out individual players as it really is a collective failure. So many players – for whatever the reason(s) – are underperforming and so very badly.
If we are to finish in an all-too-important Champions League place come May then we need help in January.
We must attempt to get in, on loan or otherwise, a central defender with pace, a right-wing back who can defend and a robust defensive midfielder to plug the gaps at the very least. We have Claudio Echeverri coming in a weeks’ time to bolster the attacking / creative department; a player we purchased last summer and allowed him to stay at his selling club on loan. I know it’s easier said than done in the winter transfer window but these injuries - plus poor player form – just don’t seem to have an end to ‘em at the moment.
Yes, we’ve lost the best defensive midfielder in the world in Rodri and, yes also; I can’t recall a season in my City-supporting life where we’ve suffered SO many injuries to SO many players and for SO long. It’s like they’re on a treatment table rotation system!
But I think it would be naïve not to believe that there are other issues there too; whether that is dressing room unrest or something that was avoidable which a lot of Blues started to say two or even three seasons ago, which was:
1. Stop selling so much young talent and then not replace them.
2. Start to make moves in the market to find transitional replacements for the quality stars that have brought us so much success but who are now losing their physical powers. We should have been bringing in the next David Silva and the next Kevin De Bruyne AGES ago.
I never thought I’d been saying those last two points about our club that appears to be so very well run and when I think about point number two in particular; I can’t stop that little voice in my head that’s suggesting it’s something to do with the 115 charges that we’re waiting to hear the results of (I think that’s the first time I’ve ever mention the charges in my blog). Are the club waiting too before committing to player purchases? Are they perhaps more worried than they’ve been suggesting in public? 🤷♂️
v Everton
Regarding player availability, our manager was yet to complete training on Tuesday before making a final decision on at least three players so, once again, there’s a little more guess work to be done…
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).
A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 (occasional 3-6-1):
____________________Haaland____________________
Doku____________________________________Savinho
________De Bruyne_______________Foden__________
____________________Kovacic____________________
Gvardiol___________________________________Lewis
____________Ake_______________Akanji___________
_____________________Ortega____________________
Subs: Ederson, Walker, Simpson-Pusey, McAtee, Gundogan, O’Reilly, Nunes, Silva and Grealish.
I’m going for Stefan to retain the gloves.
If all are fit to start, I’m going for a back-4, sometimes 3, of Josko, Nathan, Manuel and Rico.
Mateo continues in the deep-lying midfield role.
In a more advanced position, I think we’ll see Kevin and Phil in the middle with Jeremy and Savinho either side hoping to stretch the Everton midfield and defence. I can’t imagine there’ll be much room for the pair to run through, however, so I hope they’ve been practicing their crossing too…
Erling up front hoping to get the service.
Ederson could return to provide keeper insurance from the bench; defensive replacement options come in the shape of Kyle and Jahmai. James, Ilkay, Nico, Matheus and Bernardo make up the rather large contingent of midfielders in ‘the 9’ and I’ve put Silva on the bench as I just get the feeling Pep might use this match to give the Portuguese international a much-needed rest before we ‘go again’ away from home in three days’ time. Jack completes the bench as a midfield / wing option from the side.
Notable absences:
- John Stones – There was no definitive answer from our manager but the signs are that John is to spend yet another period of time out with the same, troublesome foot injury.
- Ruben Dias – Out with his second muscular injury of the season. The last one lasted a month and, similarly, this one is expected to be 2-½ to 3-½ weeks, going off the initial assessment and information given.
- Rodri – Out for the season with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. Surgery was completed months ago and the slow road to recovery continues.
- Oscar Bobb – Still recovering from a fractured leg that he received in training last August. A likely return is still deemed to be January / February and I personally think that February is more likely of the two months quoted.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
There would be a good argument to include an additional attacking / creative midfielder in place of Haaland for this one; play 4-6-0 / 4-5-1-0, give Everton no specific player to mark and come at ‘em from all angles…
Result?
I’ve said all I want to say about the opposition in my subheading – I’m even starting to depress myself!
This one has 0-0 written ALL over it. However, cutting through all of that ‘doom and gloom’ - call it festive optimism, call it new year ‘fresh start’ come early; I’ve just got a feeling we’ll nick this one.
I believe it’s gonna be very, VERY tight for all the reasons mentioned but if the players can get their collective heads sorted and if they can do the basics right at the back and in midfield then with some patience and persistent-creativity, I think we might breach The Toffees’ defence and grab a very much needed 3 points. And, whisper it, going off their goalscoring record we might…just MIGHT keep a clean sheet too. 😲
Call me overly optimistic but I’m going for a City win.
On a final, positive note…
I was thinking this last Monday afternoon. I know we have the F.A. Cup yet to start but…would it be such a bad thing if we didn’t win anything this season?
A top-4 finish is absolutely essential now if we are going to recruit some top players in the summer and let’s not forget; Pep has just signed a new, 2-year contract to enable him to start the next chapter into our continued success.
A trophyless season might just been the cold splash of water in the face our club needs to move us forward once more and as long as we grab that top-4 place then I, for one, would be happy to finish this campaign with no additional silverware.
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: After early morning mist, the afternoon continues in a similar vein and that’s a very still and very grey day. No breeze at all sees temperatures at 9C which, for late December, is really quite mild indeed. 🎄⚽🍺
Oh yeah...HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL!
Solidarity
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