'tis the season...

Hi to all of my regular readers and non-regular / first-time reader-visitors to my Manchester City Blog!

 

Apologies to all that I won't be posting a pre-match blog before tomorrow's home game v Crystal Palace and, in advance, if I don't manage also one before our Boxing Day away game at Leicester City. It's just one of them - people to visit; people visiting us and fings to do before the 'big day'...

 

Comment 1: What an almost identical situation (and exact outcome) it was to last season away at Leicester last Tuesday in the same round of the League Cup; almost a year to the day and at the same ground also! Even with all my years & experience of following City and football in general; I continue to be blown away by such coincidences!

It's great that we progressed in a competition that we've done so well in, in recent years and great also to see so many youngsters in 'the 11' and on the bench for that one.

Comment 2: I rarely, unless I have to, mention "them" on my Blog but...FECK! I was hoping that 'the moaning one' would stay at Manyoo for a long, long time. Oh well. But...seriously? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Caretaker Manager on loan, is it, for 3 months or has he now left Molde FK to take on the Trafford club for the remainder of the season? Don't care. What are we talking here as a Manager: 2 spells at a Norwegian club who are about the equivalent of the English League 2 level and a failed spell at Cardiff City?

I certainly don't want to give this much more 'air time' than that. However, I will add that although I'm sure the spirits of the Manyoo players will-have-been-lifted by the removal of the dark, poisonous cloud that was Jose; Ole might have an "impact" and get some good, initial results...but I just can't see it being a productive remainder of the season for that shambolic club. I might be proven wrong...

Comment 3: Back to proper footy - I think we're in a good way at the moment. Key players returning from injury and the team / football club looks in fine fettle!

Happy Christmas to all! Have a good'n...

Two rounds away from Wembley…

…sees us head to Premier League opposition and an opportunity to see some strong players return following injuries. 

 

Straight to it before tonight’s game...

v Leicester City

King Power Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

___________________Aguero____________________

Sterling________________________________Mahrez

____________Foden_________De Bruyne__________

__________________Gundogan__________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Danilo

___________Kompany_______Stones_____________

____________________Muric_____________________

Subs: Ederson, Laporte, Delph, Walker, B. Silva, Diaz, Jesus.

Having played in the previous 2 rounds, I can’t see our manager changing him for this one – Aro to step in between the sticks.

Oleksandr & the returning [from a niggle] Danilo should take up the left & right-wing back roles; Vinny & John should get the nod in between those.

A chance to rest Fernandinho, I would think, sees Ilkay deputise in the defensive midfield spot with Phil & Kevin the likely starters in the middle ahead of him. Either side of those I think we’ll see Raheem on the left and Riyad get a crack at his old club on the opposite flank.

Sergio to get a returning start I would suggest.

Ederson takes up an unfamiliar seat on the side; Aymeric, Fabian & Kyle provide cover at left, right & centre of defence as well as defensive midfield. Bernardo, possibly Brahim & Gabriel provide more attacking options from ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured long-term and possibly for the rest of the season.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Injured for around another 8 weeks.

-       Nicholas Otamendi – Not selected / rested.

-       Fernandinho - Not selected / rested.

-       David Silva – Recovering from injury and perhaps another week to 10-days away.

-       Leroy Sane - Not selected / rested.

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

I do have concerns about Vinny to a small degree with regards to the pace of Jamie Vardy should he be fit (is a doubt apparently) and any other pacey forwards they might have but, apart from that, it’s a good-looking set-up.

Result? It won’t be an easy one, for sure, and I think a lot will depend on how returning [from injury] players cope with their starting places in the ‘blood & thunder’ of a quarter final away game.

However, all things considered with that strong line-up & bench, I think we’ll progress to the semis.

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

Prediction: N/A (didn’t post a blog before the EXACT same fixture in EXACTLY the same round this time last year, which went to penalties after a late, late penalty equaliser by our hosts).

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Wet & blustery throughout and with the pitch having been rained on all day beforehand too, it should make this tie even more interesting; perhaps leading to some mis-timed challenges? I can see a few yellows and possibly more…

Some players available again for Everton?

Following Pep’s pre-match press conference not long ago ahead of the early KO tomorrow (12:30pm GMT), it’s still a little ‘wishy-washy’ about who exactly is fit to take any part. 

 

I’ll pick through best I can with predictions then…

v Everton

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Jesus____________________

Sane__________________________________Sterling

_________Gundogan__________B. Silva___________

_________________Fernandinho_________________

Delph__________________________________Walker

____________Laporte________Otamendi__________

___________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Muric, Zinchenko, Kompany, Foden, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Aguero.

Ederson as [nearly] always.

A strong, I would suggest, back-4 of Fabian, Aymeric, Nicholas & Kyle…although Kyle hasn’t been quite as impressive at times this season (still like him though).

I think we’ll see a return of likely-fit-again & rested, Fernandinho, in front of those; Ilkay & Bernardo get the more attacking, central midfield slots ahead of him with Leroy & Raheem deployed on the flanks.

Gabriel likely to get another start (fingers crossed for the hard-working forward).

Aro the reserve keeper; Oleksandr & Vinny likely to be the only defensive replacement options from ‘the 7’. After that...what a strong, attacking bench in the form of Phil, a likely-returning Kevin, Riyad & returning also Sergio.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Injured long-term and possibly for the rest of the season.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Injured for around another 8 to 9 weeks.

-       Danilo – Apparently took a knock at some point and is still feeling ‘the afters’ of that…

-       John Stones – Late fitness test on a knee niggle but I’m guessing he won’t make tomorrow.

-       David Silva – Tweaked something the other weekend and still isn’t quite right. Perhaps another week or so…

-       Brahim Diaz – Not selected (and rumoured to be close to being sold in the next few weeks).

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

Does it for me!

Result? We’ve moved on, I believe, from any Everton hoodoo but they do have players who are dangerous going forward. We definitely need to be ‘on it’ and I do think they’ll test us; possibly even scoring.

However, I think we’ll have too much for them – and I’m impressed with that predicted subs bench should it be needed (likely) – they can leak at the back and, so, it’s a home win for me.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Draw (a game I recall should never have been a draw for several reasons)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Awful day ahead! However, most of the really ‘rough stuff’ might hold back for fans leaving the ground – it’s gonna be very cold, windy, with the chance of anything from rain, sleet & snow early on. 2C is the highest temperature anyone can expect but it’ll feel even colder than that…

Weather update (15.12.2018): Latest forecast strongly suggests that the bad weather conditions will move in a little earlier and before the match, with snow and freezing rain leaving the ground quite treacherous to walk & drive on. High, very cold winds too. Although MCFC might-well grit the area around the turnstyles, fans travelling to the ground should be very cautious. I'm just wondering what the possibility of freezing rain might have on the pitch; albeit one that has an excellent under-soil heating system...