Pre-Burton Albion Blog announcement.

I won't be posting a pre-match Blog prior to our second leg in the League Cup semi final at the Pirelli Stadium.

Comment.

 

No disrespect whatsoever to our hosts but I'm certain Pep would have loved to have used this game not only to rest key players ahead of important F.A. Cup 4th round & Premier League games but also to give more of the EDS and other youth players, likewise, a run out as first-teamers.

However, a big fly in that ointment is, strangely, something to be proud of but has prevented our manager from doing so; that being our EDS's game away at the Stadium of Light just 24-hours earlier to face a largely first team Sunderland side in the quarter final of the EFL Trophy. Although I'm sure proud himself, I think it's also irritated him a little as we wish Paul Harsley and his young side all the very best for tonight!

So...good luck to anyone wishing to guess the team that'll face the Brewers tomorrow evening and if anyone DOES guess the first 11 correctly there should be some sort of prize given by the club!

The first team.

 

I thought it was a rather lackluster first half performance from City in the first half last Sunday but I was very disappointed in the home side who, I thought, would be really up for the fight in between managers and with a new one due to be announced within a couple of hours of the final whistle. Thankfully we stepped it up a little in the second and looked more fluid. Playing in 2nd gear for the most part; 3-0 was a decent result and the 2nd & 3rd goals were well worked.

After a serious blip that dented our league campaign quite badly followed by an amazing performance and terrific result against our biggest title rival...and THEN two high-scoring cup games to say the very least; I think our lads look like they're 'going through the motions' a little at the moment. I get that in some ways.

Yeah, we were professional enough to dispatch Huddersfield last Sunday; the Wolves home game turned into a training session after they went down to 10-men early on and the players must be looking at this week as time to draw breath ahead of what's to come. Some players may well be appreciating the unofficial "break" but a lot will thrive on stiff competition and momentum gathering, which is lacking a little in a way at the moment, I think.

I just hope, then, that they're 'up for it' when the time comes...because those times are definitely coming. Burnley at home in the F.A. Cup, as I've said, and then some divvy in the F.A. decided it would be a good idea to-then send us up to Newcastle United in the league a little over 75-hours later! A bit of a rest after that of around 4-1/2 days before we play 2 consecutive Sundays against Arsenal & Chelsea...and all before the Champions League starts up again! Talk about famine & feast...

Good luck!

All the very best to whoever lines up for the first team tomorrow and whoever attends the game, supporting either team, in the return leg that stands at 9-0 for us.

And c'mon EDS for tonight too!

Reaction from managerless Terriers?

Does the fact that our hosts, tomorrow afternoon, have mutually parted waves with their respected manager put a different emphasis on the game? Well…that can often be the case as we face a side with a Caretaker Manager in charge and, let’s be honest, any change for a side struggling so horribly as Huddersfield Town are can’t do any harm. 

 

So, I’d say yeah – some fans, despite they perilous position, might have felt a little sad at the departure of their German boss but by the time we reach 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon, I’m sure the home fans will feel a sense of “reset an’ go again” and will turn the John Smith's Stadium into a noise-filled, scarf-wielding cauldron.

 

As for the players, we’ll have to wait ‘n’ see if-them-seeing David Wagner leave and Mark Hudson take temporary charge will have had any positive effect on them. And, of course, it’s up to OUR manager & players to deal with that and use our own motivations to good effect.

v Huddersfield Town

John Smith's Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

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

____________________Jesus_____________________

Sane___________________________________Sterling

____________D. Silva________B. Silva_____________

_________________Fernandinho__________________

Danilo__________________________________Walker

____________Laporte_________Stones_____________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Muric, Delph, Otamendi, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Aguero.

For once, I’m gonna save myself a little bit of a starting 11 write-up here and simply say instead that, for some reason, I’ve got the feeling that our Manager will field the same side who faced Wolves last Monday night. I might be wrong of course…

As for the bench, Aro is the reserve stopper with Fabian & Nicholas providing cover-options in central defence, left-wing back and defensive midfield. Ilkay gets a seat on the side too along with Kevin, I’m guessing…and think what you like about whether he’s being managed carefully back to fitness ahead of fixtures in all 4 competitions or whether there HAS been a little spat following his substitution the other week and Pep is just giving ‘the ginger one’ a little reminder of just who is in charge. Riyad & Sergio provide wing & striker options from ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Claudio Bravo – Continuing his rehab following serious injury.

-       Benjamin Mendy – Has now had 4 or 5 training sessions with the first team on his way back to fitness and following his second, lengthy spell out...but won’t be ready for this game.

-       Vincent Kompany – Still a slight doubt following a niggle, I believe, and unlikely to be risked.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – Not selected.

-       Phil Foden – Not selected.

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

Absolutely.

Result? I have no doubt that the men in light blue & white stripes will give their all in this game…and those fans who have watched them week in & week out might more than suggest that they’ve been doing that most of the season, just with very little return.

I don’t think “effort” has ever been an issue with Huddersfield Town players in the last 3 seasons or so and, certainly against us, they’ve raised their game and give us a flippin’ good’n! The question is, as I’ve already asked, will they raise it even MORE following recent events?

I’m sure they will and despite their truly AFWUL goal-scoring record this season they might even nick a goal, possibly from a set piece. And, I have to remind myself, they ran us close at their ground with a Raheem Sterling winner coming just 6 minutes from ‘the 90’ AND held us to a 0-0’er at our place in May 2018, albeit in a game 3 from the end of a season where we finished 19-points clear of 2^nd place.

But I would suggest that you can’t fix, in less than a week, a league record that reads:

P22 W2 D5 L15 - F13 A37.

They’ll give us fight, for sure, and it might even get a little feisty, as it did in the 96^th minute in the same fixture last season (hope not of course). But it was heartening to actually hear Guardiola issue the same warnings in his pre-match press conference following those difficult encounters last season and I’m damn sure he won’t allow his players to give anything less than 100% tomorrow.

I think there’s definitely been ‘an interesting edge’ added to this fixture but I do think it’s one we’ll come away from with 3 points, as well as a few bruises.

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

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

Expected weather conditions during the game: Quite simply just grey clouds, dry and chilly at 4 to 5C.

Transfer rumours?

Well, first of all and by his standards, Pep was practically “open” when asked AGAIN yesterday if we were looking to strengthen any areas of the team. He admitted that we are looking at 3 or 4 optional players to approach for the defensive midfield department and recognised the need for competition at left-wing back; someone with specialist experience in that position and not a ‘stand in’.

Of course, he stopped well short of suggesting that any targets would be coming in by the end of January but here are just a few names who have been linked with the Blues in recent days & weeks:

Zack Steffen – Goalkeeper

Gavin Bazunu – Goalkeeper (signed pre-contract / due to arrive soon...)

Ben Chilwell – Left-back

Eder Militao – Centre defender

Ko Itakura – Central defender / Defensive midfielder (signed & loaned for 18 mths)

Declan Rice – Central Defender / Defensive midfielder

Frenkie De Jong – Defensive midfielder

Tanguy Ndombele – Defensive midfielder

Ante Palaversa – Defensive midfielder

Thomas Partey - Defensive midfielder

Christian Eriksen – Attacking / Creative midfielder

Isco (AGAIN!) – Attacking / Creative midfielder

Ivan Angulo – Midfielder / Winger

Everton Soares – Left winger / Forward

Paulo Dybala – Attacking midfielder / Forward / Striker

As Is say, this is only a few; there have been more linked so feel free to take your pick of who from that list, if any, is likely to join us either in January or the summer…