Golden Ticket

About 2 weeks ago now I received an unexpected e-mail from Manchester City inviting me to the official opening of the new Manchester City Academy. To say that it was an honour to have been chosen – along with a few other supporters – is putting it mildly.

What a Club!

The invite

I can’t express enough just how great the Club were in making a ‘regular fan / supporter’ feel comfortable and at ease around such other prestige guests. There were players & officials both past and present; past players not necessarily associated with Manchester City, well recognised faces from the BBC, ITV & Sky Sports and well-known officials from Manchester City Council as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The "Guest" wristband

Most of the afore mentioned met in the same reception area at the ground; made their way to the Academy on the same coaches, mingled together having breakfast refreshments in the same area and aside from a few reserved seats we were all sat mingled-together for the main presentation speeches and unveiling of the official plaque. It was just ‘spot on’.

Arrival

The ‘invitation for one’ stated “smart casual” and having taken the dog for a walk and chosen to incorporate a visit to my mum’s house, she appeared disappointed that I wasn’t all properly ‘suited up’. It’s an age / generational thing I think…

But having not let those comments blow my confidence, I must admit there was a sense of justification and mild amusement when, ironically, I got into the taxi and upon telling the driver our destination; his first response was to say, “Are you going for an interview?"

So I wasn’t as ‘dressed down’ as my mum was suggesting, bless her.

Arriving bang on 10:15am in the icy cold breeze, I headed straight into the West Stand Reception area where some of the other guests were queuing up to be registered and to receive their guests wrist bands.

I was pleased to see that I'd hit the tone just right with my smart / casual look.

Whilst stood in the queue I very soon realised that I was right next to Alex Williams who was talking to some bloke at the side. It’s hard not to notice the ex-City goalkeeper and head of  City in the Community and I have spoken to him a few times in the past.

In fact, he lead the one & only tour of Maine Road and Platt Lane that I was to go on in the early 90s. In addition to that, Alex is a passing acquaintance of my wife and with her being the Practice Manager of the Dentist he used to attend; whenever we both visit the Etihad and pass him by Alex lets on to my wife [rather than the person who’s attended City far more and for over 30 years]. I don’t say that out of bitterness in the slightest – it’s a little running joke we both share… J

I ‘signed in’, got my wrist band and not really knowing for sure if the three, rather plush-looking coaches were indeed for us (me) and were to be our transport across the road; I eventually asked a G4S Customer Service Officer. They were our coaches and as one of them pulled away, I got on the second in line.

They were plush – well…the most posh I’d been on anyway. Leather seats no less! Easily pleased...

As I embarked I noticed that most people were sat in ‘singles’ with a seat separating most. Clearly I wasn’t the only one to have received an invitation ‘for one’. So I did likewise; taking my seat just a few from the front and on the left overlooking the entrance I’d just emerged from.

As it started to fill up, Alex and the man he was chatting to emerged from the West Stand Reception area and it was at this point that I realised, all-too-clearly, that the ‘some bloke’ Alex had been – and still was – talking to was a certain Colin Bell; only one of the most iconic City legends ever!

Thankfully I was sharing my foolishness with no-one other than myself - well, until sharing it with you all now…

They were both heading to my coach and as they got on, I found myself sort of ‘budging up’ towards the window as if to suggest to Colin (or Alex of course) with a child-like voice in my head, “You can sit here if you like?”

Colin gave me a brief look and walked past (perhaps I should have worn the suit after all) and Alex gave me a nod and an, “Alright”. I then fully expected him to ask about my wife…but he didn’t. So, sitting on my own - and not with any past City-playing legends - we soon set off as the winter clouds gathered.

The (very short) journey

Out of the ground, up Ashton New Road, across Alan Turing Way and in through the Academy gates. It was brief but all still very exiting.

Well it was for me anyway – I’d managed to get the day off work and was sat on the coach wide-eyed like a child off to the seaside for the very first time. However, at least 2 others near me appeared to be squeezing in the visit in-between ‘dealings with work’. As we entered the gates at least 2 other chaps were on their mobiles sorting out work-related matters right up to the point where we disembarked. Priorities all wrong in my world at least…

Anyway...momentarily, any excitement turned to slight confusion. As we neared the main, central complex listed as the, “Performance Centre”, I noticed the first coach parked up and facing us towards the left. But as we continued up the newly tarmacked, pristine road to the right, we were abruptly stopped by an attendant and a 2 or 3 minute conversation then ensued with the driver.

I don’t know, of course, what route the first coach had taken but clearly [from listening to the dialogue] our driver had been given instructions to drive the guests right around the Performance Centre before dropping off at the main entrance where the other coach sat; whereas the attendant had been given instruction that no-one was to drive around the back. It all got a bit awkward at one stage until the driver quite amusingly said, “Well…we’re stuck then aren’t we? How about I just drive on and I’ll them ‘em that you must have missed me, hey?”

So if there’s a new opening for a road / park attendant at the new City Football Academy then you now know why…

Once inside…

Official brochure

One of the youth teams were training outside in the cold air as we were directed into the Performance Centre, which was considerably warmer. It was huge. We were all stood on (state of the art I’m sure) artificial grass as we made our way over to the breakfast refreshments.

There were juices, fruit, tea, coffee and various pastries available and, most notably, Manchester City ice-topped cup cakes. Having had a little breakfast at home but not sure exactly how I’d feel when it got to about 1:00/1:30pm (the time where lunch refreshments were to be served) I went for a tea and a small (in case my diabetic nurse reads this) but very sweet pastry.

I then just wandered lonely as a ‘single invitee’; taking a few snaps of the time-line display boards for my Blog and avoiding the temptation to stand too near HUGE names of past players just in case they spoke to me and I turned to jelly; unable to speak after a sugar rush and general star-struckness.



Timeline exhibition

I took a few snaps of our trophies and, most noticeably of course, the Premier League Trophy...but resisted the crossbar challenge that was going on at the far end.

The area grew slightly dark and we experienced a 5 minute hail storm that, from within the large, high-roof complex, sounded quite impressive for a time.

The cups...

I soon found a fellow Blogger / fanzine writer in Dave Wallace from King of the Kippax and not long afterwards his colleague, Steve Parish, joined us. Steve did, he informed me, have a go of the crossbar challenge and proudly told me that he’d got 2 from 6 shots!

'THE' cup!

It was lovely to see and chat with them both again and 45 or so minutes later, Steve & I walked through as the divide was opened up to allow us into the main presentation area.

15 milliseconds of fame!

Steve was off like an Aguero shot! No messing - he headed straight for ‘front & centre’…and I quickly followed.

Separated only by a row of reserved seats, we were LITERRALLY sat at the front and RIGHT in front of the speaker's podium. With cameras of all descriptions from various medias - and with Sally Nugent hosting the ceremony - I was convinced (and told my family so) that I’d be on the telly! To date, I’ve seen the back of my head and my clapping hands on both Sky Sports and the BBC.

Timeline exhibition

Timeline exhibition

Timeline exhibition

I keep checking the Internet…

I had a pretty good idea that Chairman Khaldoon would be present; Txiki Begiristain, Ferran Soriano, someone from Manchester City Council and Patrick Vieira. However, I didn’t anticipate for one moment that Manuel Pellegrini and Vincent Kompany would be there too (I thought the manager, at least, would have been in Italy ahead of our game with Roma) and certainly didn’t expect George Osborne.

Front-row centre spot!

Alex: That bloke in the second row - what's his wife called?

Andy Warhol & Peter Swales lookalikes share a joke...

 

Serious now - our Chairman speaks...

And it was great to see, a later-understandably, quite emotional, Tony Book officially ‘lift the veil’ / open the Academy.

As well as reading and being very impressed with Tony’s book / life story, I used to get to Maine Road and sit on the concrete steps of the Kippax with my homemade sandwiches and match-day programme very early as a teenager; and have very vivid memories of Tony being the first out EVERY time, warming up the keepers (Alex Williams included of course) by firing-in cross after cross.

A lot of poignant words were spoken by all and as a Manchester City fan reading this, you have every right to be excited about the journey ahead.

We have very professional people with the right attitude and plans for our Football Club and any outside neutral with negative words about our recent spending – or worse still those with specific, anti-City tendencies / hidden agendas – well just feel pity for them and let them ‘snipe away’ to their embittered heart’s content.

We’re doing things the right way – patience and relentlessness are our goals.

Not in Italy - second right is our Vinny

Also not in Italy - Manuel & Ferran Soriano

Tony Book being interviewed by BBC's Sally Nugent

Messrs Pellegrini, Soriano, Sir Richard Leese, Osborne & Al Mubarak

The unveiling

Based on the Maine Road...

...Main Stand mosaic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo opportunity…and another case of chronic 'blind spot'

Following the ceremony we were invited to watch the first, official training session / game to be played in the centre and the very proud-looking youngsters that were sat across the stage moments earlier did, what I’m sure they enjoy doing, the most.

Not long into the ‘kick about’ I turned to my left to see that I was watching proceedings whilst stood almost next to Manuel Pellegrini!

The match

You know…for someone 6’ 1” (in boots) and with little wrong with his eyesight I don’t 'alf almost miss key individuals at times. For someone famous who’d prefer to simply go about their business undisturbed / unrecognised I’m probably a celebrity’s dream!

Could have done with 'Eagle Eyes'

Thinking that the huge amount of clicking press cameras would want to take a few snaps of our manager, I must admit that I made a point of ‘lingering around’ him a little. After 5 minutes of so of doing that, I decided to move away and watch the action from a little further down the cone-marked-out pitch.

Once again my ‘eagle eyes’ failed me as, although I instantly recognised that I was stood next to Life President Bernard Halford; it took several more minutes to see that he was stood next to that very same, ‘some bloke’. For a TRUE Manchester City hero, Colin Bell isn’t half a very unassuming man who blends in very well indeed into the crowd…

 

Upon hearing my news that I’d been invited to this event my wife text me, “You’ve got a golden ticket!”, clearly referring to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

That, then, had been in the back of my mind as the exciting day began and so towards the end of the kid’s exhibition match, I thought I was (finally) going mad! Sure enough, with background music playing in the ‘front end’ of where we’d been gathering before the ceremony, Willy’s “Pure Imagination” began to play. Very weird…

The footballing session finished, we meandered to the front once again and although we were invited to take the coach back to the ground (presumably where the lunchtime refreshments would be served – I dunno); I decided, instead, to walk around the complex taking more pics for my Blog as the coaches departed.

 

Some of the training pitches and surroundings.

 

Still some work being finished...and my brolly

Outside of the Performance Centre

 

The 7,000 capacity ground within the Academy complex

 

 

Eager to then get some ‘domestics’ out of the way before heading to my local 'for a few' to absorb the fantastic few hours that I’d experienced, I made my way to the front exit gates.

 

“Did you enjoy that?”, was the question from the smiling, female gate attendant. “Oh yes…” I replied “…but back to reality now” and pointing to Asda over the road I added that I had to do the ‘weekly shop’.

 

In the pub…

 

The irony that I then got to my local to find ½-a-dozen Manyoo fans round a table talking very loud and being very scathing towards Manchester City. So much so, in fact, I finally broke from reading my newspaper to text some fellow Blues the following:

 

The City Academy launch: Full of optimistic, bright-future talk from City and non-City officials alike.  My local: Full of afternoon-pissed, loud, embittered Manyoo fans spending 85% of their football talk-time taking about - and slagging off - Manchester City. Says it all really…

 

It amused me actually.

 

From past to present and looking very much to the future...

 

Great day all round, fantastic Football Club.

Another impressive performance & victory…ANOTHER huge injury blow!

If I was a ‘paranoid sort’ I’d be convinced by now that SOMETHING is trying to derail our recovering-journey back to form and efforts to retain the Premier League title.

Manyoo might be able to claim top spot for the number of injuries and, specifically, to ‘key players’ so far this season…but only just [ahead of us]!

Pride in battle

The victory over Swansea City was a courageous one following a fairly dismal, low confidence run that was broken-up only by a derby day win. And against a fast, counter-attacking Welsh side who pushed us hard and who can hurt teams who are not at 100%; even at home our 2-1 victory was an impressive one.

Then we had the Bayern Munich ‘moral booster’. Taught another footballing lesson in some respects and then, admittedly, aided by the first half sending off of Mehdi Benatia; we just never gave. That then lead to a season ‘marker’ when our efforts reaped the rewards in the form of a last-minute, 3-2 win. The ‘lift’ the players received from that - and two back-to-back wins – was palpable.

Next stop was away at 2^nd placed Southampton and a performance that saw us press our game and stopped them imposing theirs. The work-rate, in particular, was very noticeable; particularly from our wingers.

And the fixtures just kept coming and coming and having come away from the South coast with 3 goals, a clean sheet and all 3 points, it was then off to the North East and another bogey away ground. Result? We had our swagger back. And despite going a goal down against the run of play…BANG! A 4-goal reply and a performance that had many quite-rightly drooling. We were well ‘n’ truly back.

And all that achieved throughout a period of injuries to Aleks Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Edin Dzeko and a 1-match suspension for Eliaquim Mangala.

That brought us to a home game against Everton and despite the 4-previous, marvellous performances; I, personally, was most impressed with the tremendous team spirit and effort from Saturday’s encounter with the Merseysiders. I can barely fault any of them and I’m still struggling to pick a MotM - it’s been a very long time since I was able to see such high performances from SO many City players on one day.

I could go on for ages (and they’d deserve my extended time on the keyboard) but…

Hart: Solid and assured…and WHAT about that save from Lukaku! 8/10

Clichy: Just keeps getting better and better and better…and more full of energy! 9/10

Mangala: One dodgy moment and silliness that some refs might have given a straight red for – not for the first time do I find myself saying that he needs to ‘wise up’ quickly. However, after that ‘blip’ – and one other moment of madness where he went wandering up field and lost the ball far too easily - he produced a fine display: 7.5/10

Demichelis: The counter-agent to Mangala’s flashes of folly. Calm, solid, intelligent and strong against some big Everton forwards. 8.5/10

Zabaleta: Ever dependable and definitely finding his way back to being himself: 8/10

Fernando: Like his ex-Porto colleague – and I said this of him before we signed him having watched several videos – he can be a little reckless when flailing around those octopus-like tentacles of his. Another silly moment from the once Brazilian Under-20 player but after that, he was immense! ‘The’ best performance I’ve seen him have in a City shirt. Blocked tackles, intelligent interceptions and good passing – all you can really ask for from a defensive midfield protector. 9/10

Yaya HAD to score - Tim's head was on upside-down!

 

Toure: It says a lot about the team’s performance when you get the second-joint-lowest but still very reasonable score. Scored the penalty with superb accuracy (it couldn’t have been tucked further or more neatly into the bottom corner just beyond the reach of ‘upside-down head’) and despite looking a little sluggish in a few attempted challenges late on; he worked has hard as the others in-doing the simple things that kept us ticking along nicely. 7/10

Milner: Wow! Sign this guy up [on a longer contract]…NOW! To his consistent guile / efforts, energy and versatility, James has now added a certain flare, great link-up play, an extra ½-yard of pace and a certain goal threat; getting assists and winning penalties. He only needs to add goalkeeping and goals to his repertoire now! 9.5/10

Nasri: I don’t think I’ve seen such a consistently good spell from the Frenchman since he signed from Arsenal. Not nearly as frustratingly inconsistent Edin Dzeko (or, in some ways, Gael Clichy); but Samir often has a couple of decent games before putting in 2 or 3 more-abject displays. Saturday he capped off a period of sustained high performances by playing out of his skin! Not only did he play a huge part in terrorising Everton; not only was his work-rate that of James Milner (a MASSIVE compliment) but he seemed to find and extra couple of yards of pace too! Keep taking whatever it is you’re taking Samir. I just can’t split ‘em…9.5/10

Navas: Great pre-season, very good start to the Premier League campaign and then, just like his teammates, slid and slid all the way up to, and including, the away draw at Loftus Road. Then – just like his colleagues once again – he’s been switching through and up the gears once more and was turbo charged against The Toffees. I’ve said this before – if only he could add goals to his game! But what he’s doing with his pace, boundless energies and work-rate (this is becoming a very pleasant theme now) is counteracting anything the opposition tries to throw at us down their left flank. He most notably defended well and did this against The Saints, pressed further up against The Black Cats and gave their left-back a nightmare and completely nullified any threat from Leighton Baines last Saturday. 7.5/10

Aguero: I can’t speak (okay…type); I’m just too upset and scared…

Pozo: Ran the back line of Everton the whole time he was on. I watching him closely for a while and although he might be slight of figure and might lack a bit of Premier League raw power, which will come with time I’m sure; his runs were intelligent. In fact more experienced strikers could learn a thing from Jose. 7/10

Dzeko: Do I HAVE to include him? He spoils the ratings a little. Okay, it wasn’t an awful performance from the Bosnia & Herzegovinian striker and I will give him plenty of allowance that this was his first game back [following injury]. And yes…I will admit to not being a huge fan of a man that can very easily frustrate the HELL out of me far too many times. But he’s an experienced Premier League player now and shouldn’t have let the frenetic pace of Saturday’s match show him up as easily as it did. There were moments where he got involved and made some efforts to effect the game…but not many for a player that was on for a whole 34 minutes. Thank God Stevan Jovetic was only withdrawn from Saturday’s squad as “a precaution”. A rather score-spoiling 6/10

Lampard: I don’t know about other City fans but I always get a feeling of great calmness when Super Frank comes on. 7/10

I am so very proud of them and in a weekend where Chelsea & Arsenal both lost, Spurs & Liverpool could both only manage a home point and where 4th plays 5th tonight; it was a great weekend marred only by that injury to Sergio. The table is looking good.

A few words about Everton

The fans:

I looked through the archive of my Blog-postings from last season as I was SURE I’d done a post-Everton write-up from our home game – and 3-1 victory – against them. The reason I did so was that I’m sure I recall noting what a truly horrid lot the Everton fans had been on the occasion of 5^th October 2013.

Anyway…after wondering, as I was walking away form the ground on Saturday, whether I HAD written a piece and included this in any post-match analysis …I hadn’t.

To sum up their behaviour on Saturday evening, verbally they were simply vile and quite provocative for the most part as the score remained 0-0; they shut up almost permanently when we went ahead and by the end were attempting to scrap with our fans for a good 5 minutes in corner of the East / South Stand after the final whistle.

I’m not saying for one moment that City fans hadn’t in some way provoked any of the attempted violence after the match – perhaps they did. But I clearly recall similar from the Evertonians last season and I can’t recall one single, pro-Everton supporting song throughout the game beyond a momentary, European-like chant that lasted no longer than 3 or 4 minutes. Considering the numbers they brought with them they were, once again, quite pathetic really.

The increased barriers outside the ground - a la Roma & Manyoo - were most notable before the game in a very much Police-anticipated move too…

And then we had the players:

I expected more from a Roberto Martinez side. Simply put, I thought they looked clearly irritated by our spirited performance; as though they, somehow and for some reason, expected us to be some kind of flare-fancy pushovers.

Instead – and as I’ve already alluded to – we showed every bit of grit & determination usually reserved for a team scrapping for their Premier League survival-lives in April.

Although they received the SAME amount of yellows as we did (our 3 cards were well deserved by the way); I thought Everton were really quite dirty at times. They quite-often left feet & elbows in during their “challenges” and, in general, just acted a little petulant, especially in the first half.

And when Ross Barkley came on in the 56^th minute, well…he just summed up the whole Everton team for me. He was the most ‘huffy’ of the lot! Linked endlessly with a move to City; on Saturday he portrayed an ‘orrible brat, Rooney-like figure more suited to a Trafford Manyoo shirt than the sky blue one of Manchester. On that fairly brief display they, or indeed someone else, can have him for £60M…

On the horizon

I might not be able to type for a while because after publishing this post I’m going to start crossing everything that’s physically possible in the hope that it will aid a speedy and long-lasting recovery for our man Sergio. Of course I’m joking…but get well soon man!

With momentum building and a ‘must score’ game in Italy on Wednesday (where a win for Bayern against CSKA means that we need to either win or get a score draw to progress) we have a period of games where, I’m not going to suggest for one moment that they are “easy” by ANY stretch; we should, in this form at least, be looking to gain some serious points.

You have to play everyone both home & away of course…but no-one can deny that we were handed one hell of a start to the Premier League this season AND one hell of a group in the Champions League compared to most of the rest.

So having come through those – as well as our own confidence-sapping, awful spell – then sitting 2^nd - just 3 points off an impressive Chelsea - is very creditable indeed.

And so with…

Leicester City away (bottom (20^th) with 0 wins, 2 draws and 8 defeats in 10 league games)

Crystal Palace at home (15^th with 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats in 10 league games)

West Brom away (16^th with 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats in 10 league games)

Burnley at home (19^th with 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats in 10 league games)

Sunderland at home (14^th with 2 wins, 5 draws and 3 defeats in 10 league games)

…we need to, not take these for granted by any means; but rather show the same spirit as we did against Everton and take advantage of this set of fixtures.

After that, we have three, very tough January fixtures to overcome in Everton away, Arsenal at home and Chelsea away…as well as then-being-also involved in the F.A. Cup.

Get through THOSE relatively unscathed – and again without using the “easy” suggestion – then from Saturday 7^th February I can only see REAL issues from Stoke City away, Liverpool away (I suppose) and Manyoo away.

Of course this is football we’re talking about and it won’t work out as simple as that. But if we can get Sergio back within a reasonable amount of time, can stay relatively injury free otherwise and perhaps even strengthen [the squad] well enough in January; I think there are plenty of reasons to be an optimistic Blue at the moment.

Unpredictable toffees – and ANOTHER injury - makes for another interesting encounter.

High-flying, Southampton was quite-rightly pitched as a real test...and likewise the ‘bogey ground’ of Sunderland. Both were overcome in style.

Now with Everton showing the kind of form a ‘City of old’ would have been “proud” of - and with traction-building Jovetic taking a knock – it blows this clash wide open in terms of predictability.

It sure makes it an enthralling one…

 

The ‘oppo’

They’ve surprised me a little have the blue team from Merseyside. With the addition of Gareth Barry to solidify their midfield and the purchases of a dangerous and very experienced Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o (plus a sprinkling of players I’ve not got much idea about); I expected them to set off quickly and then maintain a decent position in the league.

They had a side full of decent players to begin with – in addition to the much coveted (but heavily contracted) Ross Barkley both Leighton Baines & Seamus Coleman were, quite rightly, drawing praise from all quarters last season. And on their day, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith (although the Scotsman is injured at the moment) can hurt you too. Chuck in a very accomplished and respected manager in Roberto Martinez and Everton are a decent outfit that should be respected.

But when the season kicked off  they hit the floor, not running, they just…hit the floor. A tricky, admittedly, opener at newly-promoted Leicester City ending in, what might have be seen as, a creditable 2-2 draw. The same scoreline at home to Arsenal also may be seen as an ‘okay’ result too. And then followed the visit of still-unbeaten Chelsea to Goodison Park…and a 3-6 hammering that set the tone for the Londoners at least.

After a decent 2-0 away win at WBA and, it has to be said, good results in the Europa League; Everton’s league form has been erratic and patchy to say the least. Following the win against the Baggies their league form looks like a Manchester City 70s, 80s, 90s and early-to-mid 00s team: L D L W W D D W L D.

I said before our game against Sunderland that Everton appeared to be ominously building up gradual stability and form – before the 1-2 defeat ‘blip’ at similarly-indifferent Spurs, Roberto’s men had gone on a table-boosting 5 games unbeaten run that included 3 wins.

But following their narrow loss at White Heart Lane they had me scratching my head once again as they came unstuck once more; managing just a point at home to lowly Hull City. As I say, very old-City like…

Points to prove and old habits

Mr Dependable

As much as we’ve MASSIVELY improved over the last couple of weeks / few games I’m a little wary of these popping one of our tyres this evening. They’ve got players with something to prove in their engine room in the form of ‘you let me go’ Gareth Barry and ‘come and get me if you want me’ Ross Barkley. Chuck in the afore mentioned dangers sprinkled throughout their side and this one will be both a feisty and close affair I’m sure.

A summer change of blue?

And WITH us appearing to gain our 'swagger' back – particularly at Sunderland on Wednesday night – I just hope that our lads are also up for a real 'fight' today…because that’s what I think lies ahead.

I have to remind myself also that despite us completing the league double over them last season, not only did they run us pretty close both times but, before last season, they too – like the red & white striped teams - were very much entrenched in the 'City hoodoo' camp for the most part (admittedly mostly on their own patch).

Chuck in the fact that there’s (still) no Kompany, Silva and now no Jovetic and we’ll NEED the rest of 'em to continue their improving form this evening…

v Everton (5:30pm KO GMT)

 

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome…

4-2-3-1 / 4-5-1

_______________Aguero_______________

 

 

Milner__________Nasri___________Navas

______________________Toure_________

________Fernandinho_________________

 

Clichy___Mangala__­_Demichelis___Sagna

 

_________________Hart________________

 

Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Fernando, Lampard, Pozo, Dzeko

Hart to start again.

Clichy again at left-back and with his 1-match suspension now complete, City ‘novice’ Mangala to, hopefully, continue his slow improvement; this time alongside ‘the master’ Demichelis. I’m going for our manager to rest Zabaleta for this one and give Sagna a run-out. I think the Frenchman needs ‘full 90’ and, I’m sure with Roma coming up on Wednesday, it’ll make doubly-so sense to swap ‘em over for this one.

Fernandinho - Much improved form

‘The Fernando plan’ from the start of the season just hasn’t got going as yet (and we’re in December now!) and that’s partly due to a resurgent Fernandinho; who's just happened to find form like a many of his colleagues. Like Zaba, I’m quite sure, I can see Fernando being given an important defensive role in Italy in mid-week and, so, Fernandinho to continue in the Premier League today I think. Yaya, despite a scratchy throat and slight illness in the last couple of days, to partner the Brazilian in the middle.



Simply on FIRE!



Ahead of those two I think will be a trio of Milner, Nasri (in the Jovetic / Silva role) and Navas. Super-Aguero ‘up top’.

In addition to keeper cover on the bench I think we’ll see the return of Kolarov; Zaba in there resting but ready if needed and Fernando get another view from the side. Super-sub Frank I’m sure will get another 20 to 30 minute run-out, Pozo available but less likely to come on for this one and just like Aleks, Dzeko should make a bench return also today.

Result? I said Sunderland would be a narrow away victory and it ended 1-4…with a lot of people saying it could have been much more. I’m going for the same prediction today but firmly believe that this one WILL be a lot closer.