The Trafford v Manchester derby

If I was to do a proper write-up about our last, starting-11 set up, dismal performance and eventual (inevitable?) result, I feel like could well be typing ‘til Easter…even if it were just to vent my frustrations at our somewhat erratic-thinking manager in recent weeks. I love the guy and I’m reluctant to be too critical but that’s just how last Wednesday’s team selection and performance has left me feeling as I begin to ‘put pen to paper’ on this, the morning after.

I don’t know about other Blues but I think it’s only fair after heaping tonnes and tonnes of praise on the team, individual players and our manager for years that, on occasions when it’s justified, measured criticism is only right also…otherwise we’ll be turning into fans that we’ve seen in the past who support other teams; where they can ‘do no wrong’.

Instead [of typing until Easter], I’m simply going to ask the question, why is Pep trying these inexplicable experiments which are, for the most part, leaving us lopsided and very much disjointed throughout the side?

Once again, following my blog-posting on 5^th January where I talked a lot about form, Guardiola’s unexpected “tinkering” has put a dent in any sort of ‘form gathering’…and it’s dragging the season-long score-ratings down of nearly every one of his players along the way; players who look a little confused and frustrated on the pitch, some of the time, as a lot of the failed experiments blow-up in our manager’s face. Ilkay Gundogan has had a few words on the current situation too.

Are some of the players to blame also? Yeah, I’ve seen some really bad passing too and that can’t-possibly be down to Pep. There is a lot of blame to go around in a season that, in large parts, now feels like 3 or 4 steps forward and 1 step sideways or back but I believe that blame lies both in the playing AND management staff in these often-avoidable ‘blip’ games.

Right starting-11 personnel choices please, Mr Guardiola…and ‘round pegs in round holes’ too would be good.

Having to throw so many ‘A’-list players on the pitch in order to try and salvage something from the first half carnage last Wednesday and just 2-½ days before an important league fixture & derby was, for me, just as embarrassing as it was irritating.

We can’t always perform brilliantly, of course, and we have no divine right whatsoever to win every game…AND, by the way; well done Southampton who deserved the win on the night. But what annoys me when things do go slightly awry is when it’s self-inflicted / avoidable. Do you know what I mean? Perform well but get beaten ‘fair & square’ by an equal or better side on the day and, yeah; fair enough.

Anyway, spleen vented – moving swiftly on…

v Manyoo

Scaffold Trafford

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (possibly 3-6-1 at times):

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

 

___________Silva________________De Bruyne______

 

_____________________Rodri____________________

Ake______________________________________Lewis

__________Laporte______________Akanji___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Ortega, Cancelo, Gomez, Walker, Phillips, Gundogan, Foden, Palmer & Alvarez.

Ederson is back ‘between the sticks’.

A back-4 of Nathan (our new, best left-back?), Aymeric, Manuel & Rico.

Rodders comes back in the starting-11 as our defensive midfielder; Jack, who only saw 11 minutes of the second half in midweek, Bernardo, Kevin & Riyad are ahead of the Spaniard in the attacking midfield / wing department.

Erling is the recipient of all that creativity behind him.

Stefan steps back as reserve keeper; Joao, Sergio & Kyle are the defenders on the side. Kalvin, Ilkay, Phil & Cole are the midfield / wing back-ups; while Julian provides a striker replacement option in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       John Stones – Not “injured”, as such by the sounds of it, but out again due to…“fitness issues”. Read into that what you will…

-       Ruben Dias – It sounds like the Portuguese central defender might have been training to some degree following his hamstring injury that he picked up for his national side because when asked yesterday; his boss said that he could return soon (to squad training?). 👍

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

Personally, I’d like Foden on the left-attacking flank for this one; even though, like a few of his teammates, he’s struggling to find consistency / decent form, for whatever reason that may be. Other than that though…definitely, yes.

Result? A home side with really solid form against an away side with a ‘run - run - slip’ refrain, at the moment. That doesn’t sound too good for us, does it?

However, I just have a good feeling about this one and, yes; I think our latest midweek ‘blip’ will give us an ‘extra push’ / desire to get back on track…again.

I do-also think that we’ll start the game ‘all guns blazing’ and although I will give our hosts a goal; I honestly believe that we’ll score more. It’s a City win from me.

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: The pitch will-have-had a RIGHT ol’ soaking for a good number of hours before the early KO (12:30pm GMT), as heavy rain swept in overnight. It doesn’t end there either; with lighter but persistent showers blowing over into the early part of the game, at least. The high-sided stands should provide a lot of protection from the 18MPH average wind speeds so I can’t imagine the ball being affected by that but that’s gonna be one ‘zippy’ pitch for some quick passes as well as some-possible mis-judged tackles. It should have all dried up in time for fans to make their way to their various destinations after the match.

Solidarity

 

Another day, another cup…

…and just 2-½ day before a certain league-derby game. They just keep coming ‘thick ‘n’ fast’!

v Southampton

St. Mary's Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

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

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

____________________Alvarez____________________

 

 

Grealish_________________________________Palmer

 

________Gundogan_____________De Bruyne_______

 

____________________Phillips____________________

Gomez___________________________________Lewis

__________­___Ake_____________Stones___________

 

 

_____________________Ortega____________________

Subs: Ederson, Cancelo, Walker, Akanji, Rodri, Foden, Silva, Mahrez & Haaland.

Stefan to continue in net.

Will Sergio get two back-to-back starts at left-wing back? One extreme to the other? Perhaps not – Joao Cancelo could well start this one. However, I’m just going with my instincts and I’m sticking the Spaniard ‘in there’ over the Portuguese international. Joining the 22-year-old in defence I’m going for Nathan, John & Rico.

Did you see all of Pep’s pre-match press conference? I think it was about 24-minutes long and it felt like 20 of those minutes were questions and long answers about Kalvin Phillips! Yep…I believe he may just start this one. 😊

Ahead of the England international in more advance midfield positions are Jack, assuming he’s over his off-colour feeling of course, Ilkay, Kevin & Cole. I’m going to ignore our manager’s suggestions that Kevin might not get a start tonight after playing so many minutes in recent months and, especially, ahead of the early kick-off on Saturday (12:30pm GMT). Others who played just 3 days ago need a bit of a break too and I think we might, therefore, see the Belgium international start and-perhaps get replaced; if not at half time, then no later than the 60^th minute. Surely, he can’t go into a crucial league fixture / derby game with nothing but training legs in the previous 9 days, can he?

Julian to get another start ‘up top’.

Ederson keeps another seat warm on the side for the second game in a row; Joao, Kyle & Manuel make up the defensive options in ‘the 9’. Rodders, Phil, Barnardo & Riyad provide back-up in the midfielder / wing department, while Erling sits in anticipation of-perhaps getting a cameo role in this fixture; no doubt itching to have another pop at the Trafford Reds on Saturday.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Not selected / rested / protected after returning to action last Sunday following some recent ‘niggles’.

-       Ruben Dias – Still out for an unspecified period of time with a hamstring injury sustained in his last match for Portugal.

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

Yep.

Result? The Saints are in a bad way but did manage to beat fellow Premier League opposition, Crystal Palace, away in the F.A. Cup last game out.

However, that poor league form shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity to simple swan into this match thinking that it’s ‘job done’ before the ball has even been kicked – these have given us a tough time on a number of occasions in recent seasons; we might also be facing at least one ex-City player - and you know what that can often mean - and we might also see a debut for their vastly experienced, Croatian international winger, Mislav Orsic.

It's very rare that we see a Manchester City-Pep side go into a game with anything other than a focused, winning mentality – we have seen it on the very odd occasion where we’ve looked ‘out of sorts’ and appear shellshocked as the opposition “dare” to outfox us. However, Pep’s increased mantra in recent press conferences has been about his players needing a hard-working attitude and positive mentality - anything less just won’t do, as the Spanish boss scrutinises them on the training ground.

I can’t see anything other than a determination for us to progress tonight – we appear to have our tail up now. I’m having this as a City win.

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

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Keep the ball on the floor fellas! It’s quite often a breezy affair being near most coastal areas but tonight’s forecast sees wind gusts of 40 to 50MPH throughout the entire game. It’s blowing in (sideways) rain too and, so, I can’t imagine the reasonably mild [for the time of year] temperature of 10C feeling anything like. It’s definitely not a game for the more-timid footballer. Hooded coats fans - even in a roofed stand with that horizontal wet stuff!

Solidarity