Watford home preview

Here we go again.

I'm not feeling up for the game, I thought City were so poor on Saturday that I'm questioning whether they're going to make hard work of all games? Don't get me wrong, the Premier League is hard, but you can make games easy by simply accessing your opponents, what their weaknesses are and hurt them from the first minute. If someones main left back isn't playing and a slow left back is brought in in their place, you play pace on your right wing and you target that. If the goalkeepers are struggling, you make sure your shots are on target and test them. That's what all the other teams are doing to City and City have more than enough quality to do it back. Pep won't budge on his passing style, I agree with him. I want him to just tweak the team to suit who we are playing. Watford, tonight, will get chances, play with some pace but they leave gaps in their midfield. With that in mind, creativity is needed and some pace in attack, Watford aren't as quick as Leicester nor as aggressive. They will start like that (City's weakness) but they don't play that way. I think if City can tighten up in defence, the game should be theres. i said this about Leicester yet lessons were not learnt. The warning signs are there. I will question Pep if City keep making the same mistakes. I accept players make mistakes and it's so important that these players make up for it. I'm looking for Stones to make a difference, for Kolarov to know when to attack and when to sit tight with the CB. I'm looking for Sterling to cut in, cause problems like Nolito does so regularly. I'm looking for Bravo to save shots. His last 10 shots on target on his goal have gone in. He's so good with his feet but that doesn't hide his ability to keep the goal. We may as well put Silva in net, he's a good passer and great with his feet. I want more from Bravo. He's Chile's number one and Barcelona's former number one, he needs to show why. If not, I'd rather Caballero started. He isn't the greatest but i've seen him make some nice saves and I've seen him make errors too. He does try his hardest and works on his weaknesses. I've grown to like him. 

I think City might persist with 3 at the back. I say that as I don't think City have the numbers yet to play with 4. That may come on Sunday. I've been really unimpressed with Sagna and Clichy this season. Both have done themselves no favours but I think that is down to City's system, they don't suit it. That means they will either leave this January or in the summer. I'd like to Zaba at right back tonight if we go with 4. I fear for the RB position on Sunday though. Imagine Arsenal's pace of Sanchez, Ox, Walcott, Bellerin etc on the wings. Frightening. I think it's really important for tonight though, that City cut out space. 3 at the back can do that, as long as it isn't Sane, Sterling and Navas in the wing backs. I'd like to Kolarov on the left hand side, it might suit him as long as he plays a good game (like he did against Barcelona, so solid). On the right, I don't know. I think Navas has done ok with defending this season and getting back, I don't think Silva has done bad either. I think we'll see Gundogan occupy the middle, Silva ahead of them, KDB and Sterling ahead of them and Kolarov and Navas on the wings. Iheanacho will be up top and De Bruyne and either Nolito or Sterling sitting behind. I think we will see Sterling. Pace can hurt Watford tonight. I suspect we might see Sane off the bench too. The only players I can think that might start is Yaya, that might be in place of Silva or Gundogan (if either need a rest, it's plausible). The other might be Adarbioyo or Maffeo. Maffeo I'm not sure about, he can't play CB and can't hurt Watford as he isn't quick. If City play 4 at the back, we may see him. I'd be tempted to play Adarbioyo though, he looked comfortable against Celtic, what do we lose with him sitting next to Stones and Ota? It can't be any worse than Saturday and he might be the answer City have been looking for in defence. Who knows, we'll see. I wasn't impressed with Fernando, I don't think he is good enough. I think Pep will experiment with Gundogan in Fernandinho's role (don't get me started on the lack of cover for him). Fernandinho is suspended, Aguero too but Otamendi is back. 

Watford will play with pace, intent and wanting to ruffle City's feathers. They will defend in numbers and look for some quality in the middle and perhaps fancy their chances from range. King did on Saturday and he was rewarded. Watford will back themselves, they're doing well this season, again, like last season and they caused City problems last season. Watford already have United to their scalp and they'll fancy City at the Etihad. City have been poor at home and if they don't play on top of their game, Watford could gain a point and they could win it. Don't rule that out. Deeney is their danger man, I'm confident that if City can keep him quiet, that's a big scalp. I want City to attack from minute one, no slow starts, attack and look for goals. If they score, score again. Pep got this into the players minds at the beginning of the season, he can do it again now. You keep scoring, the opponent stops trying and your defence can rest easy. That's the only way City will keep clean sheets this season unless 3 or 4 defenders are brought in next month. They're bad defenders that look brains and pace. No wonder we concede so many. I think they'll concede again tonight. Don't forget to put City in your BTTS acca's. I'll be optimistic and say 2-1 City. How i've got optimism after Saturday's dreadful showing, I don't know, I think I just like watching football and really want the team to do well. One day they will and I'll be delighted. I'll end on Pep saying he wants good performances, like we did against Chelsea and Barcelona. I agree with him. If City can match that, they will win a lot more than they lose. That's the key to the Premier League, it's not the matches against your rivals, but the pressure of winning and winning and winning which forces teams into errors. I thought Chelsea were poor against City until the last 25 minutes. City didn't kill the game and the pressure of City needing to win as Chelsea keep on winning told. Chelsea were under no pressure and when you have no pressure, you can relax. Boom, 3 shots on goal and 3 goals... Bravo and City's defending for you. But fair credit Chelsea, I wish City could match their positions, defending and willingness to win. Here's hoping aye. 

Team prediction for tonight -

Bravo, Stones, Adarbioyo, Otamendi, Navas, Kolarov, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Iheanacho.