West Bromwich Albion (A) preview
Another weekend approaches which means it's preview time. This time City head to the midlands for an away match against Tony Pulis's West Brom. The match will be difficult, West Brom always is but I expect from this match. WBA do not press high, they sit back and wait for opportunities. If City don't make mistakes, I'm confident we could even keep a clean sheet for this game. We need to be tight in defence though and work on getting the ball up field as quickly as possible and try and tire the WBA players into mistakes as I suspect they will sit back, even all ten men at a time and look to keep City out. If we can break they down early and play properly, we could have a very positive result on our hands. But we need to weary of West Brom, respect what they are about and set up to beat them. I expect a 4-1-4-1 again, which should be good be City as long as the players perform like how we know they can.
West Brom signed Chadli in the summer, he is the main threat with a lot of quality. He caused problems against Spurs the other week and has the quality to cause City problems. Rondon has quality too, so if City can defend well then the big problem becomes their strong defence. They will be stubborn so it could be a long afternoon for City and WBA could sneak ahead, so I'd like to see City return to the aggression shown in the early season, attack all guns blazing for the first half, get a couple of goals and put all the pressure on WBA's attackers, that will create space like it did at Stoke away, Bucharest too.
Kompany needed a rest at half time, I'm not sure he'll start but does he need to? I'd save him for Barcelona, he's organised and important for that huge match. I think it's unlucky that Maffeo shouldn't start, if Zabaleta isn't fit to start then he should have a chance. Clichy did ok at Old Trafford, he could start and I would start him. I don't want to see 3 at the back again but Pep might want to... I hope he sees sense to return to the formation that worked so well though. The midfield will be a little bit more predictable. KDB probably won't start, but if he does then great. He's the main man at City at the moment, so he's massive for the big game against Barca. Silva will start, Gundogan too and Fernandinho. Garcia should get some minutes too, what a talent and great backup with Fernando. Sane wasn't great at Old Trafford, will he start? Not for me. Nolito and Sterling for me, or Navas and to change them at some point in the second half. Aguero up front, he needs goals. I'm confident for this match, I'm hopeful and City really need a win. No wins in 6 for Guardiola and his worse run as a manager, ever. Not good. I'm going for 2-1 City so hear is hoping.
Team prediction for WBA away -
Bravo-Zabaleta-Otamendi-Stones-Clichy-Fernandinho-Gundogan-Silva-Sterling-Nolito-Aguero.
