MAN CITY v Southampton – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
23 May
The final game of this strange season is here. Disappointment and frustration have reigned for much of the campaign, interspersed with the odd fleeting glimmer of excitement, and since the derby we have been almost counting down the games until the close. With second place now secured, one more pressure-free encounter sees us home.
Manuel Pellegrini has only two main selection dilemmas. The first revolves around the possible inclusion of captain Vincent Kompany, and the second is whether Wilfried Bony gets the chance to show what he can do from the start. In reality, I’d expect Kompany to come in to the side, with the rest of the eleven unchanged.
Frank Lampard is set to say his goodbyes to English football, with a whole host of others – the likes of Yaya Touré, James Milner, Bacary Sagna, Aleks Kolarov, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic – also on varying verges of leaving the club. It will be a day of departure waves as players trudge off the pitch and then plenty of subsequent gossip.
Here is the side Pellegrini could select:
Referee: Chris Foy.
Prediction: MAN CITY 3 – 2 Southampton – Games like this are often entertaining and with City not having any pressure on them, there could be a feast of attacking football. I’m backing Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Touré, Saido Mane and Graziano Pelle to get their names on the scoresheet.
Going to get bored of repeating this but really want to see Wilfred start, no pressure on the game and I think it would show a good vote of confidence going into the summer.
As drastic as it seems it probably is the time to say to goodbye to most of the players mentioned by VFAB. Bit frustrating that Kolarov has started looking really good recently and I don’t think Sagna has been given a fair chance but apart from that can’t really argue.
I know from our shared acquaintance that you are a very busy boy these days Vfabers,and would just like to thank you for one of the more intelligent and knowledgeable blogs on our beloved club, concentrating as it does on the likely team selection and the performances that follow.
Before every game I look forward to your insights, and then check up afterwards. Decent grammar, descriptive English, thoughtful comment, and you don’t get the hump when others (including me on occasion) disagree and throw a wobble
Regrettably the need to earn a crust and have a career (and a life
) will draw it to a close in some Kings reign. No time soon though, that’s my hope.
Alph
+1 to all the above.
Congrats VFAB on best city blog. Check in before and after every game. Great season, I’d give you 8.5 shading a 9. If only the team had been as consistent.
That’s some utter boll** that the “experts at sky” are saying about raheem s – playing to the mob, barnes – henry & co….. As far as I’m aware nobody likes to be told how to think, the pool dished the dirt first – out of order – sterling ‘interview’ was understandable if poorly ‘advised’ the pool (along with Mr clooney oh sorry Brenden) are obsessed with the p.r machine – they are indeed a ‘sensitive club’ the chap is a fine prospect for sure – I think that 85 mil with wages is way to much, he still has much to improve on, finishing for starters & maybe a decent hair cut….jovetic/Edin could go the other way, welcome back view – congrats to the gaffer/team on second…. Not to be sniffed at, danny rose looks a fine player- he has a bit of the tiger in him that I like…. As stated previously kelechi looks like a star waiting to light up the sky, I’m very very surprised he’s not in the squad for tomorrow …. He’s a certainty to cause major havoc next season.. Good luck to Frankie baby tomorrow – its been really super to see him play for the moon, it looks like the end of the road for James tomorrow unfortunately, I can’t say a negative thing about the guy – an excellent pro/bloke – ii be very sorry to see him leave…p.s j.h save last week was magnificent / he’s had a super season (kicking???) Mangala last week??? Holy sh*t, that boy needs to breath & learn to meditate – good luck to all & thanks again Mr view for all your fine work.
This is a game where Pellers need to give a chance to some youth esp Kelechi Iheanacho