Match Report: City (FA Cup) & Preview Brentford & Everton (Premier League).

 

Match Report: City (FA Cup) & Preview Brentford & Everton (Premier League).

After 16 years of waiting for a cup, another year has now passed us by with nothing again to put in our trophy cabinet. We've been knocked out of the League Cup by Fulham because we fielded a weak side. And now the FA Cup because of injury problems, plus three of our top players have had to report for international duty.

Now, all our hopes are focused on a top-four place… and if that fails, maybe we might be able to dip our toes into the Europa League competition, or if we fall even further, the Europa Conference league will be waiting to try to humiliate us even more… and if that also fails, back to the drawing board and starting all over again, as we did this season.  But with Ange, we have faith (and patience). That is if Ange isn’t whizzed off to Liverpool because he believes we are a lost cause under Levy. You never know with this mad world of football and the workings of Daniel’s penny-pinching mind.

Daniel’s 24-year reign is synonymous with one trophy and a brand-new spanking, money-creating stadium. But let us be bit generous here (not too much); either this will be the start of a new era under Levy and Ange or the beginning of the end of Daniel Levy. Yes, you can tell I am pissed off after yesterday’s game.

Pep Guardiola was asked a while back what his next challenge after winning his treble would be, and his reply was to score a goal at Tottenham. He has never done that at our new stadium (that is before our FA Cup clash) … Yesterday, in the fourth round of the FA Cup, he achieved that wish and, in the process, knocked us out of the competition. In Ange, we believe!! A work in progress, we should put it down to.

To the goal that knocked us out of this year's last remaining competition.

Yes, Nathan Ake's late goal gave City their first victory in six visits to our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a place in the FA Cup fifth round. We applauded our team after the final whistle, bowed our heads, and walked out of the stadium. Those who could – in the Premium seats and above- collected their piece or pieces of cake (depending on how many they could carry) and walked out of the stadium munching.

City looked likely to have to settle for a replay after missing a succession of chances before Ake scored their first goal at this stadium after five successive defeats and with two minutes left as our keeper Guglielmo Vicario failed to hold Kevin de Bruyne's corner under pressure from Ruben Dias.

To say it was a bitter blow is an understatement. City were the better side, still, they missed many opportunities that had come their way before Ake bundled home from close range. We barely registered an attacking threat, while City had an early Oscar Bobb strike ruled out for offside. Vicario also saved well from Bernardo Silva. De Bruyne was uncharacteristically wasteful with a golden opportunity after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had gifted possession to Phil Foden.

With a few minutes to go and a replay looking certain, Ake sparked wild scenes of celebration among the 9,000 City fans who had made the journey to north London. We just stood and stared in eye-watering numbness.

Thoughts…

Micky van de Ven was outstanding in defence, while Vicario was secure until he could not hold on to De Bruyne's corner, giving Ake the chance to pounce. We hoped in vain that the video assistant referee might detect a foul by Dias on Vicario, but the decision stood.

With that over, we must focus on staying in touch with the Premier League's leading pack of wolves. We are currently fifth. However, the return of our hero James Maddison as a substitute after being out with an ankle injury since November will boost that effort, but this loss has upset us.

On another note, since my next-door-sitting-neighbour at the Tottenham stadium gave up his seat at the end of last season, I’ve had nothing but one-offs sitting next to me… and they always asked me to give up my seat so that their partner/ sister/ mother or any Tom, Dick and Harry can have my seat… No! But now I’ve got somebody who has bought the seat outright and will be at least my partner for three years (the amount of time he signed up for). So, some good news (we exchanged numbers).

Mel and I got out quickly, rushing home. Then we got caught on the M4 (accident) and sat in the car for over half an hour, staring into the abyss… hoping things would speed up and we would be back on our way home. Finally, gone midnight, we started moving.

Match preview: Spurs v Brentford this Wednesday (31^st).

Lucky for us, Brentford are no City… but that doesn’t mean it is a done deal.

Brentford are sitting 14^th in the league, having lost ten games. They are six points ahead of relegation fodder Luton Town. However, if you remember, this was Ange’s first game in the Premier League for us, and we only managed a draw on that hot sunny day. I remember the game well. Hopefully, we can go one step further and spank their arses this time around.

Janette will accompany us. She is excited about attending the match (I take all credit… as I am sure she will want me to!). Mel will also be by my side… just like two Laurel and Hardy lookalikes who were rejected for a comedian competition on board the Titanic… We all know what happened to that ship, but away from this frivolity and back to serious business.

Prediction…

I predict we will bounce back from the City defeat and wallop Brentford 3-0.

What about injuries and absentees?

Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma remain absent from the lineup for now, as does Son due to Asian Cup commitments.

Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), Alejo Veliz (knee), Manor Solomon (knee) and Giovani Lo Celso (thigh) remain sidelined too. Still, James Maddison seems fit now – even though he got a token run out against City, he will probably start on the bench again.  Ben Davies (thigh) and Dane Scarlett (unspecified) are back in training, too, and even managed to get a look in against City.

Our possible lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Hojbjerg, Bentancur; Johnson, Kulusevski, Werner; Richarlison, with Maddison again on the bench.

We should have a formidable team once Son and the other players return from their international kickaround.

Once this game is completed, we are off to Everton on Saturday for a 12.30 kick-off. Like the London buses, nothing comes for ages, and then two come at once.

Preview Spurs v Everton.

My prediction…

2-1

As for the team lineup, similar to the City one, with probably Maddison starting.

COYS!

Glenn

With Paul Coyte