Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Manchester City may come into this game Tonight in 5th but Pep Guardiola knows that a point would move them into the Top 4 while a win would see them move up to 2nd in the Premier League, these are the fine margins that we are dealing with at present.
Tonight sees them make the trip to the South Coast and the Vitality Stadium as they face off against Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth, a side which has been in a very charitable mood as of late as they are conceding goals by the bucketload.
They come into this game having failed to win any of their last 5 league matches, that has coincided with a slump down the table as they now find themselves in 14th and just nervously looking over their shoulder as the likes of Swansea are now undergoing a resurgence under Paul Clement.
For Bournemouth they will have to be a lot tighter at the back then they were last weekend when they shipped 6 against Everton, in what turned out to be a bizarre game The Cherries only really got going when they were 3-0 down and although a comeback was in the midst, they were blown away late on as Everton found the extra gears to wrap up the points.
It’s not just the fact that they are failing to win it’s the amount of goals that they are conceding which will be the concern for manager Eddie Howe. It’s 16 goals against in that run of 5 without a win, after a decent start to the season it is in danger of being eroded away.
Opponents Manchester City, come into this game off the back of successive wins and will look to carry that momentum on this Evening. After disposing West Ham with ease they were made to earn their win over Swansea last Sunday, with the winner coming in slightly contentious circumstances.
Man of the moment Gabriel Jesus was on hand to head home the winner but Swansea will consider themselves aggrieved after seeing a free kick incorrectly awarded and then Gael Clichy restarting play without the ball being stationary. A cruel dose of luck for Swansea, a get out of jail free card for City.
The question that once again everyone will be asking is where Sergio Aguero will fit into the lineup. Pep Guardiola has opted for a youthful trio in attack during the last two games with Jesus, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling making up the attacking triumvirate.
This has meant that Aguero has had to make do with a bit part role of the bench, he was used almost in desperation against Swansea as City looked to get back in front. If he does not start Tonight then it will only fuel the fires in regards to his long term future at the club.
But regardless of whether Aguero starts or not you get the feeling that City will have enough attacking talent at their disposal to make it another miserable showing for Bournemouth. Nothing suggests that they will be able to tighten up this sinking ship and I can’t see anything other than a City win as they move back up to 2nd in the table.
