Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth

"Still, all opponents should study how Lyon took the fight to England’s champions and came so close to another victory over them. City’s paper-thin rearguard were exposed as the forward raced in behind to restore Lyon’s lead – and this was the story of the visitors’ defence throughout."
 
My first trip there: has anyone been to the brewery taprooms around Piccadilly before the game; what are they like in terms of crowds? Looks a fairly straight forward walk from the city centre.
 
My first trip there: has anyone been to the brewery taprooms around Piccadilly before the game; what are they like in terms of crowds? Looks a fairly straight forward walk from the city centre.

they will be busy but with that time flight you won't have a problem !!!
easy walk to ground 15-20 mins, quicker than grabbing a bus. have a good one.
 
My first trip there: has anyone been to the brewery taprooms around Piccadilly before the game; what are they like in terms of crowds? Looks a fairly straight forward walk from the city centre.

It's the 'wobbly walk' back to the ground you need to be concerned with!!!
 
Let's get serious now guys...Wednesday through to Saturday ..Gypsies Curse on Sterling for Starters...and Eddies Plan raising steam....Lyons Corner House kindly roughed em up and showed us how to make coffee...I'm cheesed off with Sh#t Sandwich Sundays and Lineker is looking bored on Motd...so my little Brooksy( no pressure Dave Boy!) ..turn that Blue Moon ..Red n Black! Serious...guys... serious! We are Bournemouth...we have some pretty cliffs.... but we can climb mountains!
 
Probably Our Hardest Game Of The Season

After losing our last three matches, two at home and one away, our team make the trip up North to face what will probably be their toughest game of the season, against a Manchester City side who are only two points behind at this stage last season. Their manager Pep Guardiola is continuing the good work he did at his previous clubs Bayern Munich and Barcelona. At all three clubs he has an incredible win record. Our own Eddie Howe has been described as having many similarities and mindset as Pep Guardiola, both have an obsession to detail and playing entertaining football. In terms of the players available to both managers and money wise, it is a David versus Goliath scenario. Record signings, for City £60 million and for AFCB £25 million.

In the Summer, Manchester City finally brought Riyad Mahrez to the Etihad Stadium from Leicester City for a club record £60 million. They also signed three other players, centre-back Philippe Sandler from Dutch side PEC Zwolle, Australian midfield player Daniel Arzani from Melbourne City, who is on a season long loan to Celtic, both these players for an undisclosed fee. Midfield player Claudio Gomes from Paris St Germain on a free transfer.

City have won all their 7 home games in the Premier League so far this season. The only points they have dropped are draws away at both Liverpool and Wolves. Of their seven home games, they have conceded goals in four of them. In their last three home games they have scored 14 goals out of 27 goals scored at home. On a positive note at the Etihad Stadium, Newcastle and Brighton both kept the score down. Going back to last season when City won the title, Huddersfield came away with a point, being the only side to stop City scoring at home in the league. Everton also drew there and Manchester United were the only team to win at their neighbours ground.

Manchester City’s 7 home wins were against Huddersfield 6-1, Newcastle United 2-1, Fulham 3-0, Brighton 2-0, Burnley 5-0, Saints 6-1 and neighbours Manchester United 3-1.
On their travels, City have beaten Arsenal 0-2, Cardiff City 0-5, Spurs 0-1, West Ham 0-4. Drew with Wolves 1-1 and Liverpool 0-0, the only game they haven’t scored.

The Cherries have lost heavily on their visits to Manchester City in the Premier League, 2015-16, 5-1, 2016-17, 4-0, 2017-18, 4-0. In all our league visits up to Manchester to play City, AFCB have Drawn 1, Lost 5. In all our league games, AFCB have Drawn 2 and Lost 10.

Manchester City Team News
On the injury front, Kevin De Bruyne - knee ligament, Claudio Bravo - Achilles, Benjamin Mendy – knee, will be missing. Three players who have been out with injuries, Bernardo Silva – muscle, Ilkay Gundogan – foot, Gabriel Jesus – groin, are expected to be available for Saturday.

Manchester City Player To Watch
Where do you start! They have a number to choose from. Aguero, Sane, Mahrez and the two Silva’s etc. But with his scoring record against us, it will have to be Raheem Sterling. He has scored in every game he has played against us. In our first season in the Premier League up at their place he got a hat-trick. Didn’t play in our home fixture. In the following seasons he scored a goal in both home and away games. So far this season in his 11 appearances, he has scored 7 goals and has 6 assists.

AFCB Team News
Jefferson Lerma will miss this game due to suspension, he received his fifth yellow card against Arsenal on Sunday. Adam Smith out with a cartilage knee injury until around February next year.

AFCB Player To Watch
Thought against Arsenal David Brooks had a very good game. He has been playing well for Wales. Be interesting to see how he fares in the company of the big spending City side. Same can be said for Callum Wilson, Josh King and the ‘flying Scotsman’, against the ‘mean’ City defence.
 
Probably Our Hardest Game Of The Season

After losing our last three matches, two at home and one away, our team make the trip up North to face what will probably be their toughest game of the season, against a Manchester City side who are only two points behind at this stage last season. Their manager Pep Guardiola is continuing the good work he did at his previous clubs Bayern Munich and Barcelona. At all three clubs he has an incredible win record. Our own Eddie Howe has been described as having many similarities and mindset as Pep Guardiola, both have an obsession to detail and playing entertaining football. In terms of the players available to both managers and money wise, it is a David versus Goliath scenario. Record signings, for City £60 million and for AFCB £25 million.

In the Summer, Manchester City finally brought Riyad Mahrez to the Etihad Stadium from Leicester City for a club record £60 million. They also signed three other players, centre-back Philippe Sandler from Dutch side PEC Zwolle, Australian midfield player Daniel Arzani from Melbourne City, who is on a season long loan to Celtic, both these players for an undisclosed fee. Midfield player Claudio Gomes from Paris St Germain on a free transfer.

City have won all their 7 home games in the Premier League so far this season. The only points they have dropped are draws away at both Liverpool and Wolves. Of their seven home games, they have conceded goals in four of them. In their last three home games they have scored 14 goals out of 27 goals scored at home. On a positive note at the Etihad Stadium, Newcastle and Brighton both kept the score down. Going back to last season when City won the title, Huddersfield came away with a point, being the only side to stop City scoring at home in the league. Everton also drew there and Manchester United were the only team to win at their neighbours ground.

Manchester City’s 7 home wins were against Huddersfield 6-1, Newcastle United 2-1, Fulham 3-0, Brighton 2-0, Burnley 5-0, Saints 6-1 and neighbours Manchester United 3-1.
On their travels, City have beaten Arsenal 0-2, Cardiff City 0-5, Spurs 0-1, West Ham 0-4. Drew with Wolves 1-1 and Liverpool 0-0, the only game they haven’t scored.

The Cherries have lost heavily on their visits to Manchester City in the Premier League, 2015-16, 5-1, 2016-17, 4-0, 2017-18, 4-0. In all our league visits up to Manchester to play City, AFCB have Drawn 1, Lost 5. In all our league games, AFCB have Drawn 2 and Lost 10.

Manchester City Team News
On the injury front, Kevin De Bruyne - knee ligament, Claudio Bravo - Achilles, Benjamin Mendy – knee, will be missing. Three players who have been out with injuries, Bernardo Silva – muscle, Ilkay Gundogan – foot, Gabriel Jesus – groin, are expected to be available for Saturday.

Manchester City Player To Watch
Where do you start! They have a number to choose from. Aguero, Sane, Mahrez and the two Silva’s etc. But with his scoring record against us, it will have to be Raheem Sterling. He has scored in every game he has played against us. In our first season in the Premier League up at their place he got a hat-trick. Didn’t play in our home fixture. In the following seasons he scored a goal in both home and away games. So far this season in his 11 appearances, he has scored 7 goals and has 6 assists.

AFCB Team News
Jefferson Lerma will miss this game due to suspension, he received his fifth yellow card against Arsenal on Sunday. Adam Smith out with a cartilage knee injury until around February next year.

AFCB Player To Watch
Thought against Arsenal David Brooks had a very good game. He has been playing well for Wales. Be interesting to see how he fares in the company of the big spending City side. Same can be said for Callum Wilson, Josh King and the ‘flying Scotsman’, against the ‘mean’ City defence.
Probably???..I would say that without doubt Manchester City at home are the best PL side by a mile!...It will be difficult for us to come away without a heavy defeat (3 or 4 nil)...however football can throw up the occasional surprise and I am hoping that Saturday will be one of those!
 
Probably???..I would say that without doubt Manchester City at home are the best PL side by a mile!...It will be difficult for us to come away without a heavy defeat (3 or 4 nil)...however football can throw up the occasional surprise and I am hoping that Saturday will be one of those!

“Probably”

As mentioned above, Huddersfield held them to a 0-0 draw last season.

This is football, we might meet them on an off day, who knows.

Just hope our team go into the game with the thought it is 11 v 11 humans and we have a chance. Think Eddie will be getting that message over to them.
 
“Probably”

As mentioned above, Huddersfield held them to a 0-0 draw last season.

This is football, we might meet them on an off day, who knows.

Just hope our team go into the game with the thought it is 11 v 11 humans and we have a chance. Think Eddie will be getting that message over to them.

Hey billy, you have changed your tune compared to your response at my optimism! I think give it a go like Lyon and if we lose, so be it. Better than newcastle’s defensive approach.
 
Hey billy, you have changed your tune compared to your response at my optimism! I think give it a go like Lyon and if we lose, so be it. Better than newcastle’s defensive approach.

Not really. Was just trying to point out missing Lerma is a big blow, he adds something different to our midfield.

They do have strength in depth and are unbeaten at home.

Odds are against us, but in football as we know, players/teams can have an off day and you just hope it might be Saturday for City.

Always been an optimist supporting our team.
 
Hopefully not enough room to swing a clapper in the cupboard. Can we have Republican on the door? Just to stop anyone leaving early ( in the unlikely event we go a couple of goals down ) : )
 

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