I, like many, find it difficult to muster any sort of enthusiasm for the international break.
Maybe it's because I'm a miserable Englishman; a miserable Englishman who is forced to 'support' a miserable team with a miserable manager and miserable players. The somber 1-0 win over Estonia did little to change that.
What England does boast, however, is a particularly stimulating domestic competition. This weekend, the Premier League returns. Thank God.
Manchester City host a Tottenham Hotspur side that melted like butter against the top four last season, and although the North London outfit are still an extremely beatable side, Pochettino has improved their defensive discipline somewhat.
Long gone are the days when a tug-of-war between the Blues and the Lillywhites often confirmed a Champions League spot, in fact, City have sailed so far past their ex-rivals that we don't even hate Spurs anymore. And Christ, did I despise Spurs' fans.
Pochettino's men are no longer the Bale-ful side they used to be (get it?...) and City look set to record a comfortable victory in Saturday's early kick-off.
Prediction: 2-0
How Manchester City should line up
Goalkeeper
There's no choice, really. Hart is the better, more commanding goalkeeper and Manuel Pellegrini needs to get out of the habit of rotating him with Caballero. It will only damage his confidence.
Defence
Aleksandar Kolarov was involved in a rather eventful tie against Albania that involved more drones and fighting than football and will probably be rested on Saturday. Gaël Clichy was overlooked by France manager Didier Deschamps (again) and will be fresh.
(Kolarov was forced to act as a peace-maker when Serbia's international match against Albania was abandoned due to violence)
Eliaquim Mangala played no part in France's 3-0 win over Armenia after picking up a groin injury, but his omission was believed to be precautionary.
Midfield
Yaya Touré is expected to land back in Manchester tomorrow after representing Ivory Coast in their 4-3 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday. The Ivorian scored the Elephant's first goal, but is unlikely to contribute anything to City's weekend fixture and could be rested for CSKA Moscow.
His likely absence could form a Brazilian partnership between Fernando and Fernandinho in the centre of midfield. Both are considered as defensive players, but Fernandinho does have the ability to bombard forward with pace. He'll probably supplement the attack whilst Fernando sweeps up just in front of the defence.
(Fernandinho and Fernando could finally line up alongside each other on Saturday)
Fernandinho was unavailable for Brazil's 4-0 win over Japan earlier in the week after picking up a hamstring injury, but could be fit to start this weekend.
Jesus Navas opened the scoring after just 14 seconds in last year's equivalent fixture, and his speed is always a welcome addition to City's attacking play, especially at home. James Milner is bang in form, but Navas will offer that little bit more in terms of goalscoring threat.
Strikers
Manuel Pellegrini has shown a preference towards the 4-4-2 formation with two strikers at home this season, and with Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko in form and scoring goals, the Chilean should opt for the Argentinian-Bosnian strike-force yet again on Saturday.
(Agüero and Džeko have scored 7 Premier League goals between them so far this season)
Injury list
- Samir Nasri
- Stevan Jovetić (Limped off in Montenegro's 0-0 draw with Liechtenstein, but reports suggest it could have just been cramp)
- Eliaquim Mangala (Groin injury - omitted as a precaution against Armenia, could return)
- Fernandinho (Hamstring injury - no fresh news)
