AFCB Vital Match Zone

Man City @ Dean Court – First Live Televised Game Of The Season

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Written by billythekid

The trip up to the Midlands was a rewarding one for AFCB and their fans, returning with all 3 points. This was the second-best start to a first two-game home and away season since our club have entered the Premier League. The best was last season (2018-19) when the Cherries won the opening two games, the first three seasons (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18), AFCB lost the opening two games.

The second home game of the new season sees the Premier League Champions for the (2018-19, 2017-18) seasons Manchester City visit Dean Court. The Cherries have yet to register a win against them home or away, having lost all 8 games in the Premier League. City had a good start to this season with a 0-5 victory at the London Stadium against West Ham United. Their first home game at the City of Manchester Stadium, presently known as the Etihad Stadium, started with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs), both sides expected to be challenging for the title this season. The Dean Court game on Sunday is being shown live on Sky TV, kick-off time 2 pm.

City are managed by Spaniard Josep Guardiola, probably one of, if not the best manager in the World, he joined City on the 1st July 2016. In his first season (2016-17) in the Premier League Manchester City finished in 3rd place. The second season (2017-18) City finished as Premier League Champions with 100 points. Last season (2018-19) City again finished as Champions, but in a tight race to the title with Liverpool, City pipped the Merseysiders by 1 point, finishing on 98 points.

In the January transfer window, Manchester City signed four players, with two of them around the £60 million mark. They signed midfield player Rodri from Atletico Madrid for a club-record deal for £62.5million. The second big signing was right-back Joao Cancelo from Juventus for £60 million. The two other signings were full back Angelino after activating a buy-back clause in his contract for £5.3 million with the Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. On-loan City have signed goalkeeper Scott Carson from Derby. Amongst those leaving City, right back Danilo which was part of the Cancelo deal, went the other way and joined Juventus for £34.1 million. Long servant (nearly 11 years) defender and captain Vincent Company left Manchester City to join his first club in professional football Anderlecht as player-manager. Midfield player Fabian Delph joined Everton for a reported fee of £9 million. Another midfielder Douglas Luiz joined Aston Villa for £15 million pounds and played the whole game against AFCB last Saturday. Winger Patrick Roberts has signed on a season-long loan with Norwich City.

In our last two home games against Manchester City, the Cherries have lost by the odd goal. Last season at Dean Court, City won 0-1. MOM was Artur Boruc and looking back at the match stats, City had 82% possession, 23 shots of which 7 were on target. One of those on target was the winning goal just after half-time by Riyad Mahrez. Amongst the stats, it had AFCB with 0 shots and no corners.
Games in the league at Dean Court against Manchester City, AFCB W0, D1, L6. In all league games home and away (never met in a cup game), AFCB have W0, D2, L12.

AFCB Team News
Philip Billing, substituted at half time against Aston Villa, due to a near second yellow card. His overzealous tackling against Villa players and verbal responses risks him becoming “a marked man” with the officials. Let’s hope he has learnt from the Villa game, as we need his height and power in midfield to form a strong partnership with Lerma. Think Eddie will pick Billing for Sunday.
On the injury front basically the same as away at Villa, Gosling, Francis, Brooks, L Cook, Kelly, Stanislas and Danjuma all expected to be out. Since the Villa game, as yet no new injuries reported.

AFCB Player To Watch
After his debut goal against Aston Villa will be watching Harry Wilson and how he performs against the league champions.

Manchester City Team News
Leroy Sane is out with a knee injury (ACL). Benjamin Mendy also out with knee injury has returned to training this week. John Stones thigh injury, may or may not be ready for Sunday’s squad.

Manchester City Player To Watch
Raheem Sterling scored 8 times against us in the Premier League. He is on form at the moment for City, scoring a hat-trick against West Ham and a goal against Spurs in City’s recent home game. Kevin De Bruyne is also in great form and pulling the strings in midfield for City.

Our referee is Andre Marriner.

Last season we had him away at Fulham

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Up The Cherries!

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