Under the Lights

Brentford Game Preview, February Fixtures and Thoughts on Echeverri

Author

Bailey Wynne
February 3rd, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Top stories today:

  1. Brentford Preview ahead of the game on Monday night

  2. Look Ahead for February fixtures

  3. Claudio Echeverri why you should be excited

  4. Threads we put out this week

0. Standings, Fixtures and Statistics

1. Brentford vs Man City: Preview

Monday night fixtures can be spun a few different ways, given all other teams have played, and one of those is the added pressure to win in a title race. The Liverpool vs Arsenal game could have gone great for us with Liverpool dropping points or both drawing. It could also have meant Liverpool are eight ahead. Under the lights, all the pressure and every rival fan watching. Time for City to show up and do what we do best.

Injuries of Note

  • Manchester City have all players back in training. Akanji looks to be a doubt for starting but could be on the bench. Haaland looks 50/50 to start the match. Everyone else fit to start.

  • Brentford are missing Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, Aaron Hickey and Kevin Schade due to injury. Yoane Wissa, Frank Onyeka and Saman Ghoddos away with their respective national teams.

Interesting Stats

  • Brentford have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions. Their last game being a defeat to Tottenham.

  • Manchester City have won ten of their last eleven matches.

  • Brentford beat Manchester City home and away last season.

  • There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Brentford’s last 5 games in the Premier League. Losing six of the last seven.

Thoughts on the game

  • Expect Walker, Dias & Bernardo all back given they were rested for the Burnley game. Perfect game to play Haaland and he needs to get a start under his belt. Work off the rust.

  • Defence is very hard to pick given the need for physicality, players needing a rest and others back from injury.

  • Would expect to have Doku starting, need his ability vs low blocks to pick the lock. Backed up by Bernardo. KDB and Foden then operating on the right hand side.

  • Physical is the word I keep going back to for this game. For Brentford it will be balls over the top to Toney, striking on set pieces and jumping on mistakes to break forward. Maybe moving free kick balls around too. For City a deep low block to unlock rather than dealing with a high press on our build up.

  • The game and the state of it should allow Haaland to thrive and we will need to use our subs to see out the game. Brentford are conceding a lot of goals lately so expect us to score but not enough to be completely out of sight. Looking at Grealish and Kovacic on the bench to help us get over the line.

  • We have kept just two clean sheets away from home, with Toney back and hungry to score I expect us to give at least one up. We have been poor in duels most of the season.

Predicted Lineup: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Rodri, KDB, Bernardo, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Score Prediction: Brentford 1 - 3 Manchester City

We will probably see plenty more of this in the last ten minutes 👇

2. February Fixtures

After a successful reset and run of results in January the fixtures start to pile up quick in February.

FEB 5: vs Brentford (A) Premier League  
FEB 10: vs Everton (H) Premier League
FEB 13: vs FC Copenhagen (A) Champions League
FEB 17: vs Chelsea (H) Premier League
FEB 20: vs Brentford (H) Premier League
FEB 24: vs Bournemouth (A) Premier League
FEB 27: vs Luton Town (A) FA Cup

Thoughts

  • The lazy narrative will be about an easy run of games before March, as we know no game is really quite like that. Those are the games you regret dropping points at the end of the season. Brentford away will be a stark reminder for anyone who doesn’t agree. Tough away fixture on a Monday night. All that matters is getting away with 3pts.

  • Full squad returning from injury means we are best prepared to rotate positions with quality. Not a wholesale changes. Bernardo, Grealish, Doku, Foden and Bobb can all cover out wide for example.

  • Not sure how many games you need to watch Luton Town play before you realize no game is easy against them. We saw that in our league game and the same will happen in the FA Cup. At least the players have been there now and understand the demand. Very physical game that I bet Haaland would love.

  • We need to settle the KO game against Copenhagen ideally in the first leg, fixtures around the second leg won’t make it easy if that becomes a must win. City linked to Roony B, interested to see how he does against us, highly rated youngster playing right wing.

  • Fascinated to see our set up against Bournemouth, who have done very well these past few months. Pressing is on point. Sound structure off the ball. Striker in form. Sets that one up quite nicely.

  • We need Kovacic and Nunes during this month to put in top performances, both will get chances and be useful in different games.

Let us know in the comments how many wins we take in February.

3. Claudio Echeverri

Claudio Echeverri has been reported to have signed a deal with City through to June 2028 for £12.5m plus add ons. Following in the footsteps of Julian Alvarez, except this Argentine is a lot younger and without seasons in men’s football as Alvarez had. Martin Demichelis is the current manager of River Plate and had this to say about him.

“When I arrived, I knew that Echeverri was the diamond in the rough. Nobody argues and nobody doubts Claudio’s talent and intelligence.”

Martin Demichelis on Claudio Echeverri

Diamond

His ability on the ball, as an advanced play maker with his vision and passing is very strong. Fast direction changes with the ball, using his close control and quick feet to excel in 1v1 situations. Loves progressing up the pitch with runs and passes. Has the vision for killer final third passes.

Operates best centrally as an attacking midfielder, slightly towards the left (seen below) and can contribute to set pieces and penalties.

U17 World Championship, Claudio Echeverri Heat Map (Sofascore)

Rough Edges

His struggles, what he needs to improve on will come with playing men’s football (spending a season on loan at River Plate and potentially six months at Girona). He needs physical development, to improve at aerial duels and to get better with his positioning defensively. Explosive player who could contribute better recovering the ball. All of which you would expect to come along during his next season with River Plate.

Argentina U23s most recent game against Uruguay, finishing 3-3, saw him take impress. Check out the comp below.

Here is some thoughts of Carlos Tevez on the player.

“I think he’s a very interesting player, which you don’t see today. In traditional football, you don’t see him as much, but the truth is that I was really surprised by the personality he has” In the final against Rosario Central, the first four River chances were his. He has a very strong personality, it’s not easy to have Pity Martinez, De la Cruz and all the River boys up front, and the kid came on, went forward, asked for it and took charge of the game. He surprised me a lot.”

Carlos Tevez on Claudio Echeverri

The point I am getting to, he isn’t a CFG signing. He isn’t here to be loaned out then sold for profit. This kid has a tremendous amount of ability and potential and wouldn’t surprise me at all if come summer 2025 he is pushing for the first team squad. Blowing fans away in pre-season. Starting in the CL group games for us, just like Bobb and Rico Lewis this season.

Let us know in the comments if you think Claudio Echeverri will make it into the City first team.

4. Threads This Week

Ilkay Gundogans time at City through the years

Ranking all signings under Pep Guardiola

Phil Foden and his story so far

Let us know in the comments if you have a player or topic we should cover like these ones above.

  • Josh Wilson-Esbrand moves his loan spell over to Cardiff City FC. Hopefully more game time than he was getting at Reims.

  • FA Cup game against Luton confirmed to take place on Tuesday 27th February at 20:00. Live on ITV.

  • Sam Lee (The Athletic) wrote an article about the upcoming summer window for City, mentioning several names of players that could be of interest. Those include Savio (Girona), Kimmich (FC Bayern) and Musiala (FC Bayern) to name a few.

  • Alfie Harrison has completed a move to Newcastle United, fee could rise to £3.5m through add ons and includes a 40% sell-on clause.

  • Transfermarkt covered the City Youth Academy and its sales.

  • Manchester City scouts are monitoring Tottenham midfielder Tyrese Hall (18).

That’s all for today, big game coming up on Monday night and regardless of any other results at the weekend, the team need to turn up focused on three points. Doesn’t matter how we do it.

Coming up next will be the Brentford game review, preview for Everton and some other content in between.

Let us know your thoughts on this newsletter and anything you want to see covered or improved in the comments. 👇

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