Leroy’s verdict: ‘Write nothing in our out at Etihad!’

On the face of it – having seen everything we think we need to see – you would have to be utterly crazy to back the Irons to get anything at Manchester City tomorrow.

We have been poor – very poor – lethargic, injury hit and unable to pass our way into anything but quick trouble. The defeat in the Europa League match however will certainly have sharpened minds.

And as a winner, Slaven Bilic will be demanding a response because nothing we have seen so far is anywhere near good enough.

City have had two League wins and look the strongest possible bet to beat us… but!

Should, as is being speculated, we have both Dimi Payet and Manu Lanzini back – for starters – that could make a difference.

But whether they are or aren’t we will be out of possession for long periods and will need to be 100 per cent well organised in midfield and at the back.

Sometimes – and I am trying to make a case for the team here – it is easier to play in these games because it’s all about being strong and simply adopting a ‘you shall not pass mindset.’

With either Payet or Lanzini around we have outlets to relieve pressure at periods in the game.

Ok, I’m not confident of a result. How can you be given everything but I’m an not writing it off altogether because I’ve been around football far too long to do so.

Slaven will have been after the squad in a big big way. He and they have all been stung in the most horrible way by what happened in midweek.

They will be hurting like hell… and any team or person in those circumstances have to be treated with great caution so I’ll write nothing in or OUT!