Moyes needs to make brave Bowen decision
The 23 year old is a right sided attacker whose left foot is stronger than his right and has scored the majority of his 22 goals cutting inside to what was once called the inside right position.
Whether he or Michail Antonio gets a run-out at Citeh is debatable as most would probably feel the manager will go up there with a defensive formation usually favoured by him on such occasions.
Beyond that, however, for Bowen to get his chance someone needs to be dropped and probably the obvious candidate will be Haller.
Should that be the case Antonio will presumably take on his role with Bowen playing in close proximity!
Moyes has this one opportunity ahead of the international break to take a good look at the player and I’m hoping both he and Antonio are included in what is a bonus game with nothing to lose.
Haller is easy to rest so the opportunity is definitely there for the manager although quite how he organises the defence is another matter altogether after the hideous errors against Brighton.
As I mentioned in a previous piece – and I see the dangers it would leave in midfield – I’d restore Declan to a defensive role alongside Ogbonna with Soucek, Noble, Fornals and Snodgrass in front of them.
Memo to Moyes: This is no game for Manu Lanzini!!!!!
Bowen needs to get his chance and hopefully he and an up to speed Antonio can at least give Guardiola’s outfit some moments to think about.
My team: Fabianski; Fredericks, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Soucek, Snodgrass, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio.