We have the micro mesh winter cover. I'm guessing your water will not freeze this winter, but are the leaves done dropping? If so you probably won't have too much debris but a hand held leaf net will help dispose of the strays.
We freeze solid and it does in fact sit ON the water surface with some of it going over the top of the cover. This is normal and even freezing that way - if left without a lot of yanking and pulling, the water will sift through in the spring when you pull it off the pool. We have NEVER had any rips, tears or shredding of our cover, never a green yucky swamp on top and only minor silt in the pool when the cover comes off. We let the ice melt completely before trying to remove AND if the trees start dropping junk before the cover can come off, we put the pool top leaf net back on for a while until that business is done.