The Futures Bright ... City 5 vs. 1 Crystal Palace

“ He's not just a striker - he provided two assists - I'm very happy for him. He has things to improve but he's working in the correct way."

Manuel Pellegrini 29 October 2015

After an outstanding display by youngster Iheanacho Kelechi, Manuel was being deliberately down beat. Kelechi had shown 90 minutes of guile and composure, not just youthful exuberance, it was a fabulous display.

 

This was not the only highlight. Fernando was outstanding, and worthy of man of the match, had he not been upstaged by the youngster. We also saw more of future hopefuls Patrick Roberts and Garcia Alonso, the latter scoring the fifth goal in extra time, both showing the talent available within the EDS squad.

 

There were six changes to the team which started against United on Sunday. The depth of talent at City has often been questioned against the investment, but this performance went a long way to answering those critics, as this "second" team swept away a strong Palace line up.

 

After an initial 20 minutes, where Palace kept their shape and created chances of their own,  the goals came thick and fast. Bony rose to open the scoring from a DeBruyne corner on 22'. Iheanacho then provided the pass for DeBruyne on 44' who scored from close range. Two nil at half time.

 

The second half opened just as brightly for City and Bony could have had another two goals before DeBruyne repaid the favour to Iheanacho and provided the cross on 59' for Iheanacho to himself get on the score sheet, following a feint by Bony. Three nil and City were in command. On 76' Palace hit self destruct, when from a corner Mangala was clearly held and brought down for a penalty, immediately following a warning from the referee to Palace players about holding in the box; Yaya duly dispatched the penalty, four nil. Delaney then pulled one back for the visitors on 89', which perhaps Cabellero could have held, but it counted for little as Garcia rounded off a flawless evening for the youngsters by latching onto Iheanacho's cross field pass to slam past the Palace keeper in injury time. 

So City are now installed as favourites for the League Cup. As on the same night in deepest Trafford, United lost on penalties to Middlesboro, and on the previous evening, Arsenal lost three nil to Championship side Sheff Wednesday, and Chelsea went out on penalties to Stoke.

City's quarter final will be against Hull at home on December 1st, and if last night was anything to go by fans should look forward to a positive result.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

 

Man City In Goalless Draw Shock, Man United 0 vs. 0 City

“ ... there was some good battles and interventions out there and for us, a good draw."

Vincent Kompany 25 October 2015

After the swash and buckle of 11 goals in two premier league games this was a game of a different sort. A game that if played by Chelsea last season would be winning plaudits from the press and erstwhile pundits alike.

 

The return of Vincent Kompany showed why City have missed him in the previous seven matches, whilst shipping goals in each of those games. All three of Kompany's peers  have had individually solid performances during that time, you would even say City missed Mangala while he was briefly out, but as a defensive unit City have just not been on the same level without their leader.

 

Today was indeed a day for leadership. A "proper" match Graham Souness said, with "impeccable" defending on both sides, and he was right. Neither team was set up to lose, both playing a solid looking 4-2-3-1; initially neither team pushing their full-backs too far forward. Yaya played his part as the tip of a central midfield, rather than a roaming 10, but it was Fernandhino who was the most effective, both in quelling fires and instigating counters. It reminded me more of some of the 90's derby games, where effort and sweat were City's best option to break down an obstinate United who bit into their tackles two on one against DeBruyne and Sterling with little sanction from referee Mark Clattenburg.

 

But it would be churlish to have a dig at the ref. Yes United were robust, but for the most part, City gave as good as they got. Indeed Yaya was the first to have good fortune when he could have received a yellow early on, as could several players (Valencia on several occasions) throughout the game.

 

So an old fashioned slug-fest was played out. City perhaps edging a first half where United did not create a chance, but United having by far the better of the second. United probably went closest,  with an effort from Lindgard late on brushing the cross-bar, after good work from Martial on the left, but both teams had few chances.

Both the shot count (6) and the shots on target (1) were equal for both sides, and while United edged possession, City played more of theirs in the United half. So nil nil was a fair result, and as Joe Hart commented on the defensive display  “ ... its nice to know we have that in the locker"

 

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me 

 

 

True Grit - City 2 vs. 1 Sevilla

“We’ve now won the last two Champions League games with late goals after going behind and showed great character and concentration which is very important in Europe.."

Manuel Pellegrini 21 October 2015

Manuel named an unchanged 11 to the side that swept aside Bournemouth at the weekend with the hopes that Sterling would carry over that confidence and Bony would continue to bag in Sergio’s absence. However, this is City in Europe and a fluid, majestic performance this was not.

Similarly to the previous Champions league games thus far, City got out the blocks early and with serious intent to let the Spanish side know that this was not the City that would be outclassed as with previous campaigns. A certain ex-Sevilla winger in particular looked very keen to get one over his former club after some nice link up play with Bony saw his ambitious strike from the right hand side whistle past the away side’s top left hand corner on 7'. Who are you and what have you done with our onion bag intolerant Jesus!? We like this ambitious Jesus much better.

From that point on the first half can only be described as a slug fest, like two heavy weights refusing to stay down, we got a parking lot brawl. City again not sticking to the tested Champions League script.

It was Sevilla who were first to come close with Konoplyanka hitting the post from an acute angled free kick from the right. Then at the other end we had De Bruyne interlinking seamlessly with Sterling at the edge of the Sevilla box. With the ball eventually finding Yaya, where he only has one thing in his mind and that is to make the net bulge as we have seen him do on so many occasions. His shot took a nasty deflection and almost catches the keeper wrong footed only for the ball to dip just over on to the roof of the net.

However, it was the Spaniards that got off the mark first, Eva Banega working a tight space with some cute triangles and a bit of good fortune with a ricochet off Kevin De Bruyne leaving three city defenders staring as Vitolo cut the ball back across the City box for Konoplyanka to pass the ball into the back of the net. 0 vs. 1 Sevilla. Here we go again?

Just like in Germany, this seemed to be the wake-up call that City needed and it only took 5 minutes for the blues to find a reply. Yaya with one of his trademark lung busting runs from midfield using Navas' crafty reverse pass to get the ball back and using his bison like strength to hold off the Sevilla defender with a tight turn to fizz the ball into the path of Sterling who’s first time effort was saved by the goalkeeper straight into the path of Bony who bundled the ball against Adil Rami and into the net.  Yaya once again showing just how vital he is to City’s attacking presence in the big moments.

While this should have been where City pressed on the momentum, this was not the case as that man Konoplyanka once again found his way into the City box only for his shot to be deflected behind for a corner. An end to end first half that saw Sevilla probably take it on points but the sides went in level.

Sevilla started after the interval with the bit between their teeth and ex-French international Gameiro should have been wheeling away in celebration only for his header to sail over the top of the bar after finding acres of space in between Mangala and Sagna on the edge of the six-yard box.

What was evident was that City really do miss David Silva in moments like this to provide that little touch of brilliance out of nothing in a game where attrition was the dish of the day, City needed something to put a sting in this Sevilla side who’s stubborn never say die attitude made for an intense mid-week encounter.

Now of course in a game that needs a piece of attacking brilliance to make the difference, the "Engineer" showed how he earned his nickname by bringing on Fernando in place of our only striker Wilfried Bony, thus pushing Kevin De Bruyne into that role that we all love to talk about, the "False 9".

This change seemed to give the Belgian another lease of life in a game where he had already excelled. Minutes later some great movement off a pass from Navas saw him drive the ball across the face of the goal with Sterling just not having the legs to get on the end of it to tap the ball home. It was at that point that I personally thought City had tried everything but it just wasn’t to be. Oh I love it when I’m wrong.

On 91' Yaya received the ball on his left foot and turns out, leaving the Sevilla attacker with his back on the grass. He romped forward in the way only he knows how with De Bruyne to his right. The boy wonder receives the ball on his right foot takes a few steps inside the Sevilla box and cuts inside onto his left and unleashes a powerful strike that nestles right into the bottom left hand corner. WHAT A FINISH.

In a game that needed that piece of brilliance, the combination of Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne means you need not look further. The “Ginger Prince” secured three points in a crucial game at the half way point of the group stages.

Here I’d like to revert back to a previous blog entry where I mention the mental toughness of City and that they had failed to take control of the situation when in Europe. Last night’s game was exactly what was needed to change that. They kept battling, took the game to the death and came out victorious. Obviously our Champions League ‘Hoodoo’ can’t be written off just yet. However, considering we have the most points out of all English clubs at the stage in the competition so far, I don’t think City are getting enough credit.

If ever City needed a win like that before the derby at the weekend, especially with the injuries that we have, this was the time. I really hope City build on this and show they are a team that has the grit, of dare I say it, Champions. While the sour, yet ironic mantra of ‘Typical City’ will always be at the back of our blue minds, could we finally be ready to cast it aside, with ‘We fight to the end’ epitomising City, this season especially. There will always be the grumblers on Champions League night, however it has to be said just how enthralling the campaign has been from a City perspective so far and last night was no different.

@PatrickElano

Reheem Sterling He's Top Of The League, City 5 vs. 1 Bournemouth

"Always good to be on the score sheet, and even better to get a hatrick, but this game's gone now and we need to look forward to Tuesday."

, Raheem Sterling 17 October 2015.

 

No Aguero, no Silva, no Kompany ... no aggressive walking, but another goal laden game at the Etihad, as the stadium entertained its largest crowd yet of 54,502.

 

Given the criticism levelled at Sterling from certain quarters since he joined the Citizens, especially regarding his finishing, this was a two fingers performance, and a welcome confidence booster going into a week of crucial fixtures vs. Sevilla ECL (Wed) and the derby next weekend.

 

Sterling was full of running and alive to possibilities all game, linking well with Bony, having been deployed in a 4-4-1-1 just behind the Ivorian. The more attacking formation provided for an end to end flow to the game, but perhaps not the control required against sterner opposition. Indeed Bournemouth gave as good as they got for much of the opening and could have been awarded a penalty early on as Otamendi didn't see much of the ball with his ditch challenge on Gosling.

 

As each attack developed though, it was clear City had the slightly sharper edge, with De Bruyne in particular giving options all across the front line. The first goal came 8' in from the right with Zabaleta nodding on Fernandhino's pass before Bony knocked the ball forward for Sterling to pounce. Replays showed no offside, as the last line of Bournemouth defence had not yet crossed the by-line as Bony nudged the ball forward. Next it was Bony's turn to pounce in the box, on 12' a driven low cross from Sagna (playing left back in Kolorov's absence) was spilled by the Bournemouth keeper, Federici, and Bony was immediately on hand to score a much needed confidence booster.

 

Bournemouth were not here for the ride, however, and kept their shape and purpose throughout the first half. On 23' their perseverance paid off when Glen Murray latched on to a fine one touch pass from O'Kane to ricochet his shot off Mangala and past Joe Hart. 

A major positive from the game as a whole was City's speed on the counter, and it was such vision and pace which allowed De Bruyne to release Sterling for City's third goal on 28', Sterling feigned not once but twice before rifling the ball home.

 

Bournemouth continued to press for a goal, and this was their undoing as deep into injury time Joe Hart again released the ball early for the lightning Navas to take first time only to delay his shot too long, as the ball came out the edge of the six yard box, however, Sterling was again in the right place to fire home through the keeper's legs 4-1.   

 

The second half was a much more subdued affair. Yaya was replaced in the break by Fernando, presumably in light of the fixtures to come, and Fernando's presence added the control missing from the first half but also signalled a stepping off the gas from City's attack. Nasri replaced De Bruyne, and finally Sterling made way for Iheanacho, leaving the pitch to a much deserved standing ovation and a chorus of "...he's top of the league".

 

Bony finally finished off Bournemouth with a minute to go, using his strength to turn on a Navas cross before driving the ball into the far corner. It was the least his display deserved having being relentless in his work off the ball all game.

 

So a lot of pundits questions answered as to whether City can score goals without Silva and Aguero. Sterner tests lie around the corner but confidence should be high as City welcome Sevilla on Wednesday.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

 

 

 

 

 

5ergio, ... 5ergio. City 6 vs. 1 Newcastle

"I am very happy now. I am happy for the five goals, but for me it was more important the three points."

, Sergio Aguero 03 October 2015.

Amazingly Aguero was touch and go to continue for the second half in which he completed the fastest five Premier League goals ever. He underwent treatment on his hamstring at half time, which eventually led to his substitution on 66', having put the game well beyond a shell shocked Newcastle side.

If ever a game was summed up by the clichéd "game of two halves", this was it. Newcastle exploited City's, now habitual, slow start to the first half to attack with pace and purpose, eventually getting their deserved opener on 18'. Zabaleta, returned to the side ahead of Sagna at right back, showed ring rust as he lunged into a challenge which was never his to win. A grateful Mbabu skipped on to provide the ball to Wijnaldum, and his chipped cross was headed home by Mitrovic 0 vs. 1, whilst the City defence looked on. It could have been worse, as Mitrovic questionably beat the offside only for Hart to save ten minutes later.

As City laboured their way to half time, a touch of magic from Silva turned the game on its head with a fabulous reverse cross to Fernandinho, following a swift one two with Zabaleta; Fernandinho headed accurately back across the box for Aguero to nod past a stranded Krul. Thus began the transformation of a player who had not scored a Premier League goal in 424 minutes, since City's win over Chelsea on 16 August, back to an unplayable goal machine.

The second half was all about a magnificent performance from the trio of De Bruyne, Silva, and the indomitable Aguero, however I will make mention for the second time in a week about Jesus Navas' contribution. Navas came on at half time for Sterling, who though far from the worst performer in the first half, was doing nothing particularly well. As per the Borussia game Navas' contribution was key, he moved both himself and the ball at pace, creating space in abundance for De Bruyne and Silva to exploit. If Sterling starts to do this he is undoubtedly a better player, but until he does I would expect to continue to see Navas with regular playing time.

Aguero's next two goals came within the space of a minute on 49' and 50', the first a deflected left foot effort from the edge of the box, and the second a sublime chip from a similar position, the ball, having been slid through by De Bruyne. Three one is still a dangerous score line in my eyes so the addition of the fourth only two minutes later finally settled the nerves. Navas jinked and then crossed from the right and Kevin De Bruyne, sideways to goal, managed a perfect volley, guiding the ball over and past a stranded Krul. 1 vs 4 "Game-Over", only it wasn't, there were still 37 minutes to play and City were suddenly on fire.

On 60' Aguero was again set free on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area, this time from the left, ghosting enough space to score a spectacular curling shot inside the right post from twenty yards, the Etihad went wild! Three minutes later he was at it again, latching on to a De Bruyne low cross to score his fifth and City's sixth on the day.

At this point, whilst Fantasy Managers who had showed faith in the Argentinian were on cloud nine, Manuel Pellegrini reminded himself that Aguero was injured and he was substituted for another player in need of goals, Wilfried Bony. Every credit to the suffering Toon Army who applauded Kun off the field just as loudly as the home support.

The remaining 25 minutes could have brought more goals but didn't. It was nice to see Iheanacho get a good run out and to see City once again top of the League. The slow starts remain a worry but its hard to be too critical when your watching such joyous cavalier football, that even Barca would be proud of.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

 

Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 vs. 2 City – Can we breathe yet?

"But we deserved to win. We had some really good chances. It may have come late but Sergio Aguero is a cool guy and he will score."

, Joe Hart 30 September 2015.

The commonly held view on a winning Champions League formula, is just ensure you win all of your home games to progress. But... this is Manchester City, and we don’t like to do things the easy way, so having blown the points against Juventus, City were in need of something positive in Germany.

In amongst all of City’s new ‘crack’ players was the return of the wizard Silva in the number 10 role behind Aguero, with Sterling marauding down the left, and KDB on the right. The front four City fans have been dreaming of were finally starting together. The media had built the game up as must win for City, in what they thought might have been a comfortable game considering Borussia’s start to the season, and departure of manager Lucien Favre. Despite this, no game in this competition can be taken lightly, and as City found very quickly interim Borussia Manager, Andre Schubert, has breathed new life into his team as was certainly the case on Wednesday night at an electric Borussia-Park.

City looked to get out the blocks with the intent and vigour to really take the game to the German side, with Sergio being narrowly denied early in the six yard box, after great interlinking play down City's left hand side between Kolarov and a dangerous cross from Sterling to the back post. Almost the dream reaction to what has been a difficult couple of weeks for the blues.

However, this intent to drive forward left City exposed on a number of occasions in the first twenty minutes, which led to Borrussia breaking with the excellent Raffael, causing City’s Argentinian defensive partnership problem upon problem. This eventually led to Borussia wrongly being awarded a penalty, with the last ditch trailing leg of Otamendi inviting a, shall we say, enthusiastic leap to the floor by the advancing Raffael. The feeling crept into City hearts of “here we go again”, bizarre refereeing being a common theme with City in Europe. Joe Hart, however, had other ideas, his stalling tactics won the psychological battle over Raffael, and England's number one dived correctly to emphatically palm the penalty to safety. City, however, failed to capitalise. An end to end affair ensued throughout the remainder of the half, and an on-song Aguero could have had a brace, on the other hand without Hart in the sticks City could have been looking at an embarrassing halftime score line, but somehow it remained 0-0 at the break.

The second half brought an unexpected substitution. Yaya, who had been sporting a heavily strapped hamstring, went off, to be replaced by Fernando. On paper this would have been tactically astute. City’s midfield had been bypassed a number of times in the first half, and as has written on this blog before Yaya, Toure, and Aguero together may just be the wrong combination in certain games verses more attack minded opposition. In any case, initially at least, the change had anything but the desired effect as City continued to look circumspect to the counter attack and finally conceded to a Borussia break on 54’. Kolorov was chiefly at fault for the Borussia goal, unexplainably stepping infield to close down an already marked Dahoud, thus allowing a simple pass to allow Korb the Borussia right back the space to calmly cross for Stindl to slot home.

At this point it was only many many years of honed superstition which forced me to not only continue watching, but to turn up the TV volume to full appreciate the dulcet tones, and insightful wisdom of Robbie “I won the FA Youth Cup with Man U” Savage, as if to truly punish myself for ever thinking my beloved Blues would be anything but unpredictable.

So then it happened, Fernando dropped slightly back, Fernandinho found the missing yard to be first to the second ball, and the attacking talent City had on show started to click. Even the loss of Silva for Navas on 65’ did not disturb the rhythm, in fact it probably helped the first goal as his pace caused genuine problems for the tiring left back.

The first City goal has now rightly been awarded to Demichelis on 65’, who’s knee struck the ball a full yard over the line before Nicolas Otamendi volleyed in again, and the referee finally allowed the equaliser to stand (why UEFA does not insist on goal line technology for the ECL is beyond me, especially as the additional officials give farcical decisions time after time … if they are consulted at all).  From that point on with the insightful one letting all viewers know every thirty seconds that City must not lose, the game was all City, and arguably the calmly taken 90’ penalty from Aguero just reward for such a gutsy performance.  MotM Joe Hart – just awesome.

City remain third in Group D, level on three points with Spanish side Sevilla, but three adrift of Juventus. The upcoming double header with Sevilla, the first at home on 21 October, will be the likely decider as to who goes through with Juventus, currently sitting top of Group D with 6 Points.

 

@PatrickElano @l0ngwayfr0mh0me