Kelechi Iheanacho, Remember The Name, Villa 0 vs. 4 City

"I am so happy to score today. It is my first hat-trick and I am hopeful of more to come”

, Kelechi Iheanacho – 30/01/2016.

Goals; Iheanacho 4',24' pen,74', Sterling 76'
Line Up (4-5-1); Cabaleero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Otamendi (Humphreys 88'), Clichy (Angelino 81'), Fernandhino (Celina 78'), Delph, Fernando, Navas, Iheanacho, Sterling
Stats;Possession, 57%/43%; Shots, 8(3)/13(10); Fouls, 6/10

None of the "Promise of Magic" bloggers caught this game live, so no full write up I'm afraid. I'll catch the game on Match Of The Day and smile sweetly as Lineker and Shearer look for sly put downs of my beloved City.

From the radio commentary it sounded as if there were highlights all over the pitch; two Ferna's and Delph, Sterling starting to look his best again,  four academy players getting game time, and of course a first (and likely far from the last) hatrick from Iheanacho.

So City are 7-0 to the good in their FA Cup this season, and are apparently the first team ever to head into February in all four competitions (though I'll need to check that one out). If we get our season started City might do well ;) #CTID.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Deserved Win At Last Verses Toffees, City 3(4) vs. 1(3) Everton

"Wembley is a special stadium”, Manuel Pellegrini - 27/1/2016

Goals; Fernandhino 24', De Bruyne 70', Aguero 76';Barkley 18'

Line Up (4-2-3-1?); Cabellero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Otamendi, Demichelis, Toure (Navas 45'), Fernandhino, Delph (De Bruyne 66'), Silva (Fernando 80'), Aguero, Sterling

Stats;Possession, 55%/45%; Shots, 19(5)/4(2); Fouls, 5/16

All the talk pre-match was about line-ups and formations, who would play, who wouldn't play, etc. etc. In the end the result was down to one thing, the class of players City could put on the pitch to change things around.

To be honest I am still baffled as to what formation City played in the opening half. With noone right of the pitch beyond Zaba, and Yaya (believed to be behind Aguero) actually further back than Fernandinho. Basically City just went out to attack.

For the  first 16' it seemed to be paying off. Possession was all City, and most of it in Everton's final third, but without finding any end product in the way of clear chances in the box. There was of course the nagging doubt about the counter attack, and that doubt became a worry, as first Deulofeu, and then Lukaku broke forward. The worry then became a hold your head in your hands and scream "WHY!!" moment, as Otemendi compulsively dived into a challenge too early, slipped, and allowed Barkley a run to the  edge of the box and unleash a cracking right foot effort past Cabellero. 1-3 on aggregate, and City's away goal nullified, although still plenty of time left on the clock.

City are made of stern stuff, but the goal seemed to take something out of the crowd, if not the players. However, it only took five minutes to swing the momentum again towards City's one touch game, and get the crowd singing. First Yaya attempted a clipped shot just high of the crossbar; and then from nothing, City broke, and from Aguero's blocked effort Fernandinho's shot crashed off Jagielka and into the goal. 2-3 on aggregate.

From that point on City were in the driving seat, and perhaps were unlucky to go into half time without having taken the lead. the best chance being created by Aguero who thundered a shot past stand-in keeper Robles, only to see the ball rebound out off the post, and even when Gareth Barry failed to clear, Silva could only fire back at Robles again.

At half time Everton Manager Martinez clearly gave the "park the bus" order again, as per the 0-0 at the Etihad two weeks previously. This time, however, City knew the script. A tactical substitution saw Navas come on for Yaya at half time, and when that didn't work, (Silva hit the post with a header on 54') De Bruyne was brought on for Delph. In what might loosely be classed as 4-1-4-1, City were actually just throwing the kitchen sink into the mix.

On 70' the kitchen sink came good. Sterling released wider by the switch drove into the box and clipped the ball towards the penalty spot where Aguero and DeBruyne were waiting, and DeBruyne powered the ball into the right of Everton's goal. 3-3. There will no doubt be turmoil in the press about the ball being behind the line when Sterling crossed, but "in the opinion of the referee", the goal stood. Just as two weeks previously, Sterling had not been fouled by John Stones for a penalty. Karma had finally remembered the Etihad stadium, and the crowd were loving it!

Six minutes later, and this time DeBruyne turned provider, sending in an exquisite cross from the right to find Aguero's head, who deftly used the power on the ball to deflect the ball well into the left corner, unstoppable, 4-3 City.

Sergio could have had another with an easier header on 86, but the real news as the game drew to a close was the injury to Kevin DeBruyne. Carried off with what looks like a medial ligament injury having been dragged down by Funes Mori (no foul, let alone yellow for his fourth or fifth offence).

So fingers crossed for tomorrow that KDB's scans go OK and its not as bad as first feared. Headlines are that City are still fighting for an unlikely quadruple, and have booked their place in at least one final, verses Liverpool on Sunday 28th February. In the end class told #CTID.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me.

Sergio, West Ham 2 vs. 2 City

"It was a close game for both teams and a good game for both sets of fans. It was end to end because both teams play in an attacking way”, Manuel Pellegrini - 23/1/2016

Goals; Valencia 1', 56';Aguero 9, 81’

Line Up (4-2-3-1); Hart, Sagna, Clichy, Otamendi, Demichelis, Toure, De Bruyne, Delph (Iheanacho 76'), Silva (Fernando 83'), Aguero, Navas (Sterling 67')

Stats;Possession, 54%/46%; Shots, 10(3)/16(3); Fouls, 11/15

I am still undecided as to whether this was a point saved, or two dropped. In terms of what has been written on these pages as to the best and worst of City this season, we saw both today, on what will be City's last visit to the Boleyn Ground; as West Ham move on to their new home at the Olympic Stadium at the end of the season.

Having seen, perhaps, the best way to deploy Yaya last week verses Crystal Palace (high up the pitch impacting play in the opposition half). He was again dropped back to play in a two, this time with Fabian Delph (another player who had excelled last week), to play in a 4-2-3-1. The hope, perhaps, was that West Ham would sit deep, as they had in their smash and grab at the Etihad earlier in the season; and that Delph's dynamism would make up for Yaya's lack of agility when West Ham played on the break.

West Ham, however, had not read the script, and went for the City weak points from the kick off, pressing City into surrendering possession cheaply. The ball was released to Kouyate, who with a burst of pace was past Yaya and into the box. Delph seeing the panic was drawn to the ball, leaving Valencia alone to ghost to the edge of the area and pick up on the attempted clearance from Kouyate's cross, and strike the ball home. 1-0 and less than one minute on the clock. It was shockingly simple, and utterly predictable. 

Luckily City maintain a resolve, and the class of player, to discount such early disappointments. This time it was Kun Aguero who stepped up to take the game to West Ham.  On 6' he latched onto a pass from Yaya, that most players would not even have chased, and somehow lobbed Adrian from an acute angle, only to see the ball bounce out from the inside of the right post. On 8' he again bustled into the box latching onto a one-two with David Silva, and out muscling Jenkinson, who mistimed his challenge and brought the Argentinian down, penalty.  For once the referee saw the offence, and Aguero coolly stepped up and sent Adrian the wrong way , placing the ball low left to score his eleventh EPL goal of the season.

The rest of the first half played out much as expected. West Ham played on the outnumbered City midfield (Payet in particular impressing as he harassed and tricked his way across City's back four) without really creating a clear cut chance. City for their part made good enough use of their 54% possession, but again lacked incisiveness in the final third. The remaining highlight of the half was played out by Payet and Joe Hart. Demechelis gave away a necessary free-kick scything down Valencia 22 yards from goal. Payet stepped up and struck a sweet effort up and over the City wall, which on any other day was a certain goal. Hart slightly un-sighted by the wall, managed not only to get across the goal but to dive high left and get a strong left hand on the ball to turn it round the post. A world class save from a world class free-kick. 

No changes in formation or line up at the start of the second half did not bode well, and was surprising given the way City have swapped both effectively in recent months.  Despite that, City came close on 54' with Delph's deflected effort from the edge of the box striking the post, and were again matching West Ham, restricting the home side's efforts to dead ball situations.  So when on 56' a nothing throw-in on the right, and an Otemendi brain fart, gifted West Ham their second goal, it was a nasty surprise.

The substitutions, when they came, were also surprising. Navas made way for Sterling in a like for like swap on 67', when the expected substitution was to bolster the midfield or add a further striking option. Iheanacho was eventually introduced on 76', and it was this change that saw the first real signs of doubt from West Ham. Slowly City started to turn the tide, gaining more possession and edging further into the West Ham half. Five minutes after his introduction Iheanacho, together with Aguero rescued the match. The young Nigerian drove into the right of the box and had the composure to the slide the ball left to Aguero, who slotted home for his second of the match and his 90th all time EPL goal.

Although City continued to press and boss the game, it was perhaps West Ham who had the most clear cut chance to take the spoils, when with the last play of the match, Payet lobbed a well weighted long free-kick into the box which was headed over by Collins.

So an away point, which sees City drop slightly behind Leicester, with Arsenal still to play Chelsea on Sunday. But a remaining nagging doubt that we continue to leave points on the table by learning from the matches where it clicks, and making the best of our players.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

It's Not How You Start It's How You Finish, City 4 vs. 0 Crystal Palace

"We’ll sleep a little easier tonight,” Fabian Delph - 16/1/2016

Goals; Delph 22’, Aguero 41’, 68’, Silva 84’

Line Up (4-4-2); Hart, Kolorov (Clichy 52’), Otamendi, Demichelis, Zabaleta, Fernando, De Bruyne, Delph, Silva, Aguero (Navas 85’), Iheanacho (Toure 57')

Stats;Possession, 53%/47%; Shots, 17(4)/9(3); Fouls, 10/11

I read an interesting article this week floating the idea that possession football had had its day, and that the Premier League was proving this was true. The points made to support this theory were that, firstly it was not just the possession teams in the mix for the title, and secondly that winning results were evenly distributed between those sides dominating possession, and those that did not.

Maybe Manuel read this article, maybe he didn’t, but he certainly proved City are anything but one dimensional, sending out a City side today set up as much to sit deep and counter attack, as it was to boss the final third of the pitch and retain possession. 

Palace played their part well, having sat deep and been soundly beaten in the League Cup, they were much more offensive in this fixture, but this played into the more direct style City tried to play. Starting with very standard 4-4-2, City welcomed back Kelechi Iheanacho alongside Sergio Aguero, though it was his pressing and tracking back which was more relied on in an opening twenty minutes where Palace matched City blow for blow.

With David Silva (a wandering) left midfield, and Kevin De Bruyne taking up the right, City relied on a central midfield two in Fernando and Fabian Delph to do the heavy work against Palace’s 4-2-3-1. After a early scare with Palace's Delaney heading straight to Hart, it was Delph’s left foot which broke the deadlock on ’22, as out of the blue he picked out the bottom right hand corner of Hennessey’s goal with a low strike.

City were warming up slowly, and despite some uncustomary wayward passes from Silva and De Bruyne, started to make better use of the ball. On 35’ Iheanacho created his own half chance, chesting down Delph’s knock back only to mistime the attempted half volley. On 38’ Aguero took Silva’s pass in full flow and whilst being felled in the box managed to sweep the ball just wide of the right post.

Three minutes later City were two nil to the good. Only a little to closer to goal (25 yards) Aguero responded to the “SHOOT!” bellow of the crowd and cracked the ball into the bottom left, the ball taking a deflection from Palace’s centre half Dann, before nestling in the corner. City had seemed to be barely out of second gear but were two nil to the good. Aguero tried to make it three just before the first half whistle but his turn and shot from a City corner went high and wide to the left. Half time 2-0.

The second half started with a flurry of snow, but the cold and lack of end product from Palace did not dampen their enthusiasm. Palace continued to press for the opening ten minutes, until Yaya replaced Iheanacho on 57’, to revert to a more conservative 4-2-3-1, with Yaya pressed ahead of Delph and Fernando.

On 68’ the change paid off, following a break on the right, Yaya swept the ball to De Bruyne in the box, and City’s record signing cooly played an inch perfect ball for Aguero to get his second, 3-0.

De Bruyne was involved again on 83’ as he put his foot in where it hurts to continue a City break on the half way line, Aguero charged into box at speed before, sliding the ball to Silva to pass the ball into the right hand side of the goal for City’s fourth and to rap up the game. Aguero received a deserved ovation as he left the pitch to be replaced by Navas on 87’.

And that was pretty much that. Cabaye did his best to get himself dismissed with two nasty challenges late in the game, but walked away from the second with only a further telling off from referee Moss. All of which was bit of a shame as Palace had certainly played their part in an entertaining game of football.

4-0, and a clean sheet on Zaba's 200th game! Bring on Everton for round three!

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Maybe Mourinho Wasn’t So Far Off?, City 0 vs 0 Everton

"Everyone in the stadium could see it, it was so near the referee and so clear,” Manuel Pellegrini - 13/1/2016

Goals;None
Line Up (4-2-3-1); Hart, Glichy, Otamendi, Demichelis, Sagna, Sterling, Toure, Fernando, Navas, Aguero, De Bruyne (Silva 74')

Last night marked round two of this three piece affair against the Toffees, and so far, it is the Merseyside club who are by far the happier campers.

City lined up with a fluid 4-2-3-1, that adapted to a 4-4-2 when going forward, with Raheem Sterling being the furthest forward to accompany Sergio Aguero. The atmosphere was subdued at kick off, due to travel delays from heavy traffic, and metro link problems. Just when it seemed the boys needed all the help they can get to kick up a gear, it was only around the half hour mark that all fans could get to their seats and cheer along.

Much like the traffic, both sides were slow to get moving, and despite City having the majority of possession, only a few clear chances were made by City's attack in the opening 20 minutes. Toure played in Sterling on 8’ allowing De Bruyne a chance, but he was too far right to create a decent shooting angle.

On 17', Sterling, relishing his ‘free’ role to roam, and always providing an option, worked well with Navas and danced past Funes Mori and Leighton Baines. Sagna's eventual lofted inch perfect cross for Yaya’s header on the six yard box was brilliantly saved by Tim Howard (who of course had the game of his season last night).  

As the first half went on, City thankfully became much more direct with how they used the ball. Soon after Yaya's header, Aguero almost found himself clean through after running down the right wing on the break from an Everton corner, only to be brought down from behind by Besic on the edge of the box. If this was anywhere else on the pitch a foul would certainly have been given, Besic got a foot to the ball but going through the back of Aguero in the process. This was the first example that the Ref did not bring his bottle to the Etihad.

From then on, clear chances were few and far between, Toure found KDB out on the left on 19' only for Aguero’s effort and Sterlings rebound to be snuffed out. Otamdendi had his headed chance from a corner caught comfortably by Tim Howard on 28’. Everton’s best chance of the half came from fantastic hold up play from Lukaku, who found Osman with a lofted pass across the City box, who’s first time volley sailed just wide of Hart’s left hand post. Sighs of relief all around.

Aguero, who is looking sharper with each game, contributed well with bursting runs forward but just couldn’t quite squeeze in any shots to trouble the American keeper. His last chance of the half coming on 40’ where KDB came provider, but  Howard again claimed well.

The second half saw no team changes for either side, however Everton well and truly parked their bus. Setting out to try and attack City on the counter. As a result the half was almost all City.

The first of a number of corners on 52', fell to Navas on the edge of the box who pulled his effort well wide.  Sterling made it a miserable night for John Stones, but after he dispossessed his fellow Englishman and ran menacingly into the box but again on 54', he couldn’t finish. Seconds later Sterling again had a chance after KDB pulled the ball back to the penalty spot from the right hand side but Sterling’s effort was blocked by Funes Mori and Howard scooped up with ease.

The remainder of the half continued in similar fashion, lots of chances, but Yaya, KDB, Sergio and Sterling all seemed to have left their finishing boots at home, and Tim Howard made sure that his net would remain untouched. KDB made way on 74’ for Silva, after what seemed to have been just one of those nights for the Belgian. Silva’s introduction injected a final burst of energy into his surrounding team mates. His introduction almost paid dividends with a move on 80’ into the right hand side of the box, interlinking with Aguero who cleverly turned inside the Everton defence, but his heavy touch wide left an impossible shooting angle and in the end was blocked. 

It was by this point that the introduction of Iheanacho might have been made. After Manuel’s comments midweek, praising the young Nigerian, it was this sort of game that, in my opinion, he gives us that diversity in attack that could really have made the difference. Hopefully, we will see him feature in the mirror fixture in the second leg of the Capital One cup Semi-Final.

On another night, City would have brushed past Everton with ease who posed no real threat throughout the game. It’s a shame that the game had to come to a point where City were reliant on a penalty decision. After the number of chances that city had created, this should not have been as pivotal as it turned out to be. However, City once again turned to the referee in absolute despair after another clear cut penalty was waved away by the officials in stoppage time (this one probably the most obvious of this Seasons denials). When @l0ngwayfr0mh0me and I started this blog, we did not want to make it an outlet for ranting and raving about referee’s, but more and more its looking as if these decisions may cost City dearly come May. Having looked back at the John Stones tackle on Sterling in the last minute I still can’t fathom how on earth that is anything less than a foul.

These points always divide fans, some siding with the view that we should have had the game wrapped up way before that decision. I agree completely. But when in a slump in form, it is those decisions that can get you out and reignite a season, or leave you out in the cold of a title race.  City are in the fortunate position where it seems no one want’s to take this season by the scruff of the neck and find some consistency, and the first team that does will definitely win the title. However, when you know that those sort of decisions will definitely go in favour of Arsenal at the Emirates. Something just doesn’t add up, and while noone would want the Club to take up a Moanrinho full blown ‘campaign’ stance, something surely has to give.

@PatrickElano

Youth and Exuberance as City Get to FA Cup 4th Round, Norwich 0 vs. 3 City

"It was a very good performance, from the beginning we were very aggressive.”

, Manuel Pellegrini – 09/01/2016.

Goals; Aguero 16'. Iheanacho 31', De Bruyne 78'
Line Up (4-4-2); Cabaleero, Kolorov, Otamendi, Demichelis, Zabaleta, Sterling (De Bruyne 61'), Delph, Fernando, Navas, Aguero (Clichy 70'), Iheanacho (Celina 85')

None of the "Promise of Magic" bloggers caught this game live, so no full write up I'm afraid. Highlight for me was the blooding of Iheanacho alongside Aguero, with the youngster scoring City's second, and putting in a man of the match performance before being subbed for another EDS youngster, Bersant Celina on 85'. The game also saw the welcome return of Pablo Zabaleta. Aguero opened the scoring on 16' with a toe poke passed the keeper following a mazy run, and substitute De Bruyne killed the game off with the third, blasting through Ruddy's legs on 78'.

Half Time In The Tie, Everton 2 vs. 1 City

“We didn’t deserve to lose in the first half – they scored a goal that was absolutely offside and then we were denied a clear penalty.”

, Manuel Pellegrini – 06/01/2016.

Unfortunately we have a lot of the usual talking points from this game. Ultimately though, City ended the half way point of their League Cup Semi-Final a goal down, but with an away goal which may prove significant come the second leg in two weeks time.

City started brightly. The tempo which had been sadly missing in the first forty five against Watford brought near lock down of the game in the first fifteen minutes, but unfortunately the players lost track of what had made them so dominant in this opening period and slowly let Everton back into the game. Indeed Everton had the more clear-cut of the chances created, being more direct on goal with their possession, and putting the ball in the net twice (both efforts being correctly ruled offside).

Everton's keeper Robles having denied City’s best chance of the half having saved a quick fire effort from Sergio Aguero on 42’, Everton were immediately handed a killer first goal through refereeing error. Robert Madley would (if allowed by the FA to be questioned on such matters) say he tried to keep the game flowing in allowing a number of niggly fouls to pass by. When letting play flow with no advantage, however, as he did when Everton won their corner at the end of the first half following a foul on Otamendi, you have to question just what he was thinking. The subsequent goal from Mori, pouncing onto Cabellero’s palmed save, could, and perhaps should have been prevented, but it was a cruel blow given the timing and the circumstances, especially given that Lukaku was well within Caballero’s eye line and offside as the ball came in.

The second half brought more refereeing controversy as substitute Navas was blatantly fouled in the area on 55’ only for the referee to again wave play on. This is the second nailed on penalty denied to City within three matches, hopefully this will not become a theme as the season progresses.

Navas’ endeavour was rewarded on 76’ when, against the run of play at the time, City finally broke quickly, with Aguero turning provider to provide a pin point through ball for Navas to slot home first time with his left foot (yes Jesus Navas, yes left foot, yeah seriously).

Two minutes later though Everton regained their lead with a goal that perfectly summed up City’s defensive quandary. Having removed Mangala at half time to be replaced by Demichelis, it was Demichelis who left Lukaku far too much room to get his head on Barry’s left field cross to make it 2-1 to Everton. If the first goal was cruel the second was a sickener.

Still, we fight to the end, and this tie is only halfway through. Everton will have to play even better than this to get a result at the Etihad, and hopefully that task will be put beyond them by a more consistent display from the Citizens.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

From The Jaws Of Defeat, Watford 1 vs. 2 City

"We never give up, we have a lot of character.”

, Manuel Pellegrini – 02/01/2016.

Let’s not dress this up, this was not a good performance, indeed the first half was woeful. Bereft of any sense of tempo or purpose for the first forty five minutes, City were dragged down a level and taught a lesson through Watford’s experience of playing there. The pitch and conditions no doubt played some part, but City players could simply not cope with Watford’s persistence in closing down, and tenacity to get to the second ball. City player’s attempts to match Watford by trying to keep the ball off the ground simply fell flat, and with the defence regressing to showing the problems already well documented with the lack of Vincent Kompany, I would have gladly taken 0-0 from this game as the sides went into half time goalless.

Of greater worry was that the half time team talk seemed to have been "try more of the same", and for the first ten minutes of the second half Watford dominated.

City’s first meaningful chance came on 53’ with, Fernandhino latching unchallenged onto Silva’s corner from the left, only to send the header over the bar. But three minutes later City were 1-0 down. Referee Atkinson had been interpreting the physical tussle between Mangala and Ighalo to the Watford players benefit all game, and on 56’ when Ighalo blatantly pushed Mangala as the ball sped towards the bye-line, it came as no surprise that Atkinson pointed for a Watford corner rather than a City free-kick. From the resulting kick, none other than Ben “90th Minute” Watson curled the ball inwards onto Kolorov’s head, who bizarrely nodded the ball on passed a helpless Joe Hart; 1-0 Watford.

At that point, with a Season low flat performance and Watford with their tails up, no one, including me, would have given City a chance of a point let alone all three. City toiled against the flow for another twenty minutes. The introduction of Navas on 60’ had made little difference. The City threat, such as it was, came from De Bruyne on the left, but other than a half chance on 68’ when De Bruyne knocked the ball low for Toure to hit high right, Watford’s more direct attacks looked the more likely to bring further goals.

Then on seventy minutes, Manuel Pellegrini decided he had finally seen enough; withdrawing centre half Mangala, and replacing him with forward Bony. For the next ten minutes City played 3-5-2, albeit that Fernandhino withdrew 10 yards behind what amounted to six attacking players. For the first time in the game the wings were being used by City to stretch the play, and the space infield was being exploited by Toure, Silva, and Aguero.

The breakthrough came from a set piece on 81’. Kolorov, who even without the own goal was having the poorest of games, drove in a fabulous corner from the left, at perfect height for a diving head, or in the case of Yaya Toure a deft left foot volley into the top left hand corner of the net; 1-1. It was a world class goal on night of industrial football, and lit up the City team like a New Year Eve rocket.

Two minutes later, and the transformation in fortunes were complete. Sagna played the cross from near to the right bye-line, and three Watford defenders watched as Sergio Aguero rose to nod the ball low right passed Gomes for City’s second; 1-2. Job done, Demichelis quickly replaced Aguero and City reverted to 4-5-1 to see out an unexpected victory.

So City start 2016 with a much needed away win. Whether a move of genius or desperation, Manuel Pellegrini “the engineer” had acted on what he had seen, and it worked. City are three points, rather than six behind Arsenal (who’s own difficulties in defeating Newcastle at home will no doubt be glossed over in Sunday paper’s), and only a point behind second placed Leicester. Result. However lessons are not being learned about starting games slowly, especially away from home. In this topsy turvy league where all teams will show tenacity and endeavour, and where television investment means all teams have players of skill and guile, you need to show respect and kill games early, else it costs you.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me