The Demi' lition Derby, City 0 vs. 1 Stretford

“I don’t think muscle injuries can heal in one week. They normally need three or four weeks”

, Manuel Pellegrini – 20/03/2016.

Goals; -; Rashford 15'

Line Up (4-2-3-1);Hart (Caballero 50'), Sagna, Demichelis (Bony 53'), Mangala, Clichy, Navas, Toure, Fernandhino, Silva, Sterling (Fernando 26'), Aguero
Stats;Possession, 55%/45%; Shots, 26(3)/5(4); Fouls, 9/12
Referee; Michael Oliver

For the record, I would have played Sagna at Centre Half and Zabaleta at right back. I take not one iota of comfort from that statement, nor the knowledge that it was a sentiment shared with a number of others before the game started. So whereas I sang the praises of Manuel three weeks ago, at his decision to stick with his principles regarding Cabellero, this time I must equally damn his blinkered attitude towards the veteran Demichelis. The Argentinian simply had not played a single game of merit in a City shirt this season, and today he had a 'mare. The decision to play him was the difference between the two sides in a game of small margins, which so easily could have gone the other way, a terrible decision, hopefully acknowledged when the Argentinian was hauled off early in the second half.

The start was good. The only way City were going to win this game was being on the front foot and forcing the play, and this they did. City forced a corner in the first minute and looked to have the momentum and desire to take the game to United. The first real chance came in the seventh minute, Silva on the left, reversed the ball down the line to Sterling, who's cross to Aguero fell slightly short, but United's half clearance was pounced on by Navas, who chested the ball down and shot, but on his weaker left foot he could only put the ball wide. Navas again went close on 14', Sterling back healed the ball to Silva, who's cross was met by his fellow Spaniard, but unfortunately although the controlled volley went through the defenders legs, DeGea saved with his feet.

Then came the, predictable, defensive error from Demichelis, upon which turned the first half, and unfortunately the game. A simple pass from deep was met by Rashford, and despite all his years of experience, Demichelis dived in, Rashford was past the Argentinian in an instant, and had a relatively simple right foot finish to make it 0-1. What was worse was that the goal blunted any momentum City had had. Up to that point the Citizens had been bossing the game, but after the goal, they struggled to find energy or ideas in the first half. To make matters worse, Sterling had to be replaced by Fernando on 25', limping off with a groin strain picked up from a foul by Mata. It could, however have been even worse; had it not been for a fortunate refereeing decision from Michael Oliver, Demichelis could have actually sealed the game for United, with a rash barge on Rashford in the box on the cusp of half time. Luckily the penalty wasn't given, and City went in 0-1.

With City on the back foot, and momentum needing to be regained,  the second half could not have got off to a worse start. Demichelis (again :( ) played a weak back pass requiring Hart to slide into a challenge with Marshall, injuring himself in the process. The biggest applause of the afternoon from the City fans came as Hart was immediately replaced by League Cup hero Caballero. Looking to allow City to stamp something on the game, (or perhaps just putting the Argentinian out of his misery), Bony replaced Demichelis on 52'. City switched to 4-4-2, and slowly turned the game, but unfortunately not the scoreline around. Aguero was the main threat. He created a chance from nothing on 56' with his pace getting him into the right of United's penalty area only to see his shot go high from an acute angle. Then on 65' he hit the post with a bullet header from a Yaya cross from the right. And then on 71' Aguero created, arguably, City's best opportunity, getting his head to the ball at the back post, with the ball falling to Bony, only for the Ivorian to be tackled as he shot.  A number of other half chances came and went in a half which City dominated, but in the end, as per the game at Norwich the previous week, City's attack was blunted by solid, backs against the wall defending.

What is worse is that fourth place in the premier league is now really looking under threat, with West Ham and United only a point behind City, and City unable to buy a result. Four points from a possible eighteen in the last six games makes stark reading, and something needs to change in the league, and fast. With an ever growing injury list (see Manuel's quote above for how long we may now miss Sterling and Hart), the team is going to have to dig deep over the next couple of weeks to stop a promising Season becoming just a case of wasted potential.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Low Risk, High Reward. City 0 vs 0 Kyiv

“The last two seasons we were unlucky to play against Barcelona in the round of 16. We now arrive in the best eight teams in the competition for the first time and we will see how far we can go.”

, Manuel Pellegrini - 15/03/2016

Goals; None

Line Up (4-2-3-1);Hart, Clichy, Otamendi (Demichelis 24', Kompany (Mangala 7'), Zabaleta, Fernando, Yaya, Fernandihno, Navas, Silva (Sterling 79'), Aguero
StatsPossession, 46%/54%; Shots, 7(1)/6(4); Fouls, 11/12

After what seemed to be pretty miserable hangover since City’s Capital One Cup triumph at Wembley, the blues needed to finish the job against Kiev at the Etihad, and get in the pot for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in the clubs history.

The starting line-up saw a welcomed return to the linchpin of City’s midfield, Yaya Toure, who took up his favoured role at the spearhead in a three man midfield with the 'Ferna' twins providing cover.

As it happened, the game was more about what happened in the first 10 minutes to Vincent Kompany, rather than what happened in front of goal. The Captain’s injury plagued season once again taking a downward turn as he pulled up with what seemed to be another calf injury. His face painted a picture worth a thousand blog posts, and his cameo appearance kind of summed up City’s recent form; so much promise, yet disappointment, as he was replaced by Mangala. This feeling was further reinforced with Otamendi also having to make way for Demichelis after suffering a dead leg on 15’. Exactly the opposite of what City needed before the Derby at the weekend.

This is where I would usually delve into the highlights and low-lights of the match, but I think we all have our opinion on the performance, and while Robbie Savage labelled it ‘The worst match I have ever seen’, I have other, slightly more optimistic (and hopefully enlightened) views on the 90 minutes and its implications.

Was it the attacking, fluid, sumptuous football we have become greedy of viewing week after week? No, however, it was a professional performance in a game where we did not need to take any risks. The incentive should have been entirely on the Ukrainians to throw everything at City's improvised defensive partnership, which they did not. If City did attempt to hurt Kiev and go at them full throttle (as the neutral viewer may have been longing for), but ended up being left exposed and conceding, City would yet again be labelled naïve in Europe. Any risk of exerting unnecessary effort leaving City less than fresh for the season defining derby at Eastlands in four days’ time, was therefore avoided, whilst playing safe by having a full strength line-up.

Instead, a method Mourinho, Simeone et al., have implemented to great success in this competition in previous years; professional and efficient, low-risk and high reward, was employed. Though a special mention needs to be made for big Yaya Toure, who was back to his dominating self, and last night made it abundantly clear to all his colleagues, that a slip up was not to be contemplated. Especially it seemed, to big Joe Hart, who responded by pulling off a couple of worldies late in the game.

I’ve always been a Pellegrini supporter, and while I completely agree with others' views that this season should have been miles better than it has been, Pellegrini has yet again showed his tactical nous in the Champions League. One thing he does not get enough credit for, however, is how City have orchestrated themselves among Europe’s ‘elite’ this season. His game management and dynamism reaping rewards in a group stage that every pundit had labelled another group of death for City, and in the end coming out on top for the group for the first time. He has then decided to hit Kiev early in Ukraine, and getting the tie over with. This allowed the coasting performance last night, thus getting City through to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history. Have we moved forward under Pellegrini? Undoubtedly. .

As for the future in the ECL; Wolfsburg, Atletico, Juventus, and even Real Madrid are all pretty evenly matched ties that City should be looking to edge, especially with the return of De Bruyne, Nasri and Delph on the horizon. Then with a bit of luck, who knows what could happen. Capital One Cup trophy in the cabinet, Quarter Finals of the Champions league and beyond still on the cards. Pellegrini may have taken us as far as possible, but in a season over-run by injury and complacency, we are still in the running for Milan come May. Let’s stop longing for the summer with Pep and start believing that we can continue to make history right now, because this team are capable, and with Yaya and Sergio in the mix, the sky (and perhaps Barca and Bayern) is still the only limit.

@patrickelano

Not The Stuff Of Champions, Norwich 0 vs 0 City

“We weren't good enough to win the game.”

, Joe Hart – 12/03/2016.

Goals; None

Line Up (4-4-2);Hart, Sagna (Zabaleta 85'), Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Navas (Iheanacho 77'), Fernando, Fernandhino, Silva, Bony (Sterling 58'), Aguero
Stats;Possession, 34%/66%; Shots, 5(0)/15(3); Fouls, 15/10
Referee; Jonathan Moss

Despite a blistering opening twenty minutes in both halves for City, today's goalless draw marked the death knell on any lingering hope of overtaking league leaders Leicester. For all that City's approach play bewitched and beguiled Norwich up to the eighteen yard box, the final ball was too often too obvious, or too slow, or both. This was a Norwich side who had lost eight of their last nine, and although their defending was resolute, City were at fault for not doing better in the final third, and were the architects of their own downfall at a Carrow Road ground where, in the past few years at least, a win would be minimum expectation.

The first half started well enough, City pressing high, forcing errors, and more or less having the ball to themselves. Aguero was playing more often than not on the left, leaving Bony as the target man, and allowing Silva the room inside. Fernandhino also tried to get forward when he could, and it was O'Neil's foul on the Brazilian in the 14' that gave City their first real chance on goal, Aguero beating the wall but not John Ruddy from the resulting free-kick. It was Aguero again on 26' creating perhaps the best chance of the half when he created his own space and cracked a shot from the right just outside the eighteen yard box. Ruddy again though saved the shot, this time low and to the left of the goal.

After that the game opened up a little more, with Norwich having more possession, and even coming close with a hit and hope from Chelsea loanee Bamford on 39' hitting the bar. But that for City, in terms of real chances, was pretty much it. As in the previous week, despite Silva pulling the strings, Bony was unable to use the space effectively, and more often than not looked a passenger, as Aguero, Silva, and Navas switched places to no avail. On another day (in another season where City were not constantly beset by injuries), Yaya or DeBruyne might have hidden Bony's failings, but today it was obvious Iheanacho or Sterling should have started. It was these identical situations which occured time and time again last season, and given DeBruyne and Sterling were bought specifically to solve the problems of decisiveness and pace getting into the eighteen yard box, the choice of Bony was a poor one, even if Bony was on form, which he clearly is not.

So it was surprising when the half-time break came and went, and Bony was still on the pitch. And again although City bossed the game right from the start of the second half, the tempo and guile shown last week where it mattered (in the eighteen yard box), was missing. The inevitable substitutions followed; Sterling for Bony on 57' and Iheanacho for Navas on 76', but an hour of the game had been lost, and Norwich were just looking more and more stubborn.

And that's the way the game finished. Though credit has to be given to City for dominating possession so convincingly away from home, a championship winning side would have turned that into more attempts, and would have scored. So, thankfully with one trophy in the bag, City can now only realistically fight to maintain their top four status, whilst making further progress in the Champions League, because the Premier League is gone.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Patience, City 4 vs. 0 Aston Villa

“We will fight to the very end as usual”

, Kun Aguero – 05/03/2016.

Goals; Y Touré (48'minutes), Agüero (50'minutes, 60'minutes), Sterling (66'minutes)

Line Up (4-4-2);Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Navas, Toure (A.Garcia 80'), Fernandhino, Silva (Iheanacho 70'), Bony (Sterling 62'), Aguero
Stats;Possession, 71%/29%; Shots, 19(9)/1(1); Fouls, 10/10
Referee; Lee Mason

At half time at the Etihad, my mind drifted back to the same fixture two seasons ago, as City in their penultimate game of the EPL Season needed to find their way past a stubborn Villa defence fighting for its own survival in the league. After a goalless first half, City then as now ended up 4-0 winners, the most memorable of the goals being Yaya Toure's lung busting box to box run, to lash the final goal into the Villa net. On that cold Wednesday night it was patience, and a little extra tempo and guile, which turned the game, provided by Jovetic.  Today was no different, except the tempo and guile was provided by three City stalwarts who were already on the pitch, Aguero, Silva, and Toure, rather than a super sub. Sometimes games of football cannot be rushed.

The first half had not been difficult for City, save for a familiar story of a team parking the bus at the Etihad, and the lack of the tempo needed to break it down. City finished the half with 80% possession and a pass accuracy of 91%, but statistics like this have not this season won football matches, just ask Leicester! So when Guzan got his hand to a left footed shot from eight yards from Aguero on 18', and Bony failed stunningly to get onto a glorious infield long pass from Clichy on 32' nerves started to creep in, for the fans if not for the players.

But the second half was a different affair altogether.  City were set on their way by Kun Aguero, on City's right, his pace taking him to the byline where he reversed the ball for Silva who picked out Yaya across the box, right foot, slight deflection, 1-0 after 47'.  Barely had the crowd quietened from the release of nervous energy, when two minutes later, Aguero popped up again, this time to latch onto a sweet through ball from Bony, the ball actually rebounding off Aguero from Richards' attempted clearance for his 20th goal of the season, 2-0.

Two more chances had come and gone, when Silva and Aguero linked up on 60' for Aguero to chest the ball down and strike low into the bottom left of Guzan's goal, the finish was truly world class, and was worthy of any game at any level. Sterling replaced a lacklustre Bony on 59', and seven minutes later, the relentless Navas had provided the cross for the youngster to put the game beyond doubt, 4-0.

The game could have produced eight or nine goals for City. The best remaining chance being from Iheanacho (on for Silva) winning a penalty on 71', only for Aguero to crack the ball against the right post. 4-0 it finished and with Spurs and Arsenal dropping points it was just what City needed to tentatively move back into the title race.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Bad Hangover, Liverpool 3 vs. 0 City

“The team hasn't recovered from the last week. Liverpool played at a higher pace and pressed higher”

, Manuel Pellegrini – 02/03/2016.

Goals; Lallana (33'), Milner (40')Firminho (55')
Line Up (4-2-3-1;Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy (Kolorov 74'), Fernando, Navas, Fernandhino (Iheanacho 53'), Silva, Sterling (Bony 45'), Aguero
Stats;Possession, 49.5%/50.5%; Shots, 10(4)/7(2); Fouls, 14/14
Referee; Martin Atkinson

Surprisingly it was Liverpool who had sprung the changes making five from the side which started against the blues at Wembley on Sunday, including serial tormentor Coutinho who was replaced by Lallana. City made just three from the League Cup winning side, with Hart, Zabaleta and Navas in for Caballero, Sagna, and Toure; the latter two changes forced by injury. On the night I'm not sure if it was Yaya or Cabellero who was missed the most, as City turned in an insipid display, the opposite of their last two outings. In hindsight bringing in some fresher legs in the centre of midfield may have been a wise move, even if the obvious choices all remain injured, the EDS may have provided the answer.

Liverpool started in typical Klopp fashion, and ably assisted by the lack of the referees whistle, flew into every challenge for the opening twenty minutes. This gained Liverpool much of the possession, but without actually threatening City's goal, until a speculative twenty yard effort from Firminho on 22'.As the half wore on, and legs tired on the Liverpool side some inroads were made by City, but with little of the precise build up which had marked City's play on Sunday, and against Kyiv the previous week.Perhaps if City had scored in this period the game would have gone another way, but the closest we saw was a high and wide effort from Sterling.

Then on 33' another inexplicable City moment changed the complexion of the game. Although not under any pressure, Lallana's 30 yard shot was neither particularly well hit, or hit with any real power; yet it easily crept into the bottom left of Hart's goal. 1-0 to Liverpool just as City had seemed to be regaining the ascendancy.

Buoyed by the goal, Liverpool continued to press, and City looked largely unable to respond, clearly missing the muscle and metronome passing of Yaya Toure. Then on 40' things got worse. Again with no pressure on the ball from City's midfield, a simple infield pass to found Milner on the edge of the City box, and suddenly it was 2-0. A half chance from Aguero was deflected off the line by Milner on 45' but the half ended 2-0 Liverpool.

Half time saw the substitution of Bony for Sterling, who had not been playing badly despite the inevitable immaturity of the Kop's constant jeering. The decision was more perplexing as moving to 4-4-2 when the midfield was already struggling seemed an all or nothing move. The as if to prove a point, Fernandinho made way for Iheanacho on 53', closely followed by Liverpool's third goal on 55' this time from Firminho. Game over.

From an attacking sense the substitutions had proved ineffectual. Defensively they had been suicide. We have to hope this was just a hangover from Sunday. City had thrown away the chance to make an impact of the table as Spurs and Arsenal had themselves thrown points to West Ham and Swansea respectively. Some good news at least, but much much better will be needed if even a top four spot is to be claimed by City between now and the end of the season.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me