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

2014/15 Revisited, as Linesmen and Complacency Cost City Dear, Tottenham 4 vs. 1 City

"Two of their goals were offside. I think we didn't play well in second half."

, Manuel Pellegrini 26 September 2015.

A good hunting ground in the past few seasons, City were brought down to earth, following an awful second half capitulation at White Hart Lane.

Poor line decisions played a large part in the outcome. De Bruyne's 25th minute opener was marginally off, but Spurs equaliser just before half time was a howler, with Walker being a good two yards offside as he crossed the ball. To add insult Demichelis was booked for his protestations and then in the second half a further, just as obvious, offside was waived away as Kane slotted in the rebound from Eriksen's free-kick (the free-kick itself the ultimate result of Clatenburg deflecting the ball Tottenham's way).

Of equal worry is the now long list of injuries stacking up. Hart did not start, Kompany was pulled at the last minute, Silva and Mangala were again absent, and Toure retired with hamstring concerns. These are important players even with a squad as strong as City's, and the away game at Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday likely comes too soon for all of those to return. With the second team finishing this game so poorly, and Sergio unable to buy a goal, City will need to dig very deep to keep their Champions League hopes alive. #CTID

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

We Are Man City ... We Glow In The Dark. Sunderland 1 vs. 4 City

"It's important to win. Maybe we didn't deserve to lose the two games that we lost, but we did, so it was important not to continue in that sense"

, Manuel Pellegrini 22 September 2015.

The Stadium of Light was exactly that as City entered the field in their new "Night Rising" florescent green 3rd strip. What put the fans in great humour though was the return to form, as City re-discovered their finishing to go 4-0 up in the first thirty six minutes and put the game beyond Sunderland.

The game was won in the opening half with goals from Augero (penalty 9'), De Bruyne curling past the keeper following a searing break (25'), an own goal from keeper Mannone as the ball cannoned off the post from Sterling's shot (33'), and finally a sweet curling strike from Sterling (36').

The second half was one of containment, but did allow City to give game time to three of the younger squad members. Patrick Roberts was given a full half hour and Manu Garcia, and George Evans made their full debuts late on. George Evan's having now represented City at all age groups from Under 8s to first team, was one of the highlights, with his after match interview showing his obvious delight as a fan and player.

Not a game to set too much by, but a confidence giving win never the less.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Hopefully Not A Sign? City 1 vs. 2 West Ham

"We didn't play with the concentration and intensity needed in defending"

, Manuel Pellegrini 19 September 2015.

If Wednesday's defeat to Juventus was about a lack of collective nerve to hold a lead, then this game was about players not respecting the need to start from the first whistle, and not rely on building a head of steam.

Both West Ham goals were preventable. The first, conceded on six minutes with Moses under no pressure as he tried his luck from 20 yards, was very poor defending. The second, Sakho scoring from a goalmouth scramble on thirty one minutes, again no defender picking up on the danger from the corner, as Tomkins, the West Ham centre half, won a free header.

This was the recipe by which the 2014/15 season's title defence unravelled. It is the opposite of the 11 match winning run, and the strongest ever City start to an EPL season. It needs to stop now, before it becomes the new norm.

There were a number of upsides. Opta stats show a game of domination in all but one very important statistic; 72% possession, 27 shots, 18 in the box (usually blocked by Reid), and 8 on target, 596 passes with 89% completed.  In addition Saturday showed Kevin De Bruyne (who seemed to have initiated a comeback scoring clinically from the edge of the box just before half time) is not only a very technically gifted player, but has a third lung. Fernandinho continues to impress in midfield.

There were also some nagging doubts which need to be laid to rest. Aguero needs a goal. Switching the defence DOES cause us problems even when the individuals are £30+m players. No one unlocks  defences like David Silva. Navas is in need of showing the City faithful he is worthy of the Managers constant trust.

So in conclusion very little new if this were 2014/15 and a little worrying as it is not. # CTID

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

The Chimp On Our Backs... City 1 vs. 2 Juve - What We Can All Learn

A lot of our blog entries concerning the Champions League start with us being negative towards the competition and shunning UEFA as an organisation, I'm going to cut that part out. What I want to get to is the more pressing matter of whether as a club, players and fans, we are actually learning from mistakes or is there something more pressing in play? Rather than being worried about the meters between Bony's attempts and the goal, we should be worried about the centimetres in between our players ears.

City started extremely well. Fernandinho must have taken the Pogba transfer speculation to heart and played with power, drive and aggression and within moments almost landed Sterling's first Champions league goal in sky blue. It wasn't only Ferna that was enjoying the occasion and come half-time it looked like City weren't just a team that played pretty football, but a team with a purpose and a real force.

This was also how City started the second half, and got off the mark. Chiellini, a player that most would shy away from due to his old fashioned approach and ruthlessness, was made to look two foot tall when Kompany leaped aggressively over the Italian, making him head the ball into his own net. Relief, elation, excitement, and ... unfortunately what seemed to follow was anxiety.

If it had stayed 1-0 then I wouldn't have to mention the obvious nervousness from Bony, Sterling's finishing, and an ever more agitated Etihad crowd. However as the game went on the "Champions League Chimp" became ever more apparent both on and off the field.

This is where every one of us becomes a tactical wizz and says that the naivety from coach and players once again cost us three points from a winning position in the champions league. On the face of it this is a fair point, however, from a psychological perspective there seems to be more cards in play.

When we went 1-0 up, performance anxieties set in and you could even go as far as describing it as choking. While choking occurs due to any number of reasons, I can't help but think the ever increasing pressure pot of high expectation surrounding this competition can only be a disrupting piece in City's European puzzle. These players have the ability to battle with the best, as proven last season, scrapping out of a group of death with away wins in Munich and Rome. On Tuesday City also showed they are no pushovers, until that is, the jitters made their return.

There is a difference between being tough to play, as City were in the first half, and being mentally  'hardy'. To establish the concept of hardiness in the sport context any elite sporting environment places the athlete into highly stressful situations, both physically and psychologically. When confronted with this stress any disruptions (success or failure) will bring different reactions. Mentally hardy individuals react not only with a renewed attempt to control the situation, but also appraise the experience as interesting and worthwhile (greater commitment), and concentrate on the growth in knowledge and wisdom that is taking place (rise to the challenge). Others can let anxiety have the opposite effect.

An obvious example of City standing off and not 'attempting to control the situation' would be letting Pogba swing the ball in to Mandzukic for the equaliser, Fernandinho busted his lungs all game, but only flung a leg at the frenchman, followed by Mangala only doing the same when trying to block the marauding forward. In the first half they were instinctively getting to the ball first, putting their bodies first but with the additional stress of  possibly losing a lead, they then started to stand off.

The second goal was a similar story, not undermining the finish, but Kolarov and Otamendi were second to the ball, City were flinging legs and not getting into position and being aggressive, like in the first half, to win that ball back. A similar story developed within the crowd, suddenly being happy with a draw was not good enough, and this change impacted the atmosphere, not that it was negative ... it just wasn't as positive. This is why sometimes away games can be easier on teams than home.

This points to a certain lack mental toughness at the highest level, however, this toughness can be learned as well as be inbuilt. Chances can always be missed, but the ability to "win ugly" when they are can be learned from Juve. City have the intelligence to know when to keep up the pressure and kill the game off at this level, but need the hardiness to display those behaviours in the Champions League as well as the Premiership. Else the Chimp may never be shaken.

Nothing from Tuesday night made me think that City can't go to Turin and get a result. If the mental toughness of the players (and ourselves!) can improve from this experience and match that shown in the Prem, then without a doubt, we will go much further in this ruthless competition.

@PatrickElano

Nacho Nacho Man!, Palace 0 vs. 1 City

"This year he started pre-season with the squad and will be a very important player for the future. He's one of the reasons I didn't bring another striker in when we sold Edin Dzeko."

"He deserves that chance."

, Manuel Pellegrini 12 September 2015.

Eighteen year old Kelechi Iheanacho  took only 54 seconds to make his mark on this gritty top two encounter, scoring the 90th minute winner, having the agility and quick thought to pounce on a close-range rebound after Alex McCarthy failed to hold Samir Nasri's shot.

Palace had gone a long way to justifying their heady 2nd place EPL spot, but on the balance of play it was a deserved, if unspectacular, win.  City dominated both possession and chances created and although palace always had speed in their counter attacks, calling Joe Hart into action on a couple of occasions, the better chances fell City's way; with a bad miss by Navas in the first half, when through on goal being perhaps the best, until Iheanacho  intervened to create a spectacular ending to the game.

The win continues City's unbeaten start to the Season. Five wins from five games with no goals conceded is fabulous form to take into the first Champions League clash of the Season on Tuesday against Juventus.

The only negative of the day was an early injury to Aguero. The international break had already taken its toll on the City squad with both Silva (ankle) and Sterling (hamstring) being ruled out of the Palace game. So to lose Sergio only 24 minutes into the match, from a clinical and dangerous challenge by Scott Dann, was the last thing the team needed. Early comments from Club and players via Twitter point to him being out at least until Saturday. Both Silva and Sterling may feature vs. Juve.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me