“We’re not where we should be right now in the table, but we’re right in the mix without really playing that well.
”
”
, Joe Hart – 29/12/2015.
On what was ultimately a frustrating night for City, the Citizens showed a lot which was positive for a side written off by many in the media since the advent of Ozil fever.
The team set up with a very positive outlook, Aguero returning to replace Bony from the weekend line-up, and a return to 4-2-3-1 with Silva, De Bruyne, and Sterling sat behind in a fluid set up that moved to 4-4-2 when pressure allowed and promised goals. Sadly, however, it was not to be. Despite dominating the first half, and breaking down a very solid 4-5-1 from Leicester on numerous occasions, the quality of the final ball or finish was lacking. Sterling, in particular was bright, forcing three saves from Schmeichel in the first forty five. Ironically though, Leicester had the best chance when a mistake from Fernandhino on 39’ allowed a through ball to Vardy, who placed his shot high.
The second half was slightly better from Leicester, they pressed the ball higher, and the “give it to Gordon” (aka Jamie Vardy) tactics benefitted from more accurate long passes to the league’s top scorer. But the better football was still coming from City, with them playing like the home team, and Leicester reliant on hitting quickly on the break or creating from set-pieces. The match stats back that up, with City dominating possession (61%), shots (21 vs. 11), and corners (13 vs. 1). However where it counted, in front of goal, the only stat that counts is the 0 vs. 0 (though on another day Craig Pawson would have given City a penalty for the foul on Aguero by Leicester’s Inler just before he was withdrawn on 63’).
So City finishes the first half of the Season still with more than a shout in four competitions. A semi-final place waits in the League Cup, and having qualified top of their Champions League group for the first time, they have a credible chance to move forward to the quarter finals, with a game against (hopefully) ring rusty Dynamo Kiev. Even in the Premier League, where City have shown some of their more frustrating traits, they lie only three points shy of leaders Arsenal, with a superior goal difference, and with all the games against credible title rivals to be played at the Etihad.
It would be incredibly unlucky for City’s injury crisis from the first nineteen games to continue for the rest of the season, so there are definitely reasons to be cheerful going into the New Year.
#CTID
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
