Ok so City didn’t manage to brush aside their League One opposition at the first time of asking but there are a whole number of positives to take from the game. If you forget for a moment that we are digging ourselves into a hole with the piling up of fixtures and all that despite all the cash spent over the last few seasons then you will know all is not lost.
Notts County, first of all deserve credit. Their goalkeeper, Nelson making crucial saves, particularly in the first half with his foot to thwart Yaya Toure. If that had gone in then City would have cranked it up I am sure and the result would not have been in doubt. Notts County also share their ground with Nottingham Rugby Club….and it looked it too. Players of the likes of Dzeko, Silva and co probably haven’t played on a worse pitch in their careers and for sure the replay at the City of Manchester Stadium will have a sharper, free flowing display of football which I think will show our class over the lower team.
That will hopefully then see us through to the fifth round where Villa come to us.
So our positives? I mention that there were a whole number of those at the beginning of this article. 1) we are still in the competition. Sounds crazy but you do need to be in it to win it and currently we are still in it. 2) They really didn’t threaten us too much and was a set piece that we conceded from (that is a negative with regards to set plays though as we continue to concede that way too many times for my liking) 3) Dzeko scored his first goal for us and it was important and considering the fast frantic game that is a cup game he showed that he is adaptable. Example of someone not adaptable? Jo. 4) Silva shines no matter what the conditions and finally we ain’t no Spurs!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Villa v CITY
So it was pretty much to be expected although that doesn’t make it easier to take. Aston Villa, low on confidence really in a position in the league that doesn’t do credit to the talent in their squad. Also the debut of one Darren Bent who, as many City fans know seems to like scoring against us but not as much as he loves scoring on his debut. The game against Aston Villa had a trio of reasons why we would not win this game and so it was to prove.
City enjoyed to majority of possession, almost double the amount of shots on target and five times as many as Villa off target and all of this away from home. We would have had more than an inkling that this wouldn’t be our day early on as the usually reliable (from anywhere BUT the spot) front man for City saw the ball go through his legs when surely the tap in was easier to do. Then on the 18th minute Bent was free to tap in a parried ball from Hart and this will be the main thing that concerns Mancini and the City faithful. There is no doubt that Hart is a great keeper but this is now too many errors that have led to vital goals that he has made in recent games. Later on he was to palm another shot around the post rather than back into play as he had done previously. Shay Given must be surely expecting to see his name on the team sheet next Sunday when the mighty Blues face off against Notts County in the FA Cup.
Positives from the game is that City still looked good, and on another day it could have been so different with Barry heading agonizingly wide. Later on DeJongs powerful drive was deflected onto the base of the post and soon after Kolorovs similar attempt was deflected TWICE with the second one taking it away from Friedel but also the goal. Dzeko still awaits his first City goal but does look the part once he gets into full flow. He too saw a header go just wide after out jumping the Villa defense to meet a Johnson cross.
My personal opinion is that teams like Villa now look to get their nose in front if they can but then get all bar one body behind the ball. That shows that City are now recognized as a real threat and it is now up to Mancini and City to figure out the solution.
City enjoyed to majority of possession, almost double the amount of shots on target and five times as many as Villa off target and all of this away from home. We would have had more than an inkling that this wouldn’t be our day early on as the usually reliable (from anywhere BUT the spot) front man for City saw the ball go through his legs when surely the tap in was easier to do. Then on the 18th minute Bent was free to tap in a parried ball from Hart and this will be the main thing that concerns Mancini and the City faithful. There is no doubt that Hart is a great keeper but this is now too many errors that have led to vital goals that he has made in recent games. Later on he was to palm another shot around the post rather than back into play as he had done previously. Shay Given must be surely expecting to see his name on the team sheet next Sunday when the mighty Blues face off against Notts County in the FA Cup.
Positives from the game is that City still looked good, and on another day it could have been so different with Barry heading agonizingly wide. Later on DeJongs powerful drive was deflected onto the base of the post and soon after Kolorovs similar attempt was deflected TWICE with the second one taking it away from Friedel but also the goal. Dzeko still awaits his first City goal but does look the part once he gets into full flow. He too saw a header go just wide after out jumping the Villa defense to meet a Johnson cross.
My personal opinion is that teams like Villa now look to get their nose in front if they can but then get all bar one body behind the ball. That shows that City are now recognized as a real threat and it is now up to Mancini and City to figure out the solution.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
FA Cup: CITY 4, Leicester 2
So there it is, last nights performance is one which will live in the memory of every City fan for quite some time. Honoring City legend Neil Young the City players originally lined up in the 1969 Red and Black striped kit before then changing back into the traditional Sky Blue. I thought that was a very classy touch from the people at City. Hopefully, for the City faithful this game will be the last in what was a trio of games that we should have won comfortably but didn’t. In the end we had Kolorov’s late strike to put clear distance between us and the Championship side in the FA Cup replay at the City of Manchester Stadium.
In truth this, like the last game against Wolves, was done and dusted at halftime and should have allowed us to see the win through with little pressure. Adam Johnson missed a sitter early on for City before Captain Tevez put us ahead with yet another sensational goal. That lead was only to last four minutes before a rather soft penalty was given against Vieira, which Gallagher, starting back to goal, dispatched. Close to twenty minutes later City were back in front after Vieira tapped in a half saved shot which was the result of a Zabaletta cut back and a Silva shot. Before the replays had been shown on the TV City were breaking again and the two wide players Silva and Johnson (who were said to not be able to play together) had broken through the Foxes back line and Johnson calmly netted City’s third. At this point, at home you would think City would be cruising. Second half came and Tevez was felled in the area and despite it being a clear goal scoring opportunity neither a red nor yellow card was issued to Hobbs. Tevez stepped up to the spot and after some distraction dispatched the ball cleanly at the keeper who watched it go over the bar for a corner.
Even then you could still see City scoring before Leicester but again in the last ten minutes it was the away team to score and set up a nail biting finale. The referee played a one two before allowing a clear offside position to continue before Dyer netted. Memories of Saturdays 4-3 ending came flooding back and as Manchester City messed about in and around the Leicester penalty area towards the end it looked like the chance had been wasted. That is until Kolorov got the ball on the edge of the box and with two touches, one to control it and one to place it City were finally assured of their progression through to the next round of the FA Cup.
City can celebrate the victory and some respects it really was a good performance from the Citizens. When we attacked we moved the ball quickly and with great assuredness. However there will be slight concerns over the concentrations and skill level of some of the players. No disrespect to Leicester or Wolves but we can not be having the likes of Lescotts lack of pace or rash tackles against the likes of United in a few weeks time. The good news is I don’t think we will as clearly he is firmly now a utility player at City and in crunch games will warm the bench at best.
In truth this, like the last game against Wolves, was done and dusted at halftime and should have allowed us to see the win through with little pressure. Adam Johnson missed a sitter early on for City before Captain Tevez put us ahead with yet another sensational goal. That lead was only to last four minutes before a rather soft penalty was given against Vieira, which Gallagher, starting back to goal, dispatched. Close to twenty minutes later City were back in front after Vieira tapped in a half saved shot which was the result of a Zabaletta cut back and a Silva shot. Before the replays had been shown on the TV City were breaking again and the two wide players Silva and Johnson (who were said to not be able to play together) had broken through the Foxes back line and Johnson calmly netted City’s third. At this point, at home you would think City would be cruising. Second half came and Tevez was felled in the area and despite it being a clear goal scoring opportunity neither a red nor yellow card was issued to Hobbs. Tevez stepped up to the spot and after some distraction dispatched the ball cleanly at the keeper who watched it go over the bar for a corner.
Even then you could still see City scoring before Leicester but again in the last ten minutes it was the away team to score and set up a nail biting finale. The referee played a one two before allowing a clear offside position to continue before Dyer netted. Memories of Saturdays 4-3 ending came flooding back and as Manchester City messed about in and around the Leicester penalty area towards the end it looked like the chance had been wasted. That is until Kolorov got the ball on the edge of the box and with two touches, one to control it and one to place it City were finally assured of their progression through to the next round of the FA Cup.
City can celebrate the victory and some respects it really was a good performance from the Citizens. When we attacked we moved the ball quickly and with great assuredness. However there will be slight concerns over the concentrations and skill level of some of the players. No disrespect to Leicester or Wolves but we can not be having the likes of Lescotts lack of pace or rash tackles against the likes of United in a few weeks time. The good news is I don’t think we will as clearly he is firmly now a utility player at City and in crunch games will warm the bench at best.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
CITY 4, Wolves 3
Those of us used to following Manchester City will not be unfamiliar with the following phrase: “City didn’t make things easy for themselves”. On Saturday the Citizens hosted Wolves at the City Of Manchester stadium knowing that a win would push them back to the top of the English Premier League ahead of Salford United…at least for a day.
Mick McCarthy, an ex City player himself, always has teams who do not read scripts and so it was to be the visitors to take the lead with Milijas scrambling the ball over the line. City came back through striking sensation Kolo Toure, and was as scrambled as the first. That is how the first half would end at one scrambled goal a piece.
Then cometh the second half cometh the Carlos Tevez Show, and with the first attack of the half he waltzed his way into the box before sliding the ball in. His celebration was different this time, no message penned on his shin guard this time as his family were actually in the stadium. Moments later it was 3-1 and a beautiful counter attack from City saw Tevez pass to Dzeko and he in turn slid a pass right into the path of Yaya Toure who finished off the move for 3-1. Wolves were stunned and City were cruising when Tevez scored his second and Citys fourth with his head after fellow countryman Zabaletta dinked in a cross.
City were home and dry and City were heading, comfortably, to the top of the league…again Wolves tore up the script. Doyle converted a penalty with time left to set up a stellar finish. Their third didn’t come until close to full time though with Zubars header ruled to have crossed the line despite DeJongs best efforts.
City were rocked and it was clear to see, and when five minutes added time was announced it was McCarthy who punched the air while Mancini held his breath but it was to be our day and having the game end 4-3 saw us regain top spot…..if only for a day.
On the plus side, we finished the game winners, and are top of the league. Edin Dzeko, although not getting on the score sheet, showed exactly what he could do for us (Don’t forget he hadn’t played for a while due to Germany’s winter break) and when we found our gear and flow we looked very dangerous. On the down side we still have mental lapses which will hurt us. Lescott jumping all over the Wolves player to concede the penalty was not needed. Not clearing our line as seen with the opening goal.
End on a positive though and I am glad that Mancini is a ’defensive’ minded coach. He can see these errors and knows what needs to be done to make them rare or eliminate them altogether.
Mick McCarthy, an ex City player himself, always has teams who do not read scripts and so it was to be the visitors to take the lead with Milijas scrambling the ball over the line. City came back through striking sensation Kolo Toure, and was as scrambled as the first. That is how the first half would end at one scrambled goal a piece.
Then cometh the second half cometh the Carlos Tevez Show, and with the first attack of the half he waltzed his way into the box before sliding the ball in. His celebration was different this time, no message penned on his shin guard this time as his family were actually in the stadium. Moments later it was 3-1 and a beautiful counter attack from City saw Tevez pass to Dzeko and he in turn slid a pass right into the path of Yaya Toure who finished off the move for 3-1. Wolves were stunned and City were cruising when Tevez scored his second and Citys fourth with his head after fellow countryman Zabaletta dinked in a cross.
City were home and dry and City were heading, comfortably, to the top of the league…again Wolves tore up the script. Doyle converted a penalty with time left to set up a stellar finish. Their third didn’t come until close to full time though with Zubars header ruled to have crossed the line despite DeJongs best efforts.
City were rocked and it was clear to see, and when five minutes added time was announced it was McCarthy who punched the air while Mancini held his breath but it was to be our day and having the game end 4-3 saw us regain top spot…..if only for a day.
On the plus side, we finished the game winners, and are top of the league. Edin Dzeko, although not getting on the score sheet, showed exactly what he could do for us (Don’t forget he hadn’t played for a while due to Germany’s winter break) and when we found our gear and flow we looked very dangerous. On the down side we still have mental lapses which will hurt us. Lescott jumping all over the Wolves player to concede the penalty was not needed. Not clearing our line as seen with the opening goal.
End on a positive though and I am glad that Mancini is a ’defensive’ minded coach. He can see these errors and knows what needs to be done to make them rare or eliminate them altogether.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Arsenal v City (Preview)
Today sees one of the biggest games of City’s season for sure. If we do something today that we haven’t done since 1975 then we go back to joint top of the league with United, but more importantly we put five points between us and the chasing pack. A win today would be great, but then you have to think about Silva out of our team through injury and Ballotelli also out and the task becomes tougher.
In the game at Eastlands, City came off second best to an Arsenal side who beat us 3-0, however you may also remember that for 85 minutes we were playing a man down, having Boyata sent off after only five minutes. Despite that sending off I seem to remember us more than matching Arsenal on the pitch and it will be interesting to see what we can do when it is eleven against eleven.
In fact in that game the only stat that was dramatically in Arsenals favor was possession, 62% to our 38%. Not the kind of possession I think we would have enjoyed if not a man down.
Arsene Wenger has no fresh injury concerns after the Birmingham win, but Almunia, Diaby and Vermaelen remain sidelined. It will be interesting to see if he sticks with that team or rotates again. Now interestingly City’s away record is the second best in the league, six wins and collecting 20 points. The best is of course, Arsenal collecting a point more. We have kept 10 clean sheets this season which is the joint highest, although we have conceded a goal in each of our last four away days. On Arsenals side they have won back to back home games this season but never a third straight…..this is their third. Interestingly half of the goals they have conceded have been from set plays.
It will certainly be a chess match today and I am sure Mancini will line up his team accordingly. After all it is a must win for Arsenal, anything else and they stay below us. For us it would be really nice to win, we have the ability to win, but if we draw it is still a good point for us and if we lose the we are still enjoying our best season for a long time. Plus we have Edin Dzeko to look forward too!
In the game at Eastlands, City came off second best to an Arsenal side who beat us 3-0, however you may also remember that for 85 minutes we were playing a man down, having Boyata sent off after only five minutes. Despite that sending off I seem to remember us more than matching Arsenal on the pitch and it will be interesting to see what we can do when it is eleven against eleven.
In fact in that game the only stat that was dramatically in Arsenals favor was possession, 62% to our 38%. Not the kind of possession I think we would have enjoyed if not a man down.
Arsene Wenger has no fresh injury concerns after the Birmingham win, but Almunia, Diaby and Vermaelen remain sidelined. It will be interesting to see if he sticks with that team or rotates again. Now interestingly City’s away record is the second best in the league, six wins and collecting 20 points. The best is of course, Arsenal collecting a point more. We have kept 10 clean sheets this season which is the joint highest, although we have conceded a goal in each of our last four away days. On Arsenals side they have won back to back home games this season but never a third straight…..this is their third. Interestingly half of the goals they have conceded have been from set plays.
It will certainly be a chess match today and I am sure Mancini will line up his team accordingly. After all it is a must win for Arsenal, anything else and they stay below us. For us it would be really nice to win, we have the ability to win, but if we draw it is still a good point for us and if we lose the we are still enjoying our best season for a long time. Plus we have Edin Dzeko to look forward too!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
CITY 1-0 Blackpool
It has been said many times in Football that great teams still get the result even when they do not play all that well, luck isn’t on their side and despite being pressured a lot of the game. Well for Manchester City, today was one of those games. City had more of the ball and looked dangerous as you would expect but Holloway’s’ Blackpool chased and harried the City defense and more than once Joe Hart was called into action.
It all started off so different for City when within the first 30 seconds Carlos Tevez shot wide of the Blackpool goal. After that warning shot across the bow, Blackpool seemed to step up their game with Taylor-Fletcher forcing a save from Hart. City did in fact take the lead and it was through a deflected shot after half an hour from young Adam Johnson (who was wearing a tribute to his friend and Rushden keeper on his undershirt).
Less than a minute later City had been awarded a penalty after Yaya Toure was felled in the area. Up stepped Mr. Consistency, Carlos Tevez who placed the shot wide of the goal.
Later Tevez was to slip at a vital moment after rounding the Blackpool keeper and place another shot high and wide of Kingson’s goal.
David Platt summed up the game in his after match comments "It was hard work and became harder because we didn't take our chances. We needed that cushion as we knew they'd keep coming at us.”
City fans will be pleased though because that is now three games, nine points and all with clean sheets as the only team in Manchester keep pace with ‘them from Salford’ who also won today.
It all started off so different for City when within the first 30 seconds Carlos Tevez shot wide of the Blackpool goal. After that warning shot across the bow, Blackpool seemed to step up their game with Taylor-Fletcher forcing a save from Hart. City did in fact take the lead and it was through a deflected shot after half an hour from young Adam Johnson (who was wearing a tribute to his friend and Rushden keeper on his undershirt).
Less than a minute later City had been awarded a penalty after Yaya Toure was felled in the area. Up stepped Mr. Consistency, Carlos Tevez who placed the shot wide of the goal.
Later Tevez was to slip at a vital moment after rounding the Blackpool keeper and place another shot high and wide of Kingson’s goal.
David Platt summed up the game in his after match comments "It was hard work and became harder because we didn't take our chances. We needed that cushion as we knew they'd keep coming at us.”
City fans will be pleased though because that is now three games, nine points and all with clean sheets as the only team in Manchester keep pace with ‘them from Salford’ who also won today.
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