Why Our Argentinian Is Closer Than Ever To Becoming A Club Legend.

No, not him.

The most common associations between Manchester City and Argentina have always been related to one player, a player who only ever arrived at our club due to his enigmatic personality. Associations which were perhaps only ever going to end in tears.

But this isn't about him.

Deeper within the heart of the squad lies another bond with the South American land. In 2008 Mark Hughes brought Pablo Zabaleta to Manchester (adding to an impressive number of players who are still crucial to our current success). Relatively unknown in England until his arrival, City fans instantly warmed to Pablo and his committed style. When Roberto Mancini took the reigns it looked to many as if Zabaleta could be heading towards the end of his City career, but typical of the man and truly representative of his character, he battled away and fought for his place in the team and became a vital player in our most successful season for thirty-five years - notably producing possibly the best full back performance I have ever seen from a City player away at the Emirates. Similarly he was left out of the last competitive Argentina squad only to show the manager exactly what he can do and force himself into the Copa America side this year.

The attitudes of our two Argentinian representatives couldn't differ more. Whilst on the pitch they both give 100% and fight for everything, it is so refreshing to see Pablo come off the field and conduct himself in exactly the same way. How many other first team players would give up their holiday to go and watch the youth team play?

So what is pushing him closer towards becoming a club legend? despite the obvious passion, commitment and dedication, coupled with his slight northern accent and inevitability of stud related stitches every week - Pablo is very close to signing a contract extension which will see him stay at the club until 2014. Signing an extension at a club with so much ambition is always risky, the money is there and if you don't perform then a replacement will soon be on the way. This obviously doesn't intimidate 'Zaba' and his ambition closely matches that of the club.

With another Argentinian likely to be arriving very soon, I'd say Pablo definately gave him the thumbs up regarding everything connected to the club.

Carlos, we can handle the truth.

The Carlos Tevez transfer saga has gone on for far too long. The same re-cycled quotes and regurgitated stories have long become monotonous. As some of the most loyal fans in the world I think we deserve an answer to put an end to the ongoing mess.

To me it seems obvious that he will go, or at least he wants to go. Any player being linked away from a club they loved would quickly release a statement to silence the press and put a quick holt to the stories. Tevez has released enough statements and seems less than picky about who in the media he talks to. A lot of City fans are holding out hope that he will stay with us next season but I think the only way that would possibly happen is that he would have no takers, none at least who are willing to pay a transfer fee which would surely break records (even more so now considering Jordan Henderson is worth £20m and Phil Jones reported at £16m - would must Tevez be worth?)

Tevez could quite reasonably argue that he has done the job he came to City to do. When we signed him he was the first of the revolution and a major catalyst in the transformation of the club. Carlos promised us a trophy and champions league football and in the past year he has captained us to both, giving 100% every game and scoring an unbelievable amount of goals in the process. So why would he want to leave? he has consistently blamed the lack of contact with his wife and Children, which begs the question ‘how would moving to Madrid or Milan help?’

In terms of him leaving I think a lot of City fans feel the same, he is a quality player and without a doubt he would be a massive loss, but that’s as far as it goes. No longer are the days at MCFC where a player is bigger than the club. Nicolas Anelka.  Whilst Tevez is certainly one of our best, the club is in a position of strength. Without the financial needs to sell our players we are in a great position to hold on to anyone who has signed a contract.

If Carlos was to come out and say he has achieved what he wanted at City and that he needs a new challenge then I don’t know many City fans that would stand in his way. Having given us what he has over the last 2 years, including the ‘Welcome to Manchester’ campaign and a couple of brilliant digs at ‘them’ then we can only be grateful. It hasn’t quite worked out that way and the long dragged out saga that has made us into a media circus continues. The disruption can’t be good for the rest of the squad and it has been reported that other players are already becoming tired of Tevez liberties.

If Carlos was to leave then we would definitely need to replace him, which would be difficult. There is no player available who offers the work rate and class combination that Tevez does.  With the funds we have available I’m sure Mancini has his targets lined up and it should be just a matter of time now until he starts hitting them.

So Carlos, whether you decide to stay or whether your departure is inevitable, the least the fans deserve is the truth.

What do you make of the Tevez saga? will he stay or will he go?

City v Stoke - Two Clubs With Class.

Tonight is City's final home game of a quite remarkable campaign. With Champions league football guaranteed and the chance to qualify for the group stages in our hands superbly complementing the sweet taste of winning th F.A cup.
Stoke City make their way to Eastlands tonight and bring with them the sparkling reputation which they earned over this past weekend. Much has been made of the way Stoke play and the Physical approach adopted by Tony Pulis. Whilst most condemn this style, the attitude of their players and even more so the way their fans conducted themselves over the weekend showed exactly the kind of class that runs through the club. There were an unbelievable amount of fans that stayed behind after the final whistle at Wembley and continued to show their support and appreciation to the City team.
To the delight of myself and many other City fans, City will replicate the class shown by the potters in refraining from parading the trophy around the pitch. The decency suggested by this gesture is something every City fan should be proud of and something which not many other clubs would do.
As for the game itself, Mario Balotelli is ruled out with a knee injury and David Silva and Tevez are both doubts. I expect Adam Johnson to come in and support Edin Dzeko who should lead the line. James Milner could start the game which we really need to win.
Mancini is expected to make a speech at the end of the game, whether or not his words will be heard above the fans chanting his name is unsure.
A win tonight would mean that we only have to equal Arsenal's result next weekend to automatically qualify for the champions league group stages - who could have dreamed of that going into the play off final 12 years ago?
The blue moon has already risen, the question now is how far can it rise.
Stuart Yearsley

Anchor Man

Since the diverging opinions surrounding the traditional 4-4-2 were highlighted by a new breed of european manager, the holding position has become more and more integral to the evolving style of ‘fluent’ attacking football. The ‘anchor man’ provides the platform from which more forward thinking players can advance and somewhat disregard their defensive responsibilities.

In 2009, Mark hughes brought Nigel De Jong to the club, at £18m in today’s market quite a find. Relatively unknown in England but already branded with nick-names such as ‘the terrier’ picked up from his time at Hamburg and stretching further back to his time and progression through the Ajax youth academy. De Jong’s presence was instantly notable as his inclusion pushed the more established Vincent Kompany into the back four and into the role in which he has excelled. De Jong’s no nonsense style quickly adhered him to the fans and he soon became somewhat of a cult hero at Eastlands.

In his relatively short time at the club ‘Nige’ has certainly had his critics, his kung-fu antics during last year’s world cup did him no favors, however much of the criticism is unjustified. Many of his critics came to light following City’s home game against Newcastle and one tackle in particular which unfortunately broke the leg of Hatem Ben-Arfa. There was no malice what so ever in the tackle and the now all too well known phrase ‘he’s not that kind of guy’ seems perfectly suited. It is obvious that a player, who constantly patrols the space  between the defence and midfield with the sole responsibility of winning 50-50 tackles and picking up lose balls will inevitably mis-time a challenge. I recall Lee Dixon summing it up perfectly at the time as “an unfortunate accident”. The Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk seemed to disagree and excluded him from the National squad for crucial European qualifiers. With a scarred past and the brand ‘thug’ shadowing him closely, the real test for De Jong, still only 25; was showing the character needed to arise above the situation and show the footballing world exactly the type of player he is.

De Jong’s development as player since then has been somewhat representative of the changes the club has endured. The knowledge of his acute footballing brain and underestimated technical ability seem to stretch only as far as the City faithful. De Jong’s ball retention and passing ability have been crucial to the system that Roberto Mancini employs and allows other midfielders, particularly David Silva to play to his own expressive style. Deployed mainly alongside Gareth Barry, De Jong’s ever presence  has fueled the negativity fire that surrounded Mancini throughout most of the current campaign. Most of the writers and pundits who make these claims fail to comprehend the complexity of the system in which Mancini has so much trust.

De Jong’s game has progressed impressively under Mancini’s guidance. His technical ability is becoming more prominent through his passing but also his positional awareness. The aspect of De Jong’s game that has undergone the most impressive transformation is certainly the positivity of his mindset. Throughout the second half of this season, De Jong’s passing has been much more direct. With a new found confidence which has seen De Jong display much more of his passing repertoire than just the 10 yard pass we have been accustomed to, De Jong scored his first goal for the club in 2 years with an expertly executed finish from 25 yards, something that will perhaps convince a few people that he is certainly the contrary to a bulldog with a raging temper. De Jong’s fluent English is a testimony to the intelligence of the man and he certainly knows the right thing to say and when to say them. The fans have come to expect the rallying call before big games and it is De Jong that more than often delivers. The recent call before our Champions league play-off with Spurs was “This is a very important week for the club, the players and the fans. This is do or die for Manchester City.” Spoken almost like a fan, with the same passion and determination which every City fan would approach every game with.

One of the great successes of this season was the solid spine of the team. Starting from Joe Hart, through Kompany and De Jong, Silva and spearheaded by Carlos Tevez, with the latter as the exception this could be the spine of the team for many years to come and without a doubt boasts champions league quality. Perhaps just as excitingly for fans, the age of the base players we build around are 24,25, 25 and 25 respectively.

As far as a player being complete in the role they play, De Jong is surely one of the best holding midfielders in the world. A world cup finalist, champions league qualifier and possible FA cup winner. The thing that will surely raise the pulses of De Jong and fans alike is the inevitability that this will not be the end of his footballing achievements whilst playing for Manchester City.

City's Semi-Final - The bits the headlines missed.

Although Yaya's domination, Mancini's Tactics and Balotelli's wink (somehow) made the headlines this week, there were a few other things that were slightly overlooked.

Firstly, as nobody else seems to have mentioned it for more than a paragraph at the end of a 'Balotelli is a loon' article, I will. Tackling has never been the strongest part of Paul Scholes' game. This however does not provide an excuse or any justification for the thigh high lunge at Pablo Zabaleta on Saturday. everything I have read over the weekend seems to come from the same perspective; 'yeah but Paul Scholes can't tackle', neither could Elano or Robinho, you could say the same about Silva in the modern day but not one of those players have ever produced anything of the malice shown by Scholes this weekend. The irony is that Nigel De Jong was stood metres away from the tackle, a guy who has been constantly branded as a thug yet shows more class in a tackle than so many give him credit for. There were certainly similarities between Scholes' 'tackle' and the vicious assault on Alfie Haaland at the hands (and studs) of Roy Keane If Scholes would have caught Zabaleta anywhere near the knee it could have been a career threatening injury. Not for one second have I ever doubted his ability and credentials as a player, but with ten red cards to his name and sickening mindless acts like that I'm starting to doubt his credentials as a man.

Secondly on a much more positive note there were so many stand out performances in the semi final, I normally praise David Silva, Nigel De Jong and Vincent Kompany to the high heavens and whilst there would be every reason to reiterate their class, I have identified two players who usually receive their fair share of criticism. After Joey Barton's harsh words last week, the spotlight has shone a little brighter than usual on Gareth Barry. Typical of his mind-set and work ethic however, he chose the perfect stage to show exactly how important he is to this team. There is a running joke with City fans and others alike that boats have turned quicker than Barry, but his strength, determination of ball retention were exactly what we needed on Saturday he he provided it in abundance. Winning tackle after tackle and apparently covering more ground than any other player on the pitch, Barry was pivotal to the result and together with Nigel De Jong provides the perfect platform for Adam Johnson, David Silva and usually Carlos Tevez to operate, not too mention the freedom Yaya Toure is given knowing that Barry and De Jong are so reliable behind him, the freedom which obviously proved so beneficial once again this weekend.

The second player I want to mention is Alex Kolarov. The player who has received without a doubt the most stick this season from the City fans. Since Kolarov's arrival it has been mentioned time and time again that he could be our weak link defensively. At 25 years old and in only his first season in English football there is no doubt that the best is yet to come from Kolarov although I believe that a glimpse of this was shown over the weekend and many of his doubters were silenced by his competent defending coupled with his effective attacking style. Under Mancini I think his defensive attributes will improve and with a strong pre-season under his belt with the likes of Kompany, Toure and Zabaleta to mentor him he can come on leaps and bounds next season. For the time being, I personally would like to City fans give him a bit of a break, get behind him and encourage him to keep bringing the encouraging aspects of his game into the team.

Another positive we can take out of the game is the mature performance of Mario Balotelli. Not taking into consideration his antics at the end of the game for a second and focusing solely on the 95 minutes that mattered, I was very impressed. As with his performance recently against Sunderland, Mario constantly made dangerous runs, held the ball up, but most importantly he has started to work hard for the team and defend from the front. Showing none of the petulant behaviour he has made infamous, he got on with the game and showed that he can be an important member of the squad. For the first time it seemed to sink in with Mario what it means to wear the shirt. He celebrated at the end of the game exactly how the fans wanted him to and it was genuinely good to see him enjoying himself at last.

More has been made about the 'incident' after the game than I thought was possible. The bottom line is that Mario Balotelli celebrated the win whilst facing United fans, he didn't run towards them or do anything over-provocative, he simply celebrated his team winning with a bit of passion (remember Gary Neville v Liverpool?). Rio Ferdinand and Anderson let their disappointment spill over and in my opinion over-reacted and tried to re-create the scene from Old Trafford with Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. How Balotelli came out of that situation as the bad guy is way beyond my understanding and seems to represent a perfect example of some one's reputation going before them.

Finally, whilst not quite worth writing about yet, Carlos Tevez absence in my opinion is not a good sign for his City future, had De Jong, Kompany or any other player on the squad for that matter been in Carlos' situation, I can more or less guarantee that they would have wanted to be at Wembley with the rest of the squad. I don't think his absence can be scrutinised too much, but certainly plants a seed of doubt regarding his summer options.

Liverpool v City preview

It's been easy for many City fans to overlook the importance of tonight's game with Saturday in mind. With the results going the way they did over the weekend however, the importance of picking up three points has been underlined, especially with Spurs only having one competition  on which to focus their attention.

We will go to Anfield tonight bubbling with confidence after our 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland, I can't see a similar result tonight though and see Mancini changing the shape of the team slightly. Gareth Barry will be pushing for a start against the team he almost joined before becoming a blue, possibly at the expense of Adam Johnson who could drop to the bench after a long spell out and his revealed importance to the balance of the team.

Pablo Zabaleta's return to the squad is a big positive, whilst Boyata looked extremely comfortable last week I think Caroll, Suarez and Merieles pose a much bigger threat.


Mario Balotelli should spearhead the attack with Tevez and Silva working impishly around him. The threat of Adam Johnson and Dzeko on the bench should be more than enough to worry Liverpool's depleted defence which is without both Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson.

Any excuse implying we have 'one eye on the cup final' should be banished immediately, this is an important game and will see us once again extend our lead on spurs going into the final games of the season. Until tomorrow morning, our league position and champions league football should be our main focus and we should attack Liverpool tonight knowing they are without some key players. The absence of Gerrard is slightly soured by the presence of Andy Caroll and particularly Louis Suarez who has looked very impressive since joining Liverpool.

I think if our spine of Kompany, De Jong and Tevez will provide a solid defensive platform from front to back which will limit Liverpool's attacking threat due to their lack or any real wingers. Dirk Kuyt doesn't have the pace to exploit Kolarov so keeping him as wide possible could prove beneficial.

As we have shown throughout the season, we have enough attacking threat to take on any team and I don't see tonight being an exception, with the right attitude and pure focus we could very well pick up all 3 points tonight.

Prediction - Liverpool 1 - 2 City - our attacking threat should be able to bail us out of situations such as tonight, the giant Caroll and nifty Suarez partnership could well cause us some problems but I think we'll offer a bit more going forward that they can handle.

City 5-0 Sunderland (03/04/2011)

I've thought for a while now that some-one was due a thumping. Whether it was pure coincidence that we really pulled it out of the bag on Adam Johnson's return to the team will remain uncertain, although his impact and direct approach is certainly something we've been missing in recent weeks.


We started off with a very attacking team, perhaps at Gareth Barry's expense as a roller coaster week for him was rounded up by being 'rested'. Dedryck Boyata made his return to the team at right back - the position which casted a slight concern over a few City fans with the absence of Richards, Zabaleta and Boateng (for me, in that order). Boyata looked comfortable from the start, against quick and tricky opponents like Wellbeck and Gyan he took the game in his stride and looked competent defending but just as importantly looked extremely comfortable on the ball, I remember one turn in particular where he turned on the Paulo Wanchope legs and strode delightfully from 2 surrounding Sunderland players.

It seems easy to say this now but we always looked like winning the game even from as soon as 5 minutes in when Adam Johnson had already been given 2 attempts to isolate the full-backs to varied success. The deadlock was broken by some neat interplay between Yaya and Johnson with the latter providing the finish into the bottom corner. The lead was doubled 10 minutes later when Carlos Tevez was brought down inside the area only to dust himself down and convert the penalty.

The scoreline was obviously emphatic and certainly send out the right message to Chelsea and Spurs (and Arsenal for that matter). The most encouraging thing though was the mentality of every single one of the players, with massive games approaching quickly we seem to be clicking at just the right time. Nigel De Jong's return to the team is vital, along with Kompany and Tevez we then have the quality throughout the spine of the team to build around.

 Another positive sign is that the players are starting to make themselves regulars and letting their form choose the team; Lescott again was immense today and showed Asamoah Gyan the kind of defender he really is. Lescott looked quick, incisive and strong in the air as well as learning to play to his strengths and play an easier less direct ball from the back. Lescott's partnership with Kompany is improving with every game and they look to have a great understanding of each other; 5 clean sheets in 8 games goes a long way to prove this. David Silva is another player, along with Yaya and Tevez who have cemented their first team positions and gelled really well together.

Considering he normally makes all the headlines for the wrong reasons I think it's important to talk about the way Balotelli played today. Mario certainly has his critics and doesn't help himself, but as I heard someone behind me today say; 'when that lad finds his brain and wants to play, it's going to be a special day'. I don't quite think I can take that much from today performance but I can say that his work rate and attitude were the best I have seen since his arrival, he tracked back with his man every time and chased down defenders giving them no time on the ball. With the ball he looked calm and confident and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet. Another performance like that next weekend (away at Anfield does pose a whole different situation) and then I could just begin to trust him and think about his inclusion at Wembley.

With late goals from Vieira and Yaya coming after Silva nipped in and finished nicely from 8 yards the scoring was complete. I did also particularly enjoy the comedy of errors from the delightful Character that is Lee Cattermole as he inexplicably tee'd up Yaya Toure for the final goal.

Fine performance all round today, with no more worries at right-back and the rest of the cogs turning very smoothly we have every reason to be confident heading into another big game next Saturday and and even bigger one the next.

I imagine Roberto Mancini to be sat at home with a smile on his face thinking about that performance, the positive reaction from Mario Balotelli and the re-playing of his display of impeccable technique bringing a ball down from 60 foot with one touch on sky plus.

Forza Mancini.

la Pasión

The official website has reported that Pablo Zabaleta has returned to England and will train today to be ready for this weekend’s game with Sunderland.

This is just what we needed considering the current injury situation. With Micah Richards our for around six weeks, Kolo Toure suspended and Jerome Boateng needing knee surgery, we were short of options at right back with only Dedrick Boyata and youngster Reece Wabara available.

Zabaleta was back home in Argentina with his Father who was recently involved in a car accident but has decided to fly back to Manchester to be with the injury hit squad.

There are certain acts in football which can really adhere a player to the fans; winning goals, penalty saves and flawless performances being amongst the most common. Then there are others that are a little less common but can mean so much more. One example which will be familiar to most reading this is when Nery Castillo paid a percentage of his loan fee in order to be able to come to England and play for City. Fair enough it never quite worked out for the little mexican but City fans always held him in the highest regards. I believe Pablo’s return to Manchester this week to be an act of this calibre. Most, if not all fan’s would have given Pablo as long as he needed with his father after all, dare I say it; there are more important things in life than football. It is the passion, drive and determination which has confirmed him as a fan favorite and crucial member of the City squad under his second manager at the club, the same characteristics which have brought him back this week.

If there was one player who would be branded with these characteristics at the club I think the unanimous vote would go to Pablo, signed from Espanyol in 2008 he has given 100% in every single game played and constantly mirrored the fans passion. Having played over 100 games for City I know that no-one will say in any one of those that Zabaleta has given any less then his all. I actually struggle to think of a bad game he has had at the club.

Looking at a few of the players we’ve had at the club and the attitudes they have brought with them, Robinho and Balotelli spring to mind instantly, it emphasizes the right way to go about playing football, the attitudes differ so greatly and in my opinion certainly contributes to the fact that Robinho played 41 games for City and very few were sad to see him leave. This year against Blackpool Zabaleta made his 100th appearance for the club and continues to impress forcing himself to be a crucial member of our ever growing squad and rightly at times taking the captains armband.

Zabaleta’s chances have been limited recently with the return to form of Micah Richards but with so many games in a short period of time the old faithful has always stepped up to the challenge and put in committed performances. Some personal highlights of mine are the game away at the Emirates this season where Pablo stepped in at left back and put in one of the best full back performances I have ever seen from a City player (overshadowed by a ludicrous sending off 3 minutes from the end). Zabaleta has also been asked to play as a defensive midfielder on several occasions this year, again a task he performs more than adequately.

As our club moves forward, Zabaleta’s persistence serves as a constant reminder of where we have been and just how far we have come. If there is one true representation of the commitment and attitude we need to progress to the next level then it is personified by this one man perfectly.

The Best Fans In The Land And All The World?

To the great majority of City fans this is generally seen as a statement rather than a question, but there has been a growing concern about its credibility.

The one constant throughout our clubs rapid development has been the well maintained reputation of its fans. It has been viewed that the stature of our fans has been a catalyst for bringing in quality players, whilst players departing the club have echoed these sentiments and often sang the praises of the City faithful.

There has been questions raised recently however about the number of empty seats that consistently litter the City of Manchester stadium, especially in the cup competitions. The old proverb states that success brings adoration, even in the fickle minds of most football fans it seems a given that the better your team play then the greater the desire to watch them – hence my lack of understanding at the number of seats left empty and its correspondence with our degree of cup progression. Our league attendances over the last 4 years agree with this theory; in the 07-08 season we averaged just over 42,000, the 08-09 season just short of 43,00, in the 09-10 season 45,500 and this season we can boast  a healthy average league attendance of 47,177. Our fans sit fifth in the attendance table only behind United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle. With the defeat at Old Trafford this year our ambitions for the season changed, with most fans now content with a Champions league place and to focus our attention on the two remaining cup competitions. Despite this, we can only produce a contrasting average attendance for FA cup games which is a lowly 26,867 – 9th in the attendance table with teams above us including Leeds, Leicester, West Ham and Everton. So I remain unsure of what it will take to encourage fans to watch cup games, our best chance in winning silverware for a well documented 35 years and one game away from playing at Wembley just doesn’t seem to provide the motivation.

In our home Europa League games this year we average a slightly less shameful 35,700, which bridges the gap between FA cup games and Premier league games. This leaves us with the 7th highest attendance in the Europa League. To put the things into perspective the teams above us include Borrussia Dortmund, Benfica and Ajax. Looking at the other end of the scale the teams below us include Rubin Kazan who had an average attendance of just 400.

The common perception is that the main reason for our low attendance is financial; with the current economic climate of course this is understandable. With our FA cup tickets costing between £15 and £25 and our cheapest season tickets selling for £420, City offer one of the fairest ticket pricing schemes in the division with only considerably ‘smaller clubs’ being able to offer similar; West Brom, Blackpool and Stoke pose as good examples. To put that into context, the other teams currently making up the top four; United, Arsenal and Chelsea sell season tickets for £513, £893 and £550 respectively. Even taking the financial situation into account, clubs have still managed to bring in high FA cup attendances this year, Spurs and Leeds have both averaged over 35,000 along with the aforementioned ‘big three’ from the premier league. This considered, I would certainly refuse to solely blame finances for our poor turnouts.

The simple part as usual is identifying the issue, coming up with a solution would always be more problematic. One approach, taken by more and more clubs is to tie in a cup ticket scheme with the purchase of season tickets. This makes cup games compulsory for season ticket holders, some offering discounted rates. The negative aspects to this tie-in are again financial but the positive aspects are clear to see in the success that United have had operating the scheme. With an average FA cup attendance this year of 74,753 it is clear that the cup scheme is contributing to filling the ground more regularly. This could become more and more important as new financial fair play regulations are introduced and all the revenue from ticket sales will be considered.

If  City do progress to the Semi-finals or even further in the FA cup, I have no doubt that the club will easily distribute their full allocation, however there certainly needs to be some planning for the early stages of all cup competitions next year.

So do we really have ‘the best fans in the land and all the world?’ – I’d say about 25,000 of them.

Irony?

City 3 - 0 Villa (02/03/2011)

An impressive result and a very impressive performance.

Aston Villa came to Eastlands knowing they would be one game away from Wembley if they were to win tonight - of course the same situation that City were in themselves. Knowing that, it was a strange team selection from Gerard Houllier who rested both Ashley Young and Stuart Downing. With Darren Bent cup-tied it was left to Emile Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor to lead the forward line - barely the most prolific strike force.

On paper the City line up was a lot stronger, even with the luxury of resting Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko the team still featured Mario Balotelli, David Silva and seven other first team players. Micah Richards made his return from injury which pushed Jerome Boateng inside to CB to partner the in form Lescott. Zabaleta was named at right back which again gave Alex Kolarov license to get forward and neglect some of his defensive responsibilities. Patrick Vieira, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure made up the midfield.

It was a great start for the blues when Kolarov's corner was flicked on by Vieira (who has suddenly became a massive aerial threat) and Yaya Toure lashed it in from three yards with only five minutes on the clock. City looked extremely comfortable from that moment on. Gareth Barry put in his best performance against Aston Villa since he left and was first to every ball in midfield, along with Patrick Vieira he provided a foundation for David Silva to work his magic. Silva continuously picked up the ball in space and pulled the strings for City, building up any sort of relationship with Mario Balotelli is beyond most people's capabilities but Silva certainly headed in the right direction. Patrick Vieira went some way towards convincing City fans that he can still do a job for the team. He looked sharper and quicker than he has done previously and dominated the midfield.

With Kolarov and Richards providing the width City had a lot of the ball in the first half. The possession was made to pay when Mario Balotelli let a long ball run across his body before expertly finishing in the top corner. This was a great example of what to expect from the enigmatic Italian and shows why Mancini sets such a high standard for him.

Richard Dunne made his return to Eastlands for the first time since he left the club and at times reminded the City faithful exactly why he was regarded so highly.

There were a few glimpses of what Aston Villa are capable of with Agbonlahor flashing just wide and Petrov slightly miss-timing his otherwise well executed volley but the night definitely belonged to City and the win was secured late in the second half when David Silva controlled a weak clearance and clinically finished into the corner.

Carlos Tevez was introduced in the second half as Mario Balotelli made way to a standing ovation. He is certainly getting on the right side of the City fans and with his impressive performances of late and his continued growing maturity (he actually stepped in as peacemaker tonight at one point) he is on his way to becoming a firm fan favourite.

Roberto Mancini's team choice showed exactly what he thinks of the competition and next up is a home tie against Championship side Reading. Whilst no easy task, it will certainly be a situation that Mancini would look to take advantage of.

There were the strongest signs yet tonight that City are in with a strong chance of winning their first silverware for 35 years.
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FA cup: Villa prevew

I've thought about giving up trying to predict Mancini's team selections as its becoming more and more unpredictable. Last week saw Pablo Zabaleta start in midfield for what I recall being the first time under Mancini. A ploy Hughes used a few times to good effect.

Micah Richards is expected to be fit to start at RB and Silva recovered from the 'ankle injury' that kept him out of the Fulham game at weekend.

Mario Balotelli is expected to continue up front after his harsh criticism on Sunday. To be fair to Mancini he did just answer a question put to him, so to say he singled Balotelli out could be a little unfair. Mancini has obviously seen enough of Balotelli to acknowledge the talent he has although this also works against Mario should he ever not play to the high standard that Mancini expects of him.

Darren Bent is cup-tied so expect Agbonlahor to step in as his (terrible) replacement. Without bent I can't identify a real goalscoring threat for Villa. Other than Ashley young there doesn't seem to be any real threat, although I did say that about Damien Duff and look what happened there.

The incentive of playing Reading in the quarter final should be enough to spur both teams on tonight and presents us with our best chance in winning something this year.

Prediction - City 2- 0 Villa. Although my score predictions have been pretty poor this season I think this one should be fairly routine.
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Fulham preview

Today see's the return of Mark hughes and his Fulham side along with his continued reputation as a draw specialist.

I personally felt sorry for Mark Hughes when he was relieved of his Manchester City duties. More so the way he was relieved rather than the actual decision itself, simultaneously I do value Hughes' credentials more as a man than I do as a manager.

We should go into the game with a lot of confidence brought forward from the 3-0 against Aris and against a Fulham team who have shown inconsistency throughout the season we should be strong favourites.

I would personally like to see the same team that lined up against Aris in midweek. The threat of Tevez, Dzeko, Balotelli and Silva should be much more than Fulhams defence can handle. Vincent Kompany will miss the game and Richards is still struggling. The back four will probably be Zabaleta, Boateng, Lescott and Kolarov. Reece Wabara made his first appearance on the bench in midweek and hopefully a comfortable second half will see his debut.

The injury list also has a big influence on the midfield. With no James Milner or Nigel De Jong it looks as though Barry and Yaya will again play central, the only other possibility would be Patrick Vieira but it seems unlikely.

Looking at the Fulham side it appears that Clint Dempsey would be the thorn in our side, a big aerial threat and Fulham's leading scorer this season. With Andy Johnson still struggling for form and no real wide threat (what ever happened to Damien Duff) Dempsey seems the solitaty focal point of their attack.

Prediction - City 2-0 Fulham. I can't see this game going any other way even despite Fulhams tendency to settle for a draw. I think Kolarov will score and Tevez to catch up after missing out on a goal midweek.
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City 3-0 Aris (24/02/2011)

I turned up at the game yesterday not quite knowing what to expect (mainly because I booked to late to keep my season ticket seats and didn't have much of an idea where block 119 was) but also because Roberto Mancini's team selections are becoming more and more unpredictable as the season progresses.

Mancini's team selection showed exactly what this competition means to him. Fielding Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and David Silva all in the same team initially seemed a little gung ho. Behind the front four were Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure protecting an unfamiliar back four of Boateng, Kompany, Zabaleta and Kolarov. Before the game began, I thought (the thoughts I could barely hear myself as it turns out 119 is 10 around seats away from the away fans) that the shape of the team would be piling a lot of pressure on Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure to provide some protection in front of the back four. With Kolorov getting forward so effectively from left back there is often a vulnerable area left behind in his wake, a void that Gareth Barry more than obliges to fill. With Barry dropping wide this presumably would have left Yaya Toure with a lot of work to get through in his solitary central role and therefore (again presumably) leaving us susceptible to counter attack.

This wasn't so, somehow in the first half everything clicked into place. The front four were playing quick incisive passes, David Silva orchestrating the pace of the game and delightfully finding space where I believe not many others can. Mario Balotelli started out in a more left sided position but the fluency and apparent understanding with Dzeko and Tevez saw all three of them effortlessly switching positions.
Gareth Barry had one of his best games for City. The importance of his role in the team is often overlooked but tonight he stood out and really looked to lead the team. He was first to every ball. We had a lot of possession which meant there were a lot of balls turned away by the Aris back four, Barry was always there, hungrier than anyone else and time after time he controlled the ball and re-started our attacks.


Vincent Kompany's injury could possibly be a huge blow depending on the extent of the injury. On the night, the effect on the team was minor due to the strength and depth within our squad. Kompany's injury saw him replaced by Pablo Zabaleta who slotted in at right-back and Jerome Boateng moved inside to partner Joleon Lescott. At any time in any game, when your best defender goes off it makes the game slightly less comfortable. Today again was an exception to the rule. Lescott played perhaps his best game for City, he was strong in the tackle and very composed on the ball. I haven't been his biggest fan since he joined us but a few more performances like that would certainly change my mind. Boateng also stepped up to the challenge, at centre back he looks much more comfortable and suited to the position. He has a tendancy to time interceptions perfectly and step infront of his man to emerge with the ball. This could possibly change the way out back 4 lines up with Richards and Zabaleta fighting for the right back position (I think they are the most effective both going forward and at the back) leaving Kolo Toure, Lescott and Boateng all fighting to partner Kompany at CB. Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I'm a big fan of Kolarov and he would be first choice left-back for me every time.


Edin Dzeko looks sharper now every game, took his goals very well with both feet which is refreshing to see.


The second half slightly dimmed in comparison but with a 2-0 lead it is understandable that some of the urgency departed. Overall I think our first half performance against Aris was enough to show that we really can win this competition.

City 5 - 0 Notts County (20/02/2011)

This was a comfortable win although 5-0 definetly flatters us.

Starting off with a midfield two of Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure sounded a little incomfortable before kick off with the two of them lacking even half of james Milners work rate between them. As the game progressed it became clear that the footballing brains are just as influencial as the physical vessels that carry them.

Carlos Tevez was deservedly rested, giving Edin Dzeko the chance to partner the newly fit mario balotelli. The strike force worked a lot better than I anticipated. I think a lot of the time Mario Balotelli doesn't know himself what he's going to do with the ball so I had a lot of premature sympathy for Dzeko who had to work  him out too. The partnership looked balanced from the start with Balotelli's pace working around balls being played into Dzeko's feet. David Silva was again the glue which held the attack together and he was as impish and  creative as ever. Tevez was introduced after around an hour and his partnership with Dzeko also showed encouraging signs with each providing assists for the other.

the game was settled before half time with Patrick Vieira's first goal, after that we played some good football, passing it around nicely and never looking troubled at the back, Micah Richards was again commanding and showed some good attacking initiative - he is certainly stepping up to be our first choice right-back.


This victory see's us face Villa next Wednesday at home and the winner of that to go on and play Everton. in the grand scheme of things not a bad draw at all, especially considering Arsenal will play United considering they can overcome Leyton-Orient in their replay.

This is perhaps now our strongest chance of silverware this season and I would certainly put out our strongest team and make this a priority going forward.

Manchester United 2-1 City (12/02/2011)

A defeat which didn't hold any of the crushing devastation which derby day defeats normally do.

Throughout the full 90 minuted we played very well. I have seen varied stats concerning possession but most say City had 52% of the ball, a quite accomplished feat for an away game at Old Trafford.

There were a few surprises in the starting line-up, not least the inclusion of Lescott over Kolo Toure in the centre of defence. I genuinely presumed at the time that Kolo must have picked up an injury, obviously not the case as he was on the bench. The decision in hindsight wasn't such a bad one, he didn't make any real mistakes and looked comfortable on the ball. One criticism I would have made was in the build up just before Nani's goal. Lescott was easily beaten in the air by Rooney, a challenge which I think Kompany of Toure would have dealt with.

In the key areas of the field we kept the ball very well, Bary and Yaya were very tidy in possession and Silva virtually ran the first half single handedly. Although very comfortable in possession we lacked any creativity other then David Silva, Tevez was uncharacteristically quiet and our aforementioned midfield duo tended to push the ball sideways lacking any real penetration.

The first and perhaps most clear cut chance of the game fell to david Silva in the first ten minutes. a great passing move involving Yaya and Silva saw the ball end up at the Spaniard's feet 6 yards out only for him to roll the ball agonisingly wide of the far post.

The game was eventually won by a goal that can only be described as a fluke off the shin astonishing. The technique, athleticism and timing was enough to win any game.

Derby Day Preview

How do you confront a wounded beast? kick it whilst it's down? or approach with caution in anticipation of retaliation?

Like every other Manchester derby, this has been described as the biggest one yet. The magnitude of the game is unquestionable, but this game stands out more for it's unpredictability. For all my life, and certainly many years before, United have always been the favourites coming into the Derby. Whilst that may not have changed, there has certainly never been a finer margin of expectation between the two clubs.

After the recent episodes of 'Fergie time' and late goals, the heart-ache was put on hold as we ended the run with a somewhat dull affair ending in a 0-0 draw. A game in which both clubs were criticised for negativity and lack of adventure. Back then a point was satisfactory for both managers as there was more to lose in defeat than there was to gain in victory. Things may have changed as we head towards the end of the season. I know most City fans want us to go to Old Trafford and have a good go at United, be aggressive and press high up the pitch, whether Roberto Mancini's thoughts echo these sentiments will be unknown until 1:45pm tomorrow. As a man renowned for his cautious and somewhat defensive approach, it is easy to think Mancini's tactics will stay true to protocol, that we will go to Old Trafford and be happy to come away with a 0-0 draw.

I personally would love to see us take the game to United tomorrow. I think this is by far the strongest squad we have ever taken there and at this stage in the season we should set high targets. My view is that this is the game which really defines our goals for the season. We should aim to win at Old Trafford, if we get three points there then we are straight back in the title race, in a better position that I ever remember. If we don't win tomorrow then I think our main priority should be simply qualifying for champions league football next year. This was our target before the season and most City fans including myself will see that as a successful campaign.

As for the starting eleven, I don't think there will be much difference to the team which started again West brom last weekend. The one change which looks likely (depending on fitness) will be the return of Nigel De Jong. It seems a shame for James Milner to miss out after such a good performance last weekend, however I can't see Mancini dropping Barry or De Jong for a game as big as this. I expect Kolarov to continue in his more advanced role playing in front of Pablo Zabaleta, just behind David Silva and of course Carlos Tevez. Edin Dzeko offers a change in approach from the bench should things not go our way. The only other change I would like to see is Micah Richards returning to the right back slot. I did mention last week that Jerome Boateng was showing some encouraging signs of late and that last week in particular he looked miles better than he has done all season. Tomorrow's game however will be a different offering, with more defensive duties the time on the ball will be limited. This could possibly favour Micah Richards, especially in his form of late. Micah offers a more powerful and dynamic option in attack with his showings of raw power and pace proving more beneficial at times than the more cultured style of Boateng.

As for United, it has been confirmed that Ferdinand is out injured, a huge loss and no doubt the one player  they would have wanted in the team after last weeks confidence-smashing defeat. His natural replacement Jonny Evans is also out injured, leaving Chris Smalling to partner Vidic at the back - certainly an area we can look to exploit. I expect Rooney and Berbatov to start together up front with Nani and Giggs providing the width.

I think our best chance in winning comes from keeping as much possession as possible. It has become obvious that good things happen when Carlos Tevez and David Silva are on the ball and the more possession we have the more opportunities they have to show some of their magic. Kolorov will provide some good direct wing play and always poses the threat of shooting from distance. Yaya Toure's customary role will provide strength and pace on the counter attack, our only possible imbalance could be a lack of width on the right.

As I previously mentioned I think this is the most unpredictable derby game in years, the kind of game which can be settled by an individual mistake. I certainly don't see another 4-3 unfolding.

Prediction - United 1-1 City - I think there will be similarities with the last derby game, there will be a fear of making mistakes and I think that will show. I don't expect a brilliant game, more like one that will be a massive anti-climax... again.

David - Our Goliath.

Not since the days of Ali Benarbia, has there been such a concurring sense of expectation stemming from one man’s creative ability. The mercurial, yet maturing wizard came to City in the latter stages of his career and enlightened the City faithful with his range of passing, touch and his sublime vision. Since the day ‘Ali’ said his farewells to the game, there has been an unyielding desire for the club to fill his little, yet colossal boots. The hopes of the club and prayers of the fans seem to have been answered this summer with the acquisition of twenty-five year old David Silva, a man who casts a similar shadow to his predecessor.

 The physical stature of our twenty-five million pound Spaniard is not the only comparison that can be drawn.

Initially, Silva took a while to settle into English football, his slight build was scrutinised with few suspecting he may be a little lightweight for the Premier league. But Silva has been in impressive form in the last three months and shown exactly why Roberto Mancini brought him to Manchester. The lack of physical strength in his slight frame is contradicted by his speed of thought, his first touch is consistent and his vision nothing short of remarkable. The way Silva glides across the pitch with such grace makes playing football look easy, his natural awareness epitomized perfectly by his contribution to Carlos Tevez’ goal against Chelsea this season where his subtle then sharp movement totally nullified John Terry’s presence, a mental demolition of one of the best defenders in the world.

Showing more of the attitude, intelligence and perhaps most importantly; the ambition that initially brought him to the club, it didn’t take long for Silva to inevitably find his feet. He has now settled in the team and made one of the three forward positions his own. Playing behind Carlos Tevez and predictably Edin Dzeko, Silva has emerged as the player to carry the creative burden, dropping deep into the space behind the midfield and combining his refined attributes to unpick the locks of many premier league defences.  The fluency of the team is so much more apparent when David Silva plays, effortlessly interchanging positions with any of the flexible front 3 and even at times with the more positionally rigid Gareth Barry. No matter where on the pitch, the space seems to be where Silva is. Of course any player with any degree of intelligence can find space but it is the touch, control and creative productivity that makes our number twenty-one stand out from the rest.

The system Mancini adopts perfectly accommodates the more expressive players and the natural and typically Spanish ‘free role’ that Silva relishes. The first half of the season has seen Silva operate in a wider role although his long term impact could well be delivered from a more central position, higher up the pitch with little defensive responsibility. Silva has so far scored only one league goal, albeit a beautiful individually crafted goal at a crucial time away at Blackpool but the Spaniard certainly has more to offer on that front. With ten goals in forty-four international appearances it is evident that he can provide a goal-scoring touch from midfield. Forty-four caps seems somewhat underwhelming for a player of such calibre, although breaking into an international midfield containing Fabregas, Iniesta, and Xavi is no easy task.

Silva has already broke a club record having been here only half a season and already winning the clubs official player of the month award three times in a row, an achievement which exemplifies the respect and admiration he has at the club and is a representation of his elevation to a real fans favourite. The importance of Silva to Mancini’s plans has become evident since his return from injury, on several occasions he has been withdrawn after the point in which the game was considered to be won – the familiar ‘wrapping him up in cotton wool’ technique that we have seen also relevant to Torres and Fabregas.

After consistent showings of potential and the occasional flash of brilliance in the first half of the season, Silva’s influence on the second half of the season could be much more considerable than anyone anticipated. As we push towards the long awaited silverware that is so desperately desired there is every reason to be confident that the small shoulders of David will be more than sufficient to take on the goliath task.

As featured in issue 2 of Topical City Magazine - http://topicalcity.co.uk/2011/02/issue-2-february/

City 3 - 0 West Brom (05/02/11)

Three points, Three goals and a clean sheet. The ideal start to the day, made even better by the slip-ups by Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea which allowed us to gain vital ground in our ambitious push for the title. In a record breaking weekend for goals scored, we were the only team not to concede any of the thirty-three, which goes a long way towards banishing any murmurs of a defensive crisis.

An unexpected starting line-up fitting into a similar shape. Pablo Zabaleta started at left back with Alex Kolarov further forward, eliminating the majority of his defensive responsibilities. James Milner came into midfield to partner Gareth Barry with Yaya Toure playing his accustomed forward role. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was Edin Dzeko's relegation to the bench. The formation was less rigid than we have seen this season, with Kolarov and Yaya alternatively joining Silva and Tevez to make up the three pronged attack.

Kolarov's surprise role was one in which we may see a lot more of this season, his attacking credentials have never been questioned and with the reliable Zabaleta behind him he was allowed to express himself more in the final third of the pitch. The decision seemed to be the ace up Mancini's sleeve when Kolarov was bundled over in the box and Carlos obliged in converting the penalty. On the other side of the pitch, Jerome Boateng saw a lot more of the ball than he would have expected. Boateng had possibly his best game so far in a City shirt, rarely losing possession and looking quick and sharp going forward. He was strong at the back, albeit against a week opposition but I remember one superb tack inside our box which earned him a standing ovation.

There were a few good performances against West Brom, Milner looked lively, Barry was reliable and Silva fulfilled his little magicians role as ever. The one player who stood head and heels above the rest, once again, was Carlos Tevez. His hold up play is as good as anyone in the premier league, I don't remember anyone who can play up front on their own as effectively as Carlos does. Again he showed why he is so crucial to the team and despite what some people say, I think if we do lose him in the summer then we could be lost.

I don't think we can take anything from the starting line up to give us any insight to who may start in the derby next weekend. I can't see Nigel De Jong missing out so it may have to be James Milner who drops to the bench.

Some other highlights of the game included Kolarov's 30 yard screamer which could well have been heading into the top corner had it not been for Myhill's intervention. The first real glimpse of the potential in that left foot which may finally start to be living up to it's reputation. Kompany's ability to bring the ball out of defence seems to be a more regular occurrence, this time having a big part in Tevez' second goal.

With a hat-trick in the bag and a clean sheet, this was the perfect way to warm up for the big one next Saturday.

West Brom Preview

Todays game see's the end of a disappointing 6 game run against clubs from the Midlands, with one league win, a draw and a disappointing loss all outlining our laboured efforts to the fifth round of the FA cup.West Brom also come into today's game on the back of a disappointing run of form with only one win in their last nine games, which came in a  3-2 home win against Blackpool.

Roberto Di Matteo has vowed to come to Eastlands and attack and stick to his footballing principles which saw them race to automatic promotion last year.

City will be without Micah Richards who is still recovering from concussion after his knockout clash with Nigel De Jong, who is struggling himself after coming off with a reported ankle injury against Birmingham.
For me this poses a few problems in midfield. without the anchor of De Jong, Mancini may put his over-estimated faith once again in Patrick Vieira. This potentially takes a lot of authority out of our midfield, whilst still mentally sharp, it has become apparent that his legs have not followed suit. I fully believe that if Nigel would have stayed fit then we would have seen the Birmingham game out for a win - regardless of the fact it was Vieira who gave the penalty away (his second this season). Another possibility is to drop Gareth Barry into the holding role, a role he is acustomed to after being consistently deployed as Fabio Capello's anchor at international level. This would see Milner come into the midfield and take over Barry's distribution role. Yaya Toure has been passed fit which should make up the three man midfield, this again links back to Vieira's inclusion, the work-rate of Yaya and Vieira in the same midfield is somewhat frightening.

The front three has virtually picked itself, with the injury's to Balotelli and now Adam Johnson, the omen will be on Dzeko, Silva and birthday boy Carlos Tevez to provide the attacking flair. I expect Dzeko to start centrally and lead the line with Silva and Tevez playing just off him. The forward line have not quite gelled yet and has seemed to lack a little fluency, this obviously will come with time and hopefully we will see glimpses of what to expect today.The width again will be provided by the full backs, predominantly by Kolorov down the left. Boateng should start at right back after Kolo Toure's return to fitness to line up along side Vincent Kompany. The defence has been under scrutiny over the last few weeks after falling from the best defence in the league to a leaky, unstable unit with an over-dependence on Kompany.

West Brom will set out true to Di Matteo's word and play attacking football, the game should be open and suit our style allowing us to play our expansive fluent game.I think if we get an early goal then we should comfortably win the game.

Prediction - City 2 - 0  West Brom  We certainly have the squad to be able to cope with injury's, sadly I think the result could depend on the inclusion of Patrick Vieira, but the more dynamic James Milner's inclusion should add an aggressive work-rate to our obvious superiority. Kolarov and Dzeko to score.