Manchester City in 2014: A Review of the Year

Manchester City would have set a new club record for consecutive wins across all competitions with a win against newly promoted Burnley on Sunday.



Of course, they didn't, and the 2-2 draw marked a disappointing end to a comparatively prosperous year for the club. 

The Blues claimed their second Premier League title in three years in May, coming out on top in a gripping tussle with Chelsea and Liverpool. Two months earlier, Vincent Kompany had his hands on the Capital One cup - it was a year of domestic dominance for City and their new manager, Manuel Pellegrini. 

But the club's conduct in Europe still raised questions. City were shrugged off by Spanish giants Barcelona in the last 16 of the 2013/2014 Champions League - the demeaning 4-1 aggregate score illustrating the Blues' technical and experiential weaknesses in the competition. A total of £52m was spent in the summer in a bid to better prepare the side for the rigors of European football, but Pellegrini's acquisitions have come in for some severe criticism so far this season.

This term, the club have taken a monumental step in etching their name into elite of world football. Early in December, City unveiled their new £200m state-of-the-art CFA training complex to the media. Jamie Jackson of the Guardian described the facility as 'unbelievable' and said 'You go in there and you know the club are serious.' 


(City's new football academy has been described as 'phenomenal' by journalists)

The hierarchy at Eastlands expect to produce first team players in the next two to three years that will feature in the starting eleven every single week. It's a bold statement from a club that have only ever welcomed one truly successful academy graduate into the first team in the last decade in Micah Richards, but it's one Manchester City fans should believe. 

And City's conduct on the field has been as impressive. Sitting three points behind Chelsea in the league, awaiting a third round FA Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday and salivating over yet another Champions League knockout round meeting with Barcelona, more trophies are most definitely on the horizon. 

There may be room for improvement, but Manchester City fans have a lot to look forward to in 2015.

League position
It's difficult to conclude whether the standard of the league is getting stronger, or whether it's actually becoming weaker. 

Chelsea failed to beat a struggling Sunderland side, Manchester United conceded five goals against bottom club Leicester, and Manchester City collected just a point from home ties against Stoke and Burnley. Of course, results like this happen often in the Premier League, but the fact that the likes of Liverpool and Everton, (teams that performed so well last term), have slumped so drastically raises questions.

Second place is a fair representation of the football we've played so far this season. We've been efficient more than we have been brilliant, and Chelsea have been the only team to play better than us. 

Style of play
Pellegrini introduced a ferocious brand of attacking football last term that engulfed the league. Unfortunately, City fans will always compare the club's style of play to the 2013/2014 season because it was so brilliant to watch. 

However, this season has seen our approach acquire more patience. Our midfield isn't particularly quick and Pellegrini has begun to rely on Jesus Navas for that injection of pace. Navas is definitely fast, but his delivery often disappoints and he's a very dispensable member of the team. Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov gave us most of our width last season, but Pellegrini's rotation system has meant that there is an extra focus on the centre of midfield for creativity and penetration.


(Jesus Navas has been relied on for width this term)

Obviously, Sergio Agüero has been magnificent and Yaya Touré has started showing the class he exhibited earlier in the year, but David Silva is still our best player. Everything comes through him and I feel he'd benefit from having a couple of wingers either side of him.

New signings
Our new signings have generally disappointed.

Eliaquim Mangala has given an assortment of sweet and sour performances since his £32m move in the summer, and only one of those performances has warranted that fee. That was his debut against Chelsea where he kept Diego Costa at bay in a commanding performance. 

There are signs that he can become brilliant - which is the main thing. He's impressive in the air and lightning fast on the ground, but he's too impulsive and often commits unneccessary fouls in dangerous areas. He'll benefit from Kompany's experience, but he needs to improve soon. 


(Fernando (left) and Eliaquim Mangala (right) have endured a frustrating start to life in Manchester)

Fernando is a Nigel De Jong type player in that he loves to put himself about. The Brazilian is quicker and more agile than the Dutchman and is often in the right place at the right time. I like him, but I don't see him as a starter. Technically, he's not great and Fernandinho offers much more all over the pitch than the former FC Porto man. He's a good squad player, but not someone that has particularly improved the side. 

Bacary Sagna is a proven Premier League right back and I liked the fact we signed him on a free in the summer. The transfer was shrewd and has afforded the ever-present Pablo Zabaleta with a much deserved rest. Sagna is versatile and great in one-on-one situations, but there's no comparison between him and his Argentinian teammate. 

As for Willy Caballero, it pleasures me to say that Joe Hart has batted away his threat with ease. 

Champions League
I was one of many fans who gave up on City after their home defeat to CSKA Moscow. It was an atrocious display, but one I'd come to expect of us in Europe. Unfortunately, the club have a poor relationship with the competition and fans feel hard done by when we lose.


(Pablo Zabaleta celebrates his goal against AS Roma)

The players don't have the same attitude, and finally (finally!) they showed the resilience they've displayed in the Premier League for so long with two spectacular results against Bayern Munich and AS Roma. Sergio Agüero's enchanting rescue-act against the Germans definitely injected some much needed confidence into the side and the performance at the Stadio Olimpico was possible the most professional display we've offered in Europe in our history. How we got through, I'll never know, but you can never put these types of results past City.

Barcelona have an incredible amount of experience in Europe and I'd expect them to beat us again. I just hope we show more fight that we did last time around. 

Star performers

• Sergio Agüero - absolutely unplayable and still the league's top scorer despite injury. We're a much more intimidating force with him in the side and we have a lot to thank him for with regards to our progress in Europe and our emergence from a torrid run of form two months ago.

(Sergio Agüero has netted 19 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions for the Blues this season)

• James Milner - a man that will give absolutely everything on a consistent basis. The most versatile and hard-working member of the squad, but also an extremely talented player. Makes assists, creates chances and has become a big game player for the club. Has to sign that new contract soon.
• David Silva - a magician. The Spaniard is much better in the hole behind the striker and possesses a touch and composure unseen elsewhere in the league. Messi-like on his day and one of the team's most consistent performers. The best player to ever grace the sky blue shirt? Definitely.
• Joe Hart - earned himself a new contract with a vital array of saves. Distribution still poor, but the 27-year-old is beginning to show what a good goalkeeper he is.

Under performers

• Eliaquim Mangala - there's definitely hope, but the Frenchman has not shown £32m form in a City shirt as of yet. Suffers when his left-back struggles, but often lunges into tackles and can be out of position on occasion.
• Edin Džeko - hasn't got going. The Bosnian has a tidy injury record but has struggled with them so far this season, meaning he has only been able to make 11 appearances for the side. With just two goals this season, Džeko has fallen way behind his Argentinian partner in the pecking order.

(The Bosnian has struggled with injury)

• Aleksandar Kolarov - began to show form last term but seems to have become even worse in a defensive sense this season. Yet to give Pellegrini a reason to start him ahead of Gaël Clichy.

Manchester City 1 - 0 Everton: Blues prove they're not just a one man team

Can Manchester City cope without Sergio Agüero?



The early signs seem to suggest they can. In fact, Manchester City recorded a 1-0 win over 'bogey-side' Everton on Saturday without three of their most influential players. David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Agüero, who sustained an injury to his knee within three minutes, were unable to offer their respective services to City's fifth consecutive win in all competitions, but the maturity of the team saw the Blues narrow the gap between themselves and Chelsea at the top of the table to just three points.

Much has been made of Agüero's importance to the Blues so far this season, and City's title hopes began to limp out of the Etihad Stadium just like their Argentinian striker at 17.33pm. As Agüero tearfully hobbled from the field of play, clutching the back of his left knee, a grey fog began to sedate the stadium into silence. It was heartbreaking.



Manuel Pellegrini confirmed after the game that the striker had injured the ligament in his knee.

But City dispelled the 'one man team' accusations with a refreshingly tenacious performance orchestrated by Yaya Touré, Samir Nasri, and the ever-reliable James Milner. The three mingled both stylishly and effectively to create space behind Everton's back line and control the midfield. 

Milner's intelligent running forced Phil Jagielka into a clumsy tackle inside the penalty area that supplied City's winner, Nasri provided creativity in attacking positions and an unusual willingness to win the ball back that buoyed the crowd, and Touré issued his potential successor Ross Barkley with a masterclass in composure on the ball and physical dominance in the centre of midfield. The Ivorian has dealt with the criticism directed at him earlier in the campaign in a professional manner and has responded to it brilliantly with four league goals, more than any other midfielder in the league. 

Sergio Agüero could be out for between a week and six months. The agonising wait will torment Manchester City fans who have watched the South American climb into the realms of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo so far this term, but Manuel Pellegrini must utilise the quality in his squad to numb the pain of his absence. 

On Saturday afternoon, City showed an industrious side to their play that proved they are not reliant on just one man. The current Premier League champions have emerged from sour run of form that saw many refute their chances of silverware this season, but emerging unscathed from a busy period without Sergio Agüero could be even more difficult. 

Player Ratings

Joe Hart 7

Hart may not be deserving of the most lucrative contract ever handed to a goalkeeper, but his acrobatic save to deny Romelu Lukaku was nothing short of world class. The Englishman is set to sign a new five-year deal with the club worth £165,000-a-week, and he'll have to continue producing stops like that to prove he is worth every penny. Distribution still a weak area.

Pablo Zabaleta 7

Nullified perhaps Everton's best threats in Kevin Mirallas and Leighton Baines. A much quieter performance than the one we saw against Sunderland in mid-week, but just as effective.

Martin Demichelis 7

A calm and assured performance at the centre of defence. Stayed composed and resolute to deny the threat of the physical Lukaku and ensured his team kept a vital clean sheet.

Eliaquim Mangala 7

Got away with murder early on after almost decapitating Samuel Eto'o with an outrageous high foot in Everton's penalty area, but after taking on some wise words from Yaya Touré, the Frenchman collected himself and displayed his fabulous aerial abilities against Lukaku. Improving.

Gaël Clichy 7.5

Clichy started the season so poorly that City fans were eager to see him leave the club as soon as possible, but the previously dependable full-back has become one of Manuel Pellegrini's star performers in the last three games. Excellent defensively and has begun to provide the Blues with a Kolarov-like threat on the flanks. 

Jesus Navas 6

Troubled Baines with his pace, but wasn't direct enough. The Spaniard is not a defensive minded player, nor is he particularly hard-working, and as a result, he faded from the game.

Fernando 7.5

Filled in for the rested Fernandinho and was another lucky to escape red after treating ex-Blue Gareth Barry to a ferocious boot to the head. Otherwise, the Brazilian was brilliant. Provided a number of crucial blocks and typically rugged tackles to disrupt the flow of Everton's football.

Yaya Touré 8.5 (M.O.M)

Has answered his critics well by hitting a run of fine form in the last few weeks. The Ivorian orchestrated the midfield with a level head, spraying passes from left to right and powerfully charging forward to replace the attacking threat vacated by Agüero. Brilliant penalty secured the win.

James Milner 8

Always commended for his tenacity, but the Englishman is an exceptionally intelligent player who often troubles defences with his constant movement. Defended and attacked with enthusiasm and won the penalty that won City the game. Always reliable.

Samir Nasri 8

Nasri possesses the ability to toy with his opponents, but it was his defensive work that particularly impressed on Saturday afternoon. The Frenchman was both creative and resourceful in possession and his willingness to track his man ensured the Toffees were unable to play out from the back.

Sergio Agüero - No time to mark

Soured the victory by limping off the field after just three minutes. Let's hope it's not as serious as it looked.

Substitutes

Search Results

José Ángel Pozo 7 

The youngster was thrown into the deep end by Manuel Pellegrini who seemed keen to protect Džeko from the same fate suffered by Agüero. Tussling with the experience and strength of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin is no mean feat, but the Spaniard coped well and almost scored.

Edin Džeko 6
The Bosnian international lacks aggression and will have to step up to the mark against Roma on Wednesday.

Frank Lampard 6
Experience helped see out a crucial win.

Sunderland v Manchester City: A hideous history, comparing Mangala and Kompany, and line-up prediction

The German champions and second in the Premier League; no problem, but on Wednesday night, Manchester City travel to a stadium where there always seems to be one. 



City haven't emerged victorious from the Stadium of Light since 2008 when Shaun Wright-Phillips scored a second-half brace on his return to the club. Roy Keane was in charge of the Black Cats which made the victory that little bit sweeter, but since then, the Blues have drawn once and lost four times on Wearside. 

Pellegrini's men will be without Vincent Kompany (hamstring) and Eliaquim Mangala (suspension) as they look to extend their four-match unbeaten run in all competitions, and there have been suggestions that the absence of the £32m Frenchman could make that task a little more feasible. 

I've assaulted Eliaquim Mangala with an army of hostile vocabulary since his inexplicable clanger against Hull City in September, but I have sympathy for the 23-year-old who took one for the team against Southampton on Sunday. Yaya Touré's complacency in possession forced the defender into an unfortunate position where he had to bring down Shane Long in order to prevent a goal. Contrary to reports, Kompany was no where near the Irishman, and a goal would have changed the course of the game. Mangala made the correct decision, and it paid off.


(Mangala was shown a second yellow card for his tackle on Shane Long last weekend)

Mangala is a young, relatively inexperienced defender who is a victim of his own enthusiasm. He often lunges into tackles and attempts to impose his strength (albeit too clumsily) on the opposition, but he is a dominant force in the air and is never afraid to put his body on the line for the team. 

He reminds me of Vincent Kompany; a player who has also fallen victim to his impulsive nature in the past. Think back to his pull-back on Jelavic last season and his two footed challenge on Nani in the 3-2 loss to Manchester United in 2012 - both were huge games for City, and they were let down by their captain on both occasions. Since then, the Belgian has evolved into one of Europe's most competent defenders.


(Mangala has won 57% of his duels in the league so far this season, more than any other City defender - via @Squawka)


(Only Gaël Clichy averages more defensive actions per game than the 23-year-old - via @Squawka)

Mangala is very similar to Kompany in that he is a strong, physically intimidating, aerially dominant, speedy, but impulsive defender. However, the Frenchman is five years younger than his teammate, and experience alongside Kompany will erase the clumsiness from his game and help him reach his frightening potential. 

Dedryck Boyata has no place in a team challenging for the Premier League title, and so Bacary Sagna and Martin Demichelis should feature at the heart of Pellegrini's defence on Wednesday night. The former Arsenal man has experience in the central position and gave one of his best performances for the Gunners whilst filling in for Laurent Koscielny in a 1-0 win over Sunderland in September 2013. 

(Visit this link to see Sagna talking about his future as a central defender in 2013 - http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/sagna-i-see-my-future-in-the-centre)

Sunderland may have achieved an admirable draw against league leaders Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, but I don't expect City to go easy on Poyet's side despite their huge favour. Ultimately, Sunderland are a poor side, a side that conceded eight goals against Southampton, and a side we should beat. The run has to end. 

Predicted line-up


Prediction
0-2

Manchester City 3 - 2 Bayern Munich: Agüero brilliance masks a sour City performance

"Agüeroooooo!!! What a man. What a player. What a result!"

But hold on just one second. Manchester City were extricated from the nauseating humiliation of a defeat to a team they held a one man advantage over for 70 minutes on Tuesday night - a rescue mission launched by one man, Sergio Agüero, with the help of some wretched Bayern Munich defending. 

City fans have every right to be delighted, but we can not let Agüero's brilliance mask how painfully bad we were tonight. 

Bayern Munich are a terrific side. Even without Mario Götze, Thomas Müller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, the German champions have the ability to toy with and tease their opposition. The £5m summer acquisition of Xabi Alonso goes some way to illustrating the genius of their manager Pep Guardiola, and the former-Real Madrid midfielder orchestrated a masterclass in possession until his 85th minute hiccup initiated an unlikely City comeback. 

But the Germans, who saw Mehdi Benatia leave the field after just 20 minutes, should have never been given the freedom to control the game with such ease. Agüero's penalty fired the blues into an early lead that injected the side with confidence. Bacary Sagna and Jesus Navas provided City's main threat down the right flank in the 25 minutes that followed, but the Spaniard's delivery, as it so often does, disappointed. 

We've made a habit out of failing to build on leads thus far this season, and a routine piece of impulsive defending from Eliaquim Mangala handed the visitors with the opportunity to equalise from just outside the box. Xabi Alonso coolly dispatched the resulting free kick through Joe Hart's poorly constructed wall with ease, and from there on, City's confidence deteriorated.

In fairness, Alonso's equaliser was cruel on Mangala who was City's best defender in the first half. The athletic Frenchman combined brute strength and aerial prowess to come out on top in his battle with Robert Lewandowski, but his French compatriot Bacary Sagna failed to shrug off the Pole as he headed his side in front just before the break. Hart, standing inexplicably off his line, should have positioned himself better, but it was poor defending that ultimately gifted Bayern a 2-1 lead.

An uninspiring second half followed. As Pep Guardiola rallied his troops from the dugout, Manuel Pellegrini quivered in the shadows, awaiting the barrage of criticism that was sure to assault him at the full time whistle. It's one criticism I have of the Chilean, who I believe could do much more to encourage and direct his players from the touchline. Yes, perhaps it's not in his nature to be so vocal, but when inspiration is lacking, it is down to the manager to provide a boost. 

The tie descended into a tedious (at least for the home supporters...) exhibition of Bayern possession as Xabi Alonso and co. weaved through a makeshift midfield of Fernando, Frank Lampard and Samir Nasri. The Frenchman, brilliant against Swansea City on Saturday, is a talented player, but in big fixtures like this, he often fades out of the game and offers little in terms of creativity. Nasri can be wonderful, but he's extremely replaceable, and he lacks the influence and spark of David Silva who, quite simply, is a league above his team mate. 

But in that same league resides Sergio Agüero who, without Silva and Yaya Touré, was forced to rescue his team mates from a sour defeat. The Argentine capitalised on mistakes from Xabi Alonso and Jerome Boateng to record yet another famous 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium in stoppage time - the name of the goalkeeper he slotted past, Manuel Neuer, evidencing just how lethal the striker's finishing is. 

Agüero now has 17 goals in 18 appearances for the Blues in all competitions so far this season. He's keeping a wilting side alive, but the club must make sure that in no way does his situation resemble that of Luis Suarez's at Liverpool last term. The 26-year-old has pledged his allegiance to the club on numerous occasions since his move to Manchester in 2011, but a team as talented and as well funded as Manchester City cannot continue to heap their troubles on one man's shoulders.

The following Champions League qualification scenarios now exist for City, Roma and CSKA Moscow:

(Image via @Betfair)

It was a historic victory, one that we should celebrate, but beneath the excellence of Sergio Agüero, City's problems continue to hide. 

Manchester City 1 - 2 CSKA Moscow: Misery in the midfield, potential summer targets and an imminent transitional period

They crowded around the referee after the final whistle blew, but Manchester City's sluggards should have been aiming their complaints at one another rather than finding excuses for yet another calamitous Champions League display on Wednesday night. 



Seydou Doumbia's brace helped CSKA Moscow to a crucial 2-1 victory over the blues who, theoretically, should have been desperate for three points to kick-start their push for progression from Group E, but their performance lacked the urgency, desire and resolve required to succeed in the world's most reputable club football competition. 

Watching Manchester City in the Champions League has become similar to what watching England is like for an English football fan. We support the team, we hope they'll succeed; but ultimately, that hope is false, and we concede that the team will find a way to disappoint us and misrepresent the undeniable quality available to them. Experiencing defeats to the likes of Huddersfield and Northampton Town just over a decade ago initiated an irrepressible craving for the glamour of European football; now, in a way, we'd rather it would just go away. 

The disaster commenced well before Fernandinho and Yaya Touré were sent off for respective misdemeanours late in the second half. Touré stood static as his Ivorian compatriot Doumbia headed the visitors into the lead after just two minutes, and the early set-back encouraged a humiliating exhibition of misplaced passes and mistimed tackles. Gaël Clichy, brilliant against Manchester United last weekend, made a return to the form that labeled him a liability earlier in the season, and Stevan Jovetić churned out another underwhelming 45-minute showing just behind Sergio Agüero in a 4-4-2 formation that continues to fail.



City rely on David Silva too much for creativity, and when Yaya Touré and Sergio Agüero don't reach their highest performance levels, the blues look worryingly average. The former has failed to replicate the scorching form he hit last season, and his fall from grace has left City short in the midfield and incredibly vulnerable to the counter attack. His partner, Fernandinho, is another player suffering from an unpleasant summer break, and the authoritative partnership the Brazilian established with Touré last term seems to be a thing of the past. The pair no longer play in unison and the centre of City's midfield, even with the addition of the bullish Fernando, has become a vulnerable area in Manuel Pellegrini's starting eleven. 

Their respective trudges off the pitch served as a metaphor for where they are likely to be in the very near future, and that is far away from the first team. 

The pace of City's play is beginning to reflect the age of the squad. We have, on average, the oldest squad in the Premier League and the ferocious attacking play that characterised us last season is, like the players, ageing. Although James Milner and Jesus Navas perform tenaciously on the flanks, the former is not a winger and the latter is often incapable of supplying a decent cross. A solution to this problem would be the addition of a lightning fast natural winger capable of scoring goals and crossing the ball accurately; someone like Marco Reus.



The centre of midfield lacks pace and composure, and as a result, City have been the victims of the counter attack on too many occasions this season. Yaya Touré can no longer be relied upon to drive City forward, and Pellegrini's two Brazlian holding midfielders, Fernando and Fernandinho, are too sloppy in possession. A solution to this problem would be the addition of a young, strong midfielder who loves to attack but also maintains his defensive discipline; someone like Ross Barkley. 



And finally, with a player who prefers to go forward and a player who is unable to perform well on a consistent basis, the left full-back role has become a key area for improvement. Aleksandar Kolarov often neglects his defensive duties and pushes too high up the pitch, and Gaël Clichy, as demonstrated on Wednesday night, is a liability in possession and is rapidly losing his speed. A solution to this problem would be the addition of a pacey, defensive minded left-full back with the ability to support the attack when needed; someone like Ricardo Rodriguez. 



Let's be honest, City will now require a miracle to progress from Champions League Group E. Ties against Bayern Munich and AS Roma await us, and if we can't see off the limited threat of CSKA Moscow, it is unlikely that we will manage to conquer the respective attacking qualities of the German champions and Italy's up and coming title challengers.

City have represented England unsatisfactorily in Europe for four years now. Our ageing squad are certainly experienced, but they lack the energy and enthusiasm necessary to clash with the heavyweights of club football. We're in desperate need of some vibrance, both in Europe and in the Premier League, and like Manchester United, we may have to brace ourselves for a turbulent transitional period in the near future. 

Don't judge Manuel Pellegrini on a transfer window in which his hands were tied

It's been 100 weeks since Manchester United last beat Manchester City.



That statistic provides only a small indicator of the dominance City have enjoyed in Manchester over the last four years, the four domestic trophies we've collected in those four years provides an even bigger one. But the flight toward the paradise of Premier League and European success is a tempestuous one, and in the last three weeks, Manuel Pellegrini has been unable to pilot the Blues through the turbulence. 

City surrendered a 2-0 lead in Russia two weeks ago, a result that initiated a miserable run of form stained by losses to both West Ham and Newcastle United, but it would be wrong to suggest that Manuel Pellegrini's problems began on that bitter night in Moscow. Velocity no longer characterises our attacking play, solidity no longer defines our back line, and although I feel Paul Scholes is abusing his new role as a pundit to verbally assault the teams he holds personal vendettas against, he is correct in saying that our players look 'bored'. These issues didn't surface two weeks ago; they've been present since August. 

As Manchester City know all too well, defending a Premier League title is harder than actually winning one. In the summer transfer window, vulnerable areas in the squad must be addressed and replenished with the quality required to improve the team and to mount another convincing challenge for trophies. Pellegrini necessitated the need for two quality players in every position on the field before the 2014/2015 campaign began, but the business he conducted seems to have weakened the side. 


(Manuel Pellegrini has endured a problematic start to his second season in England)

No complaints were raised when Bacary Sagna, Fernando Reges, Willy Caballero and Eliaquim Mangala joined the club in the summer. Pablo Zabaleta needed cover after Micah Richards rejected a new contract, Yaya Touré and Fernandinho needed back-up in case of injury, Joe Hart needed genuine competition after an uncertain campaign and Vincent Kompany needed a young and talented defensive partner to replace the aging Martin Demichelis. 

Fans make the criminal mistake of basing their opinions of new additions on Youtube videos; videos that highlight a player's strengths, but completely disregard their weaknesses. Unfortunately, the Youtube compilations Manchester City fans consulted five months ago failed to acknowledge Fernando's naivety in possession, they hid Caballero's reserved nature in the penalty box, and they ignored Mangala's carelessness in the tackle. Only one player was brought in to address long term issues and infuse the starting eleven with extra quality, and in focusing on stabilising his entire squad, Manuel Pellegrini neglected the potential cracks that could start to form in his starting eleven. 

With an average age of 28.9, Manchester City's squad is the oldest in the Premier League. Yaya Touré was a juggernaut in the heart of the midfield last term and contributed 20 goals to City's title winning season, but at 31-years-old, fans knew that the incredible form Yaya hit last term would never be replicated. As many of us predicted, the Ivorian has been a passenger in team so far this season and has offered nothing to our attacking play that dismantled and terrified opponents last year. Touré exhaled his last puff of enthusiasm in a sky blue shirt on May 11th, and his lack of energy has left us vulnerable in centre of midfield and without vitality going forward. 


(Yaya Touré has failed to replicate the outstanding form he hit last term)

Yes, Pellegrini's summer signings have failed to improve the team so far this term, but his freedom to supplement the side with trophy winning talent was heavily restricted by Uefa's financial fair play regulations. The Chilean needed to bring in dynamic rather than 'safe' players in the summer, but with a limited budget, that was incredibly hard to do. 

In Mangala, I feel we've seen Pellegrini's true intentions for the team. The Frenchman is unpredictable, but also lightning fast and commanding in the air. There's no denying that the former FC Porto defender has endured an underwhelming start to life in Manchester, but he possesses the attributes necessary to succeed in both the Premier League and Europe. Mangala needs time, and in time, City fans must trust that he will develop into a reliable and exceptionally exciting player. 

Comparatively, it's clear that Fernando, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero were brought in for squad strengthening rather than first-team improving purposes. All three are proven talents and will provide satisfactory cover for City's starting eleven, but they do not represent Pellegrini's real vision for the team. The 61-year-old today admitted that financial fair play regulations prevented Manchester City from bidding for Manchester United's Ángel Di María, and the fact that Pellegrini was considering an offer for a player as extraordinarily talented as the Argentine should excite City fans. Our manager has an intriguing vision for this club, and we should not judge him on a transfer window in which his hands were tied. 


(Manuel Pellegrini has hinted that City would have bid for Ángel Di María if they hadn't have been restricted by financial fair play regulations)

Negativity has overwhelmed the side this week following their dismal cup exit against Newcastle United on Wednesday night, but the Manchester derby offers the players a chance for redemption. The manager has been slammed with the brunt of the criticism that has emerged in response to our worrying run of form, but the players must also accept responsibility and exhibit their real brilliance on Sunday afternoon. City's troubles have been magnified in the build up to Sunday's tie, but one must remember that both Manchester clubs have underperformed this season, and that one club sits five places above in the other in the league table with the added pressures of European football. 

Manchester derbies always occupy a special place on the Premier League calendar, but for Manchester City, Sunday's meeting could prove to be a turning point in their season. 

Defence and Džeko have their heads over the toilet in City hangover, but we're not in a crisis

It wasn't just a hangover. It was an aggressive, enduring, head-over-the-toilet, Russian hangover that condemned Manchester City to their second league defeat of the season at Upton Park on Saturday afternoon. 



Goals from Morgan Amalfitano and Diafra Sakho were enough to suppress a frenzied surge from the blues in the final 30 minutes of play, and not even David Silva's exquisite curler could lubricate the uncompromising bond between James Collins and Winston Reid in the heart of West Ham United's defence. City have now failed to recover a single point from their last eight Premier League games in which they've been behind at half time, and with Chelsea in such impressive form, things are beginning to look a little grim for the current league champions.

Gaël Clichy was left on the bench in City's 2-2 draw with CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night, but no one seemed to notice the Frenchman sipping away at the Russian Standard he managed to sneak into his water bottle. The 29-year-old has become something of a liability in Manuel Pellegrini's team so far this season, and his hasty decline from one of the league's most dependable full-backs was illuminated by the speed and physicality Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia on Saturday. 

Valencia took advantage of his deteriorating pace to assist Amalfitano for the Hammer's first, and Sakho nudged the defender's petite frame aside to nod Allardyce's men into a 2-0 lead on 75 minutes.

(Gaël Clichy struggled with the pace of Enner Valencia on Saturday afternoon - image via West Ham United Official Facebook)

And he definitely shared some of his bottle with compatriot Eliaquim Mangala on the flight home from Moscow. The £32m man is yet to justify the obscene price tag he balances on his head, and with every mistake, the fee appears more and more ridiculous. Misplaced passes and mis-timed tackles characterised the 23-year-old's display in Moscow and he carried that uncertainty into London on Saturday, but glimpses of his so-called brilliance did begin to surface in the second half. 

The Frenchman made two crucial tackles to keep his side's hopes alive in the last fifteen minutes, saving the blushes of the usually dependable Vincent Kompany who was fortunate not to walk after a number of unnecessary fouls. Of course, City's new-look central defensive partnership needs time to solidify, but not at the expense of lost points. 

Martin Demichelis, anyone?

(Eliaquim Mangala is yet to justify his £32m price tag - image via West Ham United Official Facebook)

City's back line were unforgivably poor, but their failures were outdone by one Edin Džeko who offered absolutely nothing. In fact, his performance deserves no further comment. 

Whatever happens, it's going to be an uncomfortable weekend for Manchester City fans. We've been forced into the awkward position of having to support Manchester United tomorrow, but if Chelsea do maintain their unbeaten run with a win at Old Trafford, Mourinho's side will boast an eight-point lead at the top of the table. 

The positives? Joe Hart gave another spirited, brave, and commanding performance, Sergio Agüero looked dangerous and hungry in City's final push for an equaliser, David Silva was allowed to orchestrate our play in the 4-5-1 system that saw us acquire some tempo, and Yaya Touré showed a few glimpses of his old, lethal self in the final 20 minutes. But City only began to exhibit their mouthwatering qualities when the formation was altered, and it was a case of too little, too late. 

(David Silva's wonder goal was one of a very limited set of positives to take from City's performance - via @MCFC)

Did Manuel Pellegrini get it wrong? Was he too slow to make substitutions? Or was it a lack of effort that saw the blues slump at the hands of West Ham? 

It's been a disappointing week for Manchester City, but we're not in a crisis. We're second in the league, active in both domestic cup competitions, and we still have the opportunity to progress in the Champions League. There's time to address the many issues afflicting the squad, and Manuel Pellegrini has the credentials to do just that. 

Player Ratings

Hart 7

Zabaleta 6

Kompany 5

Mangala 5

Clichy 4

Navas 5

Fernando 6
Touré 6
Silva 7
Džeko 3

Agüero 6

Ahmed Musa was right, Manchester City are 'weak'.

Maybe Ahmed Musa was right.

Manchester City surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead in a desolate Khimki Arena to bury their chances of progression from Group E even deeper under the snow on Tuesday evening, and now boast just two points from three games in this year's Champions League.

Goals from Sergio Agüero and James Milner handed the Blues a deserved lead heading into the break, but complacency, lethargy, and general naivety characterised their second half display on yet another somber European outing as CSKA Moscow were handed an unlikely 2-2 draw. 


(James Milner gives City a seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead - via @MCFC)

Manuel Pellegrini has questions to answer. Why was Fernandinho brought into the game so late? Why was Yaya Touré allowed to push forward when he should have been helping to defend our lead? The man who was appointed to address our Champions League woes has shown incredible ignorance in the tournament he supposedly mastered at Villarreal and Malaga. Unfortunately, Manchester City aren't a club that can take risks on Europe's biggest stage, the players we have at our disposal means there is no excuse for failure, and there is an extreme amount of pressure to succeed. At Malaga and Villarreal, perhaps there was no pressure. Is the Chilean cracking under the weight of it?

But Uefa also have to address a number of issues. They clearly indicated that CSKA Moscow's stadium ban meant that no fans would be able to penetrate the walls of the Khimki Arena, so why were the hosts allowed to play along to the roars of local Moscovians? Why was a penalty not awarded to Manchester City when Edin Džeko was quite clearly fouled in the 18-yard-box in the first-half? And how on earth couldn't referee Istvan Vad recognise that Seydou Doumbia dived for his side's 86th minute penalty?

It was an appalling performance from the official, but City's negligence of their defensive duties once again had a greater bearing on the result.

Eliaquim Mangala, signed for £32.8m in the summer, fooled us all with a commanding debut against Chelsea in September, but ever since, the Frenchman has been worryingly below par. The 23-year-old was caught ball watching for CSKA's first goal, and misplaced a number of passes in dangerous areas to present the hosts with momentum going forward. Mangala will certainly mature and improve under the guidance of his defensive partner Vincent Kompany, but Manuel Pellegrini must decide whether it is worth risking such a raw talent in important games for the remainder of the season. 


(Were Manchester City conned out of £32.8m by FC Porto? - via @MCFC)

Defending Yaya Touré has been a pursuit of mine ever since he was unfairly criticised for his slow start to the Premier League season, but the Ivorian was ineffective once again on Tuesday night. He was a calm and dominant presence in the first half when City were commanding the play, but pushed way too far up the pitch when Fernandinho was introduced instead of attending to his defensive responsibilities. It's not the first time the 31-year-old has left his side short at the back, and Pellegrini must consider whether it is a product of fatigue, or just pure disinterest. 

Ahmed Musa was right. Manchester City are 'weak'. They have the ammunition and the talent, but in Europe, City simply don't have the right mentality to assert themselves.  

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur: Possible line-up and team news

I, like many, find it difficult to muster any sort of enthusiasm for the international break. 

Maybe it's because I'm a miserable Englishman; a miserable Englishman who is forced to 'support' a miserable team with a miserable manager and miserable players. The somber 1-0 win over Estonia did little to change that. 

What England does boast, however, is a particularly stimulating domestic competition. This weekend, the Premier League returns. Thank God. 

Manchester City host a Tottenham Hotspur side that melted like butter against the top four last season, and although the North London outfit are still an extremely beatable side, Pochettino has improved their defensive discipline somewhat. 

Long gone are the days when a tug-of-war between the Blues and the Lillywhites often confirmed a Champions League spot, in fact, City have sailed so far past their ex-rivals that we don't even hate Spurs anymore. And Christ, did I despise Spurs' fans. 

Pochettino's men are no longer the Bale-ful side they used to be (get it?...) and City look set to record a comfortable victory in Saturday's early kick-off.

Prediction: 2-0 

How Manchester City should line up


Goalkeeper
There's no choice, really. Hart is the better, more commanding goalkeeper and Manuel Pellegrini needs to get out of the habit of rotating him with Caballero. It will only damage his confidence.

Defence
Aleksandar Kolarov was involved in a rather eventful tie against Albania that involved more drones and fighting than football and will probably be rested on Saturday. Gaël Clichy was overlooked by France manager Didier Deschamps (again) and will be fresh.


(Kolarov was forced to act as a peace-maker when Serbia's international match against Albania was abandoned due to violence)

Eliaquim Mangala played no part in France's 3-0 win over Armenia after picking up a groin injury, but his omission was believed to be precautionary. 

Midfield
Yaya Touré is expected to land back in Manchester tomorrow after representing Ivory Coast in their 4-3 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday. The Ivorian scored the Elephant's first goal, but is unlikely to contribute anything to City's weekend fixture and could be rested for CSKA Moscow. 

His likely absence could form a Brazilian partnership between Fernando and Fernandinho in the centre of midfield. Both are considered as defensive players, but Fernandinho does have the ability to bombard forward with pace. He'll probably supplement the attack whilst Fernando sweeps up just in front of the defence. 

(Fernandinho and Fernando could finally line up alongside each other on Saturday)

Fernandinho was unavailable for Brazil's 4-0 win over Japan earlier in the week after picking up a hamstring injury, but could be fit to start this weekend.

Jesus Navas opened the scoring after just 14 seconds in last year's equivalent fixture, and his speed is always a welcome addition to City's attacking play, especially at home. James Milner is bang in form, but Navas will offer that little bit more in terms of goalscoring threat.

Strikers

Manuel Pellegrini has shown a preference towards the 4-4-2 formation with two strikers at home this season, and with Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko in form and scoring goals, the Chilean should opt for the Argentinian-Bosnian strike-force yet again on Saturday. 

(Agüero and Džeko have scored 7 Premier League goals between them so far this season) 

Injury list

• Samir Nasri
• Stevan Jovetić (Limped off in Montenegro's 0-0 draw with Liechtenstein, but reports suggest it could have just been cramp)
• Eliaquim Mangala (Groin injury - omitted as a precaution against Armenia, could return)
• Fernandinho (Hamstring injury - no fresh news)

Why Aleksandar Kolarov should be made Manchester City's wingman

Last week, the Daily Star reported that Manchester City had joined the race for FC Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba.

Mere rumour? Perhaps, but Manchester City's left full-back situation is far from stable. Although Gaël Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov occupy the role in a rotation system, one has become Mr.Inconsistent, and the other is far more effective at the other end of the pitch. 

The left full-back role hasn't been dominated by a single player since the days of Roberto Carlos, but alongside Bayern Munich's David Alaba, Alba could be the most competent in that position. 

But regardless of whether the Premier League champions submit a bid for the 25-year-old Spaniard or not, bringing in a left-sided full-back could allow Aleksandar Kolarov to become the dangerous winger City's measured attacking play desperately craves this season. 

From zero to hero.

Before Manuel Pellegrini joined the club in the summer of 2013, Aleksandar Kolarov was already preparing to call time on his short stay at the Etihad Stadium. Regarded as a defensive liability and appreciated only for his explosive left foot, the Serbian was mocked for the £16m price tag that balanced on his head, and a move back to Italy looked certain. 

But under the Chilean, Kolarov was given the game time he required to settle into the side, and his new manager's attacking philosophies married with his playing style sumptuously. The deep defensive line Roberto Mancini often employed exploited Kolarov's defensive weaknesses; Pellegrini's comparatively high line revealed the 28-year-old's various attacking qualities. 

An attacking threat.

Against teams like Arsenal and Chelsea, who are armed with predatory wingers such as Alexis Sánchez and Eden Hazard, Gaël Clichy has been legitimately preferred over Kolarov at left-back. The Frenchman is a more accomplished defender, and has a turn of pace that makes him more reliable in one on one situations. So far this season, Clichy has averaged 9 defensive actions per game and has won an impressive 54% of his duels. 

(Clichy is a more accomplished defender than his Serbian counterpart - image via @Squawka)

Contrastively, Kolarov has won only 39% of his duels (the lowest of any defender in City's squad) and has averaged just five defensive actions per game, but his conduct has been much more influential further up the pitch. The Serbian has created five chances in five league appearances for the blues and has also registered an assist. 

(Kolarov has made four key passes and one assist in the Premier League this season - image via @Squawka)

In Manuel Pellegrini's offensive system, Kolarov is regarded as an important outlet when City go forward. His shot power enables him to occupy positions just outside the 18-yard-box which are often populated by stray balls, and the venom and accuracy in his left boot often stings the hands of opposition goalkeepers.

(Kolarov is often one of City's most advanced players when they attack - image via mcfc.co.uk)

But the former Lazio man's most valuable asset is his seductive delivery into the box. Kolarov's versatile left foot can whip, drive, and curl a variety of accurate and teasing crosses into the penalty area that cause endless problems for defenders and attractive opportunities for City's strikers. No other player in the league possesses the same ability to whip a ferocious first time cross into the 18-yard-box, and Kolarov does this meticulously on a consistent basis. 

(Kolarov possesses a delicious crossing technique that has become a critical component in Manchester City's attacking play - video via @MCFC_Videos)

Pellegrini must remove Kolarov of his defensive responsibilities

Aleksandar Kolarov certainly offers vitality to Manchester City's attacking play, but his tendency to occupy positions further up the pitch leaves the team vulnerable to counter attacks. 

The champions have become worryingly susceptible to the counter attack this season, conceding goals from attacking positions in games against AS Roma, Chelsea and Stoke City. In City's 1-0 defeat to Stoke, Kolarov was unable to provide protection against the Potter's counter attack because of he was too far up the field, and Mame Biram Diouf was able to sprint into free space and slot past Joe Hart.

(Kolarov can be seen sprinting back in attempt to help his teammates defend, the X marks where he should have been - image via mcfc.co.uk)

But is this the fault of the player, or is it a tactical mistake? Kolarov has obligations at both ends of the field, but Manuel Pellegrini must facilitate the Serbian's strengths and play him in front of  Gaël Clichy rather than instead of him. 

Samir Nasri's injury has proven to be a blessing in disguise for the Chilean who has been able to infuse his team with the energy and enthusiasm of James Milner alongside David Silva, Fernandinho and Yaya Touré in the midfield, but Aleksandar Kolarov must also be considered as a midfielder than can offer more to City's decelerating attacking play. 

By no means must the 28-year-old be considered a first-team regular, but removing him of his defensive responsibilities could help to plug City's leaky back-line and arm their attack with more flavour.