City 2 F.C. København 1: Bellamy’s Masterpiece
As we speculated earlier this week on the site, Craig Bellamy and Robinho may not be the best of friends. But on the pitch they have developed a connection in just seven matches playing together that has City very much alive in the UEFA Cup.
After a lackluster first half of football, City scored two second half goals, and could have had more. Robinho was brilliant even though his finisihing touch alluded him all evening. City wins 4-3 on aggregate. Some other thoughts:
- As usual Wayne Bridge was outstanding at getting up the pitch and joining the attack but today actually played a very solid defensive game as well.
- Micah Richards and Richard Dunne once again did not have the best of games. The central defense duo has been struggling all year long and while Joe Hart didn’t deserve his ultimate fate, Shay Given was signed for a reason as we saw again tonight. Richards was particularity bad at dealing with a succession of first half Copenhagen corners.
- Vincent Kompany did well playing in Nigel DeJong’s normal role, since DeJong was cup tied and is ineligible for UEFA Cup action.
- With Spurs elimination today, Manchester City is the last remaining British club in the UEFA Cup.
City vs F.C. København Half-time thoughts
The match has had a slow build up to it as the middle of Eastlands pitch looks in lamentable shape. City’s attacking intent has been lacking throughout much of the first half. This F.C. Kobenhavn side defeated Manchester United two years ago in the group stage of the Chapions League. Atiba Hutchinson, the Canadian international attacker for the Danish club has been failry active while City has maintained possession. The best scoring chance of the first half fell to Robinho early but the Kobenhavn keeper was true.
The half ended with a great combination play from Robinho and Bellamy but the post saved the Danish side partly due to a lack of pace on the strike.
City has demonstrated good possession play but a lack of sustained attacking intent much like the away from home losses to Stoke and Pompey in recent weeks. While Copenhagen only threatened once, City needs a goal early in the second half to prevent this tie from being too interesting in the final 30 minutes.
Bellamy vs Robinho?
Reuters Photo/A rift in the City Dressing Room?
Rumors have been abound for sometime that Mark Hughes distinctly British and disciplinarian managerial style does not sit well with City’s Brazilian contingent. Similarly rumors have begun to circulate in the past week that Craig Bellamy who trouble seems to follow has created a rift in City’s changing room with Robinho, the British record transfer signing.
During the January transfer window Jo was loaned to Everton (and will be sold this summer) and Elano was shopped around. Some transfer rumors claimed Robinho could be on his way out as well heading to Chelsea to join his former National Team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The sacking of Scolari likely means if Robinho is going to leave City this summer he’ll head back to Spain or to Italy.So long as Hughes remains in control it’s tough to see Robinho working out at the club. Part of the reason is the January transfer of Craig Bellamy, long a Hughes favorite and a controversial talisman himself. Bellamy seems to always save his best for when he is being managed by Hughes: be it with Wales, Blackburn or now City.
Bellamy has long been the poster child for bad behavior among British Footballers. The Welsh International, captains his national side but is better known for his antics on and off the pitch. While featuring for Newcastle, during the 2003-2004 UEFA Champions League he kicked Inter’s Marco Materazzi (Although given the Italians antics perhaps he deserved it) and later that season threw a chair in training at John Carver then Bobby Robson’s #2 at Newcastle. I actually attempted to speak to Carver who now manages in MLS about this incident and got a cold stare and no answer, probably meaning it is still a sore subject for him.
Bellamy’s bad behavior continued after he left Newcastle: He allegedly sent nasty emails taunting Toon and England legend Alan Shearer after Bellamy had been loaned to Celtic. After being transferred to Liverpool he attacked John Arne Riise at a training session an incident which was ironically knocked out of the tabloid headlines by Joey Barton’s incident with a Liverpool cab driver a week later.
Robinho has his own personal off the pitch incidents to contend with. He has been accused of sexual assault in a Leeds Nightclub and when it seemed he may just be reunited with Scolari during the January window, he left the club and flew back to Brazil.
For the record Bellamy is backing Robinho and claims no rift has occurred in the City dressing room. But given Bellamy’s history, Hughes relationship with him and the discontent of City’s Brazilian contingent, can we really believe him?
Liverpool 1-1 City: January Transfers Come in Handy
City’s terrible away from home form gave Liverpool hope that today they could continue to mount a strong title challenge to Manchester United. But after ninety minutes, the Blues gave the red side of Manchester something to cheer about denying Rafa Benetiz’s side two critical home points, and perhaps effectively ending the title race in late February.
Two seasons ago Chelsea was in a similar position and actually had games in hand on United and failed to catch Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. Liverpool now has it all to do in the next two months.
City’s performance was outstanding. Richard Dunne’s return helped organize the backline and Vincent Kompany pushed into the midfield to help steady the ship. Stephen Ireland continued his outstanding 2008-09 form and Robinho played his best match on the road in months.
But it was the performances of Craig Bellamy, Shay Given and Nigel DeJong, all January window signings that made City appear to be a presentable footballing side this afternoon. Bellamy got the goal but also showed tenacity to fight for balls going forward that was lacking in the Blues attack before his arrival. DeJong is the type of ball winner City has lacked in midfield since Claudio Reyna and Joey Barton were around and Given, is well Shay Given.
Given is one of the best keepers in English football. That has been no secret for sometime now. But those of us who were concerned he may have a delay in settling into his new club after having spent so much time at St James Park were ill founded. Perhaps Given is comfortable having played for many years with Bellamy and having no doubt rated Richard Dunne and Micah Richards highly as a centre back tandem. Or perhaps Given is so relieved to escape Mike Ashley’s prison on the Tyne that he’s giving the extra early effort.
Whatever the case, Given was simply brilliant. Reflex saves have always been his speciality but this afternoon was one of his best efforts. With the point in the bag, City can go on and focus on Thursday’s UEFA Cup clash with FC Kobenhavn and then be assured that having perhaps the best keeper from the British Isles means you are never out of any match.
FC Kobenhaven 2-2 City: Late Equaliser Dooms City
City’s UEFA Cup campaign hit a bump in the road yesterday in stoppage time but yet the club remains in great shape to advance after next week’s home leg. As is typical City came out away from home in anemic fashion alowing the Danish side to control the game early. But a fluke goal thanks to a goalkeeping error allowed Nedum Onuaha to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
The match lacked a proper flow in the Danish winter, and Robinho showed his poor away form time and again squandering a number of chances to put City ahead 3-1 late in the match. But a late Martin Vingard goal sent the Blues home drawn level at two, but boasting two away goals entering the home leg.
Having achieved a meaningful result away from Eastland despite being badly outplayed, the club now heads to Anfield and a chance to really snap the road doldrums.
UEFA Cup: Mark Hughes Big Chance?
City’s Premiership season is mired in mid table mediocrity. For longtime supporters of the club like myself that is just fine, so long as we are not eventually drawn into a relegation battle. But having been eliminated in the clubs first match of both domestic cup competitions has left a very sour taste in the mouths of many a City backer.
The UEFA Cup may not be glamorous for the top clubs in England, Spain or Italy, but for City it provides an opportunity. Following the January transfers of Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bridge and Shay Given who are not cup tied (Nigel De Jong is cup tied) the Blues can boast as good a squad on paper as just about any side left in this competition.
But City’s troubles away from home continue to manifest themselves in every away fixture leading many to question whether the Blues can in fact keep the European campaign going.
This may sound somewhat jaded and silly, but Thursday’s match against FC Copenhagen could be one of the biggest of Mark Hughes tenure. The UEFA Cup may be a second tier event, but winning the UEFA Cup has brought glory to managers such as Gerrard Houllier and Juan DeRamos.
We’ll preview the match itself on Thursday morning BST.
Brazilians Continue City Away Misery
The failure of a fitness test just before kickoff by Micah Richards was a clear harbinger of things to come from City. Pompey, bruised and beaten and having just gone through a managerial change dominated the first half. City’s best opportunity to score came around minute 20 when Craig Bellamy laid off a ball for Elano. With seemingly all day to pick the target, the Brazilian missed entirely.
Elano scored midweek for Brazil against Italy at Ashburton Grove, but he looked horrible on Saturday filling in for the suspended Shaun Wright Phillips on the right flank. His Brazilian mate, Robinho who was also brilliant at midweek was if anything even less effective.
City’s backline held up for much of the first half even against the brilliance of Glen Johnson and effective runs of Jermaine Pennant. Dave Nugent, one time England striker kept City level by missing an open target more than once. Shay Given did the best he could to throw Nugent off, including once on a breakaway when Wayne Bridge had pushed so far upfield to try and provide the service that Robinho was incapable or perhaps unwilling to provide.
Shalem Logan made his Premier League debut: not his Man City debut however, as he featured in the League Cup a year and a half ago under Sven Goran Eriksson. Logan looked raw at times but did more to supplement the attack from the right back position than the ineffective Elano did.
Craig Bellamy provided some moments in this match thanks to his legendary and volatile temper. Even after the match Bellamy could be seen trying to lecture the officials. Vincent Company serving as captain for the match tried his best to calm down Bellamy but it was to no avail.
A lack of composure always follows when City falls behind and after Glen Johnson’s brilliant strike midway through the second half the side went to pieces. Robinho, ineffective as always away from Eastlands had already been subbed out, while his Brazilian mate Elano continued his personal efforts to keep Pompey clear of the relegation zone.
Late in the match, the slow and awkward Peter Crouch began to resemble Lionel Messi, getting behind the City defense easily. Had City not made the transfer deadline deal to acquire Shay Given, this scoreline could have been worse and more embarrassing.
Earlier in the week we asked the question as to whether or not Mark Hughes knew how to manage Brazilian attacking players. But the shameful performances by Robinho and Elano against a side that had not won a Premier League match in close to three months beg the question as to whether the duo simply are further proof as to how far Brazil has fallen in the world football pecking order under Dunga.
2-0 was the final scoreline, and City’s woes away from Eastlands continue. The Blues last won away from home in August.
City’s Past Features in US-Mexico Qualifier
Wednesday Night’s big CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier between Mexico and the United States had a definite Manchester City flavor to it. Sven Goran Eriksson who managed City two seasons ago led his Mexican side into Columbus, Ohio to face the favored Americans. The 2-0 loss for Mexico put greater pressure on Eriksson. Mexico’s performance was lackluster largely due to the absence of Carlos Vela or Arsenal among others, but Sven’s tactics have been roundly blamed for the loss in Mexico’s very tough football press.
DaMarcus Beasley who played for City two seasons ago under Stuart Pearce, played the full 90 minutes for the US. Much like his time with City, Beasley was inconsistent, mixing good passes and imaginative runs with bad giveaways and poor positioning. Beasley at one time appeared to be City’s future left winger but when Pearce was sacked, his loan expired.
Beasley features for the United States regularly even while struggling to find the pitch at Ibrox, his current home. US Manager Bob Bradley has the same defensive tactical setup as Stuart Pearce did at City, so it is no coincidence Beasley’s only extended first team run of club football since Gus Hiddink left PSV was under Pearce at City.
Nery Castillo who breifly featured for City under Eriksson started the match for Mexico but was largely ineffective. Castillo’s career has been a mess since coming to City on loan from the Ukraine last January. Castillo who at one time looked to be one of the emerging young talents from Latin America is now struggling to find his form. The match against the United States will not help him regain his confidence.
Former City reserve attacker Mathias Vuoso who never played a league game with the club was also selected by Mexico for the match but did not feature on the pitch. Longtime City midfielder Claudio Reyna is now retired but his impact on this debry fixture is always felt. Reyna is the American with the second most all time appearences versus Mexico.
Can Hughes Manage Brazilians?
Brazil’s performance in this week’s friendly match against Italy gave Dunga, a manager under fire some breathing room. But it had the opposite affect on Mark Hughes, bringing into his ability to manage a cosmopolitan squad. Elano and Robinho both scored goals in Dunga decidedly un-Joga Bonito Brazilian setup.
Dunga had many of the same questions surround him in the South American media and his selection of Elano for Copa America 2007 was a definitive attempt to break the mold of previous Brazil squads and to place a more defensive and possession oriented stamp on the national team.
Mark Hughes had three Brazilian players from September through December. Each at times seemed unsettled and uncommitted to the club. But Brazil’s national team had been similarly unsettled for a long period of time following Dunga’s ascension. The thinking in much of the press that Hughes somehow cannot mold a cosmopolitan squad may or may not be valid.
Somehow Brazilian football is evolving to resemble more of a continental European style and less of a traditional Latin one. That’s why Sven Goran Eriksson whose tactics always contain a continental flavor (as evidenced by Eriksson’s total mismanagement of the Mexican National Team whose players are used to playing a completely different way: to counter this Sven has accelerated the naturalization process for a number of foreigners currently playing club football in Mexico who fit his style) went out of his way to acquire Elano.
Hughes has stated openly that Elano now understands his role at City. But given Elano’s central role with one of the top national teams on the planet, will he accept Hughes tactics? The failure of Jo at City coupled with the players roraring early success under David Moyes at Everton raises more questions about Hughes. Is this another case of Hughes not being tactically flexible enough to build a setup around a strong Brazilian striker? Or was Jo simply not prepared for Premiership football when at Eastlands?
Questions about Hughes will continue to persist going forward. One thing is for certain though: despite all of the flux and circus atmosphere surrounding the team this season, City still have an opportunity for their best ever Premier League finish. That at least is to Mark Hughes credit.
Bellamy Proves His Worth
Craig Bellamy has made an impression in his early days with Manchester City. The Welsh International has scored in two of his first three matches with the club and has looked lively going forward. Bellamy, is without a doubt comfortable in Mark Hughes setup.
Having played for Hughes at Blackburn, and with the Welsh National Team, Bellamy is less likely to wear out his City welcome than he did recently at West Ham, Liverpool and eventually at Newcastle. When inserted into the City attack, Bellamy compliments Robinho’s game well, having played previously with cosmopolitan styled sides in Newcastle and Liverpool.
Telegraph Photo
Additionally, Bellamy is very useful in any British oriented tactical setup. Hughes knows that and that is why he made signing the player a priority for the January Transfer Window.
City took a perception hit with the failure to sign Kaka. But in signing Bellamy, and Nigel DeJong, Wayne Bridge and Shay Given the club bolstered every part of the side. In time, Bellamy may prove to the be wisest of the signings and those in the press that believe the club overpaid f <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
for him could be exposed as foolish
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