Portsmouth 0-1 Man City: Citizens Perfect Start Continues
Mark Hughes made a significant change for today’s Barclays Premier League fixture against Pompey at Fratton Park. The corresponding fixture last season is the match I often point to as the day City’s push to qualify for Europe collapsed.
As poor as Pompey has been early this season, securing maximum points away from home is never an easy task at a ground like Fratton Park. Those who want City’s performances to resemble that of Arsenal, Man U or Liverpool sides of yesteryear are deluding themselves.
My EPL Talk colleague, Laurence McKenna pointed out that if you swapped City’s crest of United’s and had the same results, the press would be hailing the grit and resourcefulness of the side. But City are afforded no such deference by the media.
Pompey and their new chairman can certainly take some measure of satisfaction in the second half performance which was quite good. City’s back four continue to be tested regularly late in matches, but yet to have conceded a goal in this campaign.
After the international break, City must however be more focused late in matches as a difficult stretch of fixtures looms ahead.
Other Thoughts
- Emmanuel Adebayor continues to be a force, scoring his third goal in three games.
- With Robinho replaced in the starting XI by Bellamy today, the linkup play was better. Adebayor and Bellamy showed good interplay and understanding with both swapping positions on the left side often.
- The Micah Richards goal which was nullified by an offsides call was perhaps the best build up play we have seen from just outside the area in four City league and cup matches this season. This sequence was an indication that Tevez, and Bellamy have developed a chemistry and understanding that comes from pitch and training time together.
- Wayne Bridge continues to be shaky at left back. Pablo Zabeletta had some difficulty after coming on for Micah Richards on the right side.
- Expect the Nigel Dejong for Stephan Ireland substitution to be pretty standard for Hughes if City is sitting on a second half lead away from home.
- Player ratings to come after a second review of the match
Crystal Palace 0:2 Manchester City- Post Match Thoughts
City’s traditional struggles against lower league sides made this an impressive and worthwhile victory. I was unable to watch the match until this morning, as the sale of the US second and third tier leagues by UMBRO to outside investors kept me busy during the match yesterday.
A few quick observations:
- Jolean Lescott played well and showed his quality on set pieces at both ends.
- The handing of the armband to Kolo Toure to me was a surprise. I expect Vincent Kompany however to assume the captaincy when he returns from injury.
- The City midfield was poor for much of the game.
- Nice goal for Carlos Tevez, but an overall uneven performance from him.
- Mark Hughes is taking every opportunity to gel the squad and thus many of the typical reserves you’d see trotted out in a League Cup match were left on the bench. However, if City progress much further in this competition, depth is going to be a factor and City have that even if they have been reluctanct to show such thus far.
The Lescott Saga: Winner and Losers
Jolean Lescott is finally on his way to City. Enough has been written about the player himself. Let’s break down who wins and who loses now that the deal is done.
WINNERS
- MARK HUGHES
By signing another solid player from within the Premier League, Hughes has an immediately available option to upgrade the squad as early as this weekend. Additionally, Lescott is likely to be highly motivated.
- ENGLISH CENTRE BACKS
With City willing to pay such an exorbitant fee for a player, who is not an England regular (£24 m is the reported transfer fee), Centre backs across the country are likely to feel they can be the next John Terry, Rio Ferdinand or Joleon Lescott. Look for agents everywhere pump up the value of central defenders.
- DAVID MOYES
While Everton is down its most important defensive player, Moyes has proven again how shrewd he is as a manager. It is no mystery why Everton cintue to finish ahead of richer club each and every Premiership season.
LOSERS
- RICHARD DUNNE
The Longtime City skipper’s run in the first team appears to have ended. As a sentimental backer of the club, I hope Dunne is given the opportunity to stay at Eastlands and provide cover for the new signing.
- EVERTON FC
While David Moyes was a winner, his employer was a loser. Sitting on £24 million so late in the transfer window doesn’t do the club much good. By the time the January window roles around the Toffees could be in dire straights as far as chasing a berth in Europe for next season.
Cry for United: Sylvinho Joins City
35 years young, Sylvinho, a cultured and successful left back was signed today to give City some backline cover. Given Wayne Bridge’s indifferent start to the 2009-10 campaign, Mark Hughes now has an experienced option on the bench to call upon if need be.
The left back was most recently seen in Barca colors shutting Manchester United down on May 27th in Roma. Remember that match, United supporters?
Sylvinho replaced Eric Abidal who had been suspended after a questionable, borderline frivolous sending off in the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge. All the left back replacement did was play an amazing 90 minutes to earn his second Champions League winners medal.
The Brazilian has played for some of the world’s top clubs: Corinthians, Arsenal and Barcelona. Now he joins an emerging power on the blue side of Manchester.
Not a bad way to further torment United at the age of 35.
Man City 1-0 Wolves: Close Shave at Eastlands
It looked so good early. But, once again City’s new look side could not play a complete 90 minutes.
Emmanuel Adebayor scored his second goal in as many City matches inside of 20 minutes, but from that point forward the Citizens were wasteful in the attack and woeful at the back.
The Jolean Lescott transfer row with Everton is apparently close to a resolution, and it cannot happen soon enough for City.
Match Ratings
GIVEN 7
BRIDGE 6
DUNNE 6
TOURE 6
RICHARDS 7
BARRY 7
IRELAND 6
SWP 7
ROBINHO 6
TEVEZ 7
ADEBAYOR 7
DEJONG 5
BELLAMY 4
More later………….
New Signings and Quick Starts: A Curse?
Shay Given’s clean sheet at Ewood Park has given City faithful much reason for optimism to start the new Premiership campaign. After all with so many new signings on the side, fears were abound it would take several weeks for the club to properly gel. Additionally, the Citizens poor pre-season form fueled further concerns.
It is however worth noting that the previous two seasons this decade where the Blues were largely overhauled in July and August also saw quick starts that ended up leading to mid table or even worse lower mid table medioctiry.
The Summer of 2003 saw Kevin Keagan add the likes of Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Tarnat and Claudio Reyna not only because of the league but due to the UEFA Cup qualification that had come through the previous season’s fair play table.
Yet, Keagan’s team started quickly in August and then completely collapsed pushing a relegation fight until the 36th game of the season. Given the level of talent on that City squad, the season was forgettable.
In 2007-08, Sven Goran Eriksson’s side started fast, in fact leading the Premier League after a few fixtures. But after the Christmas, City sruggled falling not only out of the top four but all the way to ninth in the table, as many of the new signings hit the wall.
Much reason for optimiusm exists, but recent history also teaches to be cautiously so when it comes to this club.
Blackburn 0-2 Man City: New Signings Pay Off
City started it’s 2009-2010 Premier League Campaign off the right way with a 2-0 win at Ewood Park. Emmanuel Adebayor scored the opener after some good pass and go football with Shaun Wright Phillips inside of five minutes. But City struggled at the back. Skipper Richard Dunne, oft rumored to leave City held up well in the middle with Richard Dunne and Micah Richards often scrambling to cover the ground Gareth Barry as the holding midfielder and Wayne Bridge the left back were perennially out of position.
Blackburn had clear pk shout late in the first half when Dunne appeared to have handled a shot in the box. But no call was made, and Shay Given was outstanding as always. Dunne and Given communicate well given their long experience playing together with the Republic of Ireland, but Kolo Toure was still not on the same page with the other back three.
Wayne Bridge continued his form of late last season, which saw him out of position often, pushed too far forward or pinched inside. Bridge’s utility comes more as an attacking option down the left flank, than it does as a man marker.
The second half saw the entrance of Carlos Tevez, who replaced Robinho but played in an advanced position, while Craig Bellamy dropped back into midfield. City showed more tactical savvy and ability to control possession in the second half, but still Barry seemed to be off the same page with the back four. Nigel DeJong, perhaps would have been a better option today, but Hughes will eventually need Barry to suplant DeJong, so best to bloodlet with his team mates early in the campaign.
Stephen Ireland who had a poor game up about the 75th minute sealed the game on a goal where Paul Robinson came off his line and Rovers defense seemed disorganized.
Hughes decision to start Craig Bellamy surely raised eyebrows. But without a doubt the Welsh attacker showed a great deal of both quality and pace today, and his special connection with Hughes could help keep the often volitile Bellamy on his best behavior.
(More later)
PLAYER RATINGS
GIVEN 8
BRIDGE 5
RICHARDS 7
DUNNE 6
TOURE 6
BARRY 5
IRELAND 6
ROBINHO 6
WRIGHT-PHILLIPS 7
BELLAMY 7
ADEBAYOR 7
TEVEZ 7
CONTRIBUTIONS BY DAVID TROTTER, A NEW WRITER FOR MAN CITY BLOG.COM
And We’re Off………………….
Comprehensive coverage of City’s quest to join the elite of English Football begins in earnest tomorrow here at Man City Blog.
We’ve added new writers and will be rolling out new weekly features, between now and the end of August.
The FM 09/10 Fantasy Football League – over £500 worth of prizes to win
The 09/10 Premier League season starts in 2 weeks and the inaugural Football Media Fantasy Football league is now open for business.
There are a host of prizes to win, it’s free to join and it’s based on the popular and very easy to use premier league fantasy football game.
How To Play
Has The Lescott Saga Cost City?
The long drawn out saga surrounding Joleon Lescott’s potential move to Manchester City, has taken a tool on the clubs preparations for this Saturday’s opening fixture against Blackburn. Lescott represents the most versatile defender not playing for an entrenched big four club in the Premier League, and City’s pursuit of him was thought to represent an opportunity for Everton to raise critical funds.
But David Moyes whose record of achievement with his Toffee side is second none among non “big four” clubs realizes no amount of money is going to offset the loss of such a critical component of his club so close to the start of a new season.
But where does that leave City and Mark Hughes? Much of English Football has been abuzz this summer about the arrogance of Manchester City, not only because they are driving prices for players up to levels that other Premiership clubs cannot afford to pay, but also because City continues to struggle to sign any linked targets from outside England.
Now the drawn out saga over Lescott, whom we must believe Hughes thought he’s eventually land has costs the club two and a half critical summer months to identify other targets so close to the start of the new campaign.
Simply put, this saga has been for lack of a better term a debacle, and one which City is likely to pay for throughout the early weeks of the 2009-10 season.
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