We’re back
Sorry for being away at the end of what was undoubtedly a disappointing season for many. Beginning later this week we’re going to be covering the latest in transfer news, following Elano and Robinho in COMNEBOL qualifying and the Confederations Cup and doing some features on city history as well. Come back and give us a fresh new look in the upcoming weeks!
City 2-1 Hamburg: City Eliminated in Maine Road Like Atmosphere
Manchester City’s European dreams have ended in what was a valiant effort at Eastlands today. The atmosphere tonight at COMS reminded me why I choose City as my club as a foreigner visiting England two decades ago: Maine Road was the best ground for my money in English Football, and today Eastlands filled with passionate and hopeful supporters developed the same feeling that Maine Road did for years even while City was buried in the third flight of English Football.
The Blues playing without Craig Bellamy, Benjani and Shaun Wright Phillips produced a sterling display of attacking football after conceding an early goal to Martin Jol’s Hamburg side. Elano converted a controversial PK, but also was unlucky on two brilliant free kick efforts: one hit the crossbar, the other the post. Felipe Caicedo forced to take chances was perennially offsides until early in the second half when he scored a wonderful goal.
In addition to Elano, Stephen Ireland and Robinho both fed off the crowd today and gave better effort than recently. City’s back four however were a mess at time. Wayne Bridge, not fully fit was beaten several times and Richard Dunne was sent off for a second yellow, after being reprieved twice by a sympathetic official for clumsy challenges while already in the book. Micah Richards was downright awful until the last five minutes when clearly spent, he deployed as an extra attacker and gave a herculean effort.
City’s elimination from Europe leaves little to play for this season and potentially hurts the attempts by ownership to bring in World Class footballers in the Summer transfer window. Mark Hughes also will continue to feel the heat even though today he got his tactics, team sheet, and team talk right.
Man City 1-3 Fulham: Boos Rain Down on The Blues
Manchester City lamentable form spread to home premiership action Sunday with a crushing defeat to a mid table Fulham side at Eastlands.
City have the distinction of being the first side to concede two goals on their home ground to journeyman quality American midfielder Clint Dempsey, and also allowed Andy Johnson what seemed like acres of space to stimulate the Cottagers attack.
City’s road form under Hughes is worse than any season under Stuart Pearce or Kevin Keagan. In fact City’s road form this season bears little difference from the 2000-2001 season when the club was relegated under Joe Royle who had after all played for City not United, like Hughes.
Tactically Hughes setup has been simple and unconvincing. His handling of star players has been abysmal.
For all of Hughes success in handling the likes of Benni McCarthy, and Brad Freidel at Blackburn, his rapport with players of international superstar caliber like Robinho and to a lesser extent Elano have proven his limitations as a manager particularly for a club as ambitious as City.
This is not to say Hughes is a bad manager. His record with both Wales and Blackburn speaks for itself and proves he has few equals when managing a certain type of squad. But he appears at this point to be the absolute wrong fit for Manchester City.
With a UEFA Cup match this Thursday, Hughes fate could be sealed if the Blues do not erase a two goal deficit and overcome Hamburg. A performance like Sunday’s and Hamburg can name their scoreline.
Hamburg 3-1 City: Reaction
City’s performance in Hamburg against a side missing several regulars was pathetic to say the least. A bit of indiviaul brilliance from Robinho and a good finish by Shaun Wright Phillips gave City an early and surprising lead. But to allow countless chances and encounter several breakdowns at the back was unacceptable.
I’ve seen much written about the possibility of City getting a 2-0 home win to win the tie. I find that to be unlikely given the form of both sides and the lack of quality City has shown in key matches this season.Additionally, Martin Jol has done a good job shuffling his lineup all season and keeping HSV fresh and on form.
Some other thoughts:
- Shaun Wright Phillips was poor in this match. He provided little service into the middle and was lost tracking back several times.
- Robinho had his best away performance in sometime but it was not good enough.
- Daniel Sturridge isn’t yet ready to find space and hold his position consistently at this level.
- Micah Richards is caught out of position to often on quick breaks or counter attacks. We saw this at the weekend against Arsenal and again in Germany Thursday.
- Benjani’s return was welcome but another injury to the striker was not welcome.
UEFA Cup Quick Thoughts
I had some issues earlier the week that prevented me from getting online and doing a full match summary for the Arsenal match.
What’s more important for City is today’s UEFA Cup clash with Martin Jol’s Hamburg side. The match has started and I’ll be back later with a full match summary and thoughts.
Arsenal and Internationals
I’m traveling today but have watched the first 80 minutes of the Arsenal match live and will have some commentary as well as a look back at City’s international contingent in midweek action last week and a look at how City’s current form compares to other seasons since the club returned to the PL in the next several days. Stay tuned!
International Weekend
We’ll be tracking all of City’s players in this weekend’s qualifiers and friendlies and will have a full report Sunday.
AaB 2-0 City: Blues Advance on PKs After Disgraceful Effort
AaB came into Thursday’s second leg with spring in their steps and quality and determination not shown in the match last week at Eastlands. Energi Nord Arena was a superb venue for the match and the atmosphere had the feel of an FA Cup tie at a lower league side’s home venue.
Robinho’s below par form continued and the play of Shaun Wright Phillps and later Elano bordered on embarrassing. Stephen Ireland as he has been so often this season was City’s only real attacking threat, but his quality could not help spur forward an otherwise lackluster affect. City only had to protect a 2-0 scoreline but failed to do so.
AaB made two critical second half substitutions which changed the game. Siyabonga Nomvethe came on just after halftime and helped open up City defense, and Marcus Tracey a player I covered while he was competing at the college level the United States came on in the 77th minute and further stretched City’s defense.
Strangely, with Robinho so ineffective and Wright Phillps evidently taking the day off Mark Hughes did not swap an attacker for a defender to close out the match when the opposition brought on two attacking players. Thus AaB created four goal scoring opportunities after minute 80, resulting in one clean goal and one spot kick goal, and the tie was drawn level on aggregate.
Extra Time was a one sided affair with the Danish side dominating play but failing to get a winning goal. Shay Given, one of the best keepers in the world then made two PK saves in the shootout to carry City to the quarterfinals.
Despite the “victory” it is difficult to be encouraged by City’s prospects against any remaining UEFA Cup participant after such a poor display of football against an over matched side. Mark Hughes had his tactics all wrong late today and that is sure to add fuel to the “sack Hughes” movement that seems to be gaining steam with time.
A Chance for European Glory Driving City
Mark Hughes rocky tenure as City manager got rockier this week with published reports he’s considering dropping Robinho. But with the potential for European glory in the UEFA Cup and City’s first winning cup run since 1976 all possible in the coming months, supporters seem to be backing Hughes.
The concerns about Hughes expressed so frequently by City’s frustrated fans have become less prominent in the last several weeks. While City’s road form continues to be a source of embarrassment for the club, the focus seems to have shifted squarely from the failing of the current Premiership campaign to the UEFA Cup.
European football next season for City may only be attainable by winning the UEFA Cup. While the Blues remain theoretically within striking distance of the 7th and final European spot in the Premier League table, it’s difficult to fathom the clubs road form recovering quickly enough to seriously challenge for that spot.
So tonight the UEFA Cup resumes for City with a 2nd leg tie in Denmark. Sporting a two goal aggregate lead, the club has an opportunity to book its place in the quarterfinals and advance two rounds further than any other English club in the competition. If that isn’t motivation enough to back Hughes, I am not sure what else is.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City: Unlucky 13
City’s thirteenth consecutive match away from home without a victory was a dire affair. As has become almost commonplace when away from Eastlands, city struggled to create chances. Felipe Caicedo perhaps could have done better with a half chance he generated early in the match on a counter attack, but from that point forward, Chelsea had nothing but clear sailing.
The lone goal of the match was scored by the resurgent Michael Essien who has turned in two scintillating performances for Chelsea this week. Pablo Zabeletta, in the starting XI in place of the injured Vincent Kompany lost his mark and allowing Essien an easy chance.
Shay Given was as usual solid between the pipes although he had a rare miscue fumbling an easy corner in the second half. Richard Dunne kept the backline organized, and Wayne Bridge had perhaps his best match in a City shirt, against his former club.
But the City attack was woeful. Elano provided little if any quality, while Shaun Wright Phillips brilliant recent run abruptly ended in the ground where he spent several unhappy seasons in between his two much happier City stints.
City’s performance was flattered by the final scoreline. Chelsea clearly deserved more than the lone Essien goal, but was wasteful going forward and City’s defense held up against almost unrelenting pressure.
Now back to the European campaign and the one hope of silverware this season.
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