Chelsea 2:4 Manchester City: Team Bridge Puts on a Counter Atatcking Clinic
Manchester City’s roller coaster week ended on high with a shocking victory at Stamford Bridge. After a frustrating home draw versus Liverpool and a disappointing FA Cup exit in midweek, City appeared to be on the back foot for the first forty minutes. The Citizens record at Stamford Bridge is one of those statistics you constantly hear from opposing supporters and wish would go away, and initially it appeared the record of futility would continue.
The last City manager to win at Stamford Bridge was Peter Reid, and that was in the first year of the Premier League era. But today, with Fleet Street focused on pre match handshakes and scandal, City hung in the match without conceding but a lone first half goal, and then took control.
Possession stats tend to lie in football. While I have not seen a final number on today, Chelsea certainly controlled possession. But after Lampard’s initial strike, Cheslea’s ball movement was less crisp and the possession ultimately less valuable. Having been handed a blueprint on how to expose Chelsea’s frailties at midweek by Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini deployed Adam Johnson and Craig Bellamy in wide positions to put pressure on Chelsea’s replacement fullbacks. When Adam Johnson fell down on the job (literally in some cases), SWP was inserted to force Flourent Malouda to play deeper than he would have liked, opening up more midfield space for City. Malouda is replacing the injured Ashley Cole at Left Back.
Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy were titanic forces today as they have so often been when City is successful. Bellamy’s pace gave Ivanovic, replacing Jose Bosingwa fits all afternoon, and Tevez had his way with Chelsea’s sloppy center back tandem. Also poor for Chelsea was Obi John Mikel, a replacement for Michael Essien, who is also out injured.
Wayne Bridge acted professionally today, while his opposite number in the tabloids John Terry continued to play the victim. Despite the classless taunts from many (but not all) Chelsea supporters, Bridge had a workmanlike outing which contributed mightily to the Citizens victory. John Terry on the other hand played poorly and continued his history of complaining to the officials every time Chelsea was on the wrong end of a decision.
It should also be noted that Roberto Mancini had tremendous success at Inter in exposing Carlo Ancelloti’s preferred diamond midfield. Today simply continued that pattern, though the venue and sides were different.
(more later)
Manchester City 0:0 Liverpool: It Never Comes Easy
In typical City fashion, Sunday represented a missed opportunity. But unlike City of yesteryear, the opposition did not leave Eastlands or Maine Road feeling as if they had gotten the best of the critical tie. The battle for fourth is very much alive after Liverpool failed to take three points in match most with a historical outlook would have considered a lock for the Reds. As this season has progressed both City and Liverpool have resorted to more negative football in big games, particularly away from home. For the Blues it was a coaching change that did this, but for the Reds, Rafa Benitez has seemingly changed his tactics to ensure survival.
The bottom line is that City continue to be right in the race for fourth with a tough set of fixtures coming in the next few weeks.
City’s backline looked surprisingly comfortable and confident without captain Kolo Toure and Micah Richards, both either benched or injured depending on what source you believe. Joleon Lescott had among his better games since joining City from Everton, and Pablo Zabaleta continued his strong recent play under Roberto Mancini.
Going forward, Emmanuel Adebayor, left alone on an island worked hard but was largely frustrated and ineffective as City’s midfield was run over by a stronger unit from Liverpool. Garreth Barry and Stephen Ireland were particularly poor, while Adam Johnson’s initial flashes of brilliance gave way to poor distribution, chronic diving and bad corner/set piece taking.
This match was a forgettable affair, but a result ensures City stays in the race for a Champions League place.
Player Ratings
Given 7
Zabaleta 8
Kompany 7
Lescott 8
Bridge 7
DeJong 8
Barry 5
Ireland 5
Johnson 6
SWP 5
Adebayor 7
Bellamy 6
Ibrahim 5
The Most Important Point?
If the Blues somehow manage to finish 4th in the Premier League this season, chances are we will look back on Garreth Barry’s late equalizer as the most important goal City has scored since promotion back to the Premier League.
The City performance while visibly poor, and perhaps aided by some poor officials decision, can count as a job well done. Stoke is a very tough side to break down at the Britannia, and City’s late flurry of goal scoring chances despite not having Carlos Tevez or Craig Bellamy available, speaks highly as to the motivation for this current City side.
A less resilient and determined team would have lost last night. This result bodes well for City’s 4th place chase. Ultimately, I still believe has too much quality and historical pedigree to be overtaken, but should the Blues actually achieve this lofty ambition, we will look back on Tuesday’s night’s draw as the key result.
Manchester City 2:0 Bolton: Derby Victory for the Blues
I was tied up with a major press announcement of a new NASL team in Edmonton and did not get to focus as closely on the match as I would have liked. I will re watch the match Wednesday and have some more complete thoughts.
Hull Thoughts
One of the worst first halves since the Stuart Pearce era for City gave way to an equally frustrating second half even if the level of football was more acceptable. Wayne Bridge who has had to deal with so much this week was the lone bright spot among players who featured in the City starting XI.
Rather than emphasize the negative, which could take all morning to outline, let’s focus on the two new Manchester City players that made their debuts in this match.
Adam Johnson played a vital role coming in for the ineffective Stephen Ireland after Hull’s second goal. Johnson played in a floating role behind the two strikers, Tevez and Adebayor and provided a definite spark . Johnson seemed more effective when pushed towards the right hand flank. Johnson played some nice balls into the box and was able to take on defenders.
Patrick Vieira added a degree of calm into the City midfield which has been disjointed in the past several games. The on field leadership and experience Vieira provides is missing from a group of City players, that while accomplished do not have significant experience winning major honors, and leading title winning teams.
Saturday’s performance was the worst of the season for the Blues. But perhaps we saw a glimmer of hope going forward from the two newest additions to the squad.
Middlesbrough 0-1 Manchester City: Mancini Still Perfect
Manchester City is taking baby steps towards asserting itself as a big club. Another step occurred today at the Riverside, where a watered down City side survived Boro 1-0 to advance in the FA Cup for the first time in three seasons.
Shay Given was not tested until the last ten minutes of the match, as Robert Mancini’s tactical changes continue to impress at the back. For those critics, who point to the level of opposition, I would clearly state that the sort of opposition that ran through City under Mark Hughes (Burnley, Hull, Bolton, even Scunthorpe to a certain extent) are now being thoroughly outclassed under Mancini.
Tactically, Mancini got it right, although in the first half Benjani was isolated up top, playing as a target striker with nobody to play off of. The spine of the City side was very strong today, and that showed as the match wore on and the Blues asserted control.
City’s youngsters were a mixed bag: Vladimir Weiss struggled while Dedryck Boyata was outstanding.
Match Ratings:
Given 6
Zabaletta 7
Richards 7
Boyata 8
Garrido 7
Weiss 5
Kompany 6
DeJong 6
Sylvinho 7
Petrov 8
Benjani 7
Barry 6
Tevez 7
Bellamy 7
Manchester City 4-3 Sunderland: Hughes Last Hurrah?
In a match that represented a microcosm of City’s season thus far, Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz, the two players in the side who had previously played for Mark Hughes stepped up to try and save the embattled manager. But is it enough?
With Roberto Mancini who won two Serie A titles as a manager at Eastlands today (Mancini’s Inter were awarded a third title after the fact) the press is active with speculation about Hughes future.
After scoring two quick goals, the second on a penalty that should not have been given, city’s defense collapsed, once again showing an inability to man mark properly on set pieces and to deal effectively with dangerous crosses. City’s attack looked outstanding today, but when have the Blues not looked potent going forward, save the midweek trip to White Hart Lane?
Hughes 4-3-3 formation has not allowed City to keep its shape well, when establishing a lead in matches, nor has it provided any possession advantage late in matches. Perhaps a change in tactics, and not in manager’s would solve some of City’s problems?
City’s injury crisis worsened today with Micah Richards and Shaun Wright Phillips exiting with injuries.
MORE LATER
Bolton 3:3 Manchester City
Another fixture, another draw. City’s form continues to be a mystery as another local derby ended with as many questions as answers. The Blues were on the back foot for much of the first half, but two pieces of outstanding team play, saw City equalize before the half. Craig Bellamy’s sending off still remains a mystery but plenty of positive signs can be taken from this match.
Carlos Tevez has gotten beyond his early season injuries and has really broken through. Stephan Ireland, for perhaps the first time since early in the season showed the quality that made him the club’s best player last season. Sylvinho despite an advanced age, showed good understanding of Craig Bellamy’s game and prior to Welshman’s sending off, the Brazilian defender was linking up well with him.
Ultimately, however not having Nigel DeJong was a killer for City. Without the seasoned midfielder playing in front of the back four to break up opposing attacking chances, the Blues looked disorganized and at times desperate. Vincent Kompany’s performance was about as poor as I can recall from the Belgian International.
Despite the negatives, a victory at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, would put City in great position to crack the top four by Boxing Day. City has two less loses than anyone in the league, but with eight draws, the side still is having trouble learning how to win.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Given 6
Richards 4
Toure 6
Lescott 6
Sylvinho 6
Barry 5
Kompany 4
SWP 6
Ireland 8
Robinho 6
Tevez 8
Adebayor 6
Santa Cruz 5
Bellamy 6
Birmingham 0-0 Man City: Searching for Answers
Manchester City’s return to glory 2009-10 campaign has officially ground to a halt. Four successive draws coupled with some unattractive football have the critics coming out for Mark Hughes.
But in a Premiership season that has been more competitive at the top than any in recent memory, City’s consistent draws away from home have left the side in a good position to remain in the top six all season.
Hughes clearly has some difficult decisions to make about the squad. Vincent Kompany, whose return was heralded by some, including myself as a solution to City’s defensive woes was regularly out of position on Sunday. Micah Richards has already demonstrated that he has slipped tremendously from being considered for England, to being perhaps only a marginal Premier League player.
In the midfield, City is lacking the essential link up play, and creativity in the center of the pitch to be truly dangerous going forward. The side has been heavily relying on long balls and counter attacks to stimulate any scoring opportunities recently.
A mystery remains as to the status of both Martin Petrov and Stephan Ireland. City spent millions on Garreth Barry, but from where I sit, it is obvious the midfielder fits the England setup under Fabio Capello and Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa much more comfortably than he does Hughes setup at Eastlands.
Yet, Barry continues to feature as does Roque Santa Cruz whose career at Bayern Munich was a disappointment, and whose form for Paraguay has been missing for sometime.
I still believe Sparky is the man to lead City, but the last four league matches, all of which have seen City outplayed by sides with far smaller payrolls, is worrying.
PLAYER RATINGS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM GAME:
Given 8
Bridge 6
Kompany 5
Lescott 7
Zabaletta 7
Barry 5
DeJong 6
Bellamy 7
Tevez 5
SWP 6
Santa Cruz 5
Ireland 6
Petrov 5
Manchester City 5- Scunthorpe 1: Blues Advance
Viewed within the context of the pathetic recent history of City in the League Cup, this year’s run and especially tonight’s victory are remarkable. Also from a squad building perspective this was an important match. Tonight saw Roque Santa Cruz open his Manchester City account, Sylvinhio get a run out, Vladimir Weiss play a key role late, and Benjani return to the pitch after months of injury.
While many in the media have stated that City has a deep side, I have begged to differ. But today we saw Mark Hughes try and work some new players into the fold, something that will serve City well as the weather gets colder and the football more intense in the upcoming weeks and months.
For now, advancement in the League Cup is a significant accomplishment for a side that last won a major trophy in 1976. City’s last Cup run in the 2007 FA Cup was largely based on beating Championship sides (Southampton, Preston, etc) before being taken apart by Hughes’ Blackburn team in the Quarterfinals. Let’s hope Hughes change of venue marks a change of fortunes for City against bigger sides in the deep stages of a cup competition.
MORE LATER
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