"Not thoroughly prepared"
That's what Roberto Mancini said after the defeat against Everton last season. Lame excuse but I accepted it and hoped he will not make the mistake again. After all, everyone deserves second chance. How wrong I was...
Funky feeling that I had prior to this match. Obviously absent of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany would be a big factor but that was not my main concern. It was the formation that Mancini brought out, which is not suitable against Everton.
Sure three at the back works fine, as we saw time after time (at times, it was a game changer). But, if Mancini did his homework and prepared thoroughly enough towards this match, he could easily spot out that Everton have a good pair of full-backs that could threat both City flanks. With only one player on the each flank, I could easily see City's liability lies there and Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines made sure my worries to become true. (I will not go into Mancini's absurd substitutions as it will be discussed in my next post)
Besides tactical mess, there were just no assertiveness among City players. Especially in the first half, when City were dominated by Everton, link play between David Silva and Edin Dzeko were poor and, at midfield, City seemed to be swamped and unable to pull strings to deliver quality ball to up front.
With Utd's victory against manager-less Reading, now the gap is 15 points and there just seems no way back to retain the trophy that City craved since 67-68 season. With nine games to go, I should not expect too much but a strong finish with FA cup in the trophy cabinet. But is it too much too ask for current City team?
Transfer Mills
- Marcos Reus and Ilkay Gundogan has been the latest target for City. Watched by many City supporters, Reus was sensational against City in the Champions League tie last October and he seems to be the player that could add spark to the City attacking department. Source: The Sunday People
Likely or Unlikely? Unlikely, as both of them look happy in 'die Schwarzgelben' and not many German players leave their country to play their football abroad.
- Aguero has been a target for Real for a while. Resilient forward, who has been a main talisman for City, has struggled with injuries during this season. With Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain not performing, Fiorentino Perez wants to add new signing to spark competition within the squad by signing the Kun. Source: Daily Star
Likely or Unlikely? Very unlikely. He has been centrepiece of City's forward. Why on earth would we sell him?
- Yaya's contract talk is stalled. The talk began six months ago but it seems nothing could get agreed as he felt that City members did not give enough respects to him, according to his agent, Dimitri Seluk. Real Madrid and Chelsea are lurking around to sign him. Source: The Sun
Likely or Unlikely? Even chance. Yaya is aging and still has African Cup of Nation duty, which undermines the City midfield for short but crucial period of time. But is there straight replacement for him?
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