ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- Weekend Thoughts

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 04/18/2010

Gutless, spineless capitulation with no ability to take advantage of the opportunity in front of them. City? No, Arsenal surrendering a 2-0 league and any hope of the League title in allowing a remarkable ten minute turn around by Wigan who emerged as 3-2 victors.

Paul Scholes scores ©Getty Images

All in all a Premier League weekend about as good as it gets. Wigan almost certainly assured themselves of Premier League survival, Everton are closing fast on Villa and Liverpool and the battle for every position of significance from champions to relegation should go down to the final week of the season. Tottenham continued their amazing week by adding Chelsea's scalp to that of Arsenal in mid week. The fourth Champions' League spot is Spurs to lose now with a run in that includes games against Burnley and Bolton. A lot will be made of the City game but the reality is that Spurs can lose that game and still would be favourite to snag the final place.

City... well what can you say? There are times I'd like to be a pure heart on the sleeve fan convinced that my team is going to win every game. Alas that's not the way I tick, never has been. I'm a fan of Football which means I watch numerous games each week. I enjoy looking at other teams, even United, to see how they play. I can appreciate the ability of a great player regardless of the team they play for. It gives me, if not a global view, certainly a fairly all encompassing one of the Premier League.

The down side of that is yesterday. While just about every other City site was predicting a City win or a City draw at worse, every scenario I looked at said it just wasn't going to be the case. Mancini chose to go with the hot hand, and honestly you can't really blame him, however it played to United's strengths. The decision was essentially that City's strengths outweighed those of Ferguson's troops. One day, hopefully even next year that will be true, but I don't think it is just yet.

Of course with Scholes scoring in injury time we got yet another cliché run out that some teams just know how to win. If that was true United would have beaten Burnley earlier in the season rather than that loss being the difference currently in the title race. Both United and City are good sides. Neither one is great, no one is in the Premier League this season. United have more experience and have played together longer and that combination gives them the edge.

Everyone forgets that this City team was thrown together in the past 15 months. That City are even in the hunt for fourth is, frankly, remarkable. Sixth would be a massive achievement not some kind of failure. The team is being built. I thought sixth this year and Champions' League place next year was a realistic goal.

Comments

Posted by Martin Nazimek on 04/19/2010

I thought a good tactical move on mancini's part was taking off johnson and putting in viera. it really locked the midfield down and city starting controling the pace, but when ireland came on it all fell apart. i really like ireland, but the lack of backtracking from an offensive player and the lack of focus on 1 play...30 seconds of lack of focus...30 seconds...thats the difference between a loss and a tie. I saw good tactical changes from mancini though which leads me to believe when given more time he can do great things, but as with every other manager he needs time. By the way, have you seen we have been linked with buffon? Is he that much better that given? CTID

Wallace Reply The "locked" midfield is what I expected from Mancini to start the game and I was surprised he went with the hot hand even if you can't really blame him. As you say, Mancini shows enough that given time I think he can being City silverware. Unless Mourinho and only Mourinho is available then personally I'd like City to stay with him.

Regarding Buffon I think it is a bad idea. Given is not perfect but he is still a top 5 keeper in the Premier League. My preference would be Given to by the first choice next year and Hart to be loaned to Birmingham again. Then in 2011-2012 season the expectation would be Hart to take over full time.

Posted by Martin Nazimek on 04/19/2010

Heres a silly question wallace. If Jose comes and we get rid of mancini, what are the odds of him staying with city when bacon face finally retires and the united job is open? Would he stay with city if this happens? CTID

Wallace Reply If Mourinho were to take the job at either City or Liverpool then I don't believe he would ever become the United manager

Posted by Raizzen on 04/19/2010

Just admit it. We were the better side. City never looked like scoring anyways. With such depleted squad United could still salvage a win and a spanking challenge to Chelsea. Ciddy spent 200 mils and ? LOL.

Laters.

Wallace Reply United have the best constructed squad in the Premier League and have for some years. It's what Ferguson does better than any other Premier League manager. I think you'll find that United's squad cost a similar amount over the years but it has been gradual. Give City time to gel as a team then it will be an interesting contest. So yes, for now, United are the better side.

Posted by Justin on 04/19/2010

Give credit to Vidic for really shutting the door to the counter attack, there were some opportunities there, but Vidic proved his class and out fought Tevez, Bellers, and Ade. It just happened. I personally hated the subs. With Johnson off, we lost all of our wing play and became very narrow, allowing Evra to play up the left. De Jong came off for SWP and brought back the wing play (better), but we lost the tenacity of De Jong tacking back, something Viera did not do. I have always been a huge fan of Ireland, but he has been out of the lineup too much to play that key role. Pushing Tevez up top took him out of the game, he became a target man that didn't link the plays and never got the ball. Poor subs in my opinion that allowed United to really take control of the game, and given time, they scored and won.

Posted by Justin on 04/19/2010

Also, Arsenal are extremely disappointing with their run in to end the season. The loss to rival Spurs...hurting city...losing to wigan. If City wanted...third could have been theirs if all went well! Long shot, but now i'm hoping for 4th, realistic 5th.

As I said last week...get everyones hopes up and then typical city!

Posted by Stan on 04/19/2010

I think Tottenham will have locked up 4th by the time the "showdown" arrives. This weekend's results settled the battle for 4th, I'm convinced.

City should be favorites for 5th, but will need to win games or they could slip still further. Your point about the squad being thrown together in the past 15 months is the key one - City needs time to gel and fine-tune the squad.

I give almost no weight to the Buffon speculation. Remember - almost any player worth more than peanuts gets linked to City these days because of the vast wealth available.

Speaking of perspective: it took two VERY late winners for ManU to nab the points against City, so talk of a vast gulf between the teams is heart talking, not head. United IS better at the moment, particularly when discussing the depth of the squads, but the gap has closed significantly.

Posted by Ted on 04/19/2010

What can you say.
In my opinion United edged it.
To many City players were either off form (Tevez) or consistently made poor choices (stand up Craig Bellamy).Plus on top of that I can't remember a time where the quality of the corners and free kicks were so poor.
I suspect that if Mancini is still there next season half a dozen of the starting eleven will not be there.
So for those that don't do it the Mancini way it's bye bye.

Posted by John Adams on 04/20/2010

I dont think City will be winning the BPL in a few years yet. 15 months together surely cant beat 15 years of team nurturing, with the same method, the same manager, the same concept, hence the same mentality. That guy u call Bacon Face won more than all City managers combine, dont you agree? Late winners it was but still 3 points, twice! Nonetheless, i do agree that City will be a force sooner, as long as the Sheikhs remain interested.

Wallace Reply Actually I call him Old Purple Nose but...

I have always been complimentary to Ferguson's squad building because I happen to believe it is the correct model with a balance between clear first team players, role players, aging veterans and youth. That has created the longevity and it is a lesson that City, and Chelsea for that matter, could do well to heed.

Posted by shank on 04/20/2010

hey2, city team were thrown together in the past 15 month and fighting for fourth place were a remarkable achievement? whatever man, thats just lame, chelsea also got a new team when abramovich arrived, and they end up champions.. so what so remarkable about?

Wallace Replay That's a common misconception as the core of that Chelsea team had already been brought in prior to Abramovich making the purchase and Chelsea were already a top four club. It takes time from players to gel.

Posted by Rob on 04/20/2010

On the subject of Jose being available. I cannot see him saying no to an opportunity build a team without having to be concerned with financial limitations. Having him on board would solve city's problem of appealing to the calibre of players they need to make their considerable funds matter on the field.

Wallace Replay If Inter beat Barcelona over two legs I'll be very interested to see what kind of offer is forthcoming from Real Madrid. Now as one of the readers correctly pointed out Jose started out early in his career with Bobby Robson at Barcelona and you wonder if that would rule out such a move in Mourinho's mind.

Posted by paul ishaka on 04/20/2010

Tottenham help man united beat chelsea to reduce the gap to one point likewise Man united help tottenham to beat man city to secure a place for the champion league and move fourth with two point.

Wallace Reply The problem is not that game but that City have Arsenal, Villa and Spurs remaining...

Posted by etin-osa on 04/20/2010

mancity lost to a good side.They tried their best but due to lack of concentration on their path lost it at the end.Man utd will win the trophy at last

Posted by Fireball on 04/21/2010

I am terribly sorry but I have to disagree with your view that "6th would be a remarkable achievment". When Chelsea bought all those players when Abromovich came in, what position did they get? SECOND, only to the "invincibles" Arsenal that season. So please don't say that 6th would be remarkable, you spent so much money and achieving 6th would be failure. Even not achieving 4th would be failure, considering who is occupying it at the moment. With money spent like that, lack of team chemistry should only stop City from being in the title race, not for 4th place where Tottenham are currently.

Wallace Reply Chelsea were already a top 4 side prior to Abramovich buying the club and the core of the side had already been acquired. It's a completely different set of circumstances.

Posted by Ewald on 04/21/2010

Hey Wallace!
Good piece. If City's owners want continuing success then they should take a few tips from teams like United and Barca....and not Real Madrid! Money can buy short term success but the only recipe for long term success is long term vision and planning.
As a United supporter I hope City's owners continue to look for instant success by hiring and firing managers every few months because as long as they do that, United will remain the better Manchester team.

Wallace Reply oh oh... I agree with a United fan!

Posted by CEK on 04/21/2010

Uh, Chelsea brought in no fewer than 10 first team players in 2003/4 (Glen Johnson, Geremi, Wayne Bridge, Damian Duff, Joe Cole, Juan Veron, Adrian Mutu, Hernan Crespo, Claude Makelele and Scott Parker) and still wrapped up 2nd! There is no shame admitting that Chelsea achieved success faster than City under similar circumstances.

Posted by Winkle on 04/22/2010

Hey Wallace,

Should Man City go all out to get Jose Mourinho?? I really want to see him back in England, but I feel failing to get that 4th place will cost them Jose. Do you think Jose will come to a side not playing Champions League??

Wallace Reply Yes I think Mourinho would come to City even without Champions League football because of the resources that would be available. This is especially true if Inter win the Champions League this year.

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