ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- Four points

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 11/27/2011

Here's the thing... If at the start of the season you'd said to the average City fan that the club would take four points combined from their trips to United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal I suspect most would have taken it quite happily.

After today's excellent result against Liverpool that City are already there with two more games to play shows the tremendous strides the club has made. This has to end though. Winning 11 with two draws in the first 13 matches isn't championship form, it's other worldly. United's 9-3-1 form is championship quality, it is - look it up. For City to be five points clear one third of the way through the league schedule is remarkable.

Honestly I thought the club would lose today. At some point the club will pay the price for not playing Nigel de Jong in front of Kompany and Lescott. You have to love the talking heads pointing out that Kompany hasn't been as assured this year as last season while failing to understand that it was de Jong playing in front of Kompany that made him the reputation that he has. Kompany is good, very good, but he's not as good as most think based on last year.

Which as an aside and while I think about it, has anyone else noticed the remarkable number of really good young Belgian players that are starting to appear? Kompany and Boyata for City of course but players like Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea, Alex Witsel at Benfica, Thomas Vermaelen with Arsenal and reported Wenger targets Jan Vertonghen at Ajax and Eden Hazard with Lille. If Lukaku can turn into the striking force that Belgium needs it won't be just the Croatians and Serbian's that the Scots and Welsh have to worry about in World Cup qualifying.

But I digress. Back to today and with the game overshadowed by tragic events off the field, a draw felt like a reasonable result. A shame Craig Bellamy didn't play, however given the circumstances completely understandable.

Finally I'd like to draw your attention to a fine article by Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail. Read it here.

I urge you to read the entire article, it's Samuel at his best, but the relevant passage is

What UEFA did by going further and linking spending power to generated income was effectively outlaw new money coming into the game to upset the established order. [my emphasis added] City then had a deadline in which to join the elite or be left behind.

While the Wenger's of this world resort to claims of "financial doping" a particularly odious statement which implies that City have done something illegal, Samuel shows that not only what City have done is more than above board but also necessary. United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs all spend money; City have just spent a lot in a short period of time... or is the proposed purchase of Mario Goetze by Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund for 30 million financial doping on behalf of the Gunners?

Comments

Posted by bluemoon70 on 11/27/2011

Very good points all. A point at Anfield is an excellent result. But don't forget the 3 points at White Hart Lane. Considering how Tottenham are playing at the moment, those points could be very valuable later in the season.

Also, I did read the Samuel article. Should be required reading for every City fan, no, every European football fan.

Wallace Reply I think it's fair to say that we caught Spurs at the right time and should consider ourselves very fortunate.

Posted by g clarke on 11/27/2011

arsenal lives within its means not a toy however we should all be grateful for tax going to taxman

Posted by Drew Swiss on 11/27/2011

Honestly, i couldnt believe Bobby went with just Aguero. i know that it would happen with Pool or Aresnal but i expected it to be the Carling cup. today felt more like a loss then a draw to me and Mario being out for tomorrow only complicates things . i know your not really for what i am proposing wallace but i really believe we need a 4th striker. maybe not a RVP but a Bent or a Jelen who is experienced. having 2 strikers out on the pitch is what i think would be City's salvation as well as a supporting midfielder. For now at least, I am more then satisfied with our current position. CTID

Wallace Reply I actually think the club needs five strikers rather than three. We need both an experienced pro and a hungry youngster to fill in at times. I still say Robbie Keane would have been perfect.

Posted by Conor on 11/27/2011

A great article there by Samuel, and something I've wondered at people hardly addressing. City gets crucified for its debt, but all it takes is a little thought about FFP to realize that there was no other option. It's a crying shame that the only way UEFA could come up with to address some of the financial problems with the game was to deny any chance of new blood entering the elite order. What I'm wondering and what I'd love your opinion on is, what do the FFP rules mean for clubs such as Anzhi Makhachkala or PSG that jumped on the bus later than City? Are they doomed to rule their respective leagues but be held out of the Champions League for years to come, or is there still some hope for them to meet UEFA's deadline?

Wallace Reply I think you'll find is that as soon as UEFA moves to stop a club with tons of money, especially the Russians, that there will be threats of a breakaway competition and Soccer authority which will get UEFA to change their rules... again.

The solution is simple. At the end of each season a club must break even. If a rich benefactor wishes to gift, not loan, money to the club to make up the losses then they can do so. Any club that doesn't break even gets relegated down one division. So City who "lost" 195 million this year would need to have that equivalent added into the club. Forces every club to live within their means every year.

Posted by rdnyong on 11/28/2011

I think Hart was awesome saving some great shots from suarez and caroll.

The article u linked is really thought provoking. Its true that poor remains to be poor while rich will prosper as they proceed.

Wallace Reply That's why I've always called it the Status Quo rules rather than financial fair play. There's nothing fair about preventing another club having success.

Posted by David on 11/28/2011

Thanks for the link Wallace.

I was pleased with a point at Anfield and have been in general impressed with Liverpool thus far (at least against the better competition) and especially Lucas Leiva. Contributions by he and Parker this year seem to further stress your point about the importance of that midfield shield.

Do you have any insight as to what is wrong with Chelsea's defense? Do they simply lack the shielding midfielder they require?

Wallace Reply I know Chelsea fans disagree with me, but Chelsea got old. John Terry is a shadow of his former self and the signing of David Luiz which I'll admit I thought was a good move has turned out badly with the Brazilian (which should have been our clue to be honest) seeming to lose the plot defensively. I also don't think they've ever effectively replaced Claude Makelele.

That being said if AVB is given a chance, Chelsea can rebound.

Posted by david c on 11/28/2011

Wallace,
How does Reina NOT get a RED card ?
1) 15 yards outside the box slides in with arms raised and plays the ball with his arm...DELIBERATE HANDBALL
2) He was LAST defender.
3) Slid in with STUDS RAISED

Should have been STRAIGHT RED, BUT NOT EVEN YELLOW GIVEN !!

Wallace Reply I didn't see it as a deliberate handball as the ball ricochetted into Reina. And if it's not deliberate then by the rules of the game it isn't a foul. That being said you'd expect that to be given every time as the refs, commentators and fans don't know the hand ball rule.

Posted by Jerry on 11/28/2011

Some folks around the football world believe City will win the league if they are on top of the league at the end of the calender year. Though injuries and "you don't play matches on paper" aspect always apply, I kind of agree with that statement about City winning the league. Homes fixtures vs United, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool. That sounds pretty favorable

Wallace Reply It's the length of the campaign and the lack of experience in a similar situation as the fixtures pile up that are the potential problem. I think that's one of the reasons Aguero has been substituted every time he starts. leaving something in the tank for dog days om March and April...

Posted by Tawin on 11/28/2011

Interested to see how you think City should get through the Christmas period. What do you think will be key for City to do well during this crunch time?

Wallace Reply City should have the squad to survive the five games in 16 days that they play and the Arsenal and Liverpool games are both at home. As Christmas/New Year calendars go I don't think it's too bad.

Posted by Stan on 11/28/2011

It's about time somebody called FFP for what it is: a system designed to protect football's "power elite" and prevent any more billionaires from disrupting the class system. People are howling over Mansour pouring his personal fortune into building up ManCity? What about the Spanish banks writing blank checks to fund Real Madrid's spending frenzy? I'm not reading reams of copy about the Financial Fair Play of that arrangement. If it were ManCity loaded with overwhelming debt rather than ManU, the Blues would be getting crucified. Under the guise of "protecting" smaller clubs, FFP is actually protecting the giants.

Wallace Reply

Posted by Stan on 11/28/2011

As to on-the-pitch matters, you're spot on about Chelsea - they just got old. AVB recognized this, which is why he has been bringing in so many young players.

I'm not ready to award the Prem title to ManCity yet, either. As you rightly point out, they have no experience with leading from the front for any length of time. To be unbeaten so far this campaign and have a 5-point lead on United merely puts them in good stead for the rest of this grueling campaign.

With de Jong out of favor, the defense has always seemed vulnerable to me, particularly with the way Richards and Clichy bomb forward. And with Balotelli's volatility comes the ever-lurking danger of red cards and extended absences, stretching City's strike force.

A good point in Liverpool yesterday, and if you had asked any City fan a year ago if they'd take 4 points from trips to Old Trafford and Anfield, they'd have snatched them and kissed the hand that offered it.

Wallace Reply I'm really curious to see City try a 4-1-3-2 at some point but rather than with Silva as the pivot, instead play Silva and Milner on the wings with a licence to roam and Barry playing in front of de Jong with Aguero and Dzeko/Balotelli up front. So not the stereotypical 4-1-3-2 by any means. Have no idea if it would work, but you need to keep Milner and Silva on the pitch, but there are times de Jong has to play.

Posted by Cody on 11/28/2011

wallace to me handball a handball is deliberate when you are deliberately making your body wider. reina slid in on aguero as if he were in the box, making his body as wide as possibly and some of that involves his hands. He would have full well known that the ball hitting has hand was a possibility from that slide. should've been a red card. if it was more of an aimed slide tackle like he did later on aguero i wouldn't have an issue if it had ricocheted off his hands

Wallace Reply I think it can be argued that his arm position was "natural" in relation to the slide that he made. This is of course all subjective, but for example you could while running hit the ball with the normal swing or your arm past an opponent and it would be legal. Really. FIFA ref classes show that as a specific example of what isn't considered handball.

Posted by Chris on 11/28/2011

Wallace,

Long time fan of your articles, I'm a Liverpool supporter but always read your perspective on issues around the league.

Bit disappointed the article above hides away from really analysing the game and focuses instead on it being ok since you won at Old Trafford. I think it was a cracker of a game and could have gone either way right to the end - with both teams (minus Mario) showing impetus going forward and real grit at the back, epitomised by Joe Hart for Man City and Liverpool having 3 defenders on the line after a Silva breakaway.

I feel the next game for Man City will be important to keep your good times rolling - otherwise the squad could hit the wobbles. Thoughts?

Wallace Reply yeah, I actually tried to watch the game without analyzing, just watch. Hated it! lol. I'm going back to the breaking down of formations and tactics, it's apparently the only way I can watch.

Posted by Radagast on 11/29/2011

Wow! I am glad you thought of the 4-1-3-2. I am new to this blog and this is my first comment, but I have been thinking about the many possibilities of a 4-1-3-2 for City for over a month now and haven't yet heard anyone else even mention it for any team, let alone City. This blog is my favorite blog on Soccernet because of how you always respond to comments. That is great! Also, how would you use Samir Nasri?

Wallace Reply I'm a bit perplexed by Nasri to be honest. I never saw the value of buying him as a full-time starter, and for the money the club paid that has to be the way they were looking at him. To my mind he's the back up for David Silva and I'd like to see him given a run out performing that specific task to see how he meshes with Milner etc.

Posted by Mark on 11/29/2011

Am a Man Utd fan, but yr blog's a joy to read. Objective and fair.

Still think Liv shoulda won the match though ahah

Wallace Reply Yeah, but getting a point at Liverpool is the kind of result that wins you championships. So I think we'll take it. Despite the win at Old Trafford, which any reasonable City fan understands was just a perfect storm of circumstances, I still expect this to go down to the wire.

Posted by Adithya on 11/29/2011

Don't you think Roberto Mancini missed a trick or two in the Champions League game? Why wasn't Aguero in the starting lineup? You don't win tough European games if you rest your second best player and most self-reliant striker.
That said, Napoli were brilliant and got their counter-attacking tactics spot-on. Edinson Cavani's finishes were amazing.
Here I was hoping that Man City could actually give Barcelona or Real Madrid a decent game (I still do, in fact). Would be disappointing to see City go out in the first round.

Posted by Drew on 11/29/2011

I don't view Nasri as a backup. He is just adjusting to his new team. His versatility will prove valuable down the road and having a player like him that increases our ability to keep people fresh without sacrificing quality could be the difference in qinning the PL or not.

I have always believed that a lot of times teams can't hang with United is due more to the fact they leave points on table when playing the easy teams than being able to hang with the best head to head. We can already do the hanging with the best part, and Nasri helps us crush the little guys and get those extra two points here and ther.

Posted by Hari on 11/29/2011

Wallace,
key point about the status quo rules.....the situation is already bad-since the prem league began the money and talent has been accumlating at the top....i mean a midtable team has to struggle for its existence in the league! they have to fight relegation, and if they try to get up to the top and spend a bit too much they then take the fall hard!..its been a great achievementfor the big 4 to stay there until now but honestly who else had a chance to challenge them1...alll the talent and money was with them....thus the influx of foreign capital is obviously not an evil- it is a respone to the monopoly of the big clubs which is perfectly natural!

Wallace Reply I personally believe that the Premier League should move to a revenue sharing model with some form of salary and investment cap. As much as it is fun for City to lead the table, I miss the days of QPR, Ipswich and Nottingham Forest being able to compete.

Posted by Mike on 11/30/2011

Good article, but your financial plan is wrong. Instead, go with the following:

1. Maximum 1st team squad wages of X for ALL clubs (e.g., 75 million, or another figure agreed by the majority of clubs in the league - poorer clubs will want a lower total, but a general agreement must be reached).

2. Above, plus 100% tax on any wages over the 75 million.

A team spends 75 million or less on wages and there's no problem. But, if they go over, for every additional pound spent the club also pays a pound into a general fund - money shared among teams in lower divisions or poorer Premiership clubs.

Wages will be the great leveler, not transfer fees. Any club can have a team that cost 500 million to buy, but a player must accept wages that keep the club within the game's wage structure limits.

It ends the greedy player syndrome, limits accusations of any club 'buying' success, and gives more teams a realistic chance to win the league, not just the usual 2-3 clubs.

Thoughts?

Wallace Reply The problem is that unless you bring in a cap worldwide you will have clubs, say in China or Russia, willing to spend more on wages to build up their leagues. But I do feel some kind of restriction has to go into place at some point.

Posted by spandan on 11/30/2011

Sweet article Wallance. I think its ridiculous that people still think City dont have the "know how" to win the Premier League. David Beckham at 36 clearly does. 4 points clear and counting that Mancini is a proven league winner - almost Capelloesque in his planning and strategies - and this season some of City's attacking play has been phenomenal. They really made Spurs and United look pathetic.

That being said Liverpool did expose some flaws in the side. For starters City's central midfield was non-existent. I've always found Barry over rated and Toure still operates best in a proper three man midfield. de Jong, Toure and Milner make the kind of midfield that could stop be the engine of any top notch European team. Dovetail them with Silva and Nasri / Aguero finding spaces around Mario and Dzeko, and I think City could be far more productive.

That said thoroughly enjoyed the stick up utds during the 6-1 mauling. As a Gunners fan, it was sublime.

Posted by ayein on 12/01/2011

Another great article Mr Wallace. I only follow two blogs here, yours and Matteo Bonetti's (am a Milan fan). Always fun and insightful to read.

Totally agree with u on the FFP. UEFA would only disinterest any future investors for any clubs. In my opinion its up to the owners to spend their money and run their club anyway they see fit.

p.s - i've tried your formation (4-1-3-2) on the video game (FIFA 12) and it does work, albeit i'm using Nasri instead of Milner and Yaya instead Barry. The rest are exactly as u suggested. 3 BPL and 2 Champs League title (am a bit of a gamer haha)

Good luck to City and keep up the good work with the articles.

Posted by theJepit on 12/01/2011

I think City did well and nice to see most players clicking and playing as a team. I am a supporter of the other neighbours but I always enjoy your writings.

The club and supporters are lucky to have generous patron of the club,..unlike the other poorer neighbour that have to resort to some chicken feed transfer kitty and a disgrace to the memory of the late Jack Walker.

Whatever they say, Sheikh Mansour is better than the Glazers and obviously more than the chicken farmers from Asia..

Posted by Andy on 12/01/2011

I'm about to read an article published by the repugnant Daily Mail. It had better be worth it.

Posted by Ryan on 12/01/2011

De Jong has not been the same De Jong this season. He is sooooo sllooowwww with the ball its hard to watch. It shouldn't take that long to get the ball to someone who can do something with it. He hasn't been at his best defensively either. Right now I'd play Barry and Milner in front of him, never thought I'd say that. Maybe its coming back from that injury, I dunno

Posted by Alex on 12/01/2011

Everyone seems to be talking about how unlucky Liverpool were to not win this game. Are they forgetting Lescott's o.g. was the reason Liverpool got a point at all. Assuming Hart makes all the same outstanding saves, City would have won 1-0 without Lescott's gift. Also, what's the key to Silva finding a better scoring form? Does he try to just do a little too much sometimes?

Posted by Cody on 12/02/2011

Regardless of whether City beat Bayern or not, why do people think it's a foregone conclusion that Napoli will beat Villareal. Villareal have pride to play for at home. Also, Napoli's form against weaker sides this season in serie A has been terrible. They struggle when the onus is on them to attack (very much a pure counterattacking side). Their results against the likes of Juventus, Inter, Milan are very good, but against the minnows they struggle because they can't use their quick counterattack to good effect (essentially their attack is reliant on the other team having a good attack. City had a strong enough attack both games against Napoli, just got beat on the counter.) i think villareal snatch a point at least leaving it up to City to beat Bayern (which is no easy/guaranteed task)

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