Where did it all go wrong for City today? Really this should be the first of several questions for City.
[1] Where did it all go wrong for City today?
[2] Where did it all go wrong for City in Europe this season?
[3] Where did it start to go wrong for City in the league this season?
[4] And is it all too late now?
[1] Where did it all go wrong for City today? Today we had the wrong starting line-up, and then made inappropriate substitutions (Kolo for Vinny, really?), and then didn’t respond quickly enough when behind. All these possession stats count for nothing when we keep trying to walk the ball into the net. At 2 – 2 we couldn’t hold on.
Carlos Tevez should have started up front today, wanting to show his old boss he was wrong, wanting to show his new boss he was back to his old form. Balo was entirely the wrong starter for today, his head was not in it, and he rarely rises to the big occasion, he has to go. Mancini bid 24 million pounds (or maybe Euros) for a player who nobody else was bidding for, and who Jose Mourinho described as un-manageable.City will be lucky yo get back a quarter of that, but they need to get him out. Mancini must take his share of the blame for these tactical mistakes. I am not one of those who wants Mancini out, heaven knows we don’t want to be like Chelski or Spurs changing managers every season, but a wise manager once said that “everyone needs a pat on the back now and then, sometimes higher and sometimes lower down”.
[2] Where did it all go wrong for City in Europe this season? This season we were again drawn in the toughest group with Real & Ajax & Dortmund, so we knew it would be tough. This season we were tactically poor away from home, the only time we were in front against Madrid we couldn’t hold on to the lead. Losing 3 out of 3 away is just not good enough. Drawing 3 out of 3 at home is definitely not good enough. Mancini must take his share of the blame for these squad rotation errors and tactical mistakes.
[3] Where did it start to go wrong for City in the league this season? I did not feel that any new recruits were needed after last seasons championship win, just a little pruning of deadwood, and better squad rotation. The only new recruit to make an impact has been Nastasic who at 19 has slotted into the back 4 like a mature player. If Edin Dzeko is seen as an impact sub he needs to play all the second half, its not fair to bring him on for the last 5 or 10 minutes. I like Dzeko as he is more of an old-fashioned center-forward and he gives us more options, but he needs service from a wider front line with at least one winger. Mancini must take his share of the blame for showing no respect for Dzeko, and for showing too much respect and patience for Balo.
[4] And is it all too late now? No no its not too late, its still a 2 horse race, but over the years I have watched City make things difficult for themselves, and this year they are continuing to be their own worst enemy.
