The away form is terrible and not acceptable for a team that wants to finish top four never mid challenge for the title. The starting line-up in certain games, such as today is baffling. Changing three of the defenders was wrong, as was starting three players in the cup away at Newcastle. DiMechelis and Lescott had to start due to injuries, and their are plenty on here who wanted to see Kolarov, because they were slating Clichy the last few games, but then to change the right-back as well was a poor decision. We need some consistency across the back, and due to injuries mainly we can't achieve it. Richards does need games, but it became very obvious early on that he was having a very poor game. Against Newcastle the three crocks started and all went off with various niggles, this was always likely and left us short of substitutes in the game, this was again very naïve for an experienced manager.
During the matches the team performance in general looks pretty good and his changes to the team recently has left City being the dominant team, although individual mistakes have cost us in some games. I do think last summers window has left us short of quality, the idiots on here who said we needed squad players were so far off the mark it's an embarrassment. We needed players to compete, who weren't on top wages and this is what we achieved this summer, but the mistake is that we only brought in attacking players in the main, and with the centre-back problems and in goal, we have been very poor at the back. I don't think the highline has helped, but Liverpool are doing OK with three at the back, and Arsenal are looking a lot better organised than us.
We have easily qualified for the next stage in Europe and I'm sure the away form will improve when we can sign one or more players to cover defence or holding midfield. Now Subotic is injured too, there will be another top club in Europe looking for a centre-back too, so we will have to hope Txiki and Pellegrini have players lined up now for a quick close of business in January.