Bottom line is that 0-0 was job done. It's a clean sheet which is something to be happy with. I think the problem goes way beyond Pellegrini. The board have managed the club poorly since the sacking of Mancini. Despite the whole "holistic" approach being repeated, at first team level it's become incredibly stale. Yes they've invested in the academy and yes that's in better shape than ever. It might not have been a good decision to introduce some youngsters into the squad earlier, but equally it's been piss poor squad management at first team level by failing to improve the squad and making too many short term fixes and not signing enough quality.
I get that FFP has forced our hand but you can't be happy with what Mangala and Otamendi have added for their combined transfer fees - when you look at how solid defensively Spurs and Leicester have been (and the cost of their centre halves) have we just thrown money at players. They never seem to fit our defensive "style" whatever that means. I assume it means play a high line and hope you don't concede based on our performances at the back in certain games. Injuries have taken their toll without doubt, and Pellegrini hasn't rotated enough or managed the squad particularly well in my opinion. We've had 4-4-2 at questionable times and 4-3-3s with odd positioning and it's just been a bit too inconsistent.
I love City though and for all the negative feeling, we've won a trophy and we're in the quarters and with a good draw might make the semi finals where anything can happen. Some players have naturally come to the end of their careers and players like Nacho, Sterling and De Bruyne are young and can be key to us in future years. The academy is in good shape and we've signed a managed who elevates us to a whole new level in terms of attracting top players. There is no need to panic. As poor as we've been, we're still able to finish in the top 3, we could still win it. Leicester's last three games could all result in losses and funnier things have happened in football.
I hope the derby serves an opportunity for the players to show they care, to fight for the shirt as they've done before. A win could really kick us on in the league and with the inconsistency others have shown we should then be confident of CL qualification next time around.
That aside you can't help but be disappointed that City haven't taken the opportunity of other teams poor form to win this league more easily. We should have done so, it's an opportunity missed and three times in 5 years would have been an excellent headline for the club. I'll never give up hope until it's mathematically impossible though. We all know City like to do things the hard way!
