Lawrenson in the Mirror:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-lawrenson-manchester-city-win-3016110
Mark Lawrenson on Manchester City: Win at Newcastle proves they've replaced United as THE team to fear
This was the kind of performance that will make Pellegrini's men champions - and make other clubs so scared they'll be beaten before they even turn up
What we witnessed from Manchester City at Newcastle was the kind of performance that will win them the title.
It was a performance that they didn’t have in them during the first half of the season. And, most of all, it was a display that illustrated just why the fear factor in Manchester has shifted from Old Trafford to the Etihad.
Manuel Pellegrini has options that David Moyes can only dream of right now, and he has a group of men for whom the penny has now dropped.
This Manchester City team is a different animal from the side beaten at Cardiff, Aston Villa and Sunderland - all of whom are now struggling at the foot of the table - early in the season.
This City team now realise that it doesn’t have to be pretty but it has to be effective.
They’ve played better this season than they did against Newcastle and lost the game. Now, however, they are ready to put in a shift.
Edin Dzeko was in his own box heading balls clear at St James’ Park. Samir Nasri and David Silva were rolling up their sleeves to get stuck in.
The flair players clocked on against Newcastle and that is great news for Pellegrini going forward.
City actually started the match well. They got the early goal and looked as though they were going to walk it. Then came that controversial disallowed goal, which actually affected them more than Newcastle.
Alan Pardew’s men, galvanised by the injustice, really turned up the heat, but City were very, very good in making sure they got over the line.
So far this season, City have been formidable at home, carrying all before them and destroying the likes of United, Arsenal, Spurs and Norwich.
But now they are ready to actually earn the right to do the same on the road instead of just turning up expecting to win.
The expenditure needed for United to be on the same page as their Manchester rivals right now doesn’t bear thinking about, either for Moyes or for his employers the Glazers.
And all the while, City are consolidating their position as the team to really fear in the Premier League.
As everybody knows, it is an aura that once made Liverpool invincible - teams are beaten before they even turn up.
It’ll be doubly terrifying now with all the stats available these days.
Players can see just how devastating City have been in front of goal. They will know that - on January 12 - the Blues have already scored as many goals as they did in the whole of last season.
They will know that Pellegrini’s men have racked up the goals at home against some of the biggest teams in the Premier League - including the defending champions.
Some teams have shut up shop against them, like Palace, and been beaten.
Some teams have tried to attack them, like Arsenal, and been beaten.
Some teams have tried to do both, like Spurs, and still been beaten.
The only time they should have been beaten in the league at the Etihad this season, you could argue, was against Liverpool.
In general, however, City just have that capacity at home to break down the sternest defences and crush the spirit of opposition players.
Remember, it was only last May that United lifted the title. They won it quite comfortably too. That’s how quickly it can change in football.
You have no idea how long it takes to turn it around - if at all.
In fact, last May now looks a distant memory as City display an iron will, a mentality that should - if they maintain it- enable them to reclaim the League and keep United in their shadow.
I read a wonderful description of the job facing Moyes the other day. It said that he is basically trying to turn around the Titanic.
And it's true. Even if Moyes does buy big for United in the summer, you can bet your boots that City will bring in another marquee player to tighten their grip at the top whether they win the title or not.
If anything, rival teams are more likely to raid Old Trafford, with Chelsea and Arsenal sniffing around Wayne Rooney and any number of rival clubs monitoring the situation involving Robin van Persie.
I’ve played in Liverpool teams that have established an maintained a psychological hold on English football. City, right now, are that team. Chelsea don’t have the depth of squad to match them, nor do Liverpool or Arsenal.
And think on this, City have been filling their boots over the past month or so when Sergio Aguero - 19 goals this season - hasn’t even been playing!
This Wednesday, Blackburn go to the Etihad for an FA Cup replay.
The bookies made Rovers 16-1 to win. In a two-horse race.
That tells you everything that you need to know.
