The comeback win over Everton was an example of just how lethal City can be when they play to their strengths. Giving Aguero help up top and being efficient and quick in possession down the middle of the field led to a plethora of chances. The blues are entering a season-defining run of games, and if they are to bring home any serious piece of silverware more performances like that will be needed.
Unfortunately, City didn’t leave the game with all the players they entered it with. Kevin De Bruyne suffered knee ligament damage and will be out for an estimated period of 10 weeks, so what does this mean for the team? Though it is an obvious negative, it may actually force Manuel Pellegrini to make some much needed tactical changes. Pellegrini’s persistence to use a 4-2-3-1 formation may be a consequence of his time as a manager in La Liga. The majority of the teams use this formation exclusively and rely on the under or over performance of individuals in these positions in order to win.
However, the 4-2-3-1 probably isn’t City’s best formation, it’s simply the formation that has allowed for the use of all of it’s ‘superstars’. In fact, the 4-2-3-1 isn’t even being used properly on most occasions under Pellegrini. The advantages of playing said formation lie in the defensive stability of playing two defensive midfielders and attacking with pace down the wing. Often at times, Yaya Toure is played in the midfield two and we’ve even seen Silva, Toure, and De Bruyne played across the three. Just because City have spent a large sum of money on these players doesn’t mean they all need to play at once if it doesn’t benefit the team. Players like Fabian Delph shouldn’t be benched because the name on the back of his jersey holds less pedigree than another ill-fitting player. If City are to frequently employ the Chilean’s favourite formation, they should play either Silva or Touré in the middle of the three as a number ten and strictly pacey players on the sides of the three.
As far as who should start in the number ten role between Silva and Toure is up to the opposition. One the biggest criticisms one can level at Pellegrini is that he doesn’t necessarily, at least, when it comes to league play, prepare for the opposition. By this, I mean that he chooses to play the same style of football with similar tactics against pretty much anyone, the most recent example being that he played Touré in the two against West Ham and Payet had a field day. Silva is obviously quicker in possession and can work well against a physical, pressing team, whilst Touré should be used against team’s that are going to need to be broken down because they’ve sat in. Straying away from isolating Aguero up top also requires for wide players to stretch the back four, but not resorting to crossing the ball so much in order to utilize possession most effectively.
Tactical flexibility and an attention to detail are what is asked of the City coaching staff for the rest of the season. Being one dimensional is a criticism that Pellegrini has escaped because of the quality of player at his disposal, but in order for City to win the biggest trophies in such an unpredictable season, one must be adaptable. The Blues have all the tools to achieve the high expectations bestowed upon them this year, it is a matter of deft execution.
