A month or two ago I wrote an article about reasons to be positive this season. I have to be honest and say the position we currently find ourselves in has surprised me and personally I’m not feeling overly positive at the moment from a Manchester City perspective. Firstly, I had expected Leicester’s form to tail off in the league and for City to be challenging for the title. This has most certainly not happened. If Leicester now go on to win the Premier League it will be because they have been the best team. It’s impossible whatever the mathematics say that City can close the points gap. But what I had not for one minute envisaged was that Manchester City would be at risk of dropping out of the top four.
I do now think this is a real possibility. And despite success in the Capital One Cup this season the consequences could be significant. Particularly in the area of player recruitment.
So how and why have things gone wrong? At the turn of the year with the Champions League on the back burner City were well placed to challenge and put the pressure on both Leicester and Tottenham. Arsenal appear to have done what they have always done and blown up, Chelsea despite improved form under Hiddink never recovered from a horrific start, Liverpool – a side in a period of transition have blown hot and cold while United have looked miles away from being a top four side.
But at the risk of upsetting some people I genuinely feel that a lot of the blame lies with Manuel Pellegrini, who should have been dismissed in the summer. Yes, Pep Guardiola was always going to be the marquee appointment and it was no secret that he would join in the summer of 2016, but an interim appointment would probably have been more successful.
Pellegrini seems to make the same mistakes over and over again. Our attractive, open and possession based football did catch other teams by surprise in the first 12-18 months of his reign. But the truth of the matter is that he has been since found out and the suicidal high line and defending of the 18-yard goal line has continually caught us out. The tempo is far too slow and our tactics predictable.
The reluctance to play youth has also had a negative impact. Let me explain why. Some players in the squad have been flogged this season. The Capital One Cup, although an enjoyable experience, would certainly have been the lowest in my own priorities this season. But Pellegrini failed to blood the youngsters in this competition. Even when we were four or five goals to the good at home against Hull in the cup the player brought on was Demichelis as opposed to a youngster who could have gained vital experience. In addition, we lost our most productive attacking player Kevin De Bruyne in the semi-final against Everton. If he had been fit in recent weeks it’s hard not to believe that we would not be at least a couple of points better off. As a fan at this moment of time I would certainly prefer a top four finish than the trophy we have in the cabinet. At the same time, not blooding youngsters earlier in the season has also meant that we have little or no proven options when senior players are injured. Which has been another issue for City this season.
It’s also important that the issue of player recruitment is highlighted. In July 2011, City signed Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid. In the summer of 2015 the club signed Kevin De Bruyne. But with the exception of these two players where have the world class signings been in recent years. Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Yaya Toure would all certainly fit into the world class category. But all have been at the club for a number of years. Has the recruitment of world class players been on hold while we await Pep? It’s certainly a high-risk strategy.
And my final thoughts? Well I know some readers will say that fans like me should be happy with a trophy in the cabinet, currently fourth in the league and through to the quarter finals of the Champions League. But in reality, my own view is that the current squad has little chance of winning the champions league despite enjoying the journey so far. And my biggest worry? The lack of world class players recruited in recent years may end up coming at a heavy cost. West Ham, United and Liverpool are all contesting a top four place and our run-in does look particularly difficult. Particularly based on our inept form against clubs in the top half of the league this season. Plus recruitment of the world’s best players which we need to win domestic and European honours may be particularly difficult if we aren’t able to dangle the carrot of Champions League football next season.
What do you think? Do you agree? Here at Read Man City we would love to know whether you agree or disagree.
