Manchester City: Settling for Second Best

2012/2013 Season Review:

                After the euphoric, Sergio Aguero inspired, end to the previous season, Manchester City had a slow pre-season, with manager Roberto Mancini complaining frequently at the club’s lack of movement in the transfer targets. This allowed primary targets, such as Robin van Persie and Eden Hazard, to slip through their fingers, instead settling for the likes of Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Despite this disappointment, City had a positive start, beating Chelsea in the curtain raiser at Villa Park to achieve an early ‘trophy’. The start of the Premier League season was less encouraging, having to come from behind to beat Southampton at home on the opening day, before a less than impressive performance in a draw at Liverpool.

                September saw more tribulations for the Mancunians. The Champions League draw was most unkind to the reigning English champions, pairing them with the champions of Spain (Real Madrid), Germany (Borussia Dortmund) and Holland (Ajax), in a ‘group of death’. In their first game away to Real Madrid, City produced a splendid defensive effort, leading both 1-0 and then 2-1 with 5 minutes to go, only to capitulate and lose 3-2. A first defeat at the Etihad Stadium followed, putting City out of the Capital One Cup at the hands of Aston Villa. This, and the draw against Arsenal in the league, illustrated that City’s perceived invincibility at home had ended.

                City’s early league form promised much, winning games that the previous season they had drawn, such as away at West Brom. Despite this form, they were abject in Europe, with an abysmal defeat in Amsterdam following the fortunate 1-1 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund, where Joe Hart had one of the best goalkeeping performances in recent memory to keep his side in it. City’s second consecutive group stage exit of the Champions League was practically confirmed with the 2-2 home draw against Ajax. City finished the group stages without a win to their name, and with the lowest points total of any British club. Bearing in mind the funds pumped into the club in recent years, this represents a significant failure for the club and, in particular, the manager.

                After the failure in Europe, City’s league form wavered. Two poor results at home severely damaged morale and their position in the title race. An unconvincing 1-1 draw with Everton was closely followed by a dramatic 2-3 defeat by local and title rivals Manchester United, where midfielder Samir Nasri later received death threats after his decision to turn away from the ball, leading to United’s winner. The game was also marred by scenes where a City fan invaded the pitch, attempting to attack Rio Ferdinand, who had already been hit with a missile from the crowd, drawing blood from above his eye. Horrendous scenes at the end of what had been a highly entertaining game.

                City regrouped after the derby defeat, winning 8 of 9 games after that point, including away wins against Arsenal and Stoke in the FA Cup. Two draws dented their title aspirations further, firstly a drab 0-0 draw at QPR, before a Sergio Aguero goal from an impossible angle rescued a point for the Citizens at home to Liverpool. More decisive blows were dealt to City’s title defence with poor performances in away defeats against Southampton and Everton, leaving City to conclude that their most likely chance of silverware lay in the FA Cup. An emphatic 5-0 victory over Barnsley took City to Wembley for the 2^nd time in 3 years, to face Chelsea. A dominant first half performance saw City take a 2-0 lead early in the 2^nd half, when only Costel Pantilimon prevented Demba Ba from levelling the game. City hung on, aided by several controversial decisions by the referee to eliminate the holders and progress to the Final.

                A chance to re-establish some pride was taken at the beginning of April, when City went to United, already 15 points ahead in the title race, and won 2-1, courtesy of an individual Aguero goal. Nevertheless, a second half demolition inflicted by Tottenham, handed United the title in late April, leaving the rest of City’s season resting on the FA Cup Final against Wigan. With rumours rife about the future of Mancini, City were tactically outplayed by Roberto Martinez’s Wigan, who deservedly claimed their first trophy in their 81 year history courtesy of an injury time Ben Watson goal. City’s owners decided that enough was enough, removing Mancini from his post and placing Brian Kidd in temporary charge. A controversial decision, as Mancini had led City to their first trophy in decades, before their first title in 44 years the previous May. A poor final day saw City slump to a 3-2 home defeat against Norwich, ironically the exact opposite scoreline of the dramatic final day of the previous year.

                Overall, an extremely frustrating season for all City fans. Starting the season with the expectation of either defending their title, or challenging very closely, and competing well in Europe, City achieved none of these objectives, being second best in both the league and cup. It cost Roberto Mancini his job, and one wonders how his successor will cope with the increasing expectations of both the board and the fans next year.

 

Player of the Season: Pablo Zabaleta – In a season of lows, Zabaleta has been the one shining light in the City team. The picture of consistency, the Argentinean ensured that City finished the season with the greatest amount of clean sheets of any side in the League, and with the best defensive record.

 

Game of the Season: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City – In terms of overall performance, this is the only game in which I saw City perform to their potential. Whilst, as a City fan, I am pre-designed to select derby victories, but I can genuinely say that in no game this season was I ever blown away in the same way as the previous campaign.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Not signing good enough players at the beginning of the season is ultimately where the blame lies for this campaign. Matija Nastasic is the only one that has managed to hold down a permanent position this year. Defensively, City look relatively strong, but failing to replace Nigel de Jong has had an impact. Tactically, there have also been issues, with a noticeable lack of a Plan B. A bit of width would be useful to provide this. Similarly, a lack of goals has characterised the campaign, and I expect a big name striker in this summer. In terms of names, Daniele de Rossi, Edinson Cavani, Jesus Navas and Radamel Falcao could be possible targets.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Edinson Cavani (Napoli, ST), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk, CAM), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad, CM), Ben Davies (Swansea City, LB), Neymar (Santos, ST), Manuel Pellegrini (Malaga, Manager), Jesus Navas (Sevilla, RW), Pepe (Real Madrid, CB)

Out:

Joleon Lescott (Everton, CB), Scott Sinclair (Swansea City, LW), Roberto Mancini (???, Manager), Costel Pantilimon (Fiorentina, GK), Carlos Tevez (Juventus, PSG, AS Monaco, ST)

Jumping the Gun? Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini is Sacked

             Today’s announcement that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his Manchester City managerial duties comes as no surprise to anyone who has been following sports news over the weekend, and especially after the events of Saturday evening. I must admit, when the news of his ‘imminent sacking’ hit the headlines on Saturday morning, I thought it could have been a ploy by Wigan and Manchester United fans to de-stabilise the team before the cup final. If it was, it worked, and in the most spectacular fashion. Not only did City lose the FA Cup final, they proceeded to sack Mancini two days later! That explanation now appears to be a tad too coincidental for me. When we consider the earlier, unexplained, meetings with Malaga officials, and the reluctance of the Manchester City board to deny the rumours after the news broke, Mancini’s sacking should come as no great surprise.

 

                However, the reasons behind Mancini’s sacking are not particularly usual. It was recently confirmed what I had previously considered to be true: that Mancini was not sacked for his lack of results. An FA Cup and a Premier League title is hardly a poor return for a side that had not seen the like for 3 decades previously. And yes, some fans may be saying, with the amount of money he had to spend it is unsurprising, but as I mentioned in the United title-winning blog, the trick is to gel players, not merely to buy them. The very fact that Mancini prevented Mario Balotelli from killing anyone during his tumultuous 3 years at City is impressive in itself! It is also worth noting that both Sven Goran Eriksson (under Thaksin Shinawatra’s ownership) and Mark Hughes (under both Shinawatra’s and Sheikh Mansoor’s ownership) had failed to provide any glimmer of a trophy whilst at City. His overall statistics also provide further ammunition for those claiming he was hard done by. In his 133 Premier League matches as City boss, he had a win percentage of 61.65%, a rate only bettered by Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti. A rather illustrious group to be involved in, I think most would agree. However, there is one area where he has seen to have failed: Europe. Whilst I would argue that I cannot recall a pair of groups harder than the ones City have faced in their two years in the competition (bearing in mind that City have certainly had at least one winner and one runner up in the last two years, no matter who the winner of the final), the results this season in the Champions League have been poor. To not get out of the group last year with 10 points was understandable but highly unfortunate, but the abject displays this season, especially against Ajax, have clearly played on the board’s collective minds. Success in Europe seems everything these days, and that is why it is unsurprising Mancini has gone.

 

                I do not believe that was the primary reason, however. Mancini has had a rather unfortunate habit of criticising board members, and even the owner himself, particularly this season. His comments immediately after the Wigan game may only have been the final nail in the coffin, as he has complained on more than one occasion of the board not being quick enough to secure his transfer targets. This is especially true of the missed signings of Robin van Persie and Eden Hazard last summer, both of whom were top of his summer shopping list. However, complaining about a man who has recently invested over a billion pounds in the squad, training grounds and the community surrounding Manchester City is probably ill-advised, especially when you consider that City were a top 10 team at best before his investment. You can hardly accuse the owner of not ‘putting his money where his mouth is’! Also, with regard to my title, I believe that Mancini has also been given plenty of time to achieve results by the owners, especially when comparing City to recently taken-over clubs like Chelsea (3 managers in 2 seasons) and Blackburn (4 managers in 1 season). Whilst, as a City fan, I believe his results are sufficient, even with the cup final aberration, to keep him in a job, his outspoken comments about the owner and the board is probably justification for his dismissal.

 

                As for his replacement, much has been said about current Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini. His European pedigree is certainly something that will attract the Manchester City board, and I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear about his appointment at some point in the next few days. However, his recent comments claiming that he has no agreement with City and he has an agreement with Malaga not to talk to other clubs, whilst it makes Malaga look like the equivalent of a controlling spouse, certainly throws doubt onto the appointment. As I said with Ferguson’s retirement, it has come too late to secure the services of Pep Guardiola, and quite possibly too late to secure Jose Mourinho, as he appears certain to return to his spiritual home of Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp, the other man linked with United, certainly has sufficient European pedigree to attract the City board, with his Dortmund team in this season’s final. However, his recent comments that he will not be leaving Dortmund appear to close that particular door. It seems as though City have picked a rather inconvenient time to sack their manager, as most of the talent around Europe appear to have been snapped up. Other than those mentioned above, inexperienced but talented managers such as Roberto Martinez and Michael Laudrup are alternative options, though I believe they will be considered too inexperienced to take the helm. I still believe that one of these two will fill the recently vacant spot at Everton. As for City, Pellegrini looks the preferred option, but his recent comments suggest that a deal is far from being complete.

 

                Roberto Mancini, based solely on domestic results, can certainly consider himself highly unfortunate to have been sacked. His FA Cup victory in 2011, followed by the League title 12 months later, have led Mancini to be guaranteed a place in Manchester City folklore, and the fans will continue to love him and sing his name heartily at games for many months to come. Whether he will be so revered by fans only because he delivered City’s first trophies in decades, and therefore would not have been had City been more accustomed to winning, is impossible to tell. Based on Mancini’s European results, and his outspokenness, he should not be surprised to have been relieved of his duties. Whoever follows Mancini will have to deliver in both domestic and European competition, and quickly. Otherwise I fear that City may be scouring the job applications again fairly soon.