Johnny Baguette
Alert Team
The season the club stood still? In less than a month's time after Manchester City's 6 remaining Premier League fixtures have been completed, we will know for certain whether or not a club that has regressed in European competition has mirrored that outcome domestically under Pep Guardiola's leadership. Sunday's FA Cup Semi-Final defeat to a there-for-the-taking Arsenal, excruciatingly extracted from the jaws of what should have been an assured victory, regardless of rubbish officials, was perhaps the most chastening of the 10 losses the Blues have shipped from 50 games across 4 frustrating campaigns that have too often flattered to deceive.
The phrases 'not good enough' and 'groundhog day' have been deployed in recent months to describe City's persistent failure to deliver wins in big fixtures through killing the game off from winning positions. The manner of the FA Cup exit, gratefully received by a more than thankful, beleaguered Arsenal and their entitled support was a classic example of these assertions. Guardiola questioned his squad's mentality in the wake of quitting the Champions League and Premier League title race in meek fashion and I maintain the opinion that he is spot on. Surely, nobody can question the manager's passion for the game and he tried everything outside of physically exploding at Wembley to urge his men on, but when it comes down to it, too many of this City side appear to lack the belief in themselves to realise the club's ambitions. It was three of City's 'old guard' who themselves could have, and should have dominated the domestic game these past 6 years that tried all they could to drag the team over the finishing line, but Kun Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany's outstanding efforts were ultimately in vain. Yaya in particular gave it everything. However, to put it bluntly, we haven't imposed ourselves consistently enough to secure the game's biggest prizes repeatedly and therein lies the question mark hovering over the team's self belief. If you look back to the Yaya inspired historic FA Cup winning breakthrough year of 2011 and fast forward to where we are right now, in spite of some wonderful moments, we have not exacted the dominance or established a golden age that such a talented squad should have been capable of. It's a bitter pill to take but there it is.
Furthermore, regardless of what happens in the remaining weeks of a season that has been gradually reduced to the same unseemly scrap with the Stretford Galacticos to take part in the Champions League that last season stumbled into, it is very clear now that a root and branch overhaul of the playing staff has become a nailed on requirement. Rest assured that Guardiola will not be afraid to do it but I would caution strongly against any jettison of Aguero. 166 City goals to the good, The Mighty Atom remains our talisman and his 30 goals this season, despite suspension enforced absences in a side that constantly registers the type of shooting ratio we saw yesterday, is a formidable return. For the record, only 3 of City's 20 efforts were on target. The type of Premier League know-how Kun possesses will be essential in the remaining two season's of Pep's contract.
Kun was knacked in the back on Sunday from one of a swathe of filthy Arsenal fouls that hapless referee Craig Pawson inexplicably let go. Fernandinho and David Silva were both also crocked out of the game by unpunished fouls and all three are a doubt for the imminent Manchester derby. Martin "97th Minute" Atkinson will be at the controls for that one and we cannot count on him affording City any leeway after us being hit by an extraordinary run of shocking decisions.
Anyone looking for proof as to why English match officials are the poorest in Europe need only watch a re-run of that travesty of a first half in London. There was nothing wrong with what should have been the opening goal except the linesman being 5 yards behind the play and calling a ball over the line. A very poor Arsenal had been set up to scrap and spoil from the first whistle and Pawson effectively declared open season on David Silva before hopelessly losing control of a game he should never have been allowed to take on.
Wrapping this admittedly angst ridden piece up, I will conclude on a more positive and hopeful note. We have not had the rub of the green all season, neither from officials, nor from long term injuries to key players but this City side are capable of smashing anyone - that wonderful night when they blitzed Barcelona springs to mind. Any cocky side that arrives inside the Manchester city walls cannot take anything for granted...
What I would like to see is the Blues get angry on Thursday night. The signs are positive on that front with Yaya angrily slating the Wembley officials. Guardiola too is coming in for some savage know-all stick. He and his men know they owe us one big time. The crowing rags might yet cop for a backlash. The time is now to forge a siege mentality, Blues.
Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=580595#ixzz4fCNZz2xi
The phrases 'not good enough' and 'groundhog day' have been deployed in recent months to describe City's persistent failure to deliver wins in big fixtures through killing the game off from winning positions. The manner of the FA Cup exit, gratefully received by a more than thankful, beleaguered Arsenal and their entitled support was a classic example of these assertions. Guardiola questioned his squad's mentality in the wake of quitting the Champions League and Premier League title race in meek fashion and I maintain the opinion that he is spot on. Surely, nobody can question the manager's passion for the game and he tried everything outside of physically exploding at Wembley to urge his men on, but when it comes down to it, too many of this City side appear to lack the belief in themselves to realise the club's ambitions. It was three of City's 'old guard' who themselves could have, and should have dominated the domestic game these past 6 years that tried all they could to drag the team over the finishing line, but Kun Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany's outstanding efforts were ultimately in vain. Yaya in particular gave it everything. However, to put it bluntly, we haven't imposed ourselves consistently enough to secure the game's biggest prizes repeatedly and therein lies the question mark hovering over the team's self belief. If you look back to the Yaya inspired historic FA Cup winning breakthrough year of 2011 and fast forward to where we are right now, in spite of some wonderful moments, we have not exacted the dominance or established a golden age that such a talented squad should have been capable of. It's a bitter pill to take but there it is.
Furthermore, regardless of what happens in the remaining weeks of a season that has been gradually reduced to the same unseemly scrap with the Stretford Galacticos to take part in the Champions League that last season stumbled into, it is very clear now that a root and branch overhaul of the playing staff has become a nailed on requirement. Rest assured that Guardiola will not be afraid to do it but I would caution strongly against any jettison of Aguero. 166 City goals to the good, The Mighty Atom remains our talisman and his 30 goals this season, despite suspension enforced absences in a side that constantly registers the type of shooting ratio we saw yesterday, is a formidable return. For the record, only 3 of City's 20 efforts were on target. The type of Premier League know-how Kun possesses will be essential in the remaining two season's of Pep's contract.
Kun was knacked in the back on Sunday from one of a swathe of filthy Arsenal fouls that hapless referee Craig Pawson inexplicably let go. Fernandinho and David Silva were both also crocked out of the game by unpunished fouls and all three are a doubt for the imminent Manchester derby. Martin "97th Minute" Atkinson will be at the controls for that one and we cannot count on him affording City any leeway after us being hit by an extraordinary run of shocking decisions.
Anyone looking for proof as to why English match officials are the poorest in Europe need only watch a re-run of that travesty of a first half in London. There was nothing wrong with what should have been the opening goal except the linesman being 5 yards behind the play and calling a ball over the line. A very poor Arsenal had been set up to scrap and spoil from the first whistle and Pawson effectively declared open season on David Silva before hopelessly losing control of a game he should never have been allowed to take on.
Wrapping this admittedly angst ridden piece up, I will conclude on a more positive and hopeful note. We have not had the rub of the green all season, neither from officials, nor from long term injuries to key players but this City side are capable of smashing anyone - that wonderful night when they blitzed Barcelona springs to mind. Any cocky side that arrives inside the Manchester city walls cannot take anything for granted...
What I would like to see is the Blues get angry on Thursday night. The signs are positive on that front with Yaya angrily slating the Wembley officials. Guardiola too is coming in for some savage know-all stick. He and his men know they owe us one big time. The crowing rags might yet cop for a backlash. The time is now to forge a siege mentality, Blues.
Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=580595#ixzz4fCNZz2xi
