Johnny Baguette
Alert Team
City are on Cloud Nine...
Emerging from a carefully constructed League Cup win in Wales, opportunity now knocks for Pep Guardiola's Newport based squad to begin to really stamp their authority on the Premier League whilst at the same time realise a statement 10 consecutive wins across 3 competitions.
Swansea are a team in trouble and there is every chance that their beleaguered boss Francesco Guidolin will get the bullet if the Blues prevail again on Saturday. However, the stakes are way too high at The Etihad for there to be any hint of mercy afforded in his direction. Based upon what we saw last night, the Swans were only galvanised into the game by Willy Caballero's erratic footwork and with City's big guns about to emerge from the Welsh FA Development Centre, the men in white could be in for a torrid afternoon.
Caballero, not for the first time, has struggled to adapt to what Guardiola wants and to be frank this will take time. In fact, it should take time and the gaffer himself has expressed surprise and admiration at how quickly the squad have bought in to his methods. To be fair, many of the players involved last night haven't had the level of playing time that the Argentinian stopper has so it is to their absolute collective credit, alongside that of the manager's skills that they were able to achieve a relatively untroubled win.
Untroubled to a point. As we began to bask in the closing stages of the game in the knowledge that we were about to see another fine victory, this time built cunningly upon an experienced defence and teenage kicks, Swansea got in behind us. What happened next was thoroughly bizarre and an all time first for seasoned Blues.
The Swans scored from that neat injury time interplay and the outstanding City captain Vincent Kompany's umpteenth challenge was finally evaded. Grounded, for an instant he grasped at the back of his leg, got up, and strode purposefully straight off the pitch and down the tunnel acknowledging nobody. Many of us though he had been sent off. From that moment on speculation has prevailed as to the extent of what looks to be another injury shipped by our defensive talisman. Both post match interview men Gael Clichy and Guardiola himself were non committal as to precisely what had happened and there has been no word from the skipper.
What an absolute tragedy if Vinny is knacked for any length of time again. We saw clearly last night how he fits a Guardiola side like a glove, playing some sumptuous through balls and advancing up the field at pace. I acknowledge the fact that there is little point getting ahead of ourselves until Pep's pre match press conference in Wales tomorrow but I would only state this. Vincent must be given every chance to get fully fit and it should take as long as it takes. We owe him at least that for all that he has done for our club. My only request now would be that a settled Vice-Captain be appointed in his place rather than the arm band be passed around too often. I would suggest John Stones for the role. To discuss!
..and then along came the League Cup 4th Round Draw. Conspiracy theories abounded last night as to whether or not this was a fix as the 'EFL Cup' is craving relevance. That's as maybe but look how far the tables have turned because quite frankly this fixture coming so soon after giving The Stretfords a footballing lesson and right in the middle of an important run of fixtures is nothing more than a pain in the arse. Honestly, the chief issue with us taking 9,000 Blues to the swamp will be whether or not to make wholesale team changes again or match the full strength side that you can bet your bottom euro The Latest One will deploy. The regressing Wayne Rugney is already talking up 'revenge.' There's their first desperate loss of focus right there. Playing Manchester City has become their cup final.
Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=571577#ixzz4L1WLlTqf
Emerging from a carefully constructed League Cup win in Wales, opportunity now knocks for Pep Guardiola's Newport based squad to begin to really stamp their authority on the Premier League whilst at the same time realise a statement 10 consecutive wins across 3 competitions.
Swansea are a team in trouble and there is every chance that their beleaguered boss Francesco Guidolin will get the bullet if the Blues prevail again on Saturday. However, the stakes are way too high at The Etihad for there to be any hint of mercy afforded in his direction. Based upon what we saw last night, the Swans were only galvanised into the game by Willy Caballero's erratic footwork and with City's big guns about to emerge from the Welsh FA Development Centre, the men in white could be in for a torrid afternoon.
Caballero, not for the first time, has struggled to adapt to what Guardiola wants and to be frank this will take time. In fact, it should take time and the gaffer himself has expressed surprise and admiration at how quickly the squad have bought in to his methods. To be fair, many of the players involved last night haven't had the level of playing time that the Argentinian stopper has so it is to their absolute collective credit, alongside that of the manager's skills that they were able to achieve a relatively untroubled win.
Untroubled to a point. As we began to bask in the closing stages of the game in the knowledge that we were about to see another fine victory, this time built cunningly upon an experienced defence and teenage kicks, Swansea got in behind us. What happened next was thoroughly bizarre and an all time first for seasoned Blues.
The Swans scored from that neat injury time interplay and the outstanding City captain Vincent Kompany's umpteenth challenge was finally evaded. Grounded, for an instant he grasped at the back of his leg, got up, and strode purposefully straight off the pitch and down the tunnel acknowledging nobody. Many of us though he had been sent off. From that moment on speculation has prevailed as to the extent of what looks to be another injury shipped by our defensive talisman. Both post match interview men Gael Clichy and Guardiola himself were non committal as to precisely what had happened and there has been no word from the skipper.
What an absolute tragedy if Vinny is knacked for any length of time again. We saw clearly last night how he fits a Guardiola side like a glove, playing some sumptuous through balls and advancing up the field at pace. I acknowledge the fact that there is little point getting ahead of ourselves until Pep's pre match press conference in Wales tomorrow but I would only state this. Vincent must be given every chance to get fully fit and it should take as long as it takes. We owe him at least that for all that he has done for our club. My only request now would be that a settled Vice-Captain be appointed in his place rather than the arm band be passed around too often. I would suggest John Stones for the role. To discuss!
..and then along came the League Cup 4th Round Draw. Conspiracy theories abounded last night as to whether or not this was a fix as the 'EFL Cup' is craving relevance. That's as maybe but look how far the tables have turned because quite frankly this fixture coming so soon after giving The Stretfords a footballing lesson and right in the middle of an important run of fixtures is nothing more than a pain in the arse. Honestly, the chief issue with us taking 9,000 Blues to the swamp will be whether or not to make wholesale team changes again or match the full strength side that you can bet your bottom euro The Latest One will deploy. The regressing Wayne Rugney is already talking up 'revenge.' There's their first desperate loss of focus right there. Playing Manchester City has become their cup final.
Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=571577#ixzz4L1WLlTqf
