I'd have picked Boyata; Pleat praises 'bold Mancini'. City 0 - 3 Arsenal: Match report

Arsenal are one of the last teams in the world you would want to face with a numerical disadvantage - especially for the vast majority of the match.  They are renowned for their intelligent passing and moving style, so when the red card was shown - the angry reaction from the fans was more a foreboding of what was to come rather than a disagreement with the actual decision.

The inconsistencies are infuriating, as Mancini pointed out after the game.  If Boyata is sent off, why wasn't Williamson against Newcastle when he was deemed to have fouled Tevez for the penalty - is the penalty considered punishment enough?  Or there is Vidic in the Carling Cup final last season -  with similar timing to this one, where the referee presumably didn't want to ruin the spectacle of a cup final.  But in the rules of the game, it is hard to put up an argument.  Boyata didn't act out of malice or gamesmanship, it was just a clumsy and costly moment for the young lad. 

Unfortunately, I have no 'match preview' to back this up, but I would also have picked Boyata before the game - and, as such, it is impossible for me to join those happy hindsighted few who blame Mancini's selection here.  Generally speaking, I have far fewer nervy moments watching Boyata than I do Lescott, and the Boyata/Kompany partnership has always looked strong and reliable on previous occasions.  There is definitely a great future for that partnership, but they have always looked assured enough right now, when it matters, as well.  People will say that it is too big an occasion to test this theory - but this is a young man who helped stop Chelsea earlier this season, has played in big games against United, and excelled against Juventus a few weeks ago.  A number of the same people would probably also complain if the young players weren't getting their chances.

Boyata made a mistake, and a large one, but football is full of mistakes and it is just one of those things.  As well as Micah played yesterday, or Bridge for that matter, it is hard to say the potential for mistakes isn't there.  Even Joe Hart has had his moments this season.  Boyata is a very promising player for us and he should continue to get the chances to prove himself in the big matches. 

City worked til the legs wouldn't move anymore and Arsenal had all of 85 minutes to make sure City tired enough for them to take advantage.  David Pleat's tactical focus in the Guardian this morning was in praise of Mancini's seeming determination to still have a go with ten men: 

Nine out of 10 managers would have fallen back on a 4-4-1 system and isolated a forward. Boldly, however, Mancini challenged his players to work a 4-3-2 structure with the skilful and tireless David Silva and Carlos Tevez charged with occupying Arsenal's back four.  The home side maintained a level of attacking threat by keeping two players up front and Mancini merits praise for his outlook. His side rarely sat back, even if their efforts demanded maximum energy. Yaya Touré was initially switched to centre-back to partner Vincent Kompany, with City going narrow – dragging Silva from the touchline – just as Arsenal, with their numerical advantage, were attempting to stretch the pitch using the full width with Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri pinned wide...  As a tactic, with Arsenal's own back line ever conscious of the threat posed by Tevez and Silva, it succeeded until City ran out of legs.

Even though Arsenal were comfortably in control of the ball, it is testament to this approach that Fabianski got the Arsenal website's official man of the match.  It started to show at around the hour mark, as players such as Micah Richards lost their legs - this was Micah's second ninety minutes in four days after a few weeks on the sidelines.

It was hard to expect much after the sending off, and Arsenal used the advantage well in the second half, but considering the first goal was preventable (as Barry, in a makeshift role, failed to follow his man), the third goal was a mixture of out-of-play and offside, and the red card - it probably wasn't as bad as the scoreline looks. 

It was good to see the return of Mario Balotelli, who, despite looking a bit off the pace and a little intent on showing what he can do on his own, will be a welcome option - especially if Tevez's knock is anything more serious than expected.  Boateng looked a lot happier in the centre of defence - with the pace to cover any lapses at the back. 

It is a blow to lose heavily to a rival but circumstances changed the face of the game as a contest.  Now it is time to pick ourselves up for the next encounter. 

The Spanish Kinkladze? Blackpool 2 - 3 City: Match report

I'm not sure I can handle the suspense of Silva being teased into his Manchester City career.  I know it is probably necessary, as he grows into the physicality of the Premier League, but he is the sort of player you want to watch all the time and the increasing glimpses of his pure quality point to an exciting future for Silva and City.  His close control for the third goal yesterday evening was reminiscent of Kinkladze in the nineties - I don't think I've seen a City player beat someone using such technique and skill since. 

Silva's introduction changed the game and, if Adam Johnson can win the official man of the match award for coming on and scoring against Newcastle, Silva did more than enough to earn it here.  At full flow, as he now appears, Silva is the missing link: the hard-working, intelligent, creative midfielder that we lost when Ireland reverted back to form after his Player of the Season campaign.  Before his arrival, City weren't threatening Blackpool - there was no spark from midfield:  De Jong looked subdued by the recent furore and Barry looked off the pace - so, as much as having nothing to offer Tevez and Adebayor, Charlie Adam was given time to dictate the tempo. 

At half-time I wasn't particularly concerned as the final product from Blackpool didn't look like troubling Joe Hart in goal - and despite the run of the game Adam Johnson's shot from the right and Tevez's confused chest into the keeper represented the half's best chances.  This all changed in the first minutes of the second half - when Lescott followed the ball instead of DJ Campbell, leaving him with a golden chance to score, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher had his goal controversially chalked off. 

My uncle rang me after the game to tell me that City have become one of those big clubs who get the key decisions - which on the scant evidence of the last two games could be true - and once Tevez's offside goal was ruled onside, City had the foothold they needed.  With Silva on the pitch, City had more control of the ball, looked more composed, and continued to threaten - with Milner hitting the bar before Harewood's classy header. 

Silva's goal was pure class and you could see how much it meant to him to get off the mark in the Premier League. 

It was very refreshing to play a team that attacks you - funnily the two promoted teams we have faced have been the least conservative.  I have been very impressed by both Blackpool and Newcastle - and West Brom took a tidy point somewhere at the weekend too - and to them it must be a bit demoralising to play a team that can claw their way back into a game with the help of a £24m World Cup-winning substitute - but such is the quality that the money brings, that we can finish off games that we haven't necessarily been on top of. 

The man of the match award for me is a battle between Carlos Tevez and David Silva but, as the pivotal game changing player, the wee Spaniard gets it.  

In slightly different news, do you think there is any coincidence in the fact that a couple of days after Mancini said this:

'I do not understand players drinking until they are drunk … I tell my players it is better that they go with a woman than drink'

 Wayne Rooney is linked with a move across the city? Hmm.

Also, as I've managed to wrangle him into the title, any excuse to show this:

City 2 - 1 Newcastle: Match report and player ratings

City recorded their third successive Premier League victory to move into second for the International break and, in doing so, proved themselves a good team by the logic of an old cliche: 'the sign of a good team is to win when not playing well.'  Although this often just means that the 'good' team has enough quality in it (Adam Johnson) to make the most of rare opportunities.

It was a strange start.  Newcastle were playing with such a high line that I thought it would only be a matter of time before City broke through.  But on the rare occasions when we did break through, we were wasteful - with Barry and Milner often guilty.  It was a departure from what City usually face - deep lines of defence - and it was suprisingly effective.

Atkinson's decision to book Williamson said a lot about how certain he was about his penalty decision.  With Tevez about to shoot, Williamson's tackle stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity - which by the letter of the law, should see a red card.  Subsequent replays show he had reasons to doubt if what he was doing was right - which is usually where the referee hedges his bet and opts for the yellow card.  Tevez nearly dislodged the netting with his powerful spot-kick and it represented the highlight of what was otherwise a frustrating afternoon for him.

Newcastle deservedly struck back through the impressive Gutierrez, after the Argentine reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box, and for the rest of the first half Newcastle took control.  They defended in tightly packed numbers due to their high defensive line, and were adventurous with the ball - it was perhaps the most positive performance an away team that has put in at Eastlands this season.

Not half of this, however, can be attributed to a lethargic City team.  The same three central midfielders that shone in combat against Chelsea, largely seemed to stand off Newcastle.  It was almost as if they were intimidated by a fairly well-behaved Barton and Nolan.  City can perhaps justly cite tiredness as an issue, having played every three or four days since the last international break, and players like Milner, who has been suffering from illness this week, looked off the pace.

Another player who looks in need of a break is Yaya Toure.  Despite being sharp and resourceful with the ball, at times he also looks behind the pace of the game.  Whether this is unfamiliarity with his attacking midfield role, getting used to the English game, tiredness, or something more deep-rooted is something we will find out as the season progresses.  At a half of his size, David Silva looked far more commited to the defensive side of the game - even if his slight stature doesn't always let him compete in this field.

Lescott stood out as the square peg in a round hole.  Not necessarily the brightest footballer, he is far better in the centre where he can concentrate on defending and not what to do with the football.  If the 'injury crisis' continues, surely Boateng - who looks equally comfortable with his left-foot - can play on the left and Boyata (yes, another central defender!) can play at right-back.  City were lucky to survive Lescott's clumsiness late in the game. 

We were better in the second half, and the increased impetus on attack helped City get a foothold on the game again.  Adebayor looked far better than he did after his troublesome run-out against Juve and, alongside Adam Johnson, he helped City push on.  Johnson was only on the pitch for 18 minutes and he still got the official man of the match.  This says more about what preceded it than his own performance, as good as it was, but it took his direct style of play to break through Newcastle - and his goal was superbly taken.

It is hard to be disappointed with a third successive win that takes City above United into the international break - and although Newcastle matched City for a lot of the game, it is important to keep winning.

On another note, it was nice to see Joey Barton applaud the City fans at the end of the game (applause that was widely reciprocated) after the 'mixed reception' he received during the match.  For all the 'troubles' in his life, he does owe City a lot for his young career and, despite the disgraceful end to his time at City, he was one of our best players for a good part of the last decade.  Hopefully the signs that he has got his life back on track are genuine. 

Player ratings:

Hart 7;  Boateng 6,  Kolo Toure 6, Kompany 7, Lescott 4;  De Jong 6, Barry 6 (Adam Johnson 7), Yaya Toure 5 (Adebayor 6);  Milner 5, Silva 6, Tevez 6 (Vieira N/A). 

Man of the match:  Vincent Kompany