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: