Fulop 8.
Made a couple of outstanding saves that could have put him down in City folklore had the outcome been different.
Zabaleta 7.
Bale has been Tottenham's stand-out player in recent weeks, so it wasn't an easy task for him, but he coped well with him until the game was stretched and he was left completely unprotected by adventurous wingers.
Toure 6.
Not an easy for him against Crouch, as it is in the air that he has his difficulties, but played fairly well considering.
Kompany 7.
Put everything into the battle with Crouch but it is hard to compete against his height. Was solid though, and didn't allow Defoe many touches on the ball.
Bridge 6.
Was better than I expected against Lennon and only really struggled when, like with Zabaleta, he was left exposed when City were chasing the game, but then all confidence went out of the window.
de Jong 7.
An excellent battling display. Played Modric very well and limited their threat from central areas.
Barry 7.
Another commanding performance before his injury.
Bellamy 6.
Started (in the first five minutes!) exceptionally well and then took a heavy knock from Kaboul which he struggled with for the rest of the game. Should have been stronger in the tackle against Kaboul in the build up to the goal - looked like he was thinking about his dodgy knees.
Johnson 7.
Looked dangerous but without always producing the final ball. Worried Assou-Ekotto on occasion and produced City's two best pieces of quality: the shot from distance and the cross that found Barry at the far post.
Tevez 6.
Worked hard as ever, but ended up coming too deep to really affect the game in the final third. King and Dawson were too good.
Adebayor 6.
Looked like he lost heart a little by the end - was used as the target man he isn't, against two defenders who are very capable in the air. Otherwise, produced some nice touches sporadically without any real penetration.
Substitutions:
Vieira (on for Barry, 57mins) 6.
Successful when he was screening the defence, but as City pushed for an equaliser his legs struggled when the game was stretched. Still classy on the ball though.
Wright-Phillips (on for Johnson, 71mins) 6.
Ran at players, beat players, only to produce crosses into empty boxes.
Santa Cruz (on for Bellamy, 84mins) 5.
Brought on to succeed in the target man role but had little success.
My man of the match: Marton Fulop.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
City 0 - 1 Tottenham; Credit to Spurs, creativity void
On the strength of City's games against Tottenham this season, they have fully deserved to take the fourth spot. Although we competed far better last night than we did at White Hart Lane, the game began to get away from us towards the end and Marton Fulop can be thanked for making some impressive saves.
Not that City didn't start well, I thought we applied a good amount of pressure in the first half especially, just without ever really threatening to convert it into an advantage. It was testament to Tottenham's defensive prowess that the closest we came to scoring was a long range effort from Adam Johnson and a near own goal. Our actual goal threat in the second half was minimal. I would be much happier seeing King and Dawson pairing up for England this summer than the crocked Ferdinand and faltering Terry.
King and Dawson exposed the fact that Adebayor is not a target man and as City got a little more desperate towards the end, Ade had no chance in the aerial contests. As they continued to dominate, Ade started to look for success in wide positions and with Tevez lying quite deep, this left no one in the box to capitalise from our particularly woeful crossing. The number of corners we have had in the past two games that have been entirely wasted on this front is worrying. We did at least have more consistent success when Barry was taking them earlier in the season.
In the first half, Tottenham frustrated City by sitting deep and then either releasing the pace of Lennon and Bale or, more often in the first half, pumping it up to Crouch - which caused a few problems. I wasn't too concerned about Tottenham's threat in the first half (even though they did come close on a couple of occasions), but it was their Champions League-class defensive display that resurfaced old arguments.
When the transfer window opens, I would hope City will prioritise a creative central midfield player. Not only do we not have the sort of player who can break through a stout defence, but we don't have the sort of player who can turn defence into attack. Before I got out of the car pre-match, I heard Mark Lawrenson saying that City look attacking on paper, because of the front four, but the rest of the team is concentrated on defence. I think this is true and the lack of fluidity and the lack of options it creates is perhaps our downfall when we cannot use the counter-attack. This is partly down to personnel.
When Hughes arrived at the club, we had too soft a centre for the Premier League, so he concentrated on signing 'tougher' players, whilst sidelining the Elanos to some extent (to some justification of course). Hughes had been banking on the form of Ireland, which you can't criticise him for either, but with Ireland's demise this season, we have been left with no other options. So, once again, we have struggled with this lack of spark to overcome a very well organised team (see Everton too).
Overall, though, Spurs' dominance against us this season makes it hard to argue that we deserved to finish above them. We have qualified for Europe for the first time on merit since 1978, hopefully we have finished fifth in the Premier League (please), and we are improving all the time. Next season we will be even stronger and there is no need for impatience for Champions League football. It is not as if this was our last chance - which may not be said for Villa, for example - and City are a team on the up ("the blue moon is rising", as they say). So with the inevitable frustration at getting so close, we should be patient and await the probable success of years to come!
Not that City didn't start well, I thought we applied a good amount of pressure in the first half especially, just without ever really threatening to convert it into an advantage. It was testament to Tottenham's defensive prowess that the closest we came to scoring was a long range effort from Adam Johnson and a near own goal. Our actual goal threat in the second half was minimal. I would be much happier seeing King and Dawson pairing up for England this summer than the crocked Ferdinand and faltering Terry.
King and Dawson exposed the fact that Adebayor is not a target man and as City got a little more desperate towards the end, Ade had no chance in the aerial contests. As they continued to dominate, Ade started to look for success in wide positions and with Tevez lying quite deep, this left no one in the box to capitalise from our particularly woeful crossing. The number of corners we have had in the past two games that have been entirely wasted on this front is worrying. We did at least have more consistent success when Barry was taking them earlier in the season.
In the first half, Tottenham frustrated City by sitting deep and then either releasing the pace of Lennon and Bale or, more often in the first half, pumping it up to Crouch - which caused a few problems. I wasn't too concerned about Tottenham's threat in the first half (even though they did come close on a couple of occasions), but it was their Champions League-class defensive display that resurfaced old arguments.
When the transfer window opens, I would hope City will prioritise a creative central midfield player. Not only do we not have the sort of player who can break through a stout defence, but we don't have the sort of player who can turn defence into attack. Before I got out of the car pre-match, I heard Mark Lawrenson saying that City look attacking on paper, because of the front four, but the rest of the team is concentrated on defence. I think this is true and the lack of fluidity and the lack of options it creates is perhaps our downfall when we cannot use the counter-attack. This is partly down to personnel.
When Hughes arrived at the club, we had too soft a centre for the Premier League, so he concentrated on signing 'tougher' players, whilst sidelining the Elanos to some extent (to some justification of course). Hughes had been banking on the form of Ireland, which you can't criticise him for either, but with Ireland's demise this season, we have been left with no other options. So, once again, we have struggled with this lack of spark to overcome a very well organised team (see Everton too).
Overall, though, Spurs' dominance against us this season makes it hard to argue that we deserved to finish above them. We have qualified for Europe for the first time on merit since 1978, hopefully we have finished fifth in the Premier League (please), and we are improving all the time. Next season we will be even stronger and there is no need for impatience for Champions League football. It is not as if this was our last chance - which may not be said for Villa, for example - and City are a team on the up ("the blue moon is rising", as they say). So with the inevitable frustration at getting so close, we should be patient and await the probable success of years to come!
Kompany rues Hughes' draws
In a fairly candid manner, Vincent Kompany has spoken about where he thinks City lost out on Champions League football this season. Without saying the name, he places the blame almost entirely on Hughes' draws. It is always easy to look back and pick out results that would've changed things - and in any season they are always going to be there - but Kompany won't be alone in pinpointing the draws at home to Burnley, Hull and Fulham as the crucial results of the season. These, of course were not only games we should have won, but games we threw away.
In the interview that can be found on City's official website, he said:
"The season has been long. It’s painful, but so many games we can look back on and think, if we would have played those games today, we wouldn’t have lost or drawn them. We would have won them and add those points up and it’s a completely different situation.
"I think we did very well to stay in the Champions League battle. There were some moments where it does not look so good anymore because we spilled stupid points. I can remember Burnley at home, and then we win 6-1 at Burnley and you realise it was a massive, massive loss.
"Then Fulham at home, and we are talking about teams we have been leading by one or two goals and we drew those games. Those types of situations wouldn’t have happened anymore at this time. But then you think, you have got a whole season to progress next year and that gives me a positive feeling."
Obviously, this is about as explicit as he can get without blaming Hughes by name. It is a harsh viewpoint, and players should always take a bit of blame for bad performances too, but it is the hopeless run of draws that convinced the board that Hughes had taken the team as far as he could - and evidently the team suffered because of it. These three games were six points we shouldn't have lost and would actually have put us level with Arsenal in third. They are big 'what if's', and every team has a lull, but this is the period that did the damage.
Kompany goes on to look at the future and describes the team as improving all the time, and how City can only be stronger for the campaign next season. I am itching for it to start again already!
In the interview that can be found on City's official website, he said:
"The season has been long. It’s painful, but so many games we can look back on and think, if we would have played those games today, we wouldn’t have lost or drawn them. We would have won them and add those points up and it’s a completely different situation.
"I think we did very well to stay in the Champions League battle. There were some moments where it does not look so good anymore because we spilled stupid points. I can remember Burnley at home, and then we win 6-1 at Burnley and you realise it was a massive, massive loss.
"Then Fulham at home, and we are talking about teams we have been leading by one or two goals and we drew those games. Those types of situations wouldn’t have happened anymore at this time. But then you think, you have got a whole season to progress next year and that gives me a positive feeling."
Obviously, this is about as explicit as he can get without blaming Hughes by name. It is a harsh viewpoint, and players should always take a bit of blame for bad performances too, but it is the hopeless run of draws that convinced the board that Hughes had taken the team as far as he could - and evidently the team suffered because of it. These three games were six points we shouldn't have lost and would actually have put us level with Arsenal in third. They are big 'what if's', and every team has a lull, but this is the period that did the damage.
Kompany goes on to look at the future and describes the team as improving all the time, and how City can only be stronger for the campaign next season. I am itching for it to start again already!
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Hopefully not the final Final. Tottenham preview
Back on the 19th March, the fixture-setters rearranged the final week of the season to create the ultimate in fourth-place suspense thrillers - and from that moment on everyone has had an eye on this fixture. The first final. The final that allows us to compete in a final Final at Upton Park on the last (or final) day of the season.
The whole lingering battle for fourth comes to a head tomorrow night - there is no need for hype - realistically, City need to win to keep the Champions League hopes alive, and in doing so enter the last game of the season with their fate in their own hands.
After a rejuvenated performance at the weekend, Patrick Vieira was asked if this was the biggest game of his career, to which he diplomatically said 'yes'. Mancini has called it a Champions League final and, in his moment of politeness, Vieira has put it alongside World Cup finals, European Cup finals, Premier League champions deciders and Serie A deciders.
For City, this game is it. The coming together of all the season's uncertainties. Hughes was sacked for not at least challenging for fourth, Mancini is plagued by rumours of his job security if fourth isn't met, some players may not be happy if Champions League isn't in the offing next season, the press (and Harry Redknapp) have insisted City should make fourth with the squad strength available - the fourth-storm has been gathering around us for a while. Since Hughes's sacking this finale is all that we have heard about (detracting a little from what a successful season this has been, regardless of the final position).
So it has boiled down to City and Tottenham - leaving the two most jittery sets of supporters in the country to worry over a nervous encounter at Eastlands. Both sets of fans are used to things slipping up painfully at the last minute but, for City, this is a different sort of season. In recent seasons we haven't had a good record at home to Tottenham, but then it has been a long time since we did the double over Chelsea, for example - or for a more sublime record, the last City player to score at Bolton before this season was Joey Barton. The form book is out. It won't take me to tell you, things are changing here.
Tottenham are waiting on the fitness of Gomes which could result in them playing Ben Alnwick and reigniting the debate about City's emergency keeper scenario. There is also a late fitness test pending for the defensive powerhouse sicknote, Ledley King.
City should welcome back Gareth Barry after his hamstring problem, but whether he is deemed fit enough to replace either of the successful Vieira/De Jong partnership of the weekend is still in doubt.
I claimed in my Villa match report that we play better when Vieira plays - due to his unique ability to pick a quick pass (unique to the City midfield) - and the Guardian uncovered a fact to show City's success when he plays. City have won five and drawn two of the seven matches he has started. He is not everyone's favourite choice due to his aging limbs but he still offers a passing dynamism that is otherwise missing. Mancini apparently asked him to stop trying to run forward and use his passing to unleash our speedsters, and you would imagine he will be employed in a similar role.
With no new fitness concerns, I think City will stay unchanged:
4-4-2/4-2-3-1:
Fulop; Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge; De Jong, Vieira; A. Johnson, Bellamy, Tevez; Adebayor.
The main concern is Bridge's capability to stop Aaron Lennon - and if Mancini doesn't have confidence in Bridge's ability to do so, then he will not be afraid to mix things up a bit. Against Arsenal, Zabaleta did a job on a faster, but less skillful, Walcott after Bridge's injury - and Richards or Onuoha have proved their worth under Mancini and could step up.
Tottenham are a very strong side but where better to settle it than at home, at night, and with 48,000 City fans roaring the team on. The Hamburg-effect shouldn't be underestimated. Come on City!
The whole lingering battle for fourth comes to a head tomorrow night - there is no need for hype - realistically, City need to win to keep the Champions League hopes alive, and in doing so enter the last game of the season with their fate in their own hands.
After a rejuvenated performance at the weekend, Patrick Vieira was asked if this was the biggest game of his career, to which he diplomatically said 'yes'. Mancini has called it a Champions League final and, in his moment of politeness, Vieira has put it alongside World Cup finals, European Cup finals, Premier League champions deciders and Serie A deciders.
For City, this game is it. The coming together of all the season's uncertainties. Hughes was sacked for not at least challenging for fourth, Mancini is plagued by rumours of his job security if fourth isn't met, some players may not be happy if Champions League isn't in the offing next season, the press (and Harry Redknapp) have insisted City should make fourth with the squad strength available - the fourth-storm has been gathering around us for a while. Since Hughes's sacking this finale is all that we have heard about (detracting a little from what a successful season this has been, regardless of the final position).
So it has boiled down to City and Tottenham - leaving the two most jittery sets of supporters in the country to worry over a nervous encounter at Eastlands. Both sets of fans are used to things slipping up painfully at the last minute but, for City, this is a different sort of season. In recent seasons we haven't had a good record at home to Tottenham, but then it has been a long time since we did the double over Chelsea, for example - or for a more sublime record, the last City player to score at Bolton before this season was Joey Barton. The form book is out. It won't take me to tell you, things are changing here.
Tottenham are waiting on the fitness of Gomes which could result in them playing Ben Alnwick and reigniting the debate about City's emergency keeper scenario. There is also a late fitness test pending for the defensive powerhouse sicknote, Ledley King.
City should welcome back Gareth Barry after his hamstring problem, but whether he is deemed fit enough to replace either of the successful Vieira/De Jong partnership of the weekend is still in doubt.
I claimed in my Villa match report that we play better when Vieira plays - due to his unique ability to pick a quick pass (unique to the City midfield) - and the Guardian uncovered a fact to show City's success when he plays. City have won five and drawn two of the seven matches he has started. He is not everyone's favourite choice due to his aging limbs but he still offers a passing dynamism that is otherwise missing. Mancini apparently asked him to stop trying to run forward and use his passing to unleash our speedsters, and you would imagine he will be employed in a similar role.
With no new fitness concerns, I think City will stay unchanged:
4-4-2/4-2-3-1:
Fulop; Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge; De Jong, Vieira; A. Johnson, Bellamy, Tevez; Adebayor.
The main concern is Bridge's capability to stop Aaron Lennon - and if Mancini doesn't have confidence in Bridge's ability to do so, then he will not be afraid to mix things up a bit. Against Arsenal, Zabaleta did a job on a faster, but less skillful, Walcott after Bridge's injury - and Richards or Onuoha have proved their worth under Mancini and could step up.
Tottenham are a very strong side but where better to settle it than at home, at night, and with 48,000 City fans roaring the team on. The Hamburg-effect shouldn't be underestimated. Come on City!
Monday, 3 May 2010
The time of the "top four" is over - it's official!
Liverpool's loss to Chelsea yesterday confirmed something that has been brewing all season: the era of the "top four" is at an end. Whoever it is that claims the fourth spot, this season has signalled a newly competitive Premier League.
City's investment kept teams who needed to strengthen or replenish (such as United and Liverpool) from entering the 'distorted market', whilst teams who had been slowly benefiting from steady development like Villa and Tottenham were left to consolidate. Leaving a top seven (or if Everton hadn't started so slowly, a top eight) who are fiercely competitive.
The only team that has risen above these (despite City's success against them this season) has been Chelsea and they would make worthy champions. Otherwise, the "top four", as was, are no longer expected to win all their fixtures home and away, as some would've had it in previous seasons.
So, fairly magnanimously, congratulations to all the teams - City, Villa and Tottenham - for getting in amongst the top four and breathing new life into the Premier League competition.
Presumably Liverpool will come back stronger next season, under new management or under new investment, but you can feel the power moving, or at least dispersing, in the Premier League and it should make for more interesting seasons to come.
City's investment kept teams who needed to strengthen or replenish (such as United and Liverpool) from entering the 'distorted market', whilst teams who had been slowly benefiting from steady development like Villa and Tottenham were left to consolidate. Leaving a top seven (or if Everton hadn't started so slowly, a top eight) who are fiercely competitive.
The only team that has risen above these (despite City's success against them this season) has been Chelsea and they would make worthy champions. Otherwise, the "top four", as was, are no longer expected to win all their fixtures home and away, as some would've had it in previous seasons.
So, fairly magnanimously, congratulations to all the teams - City, Villa and Tottenham - for getting in amongst the top four and breathing new life into the Premier League competition.
Presumably Liverpool will come back stronger next season, under new management or under new investment, but you can feel the power moving, or at least dispersing, in the Premier League and it should make for more interesting seasons to come.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Villa player ratings
Fulop 6.
Looked pretty shaky in the first half, but was a much needed presence on crosses in the second. Hopefully the nerves are out of his system for Wednesday.
Zabaleta 8.
The best I've seen Zabaleta play for a while. No one got past him on the right-hand side. You can never doubt his commitment.
Toure 7.
Despite being at fault for the goal, continued his renaissance. Intelligent defending was his strength.
Kompany 8.
Carew has always caused us problems, but Kompany dealt with him really well. Another excellent performance - always first to the ball, read the game well, and combined with Toure to render Agbonlahor ineffective.
Bridge 5.
Didn't look very comfortable with Ashley Young running at him and rarely stopped his advances. Does look forward when he has the ball and offers some support to Bellamy, but remains a question defensively.
De Jong 7.
Another excellent battling display from de Jong. Didn't always use the ball very well, but I suppose that isn't his game.
Vieira 8.
His best performance for City by a distance. I go into it in more detail in my match report. His passing ability makes a vital difference to our play.
Johnson 7.
Took forty minutes to burst into life, but once he did he was very dangerous. Created two goals and warmed to his battle with Warnock. A good performance before his withdrawal.
Bellamy 7.
A goal that released all the possible nerves in the stadium added to a good positive display. Won countless corners with his running and always looked a threat.
Tevez 8.
Scurried around in a deeper position trying to affect play. Didn't always get his head up but was as influential as ever. A bit lucky with the penalty, but struck it hard enough to beat Friedel.
Adebayor 8.
A transformed player since the disaster in Cabinda. Chases every ball, challenges every header, and a constant problem for the Villa defence.
Substitutes:
Wright-Phillips (on for Johnson, 77mins) 7.
Made his claim with a breath-taking run to set up Bellamy's goal, that was Shauny at his best.
Richards (on for Tevez, 88mins) N/A.
Only had a couple of minutes, but was solid when called upon.
My man of the match: Patrick Vieira.
Looked pretty shaky in the first half, but was a much needed presence on crosses in the second. Hopefully the nerves are out of his system for Wednesday.
Zabaleta 8.
The best I've seen Zabaleta play for a while. No one got past him on the right-hand side. You can never doubt his commitment.
Toure 7.
Despite being at fault for the goal, continued his renaissance. Intelligent defending was his strength.
Kompany 8.
Carew has always caused us problems, but Kompany dealt with him really well. Another excellent performance - always first to the ball, read the game well, and combined with Toure to render Agbonlahor ineffective.
Bridge 5.
Didn't look very comfortable with Ashley Young running at him and rarely stopped his advances. Does look forward when he has the ball and offers some support to Bellamy, but remains a question defensively.
De Jong 7.
Another excellent battling display from de Jong. Didn't always use the ball very well, but I suppose that isn't his game.
Vieira 8.
His best performance for City by a distance. I go into it in more detail in my match report. His passing ability makes a vital difference to our play.
Johnson 7.
Took forty minutes to burst into life, but once he did he was very dangerous. Created two goals and warmed to his battle with Warnock. A good performance before his withdrawal.
Bellamy 7.
A goal that released all the possible nerves in the stadium added to a good positive display. Won countless corners with his running and always looked a threat.
Tevez 8.
Scurried around in a deeper position trying to affect play. Didn't always get his head up but was as influential as ever. A bit lucky with the penalty, but struck it hard enough to beat Friedel.
Adebayor 8.
A transformed player since the disaster in Cabinda. Chases every ball, challenges every header, and a constant problem for the Villa defence.
Substitutes:
Wright-Phillips (on for Johnson, 77mins) 7.
Made his claim with a breath-taking run to set up Bellamy's goal, that was Shauny at his best.
Richards (on for Tevez, 88mins) N/A.
Only had a couple of minutes, but was solid when called upon.
My man of the match: Patrick Vieira.
City 3 -1 Villa; Hansen's joyless life and the re-birth of Patrick Vieira
I got back from the game last night and thought, considering the result, I'd watch Match of the Day. Only for Alan Hansen, with a mischievous grin, to declare "Villa were the better team." But don't worry, he 'treated' us to some video evidence: Collins and Dunne shuffling back and forth in tandem and some mean ten-men behind the ball pressurising. Excellent. Villa stifled well.
In some ways I feel sorry for Hansen. If a player scores a 40-yard screamer, he will react with "eee... terrible defending. If this player here [circles player] got to him quicker, then we'd all have been spared this goal." You could imagine him playing Subbuteo with his son and rearranging the game so that it is impossible to score.
Despite Hansen's words, I thought City thoroughly deserved the win. Although perhaps it is just bitterness over the demise of his beloved Liverpool.
The only worry from the first-half - this held up by their highlight package - was that Villa had three very good chances: the goal itself, Carew's shot against the bar, and Downing's drive that whistled just past the post. The goal was against the run of play and the others were the products of fairly isolated attacks from Villa. All the same, it was a concern. Villa are a very good team known for their prowess on the counter attack, so for all City's pressing, there was always going to be some danger.
I was delighted, however, with how City approached the game. This was perhaps our first game against the top-eight under Mancini (with perhaps the derby as an exception) where we set up to attack rather than contain (in Mancini's defence, in some of the earlier games he was restricted by the personnel he had to choose from). Whilst Villa sat back, primed for the counter-attack, all of City's attack asked questions of their defence - and I thought it was only a matter of time before City turned the pressure into an advantage, when Carew scored their breakaway goal.
Fulop - under perhaps the biggest spotlight of his career - looked nervous in the first half, but in the second half we were treated to a goalkeeper who is comfortable on crosses and who even likes to take the simple option and roll the ball out to feet. The weighty finger of blame may fall somewhere between him and Toure for the Carew goal, but both players made amends with solid displays after that.
Although there will always be a group of deluded people who expect Vieira to be the player who left Arsenal for Juventus, I thought he was exceptional today. For some he has already done enough to blind them against his good performances: when James Collins desperately sprawled across the floor to intercept an almost perfect through-ball for Adebayor by Vieira, the woman behind me screeched "get him off!" You can't please them all.
It's not a popular line to take but I think we play better with Vieira in the team - only because he is the only central midfield option we have (Ireland doesn't work in central midfield) that can pick a quick pass. Barry can, but he needs the time. Vieira was excellent at sitting in front of the back four, breaking up play, and releasing the forwards with his intelligent passing game. Yes, he doesn't have the legs anymore, but our midfield lacks a passer without him.
It was an excellent result against a Villa team on a good run of form, but the result doesn't change too much - we still need to win our next two games. The pressure will be immense, but this result, and the fans backing, should put us in a good position for Wednesday night. I'm feeling a bit nervous just thinking about it.
In some ways I feel sorry for Hansen. If a player scores a 40-yard screamer, he will react with "eee... terrible defending. If this player here [circles player] got to him quicker, then we'd all have been spared this goal." You could imagine him playing Subbuteo with his son and rearranging the game so that it is impossible to score.
Despite Hansen's words, I thought City thoroughly deserved the win. Although perhaps it is just bitterness over the demise of his beloved Liverpool.
The only worry from the first-half - this held up by their highlight package - was that Villa had three very good chances: the goal itself, Carew's shot against the bar, and Downing's drive that whistled just past the post. The goal was against the run of play and the others were the products of fairly isolated attacks from Villa. All the same, it was a concern. Villa are a very good team known for their prowess on the counter attack, so for all City's pressing, there was always going to be some danger.
I was delighted, however, with how City approached the game. This was perhaps our first game against the top-eight under Mancini (with perhaps the derby as an exception) where we set up to attack rather than contain (in Mancini's defence, in some of the earlier games he was restricted by the personnel he had to choose from). Whilst Villa sat back, primed for the counter-attack, all of City's attack asked questions of their defence - and I thought it was only a matter of time before City turned the pressure into an advantage, when Carew scored their breakaway goal.
Fulop - under perhaps the biggest spotlight of his career - looked nervous in the first half, but in the second half we were treated to a goalkeeper who is comfortable on crosses and who even likes to take the simple option and roll the ball out to feet. The weighty finger of blame may fall somewhere between him and Toure for the Carew goal, but both players made amends with solid displays after that.
Although there will always be a group of deluded people who expect Vieira to be the player who left Arsenal for Juventus, I thought he was exceptional today. For some he has already done enough to blind them against his good performances: when James Collins desperately sprawled across the floor to intercept an almost perfect through-ball for Adebayor by Vieira, the woman behind me screeched "get him off!" You can't please them all.
It's not a popular line to take but I think we play better with Vieira in the team - only because he is the only central midfield option we have (Ireland doesn't work in central midfield) that can pick a quick pass. Barry can, but he needs the time. Vieira was excellent at sitting in front of the back four, breaking up play, and releasing the forwards with his intelligent passing game. Yes, he doesn't have the legs anymore, but our midfield lacks a passer without him.
It was an excellent result against a Villa team on a good run of form, but the result doesn't change too much - we still need to win our next two games. The pressure will be immense, but this result, and the fans backing, should put us in a good position for Wednesday night. I'm feeling a bit nervous just thinking about it.
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