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

City bid to halt the Juve revival. Juventus Preview

I know it is a well-worn comparison, but if someone had said to me ten years ago that 'in ten years time City will be lining up against Juventus in Europe', I would not have believed them.  Things have changed dramatically since then, at Juventus too, but the prestige attached to the name of Juventus still makes it one of the most attractive sounding ties City could face. 

One person who is all too aware of the prestige of Juventus is Roberto Mancini - a boyhood supporter of the club - so there is no danger that the opposition will be treated with a lack of respect that is sometimes shown in Europa League competition.  Therefore it is likely City will field a full-strength team.  The returns of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Micah Richards and a recovering Boateng may even result in a stronger side than that which defeated Chelsea at the weekend.  Boateng could start at left-back to handle Milos Krasic, although Mancini has said he is not quite ready for the full ninety - so it will depend if he is up to that baptism of fire. 

With Newcastle only 'two days and two nights' (as Mancini described it) after the conclusion of the game, some players will have to be rested either tomorrow or on Sunday - but with the likes of Adebayor, Adam Johnson, Patrick Vieira and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the bench, for example, Mancini has the option of changing faces at the weekend without too great an effect - and should City reach a stage of comfort at any stage during the ninety minutes, then Mancini will have the luxury to think ahead and give some players a rest.

Possible eleven:

Hart

Richards,  Kolo Toure,  Kompany,  Boateng

Yaya Toure,  De Jong,  Barry

Milner, Silva

Tevez

Juventus have had a patchy start to the season so far - a start that laughs in the face of the stereotype of 'boring Italian football'.  Juve have scored 12 goals and conceded 9 in their opening five matches of the season - their latest being a 4-2 victory over Cagliari at the weekend.   Milos Krasic grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick and instant comparisons with semi-lookalike and Juve legend Pavel Nedved resurfaced.  Their only other win came in a 4-0 thumping of Udinese, but these victories have been tainted by losses to Palermo (at home) and Bari.  Put these next to their unimpressive 3-3 home draw with Lech Posnan, and it is hard to know what to expect from Juve. 

They have also undergone mass changes since the disappointment of last year and their unbalanced start to the season perhaps just reflects this.  If their 4-2 victory against Cagliari is a sign of things starting to click (Cagliari were fresh from a 5-1 thrashing of last year's runners-up Roma earlier this season), then City could be facing a very different task to that which faced Fulham in last years competition.  Luigi Del Neri took Sampdoria into the Champions League last year, and he is expected to deliver success at Juve - with the Europa League another chance for silverware for them too. 

They travel to Inter Milan on Sunday, so City could benefit from a straying focus - but with pressure at a high at Juventus, this will not be readily allowed. 

Tomorrow night's game is an excellent opportunity for City to make ground in this competition.  If City can post maximum points from the first two group games then it will put us in an excellent position considering our supposed main rivals would be five points behind.  Juventus come with a huge, if recently sullied, reputation, but if there is one thing that the Chelsea game taught us, it is that our players don't shy away in the face of reputation - and if we can see two examples of this winning mentality in under a week, then optimism is sure to thrive stronger than ever. 

City 1 - 0 Chelsea. Match report and player ratings

City recorded their third successive win against England's best team yesterday in a display that suggested we can compete at the top end of the table.  It is the games against the teams beneath you that make a season, but the mark of the strength of a team is how they perform against the very best and City look increasingly at home in the top encounters.  Before our three victories against Chelsea, the four preceding  seasons brought eight losses and a 19-1 aggregate score.  If we can raise ourselves for the games against the lesser teams of the Premiership, like we have against Liverpool and Chelsea this season, then we could well be a force to be reckoned with. 

Recently revealed as the heaviest Premier League side, and boasting a midfield that included the brawn of Essien and Mikel, Chelsea are well suited to a physical battle - so the fact that a lot of our success came from out-competing them is very refreshing.  This was a team performance to ridicule Drogba's pre-match overtures about Chelsea being the possessors of the 'spirit' - that implied City would be lacking in this department.  Everyone worked together like 'brothers', as Mancini said of the defence, and didn't allow Chelsea the space to be at their devastating best.

What ensued fell short of some neutrals' thrill-a-minute expectations (foolish expectations considering the two meanest defences of this campaign were lining up against each other), but the contest was enthralling to those with interest.  It was always going to be a tight game.  People complain about City's three central midfielders, but Chelsea have played with three central players for years, and only in the Ancelotti era have people decided that it is the height of the beautiful game.  The game was always going to pivot on the battle in the centre, and Barry and De Jong, in particular, were superb in overcoming Essien, Mikel and, to a lesser extent, Ramires.  De Jong has added nearly flawless passing to his combative game this season and his partnership with Barry is becoming formidable.  On top of this, our front three (if I can get away with calling them that?) all got back to put a foot in - including Silva, who continues to show he isn't afraid of a challenge despite being at a physical disadvantage. 

A lot was made of our selection worries at the back, but in a lot of ways you can trust Boyata and Zabaleta more than Richards and Lescott.  Boyata was excellent out of position and, having played ninety minutes on Wednesday, did well to last as long as he did when the pace of first team games is still relatively new to him.  Kolo Toure and Kompany continue to grow as a defensive partnership, and whilst outsiders (Buffon, for example!) would point to this being our weakest area, it is proving to be the backbone of the team.  The 'unplayable' Drogba was played well by both of them and as a unit City restricted Chelsea to very few chances.

For the goal, Tevez was allowed to reach full flight and Silva's decoy run opened up the space for a perfect finish.  There were never going to be many chances and Tevez is the man to convert them - notching up his 25th goal in 29 Premier League games.

Chelsea will probably still be champions, but City have a little piece of evidence that they can compete at the top level.  All will be worthless though if we don't follow it up with a victory against Newcastle next Sunday!

Player ratings:

Hart 6, Boyata 8, Kolo Toure 9, Kompany 9, Zabaleta 8, De Jong 9, Barry 9, Yaya Toure 8, Milner 7, Silva 8, Tevez 9. 

Man of the match:  Nigel de Jong

Football Italia: Javier 'Zidane' Pastore staying put; Bojinov finds Parma are feared

There are two stories of interest to City fans on the Italian Football site Football Italia today.  Firstly, Argentine prospect, Javier Pastore has been talked up by Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini:

"He is the new Zidane.  He is very strong and complete.  Within two years he will be worth as much as Messi.  He won't be moving away from Palermo, neither in January nor in June."

Pretty hefty praise.  Time will tell if he is doing a president's job in hyping up the value of his player or whether the next world star is waiting in the Sicilian city.  With fairly extortionate price tags attached to him in rumours of a move to City, it seems he doesn't need to do too much more to raise Pastore's price.

Zamparini's words came after Palermo's 3-1 away win to upcoming Eastlands visitors Juventus last night.  Pastore impressed with silky feet and vision - as well as tucking away the first goal of the night.  He is an attacking midfielder, or support striker (not positions City are desperate to fill), probably closest to Silva in style out of our current players.  Although unlike Silva, he is 6'2".  The only slightly worrying thing about him is that in his posture and his hair he bears some resemblance to Georgios Samaras.

I have seen him twice this season for Palermo and he seems to be the creative fulcrum of the team.  He also made a couple of appearances at the World Cup in the summer.  On these limited viewings, he certainly looks the part. 

Secondly, on ex-player watch, Bojinov is lamenting the reputation Parma have built up this season.  Bojinov started and scored in the opening game of the season, a 2-0 win over Brescia, but believes teams have come to fear Parma, after a few shrewd summer signings, and that no team is brave enough to let them play.  Sounds familiar to me.  Bojinov was replaced in all of the first three games of the season, and lost his place to Hernan Crespo for the last game - only to come on at half-time as Parma recovered from a goal down.

Robinho is yet to start for Milan and has only featured in the 2-0 defeat against Cesena and for three minutes in their draw against Lazio. 

Beating weaker teams. Chelsea preview

A lot has been made of the opposition Chelsea have had to face whilst thrashing their way to the top of the table this season.  West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham and Blackpool have all had the honour so far.  Such is the extent of their domination so far this season that the Blackpool fans were rejoicing with chants of "you've only got four."  Which, having watched Chelsea's barren second half, they were quite lucky to get away with.   They haven't faced any stern tests yet but, as the old mantra goes, 'you can only beat what's put infront of you.'    If it weren't for a Scott Parker consolation goal, they would have had twenty-one goals without reply this season.  Weak opposition or not, it is hard to understand those who aren't impressed by the sheer dominance of Chelsea.  Mancini may well be right to say that Chelsea could retain the title 'easily' this time around.  

City have been the long anticipated first test to Chelsea's strength.  'The Clash of the Cash' - as a lot have it - finds two clubs on an entirely different end of the development spectrum.  City, despite all the money spent, are still growing, still improving, still finding their feet in the upper echelons.  Chelsea are reaping the rewards of the post-investment stability.  Mancini's focus on buying young players who can 'write the history' of the club, should afford City the same luxury in the years to come.  

Both teams enter the game off the back of disappointing Carling Cup exits, but it is City who seem to be  the most wounded.  In the pre-match press conference, Mancini revealed we only have three fit senior defenders:  Kolo, Kompany and Zabaleta.  Which leaves a potentially under-guarded left-back position.  Talk that Barry could be played there was quashed by Mancini, although it could well be the best option.  Otherwise it appears to rest on last minute talks with Boateng and Lescott, who would both be below 100%, or playing a youngster in there - with suggestions it could be Boyata, who would be out of position.  Our injury issues will be the mirth of the rest of the league after our reinforcements but, in defence in particular, it has become a real problem at this early stage - especially with the frequency of games - Juventus and Newcastle come within eight days of the Chelsea fixture.  

Last season's double against Chelsea was achieved through stubborn, tight, counter-attacking football, on the whole, and I imagine City will continue with a midfield-heavy selection.  Considering Chelsea usually play with three central midfielders as well, this is no bad thing.  With the quality of their midfield three, it is important City can compete in the centre of the pitch - and the Essien/De Jong battle could be key.  

Kolo Toure has fared fairly well against his compatriot Didier Drogba in previous encounters, whilst playing for City, so it will be interesting to see how that duel goes.  Vincent Kompany will also attempt to get as tight as possible to the man who is increasingly described as 'unplayable'.  

Possible line-up:

Hart

Boyata, Kompany, Kolo Toure, Zabaleta

Yaya Toure, De Jong, Barry

Milner, Silva

Tevez

It should be an interesting contest and, should it go well, it could provide a spring-board for City's season - with the potential to plant us more firmly in the top-four and to keep ground with the leaders as well.