MAN CITY 3 – 0 Wigan – MY THOUGHTS
11 Sep
More breathtaking football, more brilliance from the majestic David Silva and more goals from the sublime Sergio Aguero. It’s been quite a start to the season!
This was a convincing display where, truth be told, the scoreline probably flattered Wigan. We were dominant in every regard and could have had double figures had our finishing been anywhere near as good as the rest of our play. Silva and Aguero will rightly receive the headlines, but yet again, it was a strong team performance as we continued our perfect run of results.
With the Napoli game clearly in his thoughts, Roberto Mancini rested Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko, handing Carlos Tévez his first start of the season. And if I’m being honest, I was disappointed. Understandably, Tévez looked off the pace. Even when fully fit, he’s not the same type of footballer as the likes of Aguero, Silva and Nasri, a trio who like to play one touch, quick, passing football. Tévez isn’t a natural footballer in that sense, and prefers to get the ball down and have a dribble.
As a result, he slowed down a number of our attacks and whilst I recognise this was his first start and he’s still lacking match sharpness, I struggle to see how he’ll fit in to the side. With regards to his positioning, I felt his presence and tendency to drop deeper actually impacted Sergio Aguero and limited his early threat. It was only when Tévez was replaced that Aguero found more space and could really start to influence the game. Of course, our former captain is still a fantastic player and will be needed as the season progresses, but I can’t see him getting in our first choice XI at this stage.
As I touched upon above, Mancini was able to leave out Nasri and Dzeko, such is our strength and quality in depth. As we play three games a week now, we will need all members of the squad fit and raring to go, so whilst it may seem odd to leave out a striker who scored four goals away from home in his last appearance, we could still bring in Tévez, Adam Johnson and James Milner and also leave Mario Balotelli on the bench.
The subject of penalties is another interesting point in light of Tévez’s weak effort. It was noticeable in the stadium as he was preparing to strike the ball that the fans weren’t confident the Argentine would score, and so it proved as Ali Al Habsi easily saved a poor attempt. We know Tévez isn’t the best penalty taker so it must be down to his greed that he took yesterday. With Balotelli on the bench, who is surely our first choice, I believe James Milner or Sergio Aguero should have taken and although it didn’t cost us yesterday, it’s something to think about for the future.
Opposition View: It was noticeable that Wigan, as befits the philosophy of Roberto Martínez, continued to try to play a passing game despite the hammering they were receiving. Victor Moses impressed with his pace and footwork but if they are to comfortably avoid relegation this season, their defending will have to improve. They allowed City far too much space and time in midfield, but they’ve got a good team spirit, an impressive manager an should survive. Their support, as per usual, was poor.
So onwards to the Champions League we go. Napoli visit the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday and if we can produce anything like the quality of football we displayed on Saturday, the Italians will face a tough challenge.
I stopped reading you when you kept banging on about Yaya Toure. Have you eaten humble pie over that little aberation yet? Anyway, you write well and you opinions are well argued even if I disagree with them as I often do.
With respect oh anonymous blogger; this Carlos Tevez you are almost dissing is the same player whose goals are the main reason that we going to be playing Napoli et al and your description (quote) “Tévez isn’t a natural footballer (in that sense,) and prefers to get the ball down and have a dribble” beggars belief.
Carlos does like to play tohis strengths and one of those IS his strength; he will take on and beat players and because he plays ‘head up,’ and knows what is happening around him, he opens up opportunities.
Ask committed Arsenal fans what it is like to have all the same type of player, ask them if they’d have liked Carl;os tevez in amongst their fine touch players of the give and get variety and they’d soon tell you.
Aguero, Silva and Nasri are terrific players and I love them to bits, but Dzeko and Tevez are every bit as effective in their different ways and all the more important for that. Mind you, spot on with the penalty issue, Carlos is not the man for these.If Balotelli is on the pitch I’d give it to him, he has ice for blood and the ability that puts in exactly where he wants it at pace. Otherwise Aguero or Milner, seemples.
I suspect that in Aguero and Silva in particular, if we are lucky enough to keep them and with a little bit of good fortune, we have in the making our own Messi and Iniesta.
Wigan’s support was poor? We sold out all allocation but for around 15 seats and outsang the city fans throughout the game – including at 3-0 down.
There was a point in the game at 1-0 when Wigan dominated (just after the second half) and if chances had been taken then it could of been a different story altogether.
Wigan brought 1/3 of what normal away teams bring. Whether that was your full allocation or not, I’m not sure, but every other side gets the whole of that bottom section and usually the top. Wigan had half of the bottom section.
And as for outsinging City fans, well that’s just nonsense. I sit between the halfway line and the away fans and could barely hear you all afternoon. One of the quietest away sections in a long time.
Tevez was not at his best but I can remember promising signs (i.e chip ball over the top for milner, backheel into the path of Ageuro) Same starting line up VS napoli as the team that started at spurs i think…
VFAB, you raise a few interesting points this week.
Tévez >>> Mr Izzet raises the issue that the Tévez that is with us is the Tévez that was with us last season. The main difference this season is that we are now accustomed to the, frankly, sexy football we see. The Nasri-Silva-Agüero-Džeko axis that has been so prolific in the first 3 games.
Tévez is more of a rough-cut diamond. He will never produce the most aesthetically pleasing football. However, most of the time, he WILL produce goals.
He’s not 100% match fit at the moment but will be an integral part of the squad if we are to succeed this season.
So if Wigan sold out their allocation how come there was a huge block of empty seats in the away section?
Good performance for 80% of the match, but we allowed Wigan to come into it after the interval and Hart fluffed a shoot that crept wide, had it gone in might have been different as we had gone off the boil for about 15 min. Its near impossible to dominate a premier league match for the full 90 so it has to be expected. Didn’t pick it up again until Nasri came on. Brilliant buy, takes a lot of the pressure off Silva. He knows now that the creative brilliance is not all down to him alone now. Tevez did well, he just doesn’t stand out as much any more cos we have SOOO many talented players.
I do agree with you that Tevez ia greedy and tends to hold on to the ball, hence a hinderance to one-touch Nasir-Augero-Silva style. He has helped us for the past 2 years and he has been amply compensated financially in a sense that we do not owe him and he does not owe us [There is no club loyalty even as a pretense between Tevez and Club]. It is time for him to move on [hopefully this January] and the Money can be reinvested to get at least a better-than-Adam Johnson winger. But I dread he will stay. And please no penalty for Tevez, he missed a few towards the end of last season, a critical one for Argentina, and the one agains Wigan. I am affraid this is becoming like a trend and another person such as Milner should take it.
Tevez on the pitch has been nothing short of outstanding for us, his goals to games ratio in a team which in the last 2 seasons was not as creative as the current has been first class. Its funny how short some peoples memories can be, we were a ’1 man team’ according to many less than 12 months ago. Then he comes on for 60 mins for his fist game of the year not 100% fit plays a big part in the first goal and has other good moments thereafter and now some think we should get rid. Fickle is an understatement, and i personally would love to see him stay
It is about the Club not the player. The last thing City wants is a drama queen who wants to quit the Club and never to go back to dull City at every darn transfer window. I do agree Tevez has been outstanding and I do believe he has been paid for it outstandingly that NO CLUB in the world can match the money. City is finding the stability it needs and all care should be taken to keep it that way.
We are all a bit tunnel visioned when it comes to our own teams but Simon Coram (bless him) shows a degree of delusion worthy of the Rags.
Wigan did not sell out their allocation of seats, they sold 2 of the three sections that FA rules require the away team to be allocated. The unsold seats could only be repatriated with the approval of Wigan AFC and then only with the approval of the Police re the segregation arrabgements. The whole of the top section usually allocated to away sides was retained (probably after liaison with WAFC), because (one assumes) due to the onerous and lengthy journey from Wigan, so few of them turn up to away games. Come to think of it, not many turn up to home games either, they get more to Rugby League games.
As for the singing, what singing?
Siamack old son, not everything in life should come down to money. Sure, Carlos has been well paid, probably too well paid, but that doesn’t mean that we should not appreciate his contribution to the club’s current situation. Michaelangelo was well paid for the four years he spent painting the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Shapel; the Mona Lisa was a good little earner for Leonardo, that doesn’t mean we should all shrug our shoulders and write off their contribution to the heritage of high renaissance art does it?
Alphie
Al
As a City fan, all that matters to me is Manchester City club. In my humble opinion, players are worth as long as they contribute to well-being of the club. The past transfer windows Tevez has been nothing but a disruptive and somehow rude fellow [at least to the people of Manchester though I am not form England] and he clearly made it known that he wants to leave and never go back to dull City. We should part with him before those good memories turns into a bad one.
I think Yaya only gets through these games without doing anything because we played in truth a poor side, and the workman like attitude of Milner hides the poor display by Yaya.
And for some unknown reason, it seems the coaching staff disagree with you and Yaya has been on starting XI for over 90% of games played. Makes you wonder what they see that you do not see!