MAN CITY 5 – 1 Norwich – MY THOUGHTS
4 Dec
Another comfortable win, three more points, plenty more goals and the retention of our five point lead at the top of the table. With all due to respect to Norwich, far tougher challenges lie ahead but this was a pleasing and convincing win.
Goals from Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Yaya Touré, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson secured the points, with only a Steve Morison consolation for the visitors causing Roberto Mancini any real disappointment. It was about as easy a win as could have been hoped for and it was one which, fortunately, won’t have taken a great deal out of the players before the crucial Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
It was a more than competent team performance and with Norwich sitting so deep in the first half, it was always going to be a matter of patience. We have so much quality in our team nowadays that we can produce a spark of brilliance from nowhere and it was fantastic to see Samir Nasri really step up to the mark after a lean couple of months. Often when he’s played in the same side as David Silva, he’s been on the periphery, but yesterday he outshone his fellow creator and produced his best performance since his debut against Spurs.
He was constantly involved in our play, always looking for an opening. His movement and passing were top-notch and after struggling to find his best form in recent times, it was great to see him so eager to receive the ball. He should take confidence from scoring, albeit from some shoddy goalkeeping, and it was a performance that hinted he’s finally ready to come out of his shell.
There was one surprise inclusion from Mancini and that was in central defence where Kolo Touré replaced Joleon Lescott. Although the former captain was superb in midweek against Arsenal, it seemed a strange decision. Lescott has arguably been our defender of the season so far, so it was an odd move to drop him in favour of someone who has been very much out of form and favour recently. After a couple of shaky early moments, Kolo did settle down and looked solid enough, but it will be fascinating to see who Mancini selects on Wednesday against Bayern Munich.
Opposition view: I must say, I was disappointed with Norwich and the way in which they lined up. They’ve impressed on their travels to Old Trafford and Anfield so far this season, showing great attacking intent and creating numerous chances. However, yesterday they were content to sit extremely deep, not posing any attacking threat. Although this is understandable as they would have left themselves vulnerable had they been more open, they were never going to hold out for 90 minutes and it was a shame to see them so lacking in ambition.
As for the Blues, it’s now onto a pair of crucial fixtures. Bayern travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday before we head to Stamford Bridge on next Monday to face Chelsea. This victory has maintained momentum, but those two fixtures will be far more challenging.
Kolo Toure and Savic have never seem convincing and Lescott has been great but short of world class mainly due to the fact that he is shaky on the ball consistently. Though Boyata is on loan, I take him beside Kompany in a heart beat.
Against a team like Chelsea, any similar goofs made by Toure is going to be fatal.
Lescott has been our best defender this season? Not sure about that one.
Boyata is too inexperienced. Perhaps in another year or two he can challenge for a place. Last time he played 2 successive games for city, we got beat 0-3 at home by Arsenal and Boyata was sent off after 2minutes for bringing down RVP. One mistake at CB is all it takes, hence why Lescott and Toure are preferred. I like Savic, he has a calm composure and is quite fast too… he has impressed me (apart from his debut where he was nervy)
he bought down chamak or however you spell the divers name not RVP
Nasri is always good when the opposition is not. He shines when the team in easily on top and the opposition is weak. In big games, when the going gets tough, he disappears.
He’s scored 4 times against tottenham in the london derby,scored twice in a 2-1 league win against man united, had a very good debut for us, scored numerous champions league goals, he also set up the winner against barcelona at the emirates last year, and was the best player on the pitch at wembley against England. Fair to say i disagree
coulnt agree with you any more blue bullet