MAN CITY 3 – 1 Everton – MY THOUGHTS
6 Oct
Finally, a victory against Everton! After a shaky opening during which the visitors scored and minds began to consider the possibility of a third consecutive defeat, City bounced back superbly with a display of character and quality. Some of the football going forward, especially in the second half, was delightful, the movement incisive and the comfort on the ball admirable. The reward was a thoroughly deserved three points.
Lead by the irrepressible David Silva, orchestrating everything with his touch and vision, and by the intriguing mix of Alvaro Negredo’s aggression and unheralded ability, City were just too powerful overall against a team who started brightly but faded soon after. With the Blues having tightened up defensively following a hesitant early period, it turned out to be a comfortable victory by the end, one that was needed ahead of the international break.
Everton were effervescent in the opening exchanges, buzzing around, harrying us into mistakes and playing on the counter-attack with electrifying pace. The difference between David Moyes’s team – intensely dull but effective at constricting the opposition – and the outfit under Roberto Martinez is striking, but for all their positive intent, the visitors buckled once City equalised. And we scored at just the right times. Hitting back through Negredo just moments after Romelu Lukaku had netted was vital and then the crucial second goal came on the stroke of half-time to swing momentum towards our direction. We settled down, got the third and eased to a merited victory.
As touched on above, Negredo was outstanding, his physicality causing problems aplenty for Everton’s backline, yet he’s so much more than just a battering ram. Combining his strength with intelligent movement and the ability to know when to keep the ball or move it on quickly, he’s the perfect foil for Sergio Aguero and it makes Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to play Edin Dzeko against Bayern in midweek even more baffling. He may only have recently joined the club, but we’ve already seen what a powerful presence Negredo is, working well with those around him and offering a genuine threat up front, and it should be clear to the manager by now that the former Seville man’s partnership with Aguero is the one to drive us forward.
And then we come to Silva. Sidelined for a spell by injury, he was back to his best immediately, reminding supporters (though, in reality, nobody could have forgotten) just what a class act he is on the ball. Drifting all over to influence proceedings, he silkily danced his way through the game, controlling the tempo at which we attacked, working the angles constantly and conjuring creativity and guile in the final third. He’s a joy to watch and we’re blessed to have him.
The international break arrives before a period of four successive away games for the Blues as we approach the first real congested part of the season. Form and results on our travels have so far deserted us, but if we can match the battling spirit and flashes of freedom that were on display yesterday, our struggles should become a thing of the past. We can but hope.
Several things stand out from this game.
Firstly, how Negredo didn’t start against Bayern is beyond me. He is patently better than Dzeko in most aspects, notably first touch, movement, conversion rate, physicality. He set up two goals (including one for his strike partner FFS!) in the preceeding game v Utd – what more do you want. I was shocked before kick off he wasn’t included and I’d have loved an interviewer to ask MP why he wasn’t included. It would be good to have the interviewers ask the questions the supporters want (but hen again it may get them fired!!).
Secondly, I would have included Milner in midfield against Bayern for Nasri (on form but not the player we needed against a team so good at keeping the ball); moved Auguero to left mid and put Negredo in for Dzeko in a 4-5-1. Milner is the sort of player that the Germans would love (technically good; retains the ball; fabulous work ethic; fit as a fiddle) yet the short that England dismiss as too workmanlike. Every side needs a player like him.
Finally, Kompany. He will play 2/3 of season at best. Why oh why oh why did we not get a top class centre back in the summer.
Great result after a chastening experience but all the above were obvious calls…
Incidentally – the above changes may not have made a difference to the outcome!!
Couldn’t agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In relation to the Munich game I agree with the Negredo over Dzeko comment and I’m sure many city fans would, but Milner for Nasri would have been insignificant in the context of that game. Nasri is in great form as is Negredo so you play both, there’s nothing to suggest Jimmy would have made any difference in my opinion. We did sign demichelis as cover and I think Nastasic’ dip in form is a surprise to us all but I can see where you’re coming from to some extent. Overall crispy feel you’re being a bit negative after such a positive result, however I’m a tad disappointed you haven’t made a comment about Kolarov, good or bad
Sorry I forgot my default setting. The Lescott mistake came on the left hand side of the box, therefore possibly slightly something to do with Kolorov, maybe. Obviously joking.
Thought Kolorove had a decent game till his early withdrawal. Still prefer Clichy every time but admittedly he has had a good season so far apart from that display in Europe!!
I think Milner would have made a difference in terms of closing down the opposition.
I am a glass half empty kind of guy as you may have guessed!!!
Who paid for the refs new caravan?
Don’t know, but us tax payers pay for all your benefits.
No mention of the fact that your penalty wasn’t a penalty, or the fact that Silva should have been sent off, or the fact that Everton should have had a penalty. Had the referee done his job properly the outcome would have been completely different. Pathetic shambles of a game.
Yes and if my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle. Although to be fair the report didn’t mention the assault on Kolorov so you may have a point. Do you actually think that only Everton have decisions against them? Is this your self pity coming out?
Please can you tell me the results of next weeks lottery seeing as you can predict with absolute certainty the outcome of a game in a different scenario? How about Everton got a penalty, missed it, and City went on to score 5 as Naysmith was sent off?
Go to an Everton website and suck your lemons there. With arbitrary minutes applause of course.
Jim what about the illegal 30 yard back pass to Howard? No shall we give that a skip
No mention you were outclssed ! Sorry but we were the better team … We were robbed at Everton last year .. Sorry t sound like a rag I really think Everton have a great team but after we
Equalized you dident threaten us .
Strange. Sitting there in the stadium watching us beat Everton ‘relatively’ easily, all I could think about was how badly we got hammered by Munich and what the future holds……then Kompany walks off……and whatever future I could see was evaporating before my eyes!
For all the money we have spent we really are not very well covered in certain positions – like centre half for instance. 3 weeks ago I thought we were in for a great season….now I just don’t know!
I have revised my ‘get rid of’ list:
Actually it is the same but I now wish to add Fernandinho to it. I’m afraid the lad isn’t up to it and never will be!
C’mon City!
REPLY
No more rotation please Pellegrini, Negredo is a must start.
Also if Kompanys going to be out Id actually like to see Richards in at RB and see Zaba as a CB, he reads the game so well I really think he’s be reliable at CB