Norwich 0 – 0 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
9 Feb
Whilst this result is by no means decisive in terms of dashing ambitions of reclaiming the Premier League title, the disappointment of this limp and lifeless goalless draw stings. This was an opportunity, coming off the back of a tepid loss to Chelsea, to bounce back against struggling opposition and to twist momentum back in our favour. Come the final whistle, hopes had been smothered by a combination of resolute defending and insipid attacking, and deflation swirled in the air.
A point apiece was the just outcome. Alvaro Negredo saw one header crash against the woodwork and Stevan Jovetic, City’s most prominent threat, probed and flicked his way around the area but it wasn’t enough. Norwich were solid at the back, defended in numbers and with purpose, and they offered a problem or two of their own. The Blues controlled possession, as expected, but there was a worrying absence of creativity or invention and a mere two shots on target having dominated proceedings tells its own sorry story.
Having bounced back so strongly following the defeat away to Sunderland in November – City recorded eighteen wins and two draws in the subsequent twenty games before succumbing to Chelsea - the lingering emotion after this encounter is one of regret. Irrespective of the injuries to key members of the team and the heavy workload certain players have undertaken over the recent period, we should have returned from Carrow Road with a victory. And yet, we did nowhere near enough to deserve one.
One of the few positives from the game was the lively performance of Stevan Jovetic. A series of bright substitute appearances over the past few matches have hinted at his potential but this was only his second start of the season; both games, coincidentally, have finished goalless. Amidst a sea of mediocrity, his inventiveness shone. Darting, determined and with a silky touch, he offered glimpses into he can bring to the side. It didn’t quite come off for him but there was a certain frisson of excitement when he was in possession and as he continues to build match fitness, he’ll only improve.
Otherwise, it was all too tame from City. David Silva was quiet, Yaya Touré ineffective in a deeper, more restrained role, Alvaro Negredo bustled about without success and Jesus Navas’s end product was severely lacking. This was far removed from the swashbuckling, relentless displays we have enjoyed over the course of the season. Gone were fluidity and ingenuity. In their place came a lack of cohesion and an absence of ideas.
Next up is a home fixture with Sunderland, another relatively simple game on paper, before a couple of tantalising meetings with Chelsea and Barcelona. Yesterday was a golden chance to restore confidence after a defeat but that hasn’t happened and the onus now lies with the players to show their character and quality once more. Those characteristics have been evident all season and it’s time to showcase them again. We have to hope the last couple of matches have been nothing more than a momentary blip.
I fear that we can’t handle the pressure with the number of injuries we currently have (esp. Aguero, Nasri and Fernandinho) and some of the absolutely inept performances from some players….I talk about Yaya and Dzeko.
Knowing that we are probably not going to get our injured players back in the next couple of weeks, I would like to predict the following which I may get slated for by some people who think City can do no wrong. There is nothing more on earth that I would like to see than City do the quadruple and I hope I am proved wrong, but I believe the following will happen:
We will get knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea
We will get knocked out of the champions league by Barcelona
We will win the Capital One Cup
We will finish 3rd in the premiership behind Chelsea and Liverpool (yes, Liverpool) with Arsenal scraping 4th place.
We have a large squad of good players, but not ‘star’ players – with the obvious exceptions.
I think you might be right JJ. I don’t think the squad is as good in depth as most of the pundits seem to think. Whilst the Norwich result is not decisive, we were playing in a similar lacklustre way earlier in the season in some away games. We really do miss our quality players. Jovetic was the only player who seemed to making an effort so I was quite surprised that Pellegrini took him off (especially when we’re told Negredo and Dzeko are injured). If Aguero etc get back to full fitness soon we should do a lot better than you predict but without them i think we have cause to worry.
I agree KJ, there is nothing I would like more than for our players to return and completely prove me wrong, but I just think it will be too late. With a full team I think we are a match for anyone (with the possible exception of centre back and left back) but we currently are not.
Sounds about right JJ but lets all not forget that if we win the Capital one and finish top 4 the season has been a success. Maybe not the success we were all hoping for but a vast improvement on the last 10 yrs.
I believes Pelle will recruit a new defence in the close season and make a few tweaks else where and in his second season we will be better.
CTID CTID
come on guys. there, s nothing in the prem title race, and we have a good a chance as any and while I never thought we could win the CL if we were honest
think the Domestic treble is on…. and on a plus note got my ticket for the Cap final so bring it on boooooooom
I found pellegrinis performance this week deeply depressing, everything about the Chelsea game was totally wrong, he’s a fool to be giving attention to the Londoner’s’ OK were missing big players as we know, use your head man’ show some intelligence & imagination with the players you have, you look predictable now, I’m looking for the soul of this team’ its your job to find it’ your 60 years old & you let Jose get on your wick, one thing about Mancini He’s a tough guy, I liked that’ nobody messed with Roberto’s head & got away with it. (Except Mario) so to all the gang at mcfc Man up.
Starting to think like this myself Glenn, MR.NICE GUY usually finish last !!!!
Less hedonistic and more winning.
totally agree with you on pretty much everything you say JJ. I think whatever happens Chelsea will knock us out of the FA cup and Barcelona out of Champs league. I do think if we get our star players back though we may be able to muster runners up in the prem behind Chelsea. From what I can see our essential players are Kompany, Aguero, Negredo, Fernandinho, Silva and Nasri and when we lose more than two of them at once our squad is exposed as being pretty threadbare in terms of quality. Although I like what Pellegrini is trying to do and I rate him as a definite upgrade on Mancini his lack of judgement at times does puzzle me. I’ve seen Dzeko miss half a dozen easy chances in a game and then be hailed for scoring the winner. I really hope that now Jovetic seems to be coming good that Pellegrini will show some sense and keep Dzeko as a sub. If we’re serious about challenging the big boys in Europe we won’t do it with the likes of Dzeko. He should trot off to somewhere like Sunderland or Fulham and relish being a big fish in a small pond.
2 games ago we were awesome now we are gonna lose every game we play. No team can replace players of Agueros and Fernadinho’s ability no matter how much ‘depth’ you have.
Im going to be a little more level headed in my predictions and say we will win the league cup, go to the wire in the league with Chelsea, beat Chelsea in FA cup and narrowly lose to Barce in CL
I agree with nearly all the comments made but if we dont get Aguero back I feel we will win nothing. Without him we would be about 4th or 5th in league, he is just sensational this year. I predict Sunderland to win league cup with Adam Johnson (best winger in Premier currently) to play a big part, Chelsea will have far more nouse in FA cup, Barca will hammer us if Pellers plays same way, league to finish 2nd or 3rd. My whole reasoning is because Pellers has no idea of tactics. He has injured players against Chelsea yet plays the same way with an ancient Centre back in midfield! What did he expect? Why didnt he put an extra man in midfield knowing we were light? Why didnt he change it at half time. Answer because he had no idea what to do.