MAN CITY 4 – 2 Leicester – MY THOUGHTS
19 Jan
Exciting? Yes. Nerve-wracking? Yes. Job Done? Most Definitely. It wasn’t the most classiest of performances but Roberto Mancini’s side are through to the next round of the FA Cup where they face a trip to Meadow Lane to play Notts County. The victory over Leicester was at times pulsating, at times worrying and yet the overriding emotion is that of relief at overcoming a significant obstacle.
In previous years, we would have succumbed in the first leg away at the Walkers Stadium. A tough trip to play an impressive Leicester side would have been a surefire loss, as per the defeats to Notts Forest, Oldham and Chesterfield amongst others. But this is a new City; a side who can rotate players yet still produce efficient, professional performances. Goals from Carlos Tévez, Patrick Vieira, Adam Johnson and a first for Aleks Kolarov meant that we scored four for the second consecutive game, although Mancini was less than impressed with the two we conceded.
Leicester battled hard and showed willing and desire, but ultimately, our extra quality prevailed. In Carlos Tévez, we possess a striker at the top of his game; someone whose ability to create a chance from nothing, as exemplified by his strike yesterday, is a sign that we are title contenders. David Silva, although a tad rusty after injury, can produce moments of breathtaking brilliance and his defence-splitting pass to set up Adam Johnson was nothing short of majestic. We have a team who are not just reliant on one player, but a side who are beginning to click and can only improve in the future.
Sven Goran-Eriksson can take great pride in his side’s performance and they certainly made life difficult for us in the opening stages. Lloyd Dyer’s pace caused problems for Kolarov and Joleon Lescott all evening, whilst Sol Bamba at centre-back was the only player I’ve seen this season to match Yaya Touré’s brute power. Over the two games, they scored four goals, something which they can take great heart from, but something which will undoubtedly concern Mancini.
Lescott looked nervous throughout the match and his jitters seemed to spread at times to Vincent Kompany. I’m sure I’m not the only City fan who wishes to see Jérôme Boateng partner the Belgian at the back, although Mancini is likely to return to Kolo Touré for the weekend fixture. Adam Johnson impressed me with his direct running and ability to time his runs perfectly, although he fluffed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring early on.
Mancini may also be worried with Tévez’s penalty taking after the Argentinean missed his second consecutive spot-kick, his effort being saved by Weale’s legs. After his dragged miss against Blackpool, this was a return to Tévez ’blast down the middle’ technique but it seems that goalkeepers have caught on. Mario Balotelli scored both of his attempts against Aston Villa and will be a contender when he returns from injury, whilst James Milner and Gareth Barry have both scored many in the past for Villa and England.
So overall, it was a solid if not spectacular performance from City. We managed to avoid a potential cupset and move on to play Notts County, a tie from which we ought to progress. The FA Cup run goes marching on, and in living memory of Neil Young, it would only be fitting if we were to lift the trophy at Wembley.
great piece, agree with all of it, 2 years ago we would of lost within the first minute at the walkers, but the will to win seems to be alive in almost all the players, Dzeko and Tevez, Johnson and Silva, Yaya and De Jong, plus so many more… i keep pinching but cant seem to wake up… the futures bright blues!
can’t wait for forest away, do you reckon it will be red and black again?
Thanks Thorpie. Will have to see if the club announce anything re the colours for Notts County. I’ve got a feeling it will be red and black for the whole of this cup run.
Good summary. Good to see you taking the positive angle on everything, we’ve plenty to be happy about…..just seems to be taking slightly longer for everyone to get that.
Lescott was nervous in his play last night, but I don’t buy into the ongoing criticism of him, or Kolo, that’s coming from some. Boateng has yet to play convincingly either, but I trust Bobby to manage them all and keep picking up results.
It is not the question of criticizing Lescott but the fact that there are other much younger and talented options that are at least as good as Lescott. Lescott is at his peak and you can not improve much when you are at your peak. But young talented center backs like Boyata and Boateing are not only very young [not at their peak] but as good as Lescott. The chances that they improve drastically given right opportunities are high [knowing that they can perform as good as Lescott even with their slip-ups in any given game]
Even when we are not playing well we now have something I feel we have not had as long as I can remember, ie a team and players that can dig deep and get results when they are not playing well. I do not mean in the odd game here and there like in the past, (Gillingham and Totenham in the cup spring to mind) but over a period like our last 5 games where we have not played well but remained unbeaten. Lets face it, in previous season’s the games against Blackpool, Arsenal, Wolves and the cup games against Leicester would have seen us get 2 points at best and knocked out of the cup they way we have played in stages. The difference for me is we now have match winners and game changers like Tevez, Silva, Johnson, Yaya, Balotelli and in time, Kolarov and Dzeko. I also believe these men will win us a trophy sooner rather than later and hopefully that will open the door for many more like it did for Chelsea. For that was then and this is now fellow City fans, enjoy.
Though I have been a city fan for only a few years who resides outside England in Canada and I do not have distant memories of City as many of your folks have. I have a strong feeling that you are absolutely spot on!
Enjoyed reading this article, very good summary. I think you are a tad harsh on Lescott though whom I thought had a very solid, comfortable game. Dyer dived for the penality which was a joke and Halsey was close to giving them a second when it looked like for e minute he had pointed to the spot after a challenge from Milner. I though halsey was poor actually.
RE: Penalty takers, I wouldnt put it past Kolarov to take one….my hero to step up and put his foot through one….i’d quite like to see that although i’d worry he’d fluff it over the bar!! He took his goal very nicely which you do not dwell on too much which is a shame and he looks more assured with every game he plays although it will be interesting to see him cope with Nani on 12th February?
As for the red and blakc kit moment, brilliant, but where was Hart!!!