Manchester City suffered mixed fortunes yesterday; Carlos Tevez withdrew his transfer request and then they lost to Everton at home. Yesterday presented City with a chance to top the league at Christmas for the first time in 81 years and they fluffed their lines. It could be a key moment in the race for the title which now sees City’s nearest and most fierce rivals United 2 points clear with 2 games in hand.
It will have come as a huge relief to Mancini that Tevez revoked his transfer request; he is the stand out player in the team and has almost single-handedly guided City into the top 4 this season. It still remains to be seen whether he will actually remain at City or depart to his beloved Argentina to be with his children.
This season has been incredibly strange already and although City remained outsiders last night should effectively end their title hopes. Only Birmingham and Wigan have scored fewer goals at home which is a sad indictment of how they have played this season. In order to win this league you must make your home ground a fortress and you cannot lose to your rivals there; City have already lost to Arsenal and Everton which is simply not good enough.
The squad is strong and should be capable of competing on all fronts but they have bought too many average players in key positions. Vincent Kompany has been a revelation this season but Toure has gone back to the form he showed at Arsenal before he moved and Lescott simply isn’t good enough at the top level. They have bought far too many defensive midfielders and lack creativity at home. I am truly flabbergasted that Gareth Barry is still in their first team, people question what Mikel does for Chelsea but what has Barry ever done. It just seems to me that he is the drinking leader for many of the younger English players.
If Mancini is to take City to the top and remain there they must qualify for the Champions League so they can attract the next level of player. Until then they will remain outsiders.
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