City to retain the tite, just!

Despite a quiet transfer window for Roberto Mancini's men, for me they are still the favourites for the Barclays Premier League title. Having Carlos Tevez back for the last few games of the previous season was key as the former United man quickly rediscovered his best form, the highlight an incredible hat-trick away to Norwich. The prospect of an all Argentine strike force, this time for a full season, with Tevez teaming up with Sergio Aguero is a frightening.

During pre-season and the Charity Shield Roberto Mancini played three at the back, and it will be interesting to see if the Italian attempts this during the Premier League season. With Kolo Toure out of favour and Stefan Savic coming in for a heavy amount of criticism from City fans, there's a chance their new signing Jack Rodwell may have to slot in alongside Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott.

Will Rodwell play the libero for Mancini?

An incredible home form (that saw them only slip up once in 19 games) was the key behind their title run. It is unlikely that they'll be able to repeat such excellent form at the Ethiad, so Mancini will be looking for better away form from the Champions, after dropping 23 points on their travels last year.

Key player - Yaya Toure. City's penultimate game of the previous season was a tricky looking away fixture against Newcastle which they needed to win, and the Ivorian put in a performance that arguably ranked higher then any in the season. He's as good going forward as he is putting a shift in defensively, ensuring Toure is one of the first names on the team sheet. With another African Cup of Nations this Premier League season, City will need to cop without their inspirational midfielder.

Prediction 1st- Despite a quiet transfer window, I still expect City to regain their title. Going forward they are at times unplayable, whilst defensively they've improved. Having already hurdled the 'winning it for the first time' obstacle, it's going to be hard for United or anyone for that matter to capture the Premier League away from Mancini's men.

View from a fan - Reece Smith @RASmith28

What would be a perfect season?
Regaining the Premier League whilst winning the Champions League as well as a domestic cup

What would be a nightmare season?
Finishing outside the top four and not winning a trophy.

Do you have the right man in charge?
Yes I personally believe we do

Which Premier League player would you sign given the chance?
Steven Gerrard.

Would you rather regain the Premier League or win the Champions League?
Regain the Premier League

Sell Carlos Tevez or keep him?
Keep him, him and Sergio Aguero are going to have a sublime partnership this season, and will be the difference in tight games.

Is the 20th title on the horizon?

Following Manchester City’s timely defeat away at Everton on Tuesday evening, I’m going to evaluate if we (if you hadn’t realised from the title, I’m a United fan) can really edge out our city rivals for another Premier League title.

Form, pressure and know how.

How many times are we going to hear it? Manchester United weren’t at their best yet still won. Well minus the first five league games, we haven’t been at our best ALL season. Yet time and time again Sir Alex’s side edge out a victory, a sign of champions.

Taking my red hat off for a minute, I can appreciate how good Manchester City have been this season, I’d even go as far as saying Barca-Esq. But for me their inability to win when having an off day will haunt them. Take this week for the perfect example. We were poor away to Everton earlier on in the season, yet we secured a valuable 1-0 away win against a good Everton side; yet City couldn’t.

For now I’m going to rule the usual candidates of Arsenal and Chelsea out of the title race; they aren’t good enough. But for me their London rivals Spurs are more then in the hunt for the Premier League. Their midfield compares and even betters everything in the league for me! I do feel they will fall short though, a main reason being their lack of players who have been in this position before with only Scott Parker and William Gallas lifting the Barclays Premier League title, both during their time at Chelsea.

Manchester United 9/10

Manchester City 8/10

Tottenham 7/10

The fixture list (written before weekends action)

Looking at the fixture list, the remaining games ensure City are favourites. With the crucial games highlighted below, Roberto Mancini’s side have just three of the ‘big six’ to play, with two of them at the fortress that is Eastlands. In comparison to Manchester United and Tottenham who have four games against the big boys, with three of those on their travels.

Crucial matches

Chelsea vs Manchester United (05/02/12)

Liverpool vs Tottenham (06/02/12)

Manchester United vs Liverpool (11/02/12)

Arsenal vs Tottenham (26/02/12)

Tottenham vs Manchester United (04/03/12)

Manchester City vs Chelsea (19/03/12)

Chelsea vs Tottenham (24/03/12)

Arsenal vs Manchester City (07/04/12)

Manchester City vs Manchester United (28/04/12)

Manchester United 6/10

Manchester City 8/10

Tottenham 6/10

Squads

The departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez for me exposed our lack of a creative midfielder; because with them two plus Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, usually we wouldn’t need one, because at most times we had four match winners on the field.

Paul Scholes’s return is as inspired as is it desperate. His know how can only be a good thing for the likes of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, who despite his tender age, has been missed in the heart of United’s midfield. All the pluses aside with the move to recall Scholes, I feel Sir Alex recognizes the need to add creativity in the middle of the park. The F.A Cup defeat at Liverpool only highlighted that further, as 65% possession at Anfield wasn’t converted into chances or goals.

City and Spurs both let players go in the January transfer window, which confirmed how good their strength in depth is. City have an incredible array of talent available and their squad is the best of the three (So strong in fact they felt obliged to lend Spurs Emmanuel Adebayor.)  Tottenham’s midfield, like I touched apon before is incredibly strong; however their defence is always liable to concede a goal.

Manchester United 8/10

Manchester City 9/10

Tottenham 8/10

Injuries and suspensions

I’m sure every fan has at least bemoaned their injury list this season; however Manchester United fans can do so with great evidence. Nemanja Vidic, Nani, Rooney, Cleverley, Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones have all at least faced a month of the 2011/12 season on the sidelines.

Manchester City’s real problem has been in the treatment room, more of international duty and suspensions. The Toure brothers have both been away with the Ivory Coast at the current African Cup of Nations whilst Mario Balotelli and Vincent Kompany landed themselves in hot water with four match bans respectively. Spurs have been fortunate on the injury count, because when injuries have occurred they have only been minor ones ruling their players out for only short periods.

Manchester United 7/10

Manchester City 7/10

Tottenham 8/10

Managers

It’s fair to say Sir Alex Ferguson has been there, done it and got the T-Shirt. 12 Premier League Titles is an unbelievable haul, and I feel if he was in charge of any of the top five teams last season he would’ve guided them to Premier League success, that’s how much of a difference he makes. He’s seen off every manager whose challenged him, with the current duo the latest crop of managers to have a go. And if Manchester United are to win the league, he’ll be the reason why!

Roberto Mancini has won three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and has done a very good job with Manchester City. Over recent weeks he has shown signs of crumbling under the pressure (Admitting he thought it would be ‘easier’ to win at Everton just one example) and with the pressure firmly on City for the amount they’ve spent, only time will tell if they crumble.

For Harry Redknapp this is the first time he has been in a Premier League title race and with just one F.A Cup title to his name, his lack of experience in the hunt for the ultimate price can be questioned. Following their 2-0 victory over Everton he came out and stated his side could win the league, which put pressure on his side before their 1-1 home disappointing draw with Wolves, before claiming after the game he’d be ‘over the moon with a top four finish.’ Alex Ferguson is the master at taking the pressure away from his side, something Redknapp failed to do there. However don’t get me wrong, what Redknapp has done at Tottenham rivals anything in the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson 10/10

Roberto Mancini 8/10

Harry Redknapp 7/10

Overall

Manchester United 40/50

Manchester City 40/50

Tottenham 36/50

At this current stage of the season I really can’t call whether we will make it 20 League titles or ‘the noisy neighbours’ will win the league. One thing for sure, I can’t wait to see it’s conclusion.

Bayern's dominance overshadowed by Tevez saga

A Mario Gomez double ensured Bayern Munich maintained their stranglehold on Group A, as they beat Manchester City 2-0.

Despite dominating the opening proceedings, City were poor and Bayern scored twice in a seven minute period before half-time, both through the right foot of Gomez, which effectively killed the game as a contest.

With his side trailing by two goals, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini controversially brought off Edin Dzeko for the defensive minded Nigel De Jong, to the frustration of not only Dzeko but a clearly annoyed Carlos Tevez after the Argentine was snubbed in favour of De Jong. Reportedly the former United striker refused to warm up and come on in response to Mancini's decision.

The early oppourtunites fell the way of City, and the in form Dzeko should've opened the scoring from a Micah Richards cross, however the Bosnian striker's finish was tame and right at the impressive Manuel Neuer.

The attacking full back was again at the hub of City's forward play, and Richards' felt he should've had a penalty after an apparent trip from the former Blue Jerome Boateng. Replay's suggested there was contact however the referee Kassai didn't give it.

City's stranglehold on the match was beginning to loosen and Bayern Munich were now the ones threatening to open the scoring. Long range efforts from Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger were comfortably dealt with by Joe Hart in the City goal. The later should've given Bayern the lead however with a different chance as Thomas Mueller did brilliantly to create a chance for Schweinsteiger in the six yard box, however the German midfielder blazed over.

However the German's opened the scoring shortly after through Gomez after Hart failed to brilliantly thwart Munich for a third time. Ribery created the opener after he cut inside Richards and his long range shot was well saved by Hart, who expertly stopped Mueller from tapping in the rebound, however Gomez tapped in a simple chance.

Munich had a penalty appeal of their own as Ribery appeared to be blocked off by Vincent Kompany, however City couldn't prevent Bayern from doubling their first half lead. Dzeko felled Phillip Lahm, and Ribery's resulting free kick was headed goalwards by Daniel Van Buyten, and Hart again superbly repelled the header, however Gomez reacted the quickest to score from close range.

The second half saw a European masterclass in keeping the ball from Munich, as City, despite their negative change in De Jong on for Dzeko, Bayern dominated the midfield as Mueller and Schweinsteiger in particular were awesome.

The substitution of De Jong caused clear frustration for the snubbed Tevez, however his response in refusal to be brought on was appauling. The understandable disappointment of being ignored is fair, however with his side in a poor predicament, the players's poor reaction will result in the end of Tevez's City up and down career.

Bayern saw the second half out comfortably, and if it wasn't for Hart, Bayern and Gomez alike could've had their third. However it didn't matter and Munich sit comfortably at the top of Group A, and continue their incredible clean sheet record which has been extended to ten games.

For City however, the Tevez enquiry will start when the club arrive back from Munich and with a double header against Villarreal coming up, the incredible start they had to the season now seems a distant memory to the Citizens.



Match ratings

Bayern Munich team: Neuer 6, Rafinha 7, Van Buyten 6, Boateng 8, Lahm 7, Ribery 8 (Robben 90, 5), Dias 7, Schweinsteiger 8, Kroos 7 (Tymoschuk 82, 5), Mueller 8, Gomez 8 (Peterson 90, 5)

Manchester City team: Hart 8, Richards 7, Kompany 6, K.Toure 5, Clichy 6, Y.Toure 6, Barry 5 (Kolarov 73, 5), Silva 7, Nasri 5 (Milner 69, 5), Aguero 6, Dzeko 5 (De Jong 55, 5)

City battle to win over dogged Everton

Goals from second half substitutes Mario Balotelli and James Milner ensured City overcome a defensively good Everton in a 2-0 win.

With David Moyes's side keeping Manchester City at bay brilliantly for an hour, Roberto Mancini's decision to leave the unhappy Carlos Tevez on the bench paid dividend's when the Italian Balotelli opened the scoring.

Everton, who have won on their last four previous trip's to Manchester City, started the brighter and Maroune Fellaini caused Joleon Lescott problems early doors, however they failed to test Joe Hart in their dominant period

Jack Rodwell did a good man marking job on Manchester City's David Silva, and with the Spaniard being marked out of the early proceeding's, the pressure was on Samir Nasri to take ahold of the game, however the former Arsenal player was quiet as City failed to create any clear cut chances in the first half.

Manchester City came out of the blocks quick in the second half and Sergio Aguero was starting to get more into the game, however it took the change of Balotelli for them to open up a resolute Everton.

Consistant pressure from Mancini's side resulted in the opening goal as Aguero kept ahold of the ball to find the Balotelli whose shot took a little knick of Phil Jagielka giving Tim Howard little chance in the Everton goal.

The goal ensured Everton had to come out and look for a leveller, and David Moyes was furious that a Vincent Kompany apparent trip on Louis Saha wasn't given on the edge of the area.

Despite some spells of pressure Everton didn't look like breaking down City, and it was infact the Manchester side who scored the second goal of the game. Royston Drenthe gave the ball away in the midfield and Silva, who started to lose the shackles of Rodwell after Balotelli's opener, slid a perfect pass through for another sub in James Milner who beat Howard well.

A late clearence from Stefan Savic off the line prevented Fellaini from reducing the defecit in stopage time.

The win for Manchester City was a deserved one and shows the club has the character and patience to break down sides who are going to come and try and frustrate sides at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City player ratings: Hart 6, Richards 7, Kompany 7, Lescott 6, Clichy 7, Barry 6, Nasri 6 (Savic 5), Silva 8, Y Toure 7, Dzeko 6 (Balotelli 7), Aguero 8 (Milner 7)

Everton player ratings: Howard 7, Hibbert 7, Baines 7, Jagielka 7, Distin 7, Neville 6 (Drenthe 5), Coleman 5 (Vellios 5), Cahill 6 (Saha 6), Osman 7, Felliani 7, Rodwell 7

City land Aguero

Aguero will now wear the blue of Manchester City

Sergio Aguero became Manchester City's most expensive transfer ever after his £38million move from Atletico Madrid was finally sealed today.

On Thursday evening the club confirmed Aguero had signed a five year deal with the Manchester side, and will wear the number 16 shirt.

On the move Aguero commented "I think we are a team that in future will be fighting every year to win major trophies."

With fellow Argentine Carlos Tevez expected to leave the club, City pressed quickly to sign the much sought after striker, with European giants Juventus and Real Madrid heavily linked with the former Independiente striker.

Aguero becomes City's third major signing of the summer after Stefen Savic and Gael Clichy, however manager Roberto Mancini is expected to add to his already illustrious squad ahead of their season opener against Swansea.

Aguero in action at the recent Copa America

Corinthians make £35million bid for Tevez

Brazil giants Corinthians have officially bid for the services of Manchester City's want away centre forward Carlos Tevez.

The offer, in the region of £35million, is expected to be rejected by the Manchester club, however the bid signalls intent from Tevez's former club, with the Argentine centre forward "flattered and excited" with the interest show in him.

After withdrawing a transfer request in December 2010, the Premier League's joint top scorer Tevez went on to have a successful season with Manchester City, as the club won the F.A Cup aswell as securing Champions League football with their third placed finish.

However a week yesterday Tevez reiterated his desire to leave the football club, citing family reasons, behind his decision, with his wife and kids living at home in Argentina.