RADIO
Manchester City, by their recent standards, had a poor season last year. Manager Manuel Pellegrini is in some ways fortunate to remain in his position, having failed to win a trophy and again underachieving in the Champions League.
Joe Hart will be ever-present, and his difficult days between the posts seem a dim and distant memory. He is a world class goalkeeper. The real conundrum for City fans is how a defense that looked so solid two years ago fell apart at times last year. Vincent Kompany was poor last season, and must recover his reputation this time around. Eliaquim Mangala is a man mountain, and having experienced what the EPL is all about last year we see him being a vital cog in the City defensive unit.
Editor’s Note: be sure to check out all of our articles, and read more about English Premier League (EPL, BPL) fantasy analysis and European football news.
City have the look of an aging squad, and appear to lack midfield depth for a club of their stature. Yaya Toure has been unsettled for sometime, and seems to pick and choose when he wants to perform of his best. Whilst the purchase of Fabian Delph freshens up that area of the field, is he really a player of the standard necessary to move City towards more success? We think the jury is very much still out in this respect.
Forwards David Silva and Sergio Aquero have been joined by Raheem Sterling, who now has it all to prove that he is one of the best young players in the World. City plays a different style to Liverpool -- we are not necessarily sure he will succeed when the opposition is prepared to defend deep, thus removing the space for Sterling to demonstrate his undoubted pace.
We think that Wilfrid Bony is a potential bust, and that Edin Dzeko is a superior striker on their books. Nevertheless he is the one that looks most likely to leave the Etihad for more first team action. Look for Jose Angel Pozo to fill that gap a young Spanish player full of potential if given the opportunity.
Prediction: Could fail to make the Champions League
Players to watch: Joe Hart (Gaolkeeper), Eliaquim Mangala (Defender), Sergio Aguero (Striker)
Football Chat Room
Share Your Thoughts
[iflychat_embed id="c-60" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]
