City Lose From Winning Position...Again

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola certainly have a lot to contemplate as they travel back up the M1 this afternoon. A 2-1 defeat to Leicester on a traditional Boxing Day fixture alone is not a cause for concern. What is a concern though, is the manner in which it happened.

Following an unexpected defeat only a few days prior, to Crystal Palace, a reaction was expected from the defending Champions. Today, as with Saturday, it would be City who would take the lead through some intricate play.

City Stunned By Townsend Beauty

I think it is fair to say that the game at the Etihad against Crystal Palace did not go exactly to plan. Our first league defeat at our home ground since the United game last season came less than 24 hours after Liverpool had extended their lead over us at the top of the table.

Pundits and commentators alike believe Christmas has come early with the trifector of incidents. Our surprise loss, hot on the heels of a Liverpool victory, conspired to make it a weekend of delight for those who see City as an annoyance. Add to that a resurgent Manchester United rolling over a Cardiff City side and you might be forgiven in thinking you’d been transported back to the 1990’s.

Blues Against Brighton: History Of The Fixture

After, what was eventually, a comprehensive defeat of Oxford United City return to Premier League action. Welcoming Chris Hughtons Brighton side who are enjoying their second successive season in the Premier League.

Currently 13th in the Premier League, Hughton will be looking at securing the Seagulls stature and making them established in England's top flight. In order to do this games like tomorrow will not be ones pinpointed as ones where that future is made or broken.

That's not to say they will not put out a decent lineup and make it tough for us. They did last season, and they will again.

Manchester City Predicted Welsh Lineup

The good thing about playing football is that you don't have to wait too long for another game. When you have a poor performance, like Manchester City did on Wednesday, you don't have to wait to long to rectify the situation.

I was pretty harsh on the players after the defeat by Lyon at the Etihad, and rightly so. Now it's a whole different competition and a chance to keep pace with the front runners, Liverpool and a chance to leap frog Chelsea. So how should Pep lineup for the trip to the Cardiff City Stadium?

Pep Hopes For Welsh Reset

It wasn't the greatest of European nights for the Blues. A 2-1 defeat at home to Lyon was not what was expected, although with the performance on the night, it was all we deserved. Saturday sees the Blues back to domestic competition, and the continuation of the defense of their title.

Pep Guardiola will be back on the sidelines with Sergio Aguero likely being recalled to the starting lineup. Unfortunately Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo remain side lined for this game.

Predicted Lineup To Face Fulham

The Premier League restarts on Saturday with Manchester City looking to close the gap on the three teams above. Heading into the International break in fourth position, the undefeated statistic was sidelined for the struggling performances.

A draw away to Wolves, at least on the home sides performance, might not be such a bad result in the long run. More concerns for me actually came against Newcastle when, at home, we took the lead but failed to close the game out. Yes we got the result, but it was so much more difficult than it had to be and, unlike Wolves, I don't think it was much to do with a tough opposition!

Manchester City Molineux Player Rating

It was always going to be a tough game for the Blues. Wolverhampton Wanderers, at their own ground, had nothing to lose. But there was more to their game than that, and it would be disingenuous to say that Manchester City were poor. 

Although City were far from their free flowing best, it was down to the way Wolves played which thwarted a lot of Pep Guardiola’s plans. Yes you could point to the handball goal which was allowed to stand and the penalty which wasn’t given, but these were all decisions which were, in real-time and without VAR, not easily spotted. So how did the players rate?

Blues Top Table After SIX-sational Performance

Manchester City moved to their rightful place, atop the Premier League table, with a 6-1 victory over Huddersfield. I think the Terriers will find it much more difficult this season from last and were my pre-season tip to be relegated. 

That said, you can only beat whats put out in front of you. Focusing on Manchester City's performance only, you cannot be anything other than excited. So, having focused on player ratings last time (link found toward the bottom of the page) now its time for what was learnt.

City v Huddersfield: Predicted Starting XI

The Blues open up their title defense with the first game at the Etihad. A fantastic start to the title defense down in London last weekend, Pep will look to Sunday's game as a chance to collect points dropped last season.

When these two sides met last season, Manchester City were already Champions. The goalless draw was forgotten soon after the final whistle as Vincent Kompany would, once again, lift the Premier League trophy.

Silva Says 'Adios' To National Side

It has been quite a past few months for David Silva. Lifting the Premier League trophy with Manchester City came five months after his son was born extremely prematurely.

In December it was announced he was unavailable for selection and had returned to Spain for 'personal reasons' A little over a week later and it was announced that little Matteo was fighting for his life.

Opening Day: City's Sterling Performance

The defending Champions, Manchester City, came through a tricky game. Opening day fixtures are somewhat unpredictable. Add a new regime at the Emirates to the fact many players have only just returned from the World Cup, any anything can happen.

In the end, Manchester City ran out comfortable winners, with a sublime performance. That said, there were still parts of the game which had Pep visibly frustrated.

Premier League Predictions

It's a little later than I would have liked but I always try to work out the final Premier League standings. Manchester City have been made favorites to retain the title, but will their focus switch to the Champions League?

Wolves, Fulham and Cardiff all come up to the Premier League but how will they cope with the step up in competition? All three promoted sides stayed in the division last time out, but will that happen again?

City Lift Community Shield: Sarri Not Sarri

Manchester City welcomed back some more World Cup stars for the English traditional curtain raiser at Wembley. In a previous article I had written that it would be no big deal, in the grand scheme of things, if City were to lose this game. Certainly it would not be something we would, as fans, reflect on negatively if we would go on to win the League again, or Champions League.

England Out With A Whimper.

Don't get me wrong, all in all it was a good World Cup for England. No one expected England to do as well as they did, and we should be happy. However, the last two games of the tournament left a bitter taste in the mouth. Yes England took on Belgium with 24 hours less preparation time than their opponents, but did that really make a difference?

City Do It The Hard Way As Hero Sterling Sees Red.

Manchester City traveled back to the south coast as they tried to get their Premiership campaign back on a winning track. Despite an early scare, when the hosts went ahead, City came through.....eventually.

Pep surprised a few people with his line up, when he went for a back four. Benjamin Mendy made his City debut while Bernardo Silva made his first start for the Blues. Starting up front, on his own, was Gabriel Jesus as Aguero found himself benched. In my preview to this game I had suggested that Pep might try this formation, considering the percentage of possession City usually enjoy combined with Bournemouth's possession stats so far this season.