Manchester City v Southampton
Barclays Premier League
Sunday 24th May 2015, 3pm KO
Referee: Chris Foy
If you were to believe the media that we were as poor as they say we’ve been this season then you might find it a surprise that not only do we enter the final day of the season in second place but we enter the final day without the minor concern of potentially being caught by Arsenal.
Arsenal, media darlings and Champions of November have finished their season in grand style with a 1-0 home loss to Swansea, a 1-1 draw at the Rags in which they were so poor I was sure it was at the mercy of a far eastern betting syndicate and a 0-0 draw at home to a Sunderland side who still should have won despite clinging onto just 20% possession all evening.
So that being said if we are poor side what about does that say about the other sides below us? Our illustrious neighbours from just outside the City limits who a mere five games ago were crowing about being four points ahead of Manchester’s only team (not counting City’s women). Or for that matter what about Liverpool? Champions of April 2014, Brendan Rogers boys used their Luis Suarez money well bringing in Ricky Lambert and Agent Mario in as they now battle to avoid European Qualification for a second year in three! Dare to dream to indeed, I wonder if they will write a book about this season?
So City, as poor as their ‘aging’ team has been have eased themselves into second spot and will look to make it the third season in a row in which they’ve signed off with six consecutive wins. Regardless of the result tomorrow it earmarks a marvellous five years in which only three sides have finished with more points than us as our record since the arrival of Mancini in January 2011 reads 3rd (level on points with Chelsea in 2nd), 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd.
Far cry from the Stuart Pearce days which in my opinion those two years were more destructive to the club that the three in which we turned a Premier League side into a Second Division one. People will decry that we should be satisfied with a second runners up spot in four seasons when you consider who far we’ve come in a short space of time. However I’m not one for dwelling on the past, our season ticket prices certainly aren’t, and for me (and I’ve wanted to write this several times this season) there is a fundamental floor in the recruitment and set up of our football club.
You only have to look at the two summers following us winning the title and our recruitment policy to substantiate this. Our Spanish football men, who’ve been in charge of signings since they’ve joined, seem determined to try and sign players using Football Manager as their only scouting tool! I’m sure that this is the case because if anyone had actually travelled to watch him play (and I’ve done some scouting in non-league this season so I declare myself an expert!) would in no possible right mind would look at him and think he’s a Premier League footballer. I never thought I’d miss Javi Garcia. As for Mangala, well I actually think that he will become a good Premier League player in the near future and that the price tag has been a noose around his neck, but he’s got the most basic fundamental flaw for a centre back and its glaring; he can’t head the ball! You watch him next time there is a high ball headed his direction, he manages to both get under the ball and jumps too soon! How City can have had him for a whole year and not worked with him to improve this most basic element of defending shocks me! Compare that to Chelsea forking out for Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, arguably the two best players on the open market, and Mourinho was never going to fail this season.
In the interest of fairness I will give them credit for Frank Lampard though as I predicted that he’d never even play for us and simply make up the numbers but in the first half of the season he had a real renascence scoring 7 goals, and whilst I’ve always secretly admired him it’s been great to fully appreciate his ability. I also think the signing of Wilfried Bony will be a long term success, even if the several papers have already declared him a flop, as I think he’s better suited to the Premier League than either of Dzeko or Jovetic. However the other fundamental flaw which could prevent him succeeding is the balance in our squad. Last season Pellegrini was able to find the balance to play Negredo and Aguero in a two up front and we collected a league and cup double even if were found out in Europe. This season, without Negredo, we’ve been hopelessly exposed as before Bony arrived we didn’t possess a forward strong enough to hold the ball up top, we didn’t have a left winger who could stretch the play down both wings and our midfield of Toure and Fernandinho or Fernando was not equipped with the ability to win the ball back. Worse it left our back four hopelessly exposed at all times, none worse than Derby Day when at 4-1 with 20 minutes to go it could have been anything.
It’s too early for transfers and to name names but I really fear our Spanish football men are not equipped to find the necessary players to make us title contenders again as I also fear out continuous link with Jack Wilshere may come true! However I will say that it’s not hard to identify which areas need strengthening as we need a left winger, a true holding midfield player, a box-to-box midfielder and a centre back. That’s just if no-one leaves as if half the rumours are true then Mancini will be leading Toure , Nasri, Kolarov, Jovetic, Dzeko, Richards, Milner and Sagna to Serie A glory with Inter next season!
Fuck it, let us just go and buy Bale!
The Match
[img]http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/5/22/1432303345527/8aff728e-e345-489b-9dce-5a963b8efbb1-653x720.png[/img]
Southampton
It was back in November, when people, ok Sky Sports, ok Ed Chamberlain was asking if Southampton could win the title. 90 minutes later Sergio Aguero had put an end to that discussion and sadly for Southampton they went on a run that smaller sides inevitably go on and find themselves playing catch up for the Europa League. However you’ve got to give credit to Ronald Koeman, its been well documented how his side was pillaged by Liverpool.
Ones to watch
Nathanial Clyne and James Ward-Prowese
City are dire need of recruiting home grown players and they could do far worse than these too. Clyne is a player I’ve always admired since his Palace days and Ward-Prowese is the latest in their long line of academy graduates.
Tony Alderweireld
Admittedly not a player I’ve seen much of but he’s a Belgium international and only on loan from Atletico Madrid. In our search for another centre back I’m going to watching him this afternoon under the guise of scout.
City
I won’t go into the City team too much as the MEN has teased several EDS players making their debut on Sunday even if Pellegrini looked is if him starring in the new Star Wars film was more likely than this happening. I went to watch the EDS against the rags yesterday with barryconlonsbaldspot and its fair to say that with the exception of Kelechi and maybe George Evans that the majority of them are a long way from the first team. A quick mention on that game, what a contrast in styles! One side trying to play football and the other content with lumping it long and kicking anything that moved, the lads deserved their win.
