Why David Silva’s absence is a huge blow to Manchester City’s title hopes
Manchester City’s win on Monday night kept their slim Premier League title hopes alive; winning the first of what must realistically be their final five matches in the 2013-14 season to countenance any possibility of snatching the title from Liverpool’s seemingly steely-grasp.
Victory came at a price though. Having returned to the side after missing the damaging 2-2 draw against Sunderland, David Silva was forced off with a recurrence of his problem ankle that has plagued him intermittently over the course of the season.
Such is his importance to City’s hopes that Manuel Pellegrini’s post-match press conference featured a solitary question on the title race with all other enquiries centred on Silva’s injury and the likely expected prognosis.
His impact on this City side is apparent. Never far from the ball, having an uncanny ability to mesmerise and draw opposition players to him but never yielding possession he created both space and time for teammates, dovetailing wonderfully in particular with Samir Nasri.
Want further evidence of his quality? He leads the way in the Premier League in terms of key passes per incomplete pass, making 0.5 key passes for every pass that goes astray; evidence if it was ever needed quite how little of the ball and possession that Silva wastes.
On this seasons evidence the Spaniard stands compare with anyone in the league in terms of not just creativity, but the ability to create opportunities that lead to chances yet was nowhere to be seen on the PFA Shortlist for Player of The Year.
Pellegrini has previously admitted that it is not possible for Silva to play more than one (i.e. midweek) game per week. In addition to games Silva has missed for City this season, he tends not to finish games with City’s comfortable wins affording Pellegrini the opportunity to bring him off before the final whistle. All of which means that Silva has played a shade less than two-thirds of City’s Premier League games – a not unfamiliar scenario with certain key players in the City squad.
Pellegrini will be hoping that the blow of Silva’s absence will be cushioned by the return of Yaya Toure, who will need to provide the ability to take hold of this City side and drive them forward if need be in the manner that Silva has recently done in the opening half against West Brom and when reduced to ten men away to Hull.
Three points at Selhurst Park will be no easy feat however given their recent form that has seen the Eagles put distance between themselves and the drop zone, but regardless of the result in the Liverpool v Chelsea that precedes their game City know that anything less will see them all but relinquish their title chances.
City’s hopes may be slim, but while hope remains for them they will be desperate to do all they can to try and not only get Silva back on to the field but also, importantly, to nurse him through so he can impart his not inconsiderable influence on the title race if need be.
Manchester Clubs Fight It Out For Want-Away Arsenal Star
Following a breakdown in contract discussions, Bacary Sagna will decide to leave Arsenal this summer, with both Manchester United and Manchester City interested, according to the Daily Star
Contract talks broke down following Arsenal refusing to pay Sagna, 31, an extra £15,000 per week on top of the proposed £75,000 per week. The North London club were also only willing to offer him two years, whereas Sagna wanted three.
Despite interest from abroad from Inter Milan and Galatasaray, Manchester City have become favourites for the French International’s signature.
With Micah Richards set to leave City this summer, and Zabaleta having arguably his worst season because of no real competition at right back, Sagna could be the man to bolster the City back 4.
City’s deal is set to be worth up to £20million over a three year deal, giving Sagna the financial reward he wanted at Arsenal.
However Manchester United, who are set to restructure their whole back four this summer, could look to steal Sagna’s signature from under their neighbours nose.
Man City Offer Midfielder as Part of Swap Offer for Everton Youngster
Etihad Stadium side to use former Toffees star as bait in pursuit of young centre-back.
Man City will offer Roberto Martinez the services of former Toffees star Jack Rodwell in part exchange for Everton defender John Stones according to Football Direct News.
The Etihad Stadium side are keen to freshen up their defence and will have been impressed by the efforts of young centre-back John Stones and Manuel Pellegrini is wise to use bit-part player Rodwell as bait.
Such have been the displays from Stones that Martinez has not missed injured England international Phil Jagielka, who hasn’t featured for the Goodison Park side since February.
Stones is on the fringes of a first senior England national team cap and could sneak into Roy Hodgson’s 2014 World Cup squad after a great run of form that has seen Everton collect six clean sheets in the 13 Premier League fixtures he has started.
Joleon Lescott is set to leave Man City this summer when his contract expires and veteran Argentine Martin Demichelis has had an up and down time of it in his debut Premier League season whilst the jury is very much still out on young Serb Matija Nastasic, hence Pellegrini tracking other possible partners for skipper Vincent Kompany.
Back to the future: Mancini masterplan can boost City's title hopes
If Manuel Pellegrini heeds the lessons of history, he will look to another huge influence in his squad to provide the answers.
Great Italian schemer Niccolo Machiavelli said: “Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past.”
Five hundred years later Manuel Pellegrini – himself of Italian descent – would do well to pay heed to those words.
The Blues head to Crystal Palace, who have won their last five matches, knowing that anything less than a win is likely to signal the end of their title challenge.
And they will travel without David Silva, the man who, statistics prove, does more than any other to carry City to victory.
Silva aggravated an ankle injury as he masterminded the Blues to a win over West Brom on Monday that kept his team in the hunt.
Now Pellegrini has the dilemma of how to plug the hole that Silva leaves in his team, with James Milner, Jesus Navas, if fit, and Stevan Jovetic all serious options.
But if he heeds the lessons of history, Pellegrini will look to another huge influence in his squad to provide the answers.
History does have a knack of repeating itself, and when you look back to 2012, the parallels are intriguing.
All Blues will remember that fateful Sunday afternoon when leaders United drew at home to Everton, and City, kicking off later, won 2-0 at Wolves to put the destiny of the title back in their own hands.
If Liverpool lose at home to Chelsea, and City pull off a win at Palace, the title will be back in their own grasp again, providing they win their last three games as well.
The following fixture, away to Everton, is reminiscent of Roberto Mancini’s team going to Newcastle, who were also fifth and chasing a Champions League spot, on the penultimate weekend of the 2011-12 season.
In that game, Mancini pulled off a tactical masterstroke, one that could still hand Pellegrini the initiative this season.
With an hour played, and the game goalless, Mancini took off Samir Nasri and replaced him with Nigel de Jong, a substitution that on the face of it was a baffling defensive move.
But regular City watchers that season knew what was coming next, as Yaya Toure trundled forward into an attacking role and Gareth Barry went from holding player to link midfielder, moving the ball from defence to attack.
The result of Mancini’s switch was history-making, as Toure scored twice and City were one win away from being champs.
Providing Toure is fit to play, after his adductor muscle injury, Pellegrini does not need to wait until 20 minutes before the end to make his move.
The big improvement in Javi Garcia’s performances makes it a positive prospect.
Indeed, Garcia’s passing has improved to the point that he now very much performs the role that De Jong often played in that title-winning team.
He focuses entirely on defending, and if he plays on Sunday, Fernandinho will also be given freer rein, something he does not usually get as Toure’s central midfield partner.
The Brazilian is naturally dynamic, and has a great dig on him, and that could also be a contributory factor in a must-win game.
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[/spoiler]Manchester United are going ahead with plans to make a £55m bid for Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana, 25, and defender Luke Shaw, 18. DSSC
Barcelona are set to make a £30m bid for Mesut Ozil, 25, this summer, a year after Arsenal paid Real Madrid £42m for the German midfielder. TalkSHIT
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is looking to bring in Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, 24, as an eventual replacement for 32-year-old Leon Osman. Daily Star
Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna, 31, will leave the Gunners when his contract expires this summer and is seeking a move to either Manchester United or Manchester City. Daily Star
Midfielder Frank Lampard, 35, is set to sign a new one-year deal with Chelsea in the next 10 days. Daily Express
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 21, has been told to return to Chelsea this summer from his loan spell at Atletico Madrid — and could begin next season as their number one. Sun
Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 24, says he would never force a transfer away from the club following rumoured interest from Manchester United and Arsenal. Daily Mirror
Napoli defender Pablo Armero, 27, is hoping that his performances on loan at West Ham since January will have persuaded manager Sam Allardyce to sign him on a permanent basis this summer. TalkSHIT
Forward Gerard Deulofeu, 20, could be set to extend his loan stay at Everton from Barcelona for another season following an impressive spell at Goodison Park. Metro
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is weighing up a £5m bid for 24-year-old Monaco striker Emmanuel Riviere. Daily Express
Chelsea are set to reward Cesar Azpilicueta, 24, for a good season with a new £70,000-a-week contract, despite the club's interest in signing fellow left-back Shaw, 18, from Southampton as a possible replacement for Ashley Cole. DSSC
However, the Blues are also said to be looking at Sevilla's Alberto Moreno, 21, as a successor to Cole. Daily Express
David Moyes's reign as Manchester United manager will have been worth £7m to the Scot in wages and compensation once his settlement is finalised. Daily Telegraph
Moyes is said to feel let down by his predecessor at United Sir Alex Ferguson, who he thinks failed to support him enough in the latter stages of his tenure at Old Trafford. Daily Mirror
But Ferguson has told a charity lunch he was unhappy with the way the club handled the dismissal of his successor. DSSC
Ferguson also tried to save his fellow Scot Moyes from the axe, pleading his case to the rest of the Manchester United board. Sun
Ferguson interrupted Ryan Giggs's first training session with a phone call of support for the United interim boss. Daily Mirror
Juventus boss Antonio Conte has emerged as a contender for the post of United manager. Daily Telegraph
Martinez has dismissed talk linking him with the vacant post at Old Trafford following his successful season in charge at Everton. Daily Express
United's players are in the firing line after the Glazer family arrived in England yesterday to carry out their own post-mortem following Moyes's dismissal. Daily Star
Tottenham players are considering a pre-match handshake snub for Charlie Adam this weekend with the north Londoners having not forgiven the Stoke midfielder for his tackle on Paulinho in December which left the Brazilian out for a month. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert insists he will not buckle under pressure despite his side's struggles in the Premier League this season. Birmingham Mail
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre says the club have recovered from being "seconds from financial disaster" to re-establish themselves at the top of English football. Daily Telegraph
A disgruntled Manchester United fan who had the words "Moyes out" tattooed on his backside has had the body art updated with the addition of "Job complete" following the sacking of Moyes. Metro
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