Manchester United 1 - 6 Manchester City: Five Thoughts
by Danny Pugsley on Oct 23, 2011 5:46 PM BST
in Manchester City: Five thoughts
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The late flourish against a United side that ended in disarray added the emphasis but what shouldn't be forgotten in the context of the game is what a controlled and confident performance that was for the entire game. The stats heading into the game did not lie: United possessing a daunting home record, Roberto Mancini yet to beat United in the Premier League and Old Trafford historically being a graveyard of crushed hopes for City. Yet, after a bright start by United (to be expected of course) City settled into their game. At the point of the sending off they looked to be comfortable, but once the second was added the confidence in their game visibly grew.
You have to credit Mancini for a large part of today. It is impossible to predict the side he sends out but selection and tactics were spot on. Eyebrows were raised when Nigel de Jong was named on the bench, with the consensus being that you needed two 'holding' midfielders against United. However, something I've noticed in the numbers this season is that United play a larger percentage of longer passes than other sides around the top end of the Premier League and with two wide men it only left the central pairing of Anderson and Darren Fletcher. This allowed Mancini to go with Yaya Toure, James Milner, David Silva and Sergio Aguero, shifting more emphasis onto an attacking game and safer in the knowledge that they could control the midfield areas.
Three players in particular deserve plenty of credit today: James Milner, David Silva and Mario Balotelli. Milner's play of late has been such that it was widely anticipated that he would get the start over Samir Nasri and his performance was symptomatic of the season he is having and once again (just like Tuesday against Villarreal) he was involved in key goals. I've questioned Mario Balotelli previously; not for any perceived attitude issues but in quite how he fits into the side but of late, he has come into the side and led the line impressively. He is able to finish with ease and I'm certain that with the goals he has scored of late Mancini will continue to ride the hot hand. Mentions too should go to Micah Richards for his strong performance and Edin Dzeko, who importantly got back amongst the goals.
No doubt the win - and in particular the manner of it - will result in talk of power shifts (City have now been made favourites for the title) and having laid down a marker. Heading into the season I wrote that it was hard to tag City as genuine challengers as they have no history of being that, let alone evidenced they can sustain a challenge deep into the season. City have countered that with the start they have had the win today quietened talk of having profited from an easy start to the season. When you strip the game down to its most base level it was just three points that were won and it is true that titles are won in April and May, City do look to have the belief about them of a side whocan win the Premier League and in Roberto Mancini, a manager who transmits this and looks to be able to keep his players focussed on the ultimate prize.
In terms of the title race, what will be telling for United is not this result (or performance) per se but in how they respond. They have suffered crucial defeats before of course, but have that innate ability to be able to bounce back from setbacks and come back stronger. There is no questioning that their attack is strong and is enough to beat the majority of sides in the Premier League, but as I focussed on in this piece for EPL Index, there are legitimate concerns in defence with the number of chances they are conceding. As to precisely why this is, there are no easy answers (although many do point to the central midfield area) but what is clear is that you cannot sustain conceding the number of chances they do (average almost 20 per game heading into today) over a consistent period of time. The clincial nature and ruthlessness of City's attack has been to the fore this season and once Jonny Evans was sent off they couldn't stem the tide. Could this be an area that will be their achilees heel over the course of the season?
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3 points is 3 points. Just as important in October as in May. Huge confidence boost. QPR beating Chelsea was icing on the cake today.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
True story, plus United basically got some free points from Arsenal by catching them at the exact worst moment of their season. This ain’t over by a long shot, but going into the Trafford and getting three is gigantic.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 23, 2011 6:32 PM BST up reply actions
I saw it very slightly differently Danny. City did start in a hybrid 4-3-2-1 with Yaya and Barry holding, Milner tucked in on the right to keep tight to Young, and Silva and Aguero floating behind Balotelli. As the game wore on we shifted to our more accustomed 4-2-3-1 with Milner getting forward more left and right and Richards overlapping.
In this formation we grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. For the first 30 or so minutes there we were sat too deep and there was a gulf between midfield and attack. Once Milner had nullified Young he pushed forward and linkage was achieved.
Few other things:
1) Mea culpe! Balotelli led the line brilliantly. Whatever happened the other night he is really beginning to repay Mancini’s faith. Looks a really super player.
2) Looks like De Jong is no longer an automatic starter. He did not look happy on the bench.
3) Micah Richards is the best right back in England.
This was great fun. Controlled performance, solid in defense, audacious in attack. On this form we can’t be stopped. Silva’s first time pass for Dzeko’s second (our 6th) was so far beyond sublime it was ridiculous.
Good point re Milner – not sure he started supporting Richards too much but once Young had the bright opening then it was evident. Then, when City settled he became more involved from an attacking sense.
Big surprise with de Jong’s omission. Not sure if tactical or fitness? If tactical then first time I can recall him being left out. Johnson didn’t make the 16 either.
by Danny Pugsley on Oct 23, 2011 8:17 PM BST up reply actions
Think I read somewhere that it was a late fitness scratch? Not sure though. Even the City website gamecast had de Jong in initially, then scratched him for Toure. Though, if de Jong had started, why the Yaya omission? de Jong + Barry sounds odd to me unless Toure is hurt.
Also would have loved to rub some salt in United’s wounds by A) including Hargreaves on the bench and then B) putting him in at the end at 6-1 for a few glory minutes.
Big players make big plays
I had been thinking the same, it would have been nice to rub salt in the wound.
by modsuperstar on Oct 24, 2011 6:05 PM BST up reply actions
Loved every second
Caught it on the TiVo. Absolutely loved it.
This win means Roberto Mancini can look at any player in the eye and say, “I’ve got this.” Nigel was upset today? 6-1. Tevez? 6-1. Dzeko not starting? Johnson moved down?
6-1.
And one more thing
Wasn’t Nani supposed to dominate Glichy? I read that used to happen in years past.
Not today.
Damn, I can’t stop smiling.
Anyone else finding yourself smiling/chuckling to yourself randomly throughout the day?
What a great feeling. Can’t stop watching the highlights. Also downloading the entire match right now.
Big players make big plays
I'm hugging strangers.
Got slugged a couple of times. I don’t care.
by SufferingBruin on Oct 24, 2011 1:46 AM BST up reply actions
Surely we should write and say it 1-6, not 6-1. 6-1 means we beat them at our place. 1-6 means so much more. I, for one, shall forever call it the 1-6. I love my wife, I love my daughter, and I love my 1-6.
That’s just nitpicky. In North American sports that would be correct, as the home team is mentioned last, which makes sense to me. And when it comes to talking about sports scores I can’t recall anyone I know talking sports that would “City won today 1-6”.
by modsuperstar on Oct 24, 2011 6:10 PM BST up reply actions
Blue moon rising!
A shift of powers is slowly starting to happen, this is only the beginning. Balotelli is fitting in nicely now, Dzeko finally put himself back on the scoresheet, he also had a few other really good chances, he needs to capitalize on his finishing though, not this game only but overall and throughout the year. Kun is just great, perfect compliment for Silva’s playmaking. Milner played a very strong game today, great overall defense and shutting down United on our side and even around the 18. Couldn’t be happier.
Proudly suffering as a Ranger fan.
Mancini
In full agreement with the praise for Mancini. You have to know when to commend as well as condemn a manager, and City’s progress has much to do with the solid defence he’s stubbornly attended to since arriving. Now, with the handbrake off, you look unstoppable.
The result reminded me of Barca’s 5-0 thrashing of Mourinho’s Real Madrid last season (I blogged about it here: http://www.premier-league-blog.co.uk/united-crushed-by-citys-barcelona-moment/). Purely as a marker laid down to a rival. It’s nothing like United’s 8-2 win over Arsenal this season – that was against a completely decimated line-up. This was against a strong, confident side in good form. It could be a long chase for United now.
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