Manchester City - Midseason report
Thursday, 17 Jan 2008 12:29
A look back over the first half of the 2007/08 season, and a look forward to what is still to come.
The season so far
Goal difference is all that keeps Manchester City from a Champions League place at the mid-way point of the season after the arrival of Sven-Goran Eriksson transformed City from a struggling side into genuine European contenders.
Considering City managed so few goals at home in the Premier League under Stuart Pearce, the 19 goals netted at Eastlands so far is a welcome break for fans.
Cautious optimism was the feeling at the beginning of the season and with the former England manager installed and a host of new signings, the team was either going to improve or spectacularly crash.
Thankfully the team has lived up to their manager's hype and Eriksson will be getting very little stick from fans during the new year if the team continue their march into the top four.
The 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the beginning of the season gave City fans early bragging rights although the 6-0 humbling at the hands of Chelsea was a stark reminder of City's weaknesses.
Richard Dunne and Micah Richards have proved an impressive pair at the heart of the defence and could be crucial to City's chances of sustaining a European challenge until the end of the season.
The new signings
Eriksson's bullish approach to the transfer market has left City with a different team from last season - literally.
Martin Petrov, Elano, Javier Garrido, Vedran Corluka and Rolando Bianchi have all had an impact on the first team with Gelson Fernandes and Geovanni providing some assistance from the bench.
Petrov has set up and scored goals all season and his constant threat down the left flank has proved him to be an inspired signing.
Garrido and Corluka have added some much-needed ability in defence with Corluka able to play in midfield as well.
After a good start, Bianchi has yet to become the scoring sensation he was in Serie A and he could be offloaded in January to make way for new blood and some goals.
Star man
Elano and Petrov have been battling it out for the prize of star man, although Richard Dunne and Joe Hart may have a case to make.
My vote goes to the Brazilian, Elano.
Taking up a role behind a lone striker, the little Brazilian has been the man to link the midfield to the attack and his penetrating range of passing and eye for the spectacular goal has resulted in numerous successes. He is also City's top scorer with six goals to his name.
His form has dropped over Christmas despite a good strike against Newcastle United a couple of weeks ago but there are few that have ignited the flames in the hearts of City fans in quite the same way over recent years.
His form will not be essential to City's challenge for a European spot, as Petrov and young Michael Johnson have showed their class from midfield, but if he can produce some more displays of real quality City could find themselves heading into the top four by May.
Manager approval rating
Sven-Goran Eriksson: 8/10
Eriksson has taken the bare bones of a disappointing squad and turned them into genuine European contenders. But perhaps his greatest achievement so far is taking a mundane team and bringing attractive football to Eastlands.
While the side's form has dropped off in recent weeks, City are still maintaining a good level of performance at home to keep them challenging near the summit.
No defeats will please the home fans who endured a series of painstaking displays last season but City need to find some points on their travels if they are to push on and show their potential.
Eriksson's signings have been entertaining, as have his interviews, and fans will be hoping that January brings some fresh legs to the team to continue their push for a European place.
January wish-list
Mexican striker Nery Castillo has already arrived and if he provides the goals there might not be a need for Michael Owen.
The Newcastle United forward has been coveted by Sven from his England days but it remains to be seen if the Toon would part with the injury-prone striker, even if owner Thaksin Shinawatra gets his considerable chequebook out.
Eriksson has added Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram to his squad and the Swede has described his new signing as "elegant".
Speaking after his side's recent defeat to Everton, the manager told the official club website that he wanted more players.
"We are working on things and hopefully something will happen. But it must happen soon because January is soon over," he said.
Richard Aylen
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