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The examination for City begins now…
Published by Ian John on September 18, 2009
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It’s been an interesting week for Manchester City fans. Last weekend’s home victory over Arsenal was somewhat overshadowed by the behaviour of Emmanuel Adebayor, for which he has received a three match ban and a mixture of condemnation from some and understanding from others. His behaviour on the pitch has been debated ad-infinitum this week, so I won’t comment too much on that, other than to say he did deliberately kick Van Persie and his celebration was a daft idea. However I also feel it is a bit rich for Arsene Wenger to condemn the player wholly and pay no comment to the vile Arsenal fans who seemed intent on demeaning the player and hurling abuse, and god knows what else, at him. Gareth Southgate had it right, why if fans can abuse players non stop for 90 minutes, do they take such hate filled umbridge when they put one over on them? What gives fans the right to be so absolutely vile? Their entrance money? Balls. If Arsenal fans can give it, then they should be able to take it and they couldn’t and while it is right Adebayor should serve a ban, it is also right that these idiots who spewed bile, caused a near riot and threw coins and god knows what else at the player, are equally condemned as small-minded, foul mouthed louts who are as much to blame for the incident as anyone else.
The news of Adebayor’s three match suspension will be a blow to City who take on Manchester United this weekend without their most in form striker. With Carlos Tevez, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz all out too, it will be a real test for City against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. Ferguson remains confident that City do not pose a significant title threat, dismissing their title credentials out of hand before the game this week and instead focusing on Chelsea’s fine start, but a victory for City would no doubt give the confident United boss pause for thought, especially if they achieve it minus some of their top stars.
For Mark Hughes it will be a pivotal game. Last weeks win over Arsenal was an excellent result, but Hughes will know that if City are to be classed as a genuine title contender, then it is the games against Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool at home and also away from Eastlands that will be their benchmark. Victory in these crucial games will confirm City as a genuine threat and now Hughes has to do that without four of his major strike threats.
The importance of being a genuine top four/five side will have hit home for Hughes this week as he watched the four Champions League sides record narrow victories in Europe. City, so far, are nowhere near that level based on previous seasons performances and Hughes will know, with the money invested in his side, that pushing on towards qualifying for that competition should be a minimum requirement for him this season, especially if the club are, at any point in the future, going to attempt to become self-sustaining.
United meanwhile are desperate to prove that life after Ronaldo goes on. With Wayne Rooney in form and the evergreen Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs still pulling the strings, United have not felt his loss too acutely thus far, though one wonders if had he been here for the Burnley game, would the Red Devils have lost it. Their defeat of Spurs last week will have buoyed them with confidence ahead of the derby game, but City will prove a sterner test than Harry Redknapp’s side, who once again capitulated in some style against Ferguson’s men, in what is becoming one of the most predictable results in the Premier League each season.
I fancy United to take this one narrowly, but I think the game will force Sir Alex to perhaps rethink his notion that City are not a real threat. Without their four main strikers, they may well be blunted in an attacking sense, but the quality is there. It is up to Hughes to forge them into a team capable of beating United. The signs are good, but the examination for City begins now.
Image courtesy of ***SJP Photography2009*** at flickr.com
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Nabyl Charania on Sat, 19th Sep 2009 12:41 pm
With Adebayor out, Robinho out, and Tevez potentially out, its not as exciting as it should have been, but it will still be one to watch.
Ian John on Sun, 20th Sep 2009 9:49 am
Not exciting eh? lol! Still, good to see the referee’s upholding the unwritten law that if United are not winning at Old Trafford they must play invented added on time until they do score a winner… City’s defence wasn’t strong enough in the second half though and they missed their injured players a great deal. Without Given it would have been 7-3. Ferdinand’s lack of form is a real worry for England and United though. He’s back to his bad habits from many years ago.