The Blues' Carrington training ground has been a quiet place this week because they have had so many players away on duty for their countries. But the manager takes that as a good sign.
No fewer than 11 City players were selected for international duty, although Emile Mpenza returned to Carrington after pulling out of Belgium's squad with hamstring and thigh problems.
The striker has a chance of being fit for Saturday's trip to Newcastle and, as long as everyone else comes back without picking up any injuries, Pearce is certain that there will be no repeat of the dreadful finish to last season which saw his side lose nine of their final 10 Premiership matches.
Chances
No-one is pretending City have an easy run-in, with home games against Liverpool and United and trips to Arsenal and Tottenham still to come.
But with games against Charlton, Fulham, Watford and Aston Villa also coming up after Saturday's trip to Newcastle, Pearce knows that the Blues will have chances to collect the 10 points they need to beat last season's final tally of 43.
And with so many internationals on his books - eight were selected for their full squads, while Joe Hart, Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge were picked in their respective age groups for England - Pearce is confident that he has the quality at hand to push for a positive finish to a difficult season.
"I think one feather in the cap at the club is the fact that we've got 11 current internationals," Pearce said. "I can't remember the last time we had that sort of number.
"As long as we can make sure that we go into the back end of the week and we've got everyone as fit as they are now, that's the important thing.
"This time last year we had 10 injuries, including Joey Barton, Claudio Reyna and Andy Cole, which cost us dearly in the run-in.
"At the moment, we've got Nedum Onuoha, Trevor Sinclair and hopefully Danny Mills coming out of the treatment room to join us. So if all goes well with those, and the others stay fit, we've near enough a full squad of players fit and available."
Important
Pearce has placed great importance on keeping a proper perspective during a season which has flitted between the verge of a European challenge and a relegation battle.
"It's important to keep a level head," said Pearce. "Since Boxing Day we've won four and lost five in the league. If you bolt Cup matches on to that as well, we've won three Cup matches and only lost one. So, all of a sudden, maybe it doesn't look so bad.
"But it's important that, between now and the summer, we make sure we get the results that push us further up the league."
And having survived the speculation surrounding his job in the build-up to the win at Middlesbrough, Pearce thinks it's time people were less pessimistic.
"There are a lot of positives," he added.
"Michael Johnson was outstanding in his performance at Middlesbrough, considering it was only his second start for the club.
"We think he's got a bright future, and we had the confidence in him to put him straight in the side."
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The prospect of Mills & Sinclair returning is most amusing
I think we'll stay up, just. There are some positives at the club right but Pearce must be judged on a number of criteria..league position=not good enough..football being played=not good enough..transfer dealings=not good enough. I've always stood up for Pearce when he's been critisied sometimes unfairly in my view, but if we do get investment into the club, I would not want it being spent by Pearce. It has to be investment and Allardyce in the summer, asuming we stay up.
Another demented picture of our leader.
City linked with Chris Brunt, however Steve Davies Aston Villa and Northern Ireland, a player not getting first team football at Villa. Class act, this should be another International on City's books
Erm, Stu, Just to let you know that whilst you've been daydreaming about England, a repeat of last season's collapse has been underway for some time now mate!
On a more entertaining (and come to think of it more realistic than anything our manager says) note, anyone else catch last night's episode of Life On Mars? Surely DCI Hunt's rant that ended with the words 'you Man United supporting p**f' should earn him a Bafta?! Magnificent stuff!
More tosh from SP. I would respect him more if he put his hands up and admitted he had made mistakes and was going to put them right. All we ever seem to hear is excuses or statistics portrayed in a way to suggest everything is fine when quite clearly it is not.
No! They are already in it! This year's has just lasted longer! Your only real problem Mr P is who is going to score the goals? Same as England's really!
Typical of Pearces dumb logic
to say it's cool having most of his first team squad away playing and traveling the world, days before a match that could decide the future of the club.
Pearce needs more than International Rescue to turn things around. I would sooner see Brains,Lady Penelope and Parker etc at City than the puppets we have already in charge
Re: Rick, glouc...Rick, you mention you want Allardyce yet criticise SP's style of footbal. Surely you don't think Allardyce will change this...look at Bolton, they are the most boring team in the premiership.
No 2 seasons are the same. Last season we were entiely safe in the Premeieship having been very highly placed at several stages. Our unexpected loss at home to West Ham in the Cup bought our season to a premature end That does not excuse the failure to score league points afterwards. That if any thimg was a warnig that SP cannot motivate this team on a consistent basis.
This year the repeat of last year will ont occur because it cannot. IF it did occur managemant and players would be part of a mass exodus.Which aprt from one or two exceprions they do not want.
The number of internationals is fine but only if those players come back and are prepared to fight.
Since when was international
football a gauge of anything?
We couldn't buy a goal or a point this time last season,
and the same scenario is happening as we speak.Pearce got away with it last season because we had such an unexpectedly good start,that most certainly isn't the case this time.That's why I'm worried.
Daz in Denton - point taken, although I think Bolton get critisised unfairly sometimes for their style, I see a lot of teams hittng long balls. BUT i actually mention three criteria that i feel are important, and in the other 2 of those, league position and transfer dealings, Allardyce's record is fantastic. For me, he's definately the manager I'd go hell for leather for - and I also think he needs a new challenge and would have nothing to lose in trying to be the first guy in decades to 'crack' the job at City, if he did that, i think he'd get the England job for sure later down the line, so it could be a win/win, but i don't think we'll get him unless we get some investment in the club.
Yes Blue John unforgettable TV last night with that rant from DCI Hunt! I wonder what he'd have to say to SP?
Survival is the key word for this season. Remaining in the Prem is a must i'm afraid. The club really is on a knife edge at this present time both in financial and footballing terms.
When, and if a new owner arrives then the future direction of the club will be clearer. Until then all this supposition regarding a change of manager etc.. is futile. I imagine that come the Summer, then the future path for the club will be evident. If a new investor takes over then don't expect a 'Roman' type of benefactor to suddenly jettison the club into a top 4, Champions League contender.
What SP is saying, is that we have the nucleus of a good side. With 3 or 4 quality additions to the squad, then the club will move forward.
City need stability, and that will only come when a new board assumes control. That stability will cascade down through to the football pitch. Lastly, even if the present board remain, at least we will be aware of the restriction and cut our cloth accordingly.
Stability brings hope, at present it is a shambles. The clubs position in the league merely reflects the boardroom situation. Not good enough !.
blue john jealousy gets you know where even when its a fuynny quote of tv,lol
Championship football for citeh next year ave it and weep its a long way back up.
Blue john, that was a moment to savour on last nights telly, wasn't it.
I see the MEN are also using their favourite picture for this article again. They seem to use it whenever SP says something particularly daft. Like this time.
He seems not to have noticed we are already having the collapse. We have averaged less than a point a game in the second half of the season, with a lot of the tougher teams to come. We are also second worst for goals scored. Also the prospect of Danny Mills and Sinclair returning isn't impressive. Particlarly since SP has told both players they can leave.
Having said that I reckon we will stay up. And for once I think it might be our away form that saves us, starting with the magpies this weekend. Hope so anyway, because I'm going and unfortunately will be sober.
Finally I see Danny Mills has also got a new job now writing for a national paper. Well he has had a lot of time on his hands.
Graham Poll refereeing on Saturday at NU.....enough said!!!!
Another attempt at papering over the cracks with mis leading stats and clever words. How about 4 straight home defeats without scoring and it doesnt matter we won 3 cup games and lost one, lose one sunshine and you are out it only matters if you win the lot, you prat.