WANTED man Nicolas Anelka struck a 40-second opener as Manchester City completed their pre-season preparations with a handsome win over Lazio to claim the first Thomas Cook Trophy.
Linked with moves to Barcelona and Monaco in midweek, Anelka proved his worth by providing a neat finish to Paul Bosvelt's through ball to send City on their way to a deserved victory as Jon Macken netted a second before Antoine Sibierski tucked home a penalty 17 minutes from time.
After last season's dismal form, it means City can approach next weekend's Barclays Premiership opener with Fulham in confident mood - providing Anelka's services can be retained.
After a relatively calm summer for a man whose life is frequently disrupted by controversy, the future of the Blues' '13million record signing is again in doubt following the startling admission of Monaco coach Didier Deschamps that he had spoken to his fellow Frenchman.
Despite their run to last season's Champions League final, it is doubtful whether Monaco have the resources to tempt City into a straight sale and there is no chance of the player being allowed to leave on loan.
His value to Keegan's side is immense, even if there are encouraging signs that some of last season's big disappointments may do better this term.
Anelka struck 25 times last season and his finish after a mere 40 seconds this afternoon as he strode onto Paul Bosvelt's through ball and lifted a first-time shot over Matteo Sereni, was immaculate.
Emergency search
The goal was due reward for the high-ranking City officials who had been forced into emergency service as pre-match shirt number pressers after Lazio had arrived with white shirts instead of the dark blue they were supposed to bring.
With City due to wear the same colour, a hasty search of the stadium stock room was required to unearth a batch of sky blue home kits, which were still having the numbers attached 15 minutes before the game was due to start.
Shorn of almost all their star names due to a cost-cutting exercise of which Leeds would be proud, Lazio lacked urgency and direction and left City to dictate the pace of the game.
Even from an unaccustomed right-back position, Shaun Wright-Phillips enhanced his blossoming reputation with a couple of darting runs and neat crosses, one of which should have brought City a second, only for Ousmane Dabo to clear Sibierski's shot off the line.
The hosts continued their dominance after the interval and only a superb close range block from Sereni's illustrious half-time replacement Angelo Peruzzi prevented Claudio Reyna capping an excellent performance with a goal.
Shots fired in
Paulo Wanchope then fizzed a shot just over before fellow substitute Macken doubled City's lead with a superb curling effort from the right corner of the box after Trevor Sinclair had laid a short pass into the former Preston man's path.
It proved to be the prelude for a pair of penalties, both of which were incredibly soft as Sylvain Distin was ruled to have shoved over Roberto Muzzi and Wanchope tumbled to the floor under Massimo Oddo's challenge.
It was Oddo who had just sent David James the wrong way with Lazio's spot-kick and the full-back could only watch on as Sibierski decisively beat Peruzzi.
There was still time for the Italian `keeper to produce a stunning save to deny Macken but it did little to affect the outcome of a game that will provide City with the self-belief they lacked so badly 12 months ago.
In this sort of form, do City look set for a good season? Have your say.
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Excellent performance today in extremely hot conditions. We looked stronger, quicker, leaner and keener with a fierce determination to win every ball. Plus points were the passing which was sharp and quick and the ball was moved quickly from one side of the pitch to the other and also the way everyone performed their defensive duties even the strikers - excellent. Still a couple of shaky moments and Lazio are not the team of previous seasons but it certainly was an impressive performance and a good morale booster before Fulham. Willo Flood looked good on the big pitch and Paddy McCarthy didn't look out of place when he came on. So well done Blues, it was a good day....apart from it being so bloody hot!!
Thought Jordan actually looked better than Thatcher when he came on at half-time
CITY are ready "Lets go !"
Come on you BLUES!
Go Macken! Prove them all wrong.........................
The boys will come good after last year which was bedding into the new stadium which even the fans will understand. I'm hopeful KK can lift us to top 10 and a cup final would be great. 81 is too long since i was last there. I also think the CoMS will become a fortress and those draws turn to wins.
Cheers lads
Its early days yet,but hopefully we have 2 full backs who do exactly" what it says on the tin" DEFEND.The other main factor is can Distin learn from last season.If thats the case we have a midfield and attack who will always make chances,the secret is taking them!! I believe that we are capable of achieving a top 8 place.Now we are through the first season of getting to know our new home.the fans should feel more at home.
Just as someone said after our shockingly poor results against third division teams - friendlies prove nothing! Same happened last season. Its great to have the confidence of thinking you can do no wrong - that lets players be themselves and do the things they do everyday on the trianing pitch. If we had of lost all our friendlys then the team wouldn't have this confidence and wouldn't be able to trust each other - they would have no faith in the keeper so they would sit back and defend for their lifes in the next few games.... after winning in pre season the boys will feel confident that they can rely on all their teammates and allow themselves to puch forward knowing that nothing will get through the backline. As people kept saying last season - Ferguson had a bad first season....we can only hope!
match ratings;- James,only had to save a pen 7;SWP,3 intercepting tackles 1 dodgy back pass 7;Thatcher,terrible passes going forward left on his own to often nice elbow 7;Dunne,won everything commanding 8;Distin,mistake leading to poor pen only stayed on to pick up trophy 6;Sibierski,great link up with forwards but needs to defend more 7;Reyna,best player on pitch by a mile 9;Bosvelt,great pass for goal and busy doing the basics right 8;McManaman,only kick courtesy of a Lazio boot 6;Fowler,lot of effort but non end product 7;Anelka,took goal well was a threat everytime 8;Subs;Barton,best right back for a while won every tackle 7;Jordan,better than Thatcher left his mark on Oddo 7;Sinclair,stop showboating and pass to blue shirts in box 6;Wanchope,unlucky to find Peruzzi in great form 3 chances to score 7;Macken,great goal must start next week 8;Bischoff,the more he plays the better he gets 7;McCarthy,slotted in never put a foot wrong 7; Flood,great energy must be for bench 8.Overall we deserved to win against a poor Lazio side but for Perruzi it would have been 6 or 7-1.Play the same next week and 3 points are in the bag.CTID.
Enjoyed the game yesterday, thought Lazio were poor . The best thing was that KK gave the kids a chance, they all looked the part to me . The heat took its toll on both teams but Lazio failed to take advantage of all the changes City made . Great goal by Macken, Anelka looked sharp, hopefully Thatcher will prove a bargain given time .I think the squad is big enough if the kids are given a chance , Ellegaard should be No2 until Weaver is fit .Roll on the new season !
I keep reading about how City lacked self-belief at the beginning of last season. This simply isn't true. We enjoyed quite a successful pre-season, culminating in the 2-1 defeat of Barcelona, and then topped the table briefly after four games. The aforementioned lack of self-belief came later on, after throwing away the chance of burying Groclin at COMS.
City's real test will come when they hit a sticky patch. That is when we will see if things really have improved. Personally, I reckon we will have a much better season and I can't wait to get started.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!
i really feel postive about city this year. city must keep anelka happy as he is a class player. And i so glad swp is staying, he will prove to be invaluable to city and parhaps england. And with keegans bonding approach maybe city`s players have geled well and can push a champeans league spot. when city are on fire watch out any team.
City are playing with a renewed confidence and should be able to finish in the top half of the league this season. Reyna is playing really well and could prove to be the drivng force of the midfield with SWP. The defence is tighter which should give Calamity more confidence too. It's just a question of who will spearheard our attack. Forget Fowler, let's try Macken and the Elk.
Now I am looking forward to the new season, especially as Fulham will be without Steed Malbranque and Lee Clarke, their two best midfielders. A good two or three nil win at home to get us going would be useful and 12 points in the bag after we have played Crystal Palace away would be useful. Quite optimistic now. Would be good if KK could get in the players for the positions where we are weak like sub goalie, cb and left flank midfielder/winger but otherwise stick with what we've got. Don't think Wiltord is sorted yet. May come back if he is desperate!
why would we want a desperate wiltord? id rather have a desperate flood.
Although Italian clubs never seem to play very decent friendlies and their season will start in about 3 or 4 weeks, most pre-season friendlies went well and the youngsters fitted in nicely. So let's stick to the current team that is gelling together instead of buying a few Bosman-players who at this time are probably desperate to join any team and may effect teamspirit.
KK is satisfied so far, the fans are, the board is, so let's see what happens the next few months.