Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has warned fans not to start expecting too many goals.
City were back at their freescoring best as they crushed Norwich 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
That took their goal tally to a remarkable 48 in just 14 league games – just 12 behind their total for the whole of last season – and they are well on course to smash Chelsea’s record of 103 from the 2009-10 campaign.
But as exciting as that is for supporters, Barry insists the victory column is the only statistic that matters.
The 30-year-old England international said: “It is an unbelievable record and at times people were getting frustrated because we were finding it hard to break them down in the first half an hour.
“But if people are patient they will realise we are going to create chances and eventually get the goals. When people start expecting 5-1 wins at home it can become very dangerous.
“It is important the players keep trying to create as many chances and score as many goals as possible, but most importantly keep playing as a team and keep winning football matches.”
Accolade
Barry was awarded the fans’ man-of-the-match award but felt the accolade should really have been shared around for another superb team display.
He said: “I am playing in a fantastic team. Obviously with these players your confidence keeps growing and growing.
“If we are going to achieve stuff the squad is going to be more important than the team.”
Mancini must now juggle his players again with this Wednesday’s decisive Champions League game against Bayern followed by a trip to Chelsea.
Mancini said: “Always it is difficult to choose a teamsheet because I am very sorry when I leave out players.
“But now we play every three days. In three days we have an important match in the Champions League and then we play Chelsea and Arsenal. We have a lot of games.”
Balotelli, returning after serving a ban for his sending off at Liverpool, again managed to cause a stir by scoring with his shoulder. Mancini played down suggestions he was being cocky.
He said: “Mario is like this, he is a fantastic player. It was a nice finish, typical Mario.”
What do you think? Have your say.
Gareth Barry cools excitement over free-scoring Manchester City
December 05, 2011
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Most people around me thought Norwich would defend in numbers and we'd score 2 or maybe 3. City supporters a have been around long enough to know about not getting carried away. We are just absolutely loving what we see. Balotellis finish had us in stitches.
Very very tough six weeks ahead. I don't rate our chances of CL progression but hopefully by the end of Jan we will still be in the FA Cup, still have a 5 point lead at the top of the PL and have the league cup final to look forward to. This would however take some good fortune as well as a monumental effort; the games are thick and fast. PL is the priority.
If I didn't dislike them so much, I'd take my hat off to the rags as to how they kept going on many fronts over the years.
Barry is quite right. City are at present, a pretty good side but no more. They are being made to look better as the rest of the PL are rubbish particularly Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal who all have their worst teams for years.
Such a level headed guy, has certainly proved me wrong this season, I didnt think he was capable of upping his game enough to be a regular starter, thought he would be just a bit part player. He has though and is putting in great performance on a regular basis, never thought I'd say it but deserves to keep his place in front of Nige at the minute.
Keep it up GB, your calming influence on the pitch is what will be needed in the 2nd half of the season.
City now have a few decisions to make !!! Do we try and win all 4 competitions and end up with nothing or do we select certains ones and give it 100% in terms of team selection etc ??? Many teams before us have attempted to win on all fronts and failed.
IMO City should always play our best 11 in every EPL game and we may as well do the same in both semi's against the 'wallet takers' but in the FA Cup and Europa league(if we end up there) i would play the squad team, '2 birds in the hand better than 4 in the bush'as the saying goes. CTID CTID
I say to our team " just keep on going and just keep your focus because the goals will come anyway" 65 goals so far we have scored in all competitive fixtures including the Community Shield game is something we could only dream about less than ten seasons ago.
Remember goals lead to points so stop counting and just get on with it....
48 goals.
Should have been at least 60.
Disillusioned
Stockport
Thank you Manchester City.
I first started watching City more than 50 years ago
And feel privaleged this season for witnessing some of the best goals I have ever seen by a City team.
Gareth this is your best season with us so far, for me always first name on the team sheet. As for Mario, the way he took his goal was worth the entrance fee alone.
Ted Nostalgia reigns (or is that rains now we are in sunnier days).
Alex Harley, big strong bustler. His goals were no way in the class of the build up we see with this team. Was it 32 he scored in 1962 -63 season? He got the winner at the Swamp and p*ssed off at the end of his only season, we went down.
Derek Kevan was the best Centre Forward in his day when at West Brom. He arrived in truly dark days at Maine Road. It was a great pity we didn't get him until the near the end of his career. I saw most of his goals along with Jimmy Murray's - what a combination!
Kevan had the hardest shot I have seen and headed them almost as hard. Murray got loads sniffing out Kevan's shots the keepers could not hold.
God knows how many Kevan would score if he was in this team - equally same thought on Franny Lee.
However, we have NEVER seen in my lifetime goals anywhere near the class in build up at this club as this season.
That's a FACT!