Manchester City will be top of the tree at Christmas for the first time since 1929 after a commanding victory over Stoke at the Etihad Stadium.
Two Sergio Aguero goals either side of a screamer from Adam Johnson saw the Blues brush aside one of the league's more stubborn opponents.
Roberto Mancini's side extended their 100 per cent home league record with the win.
Unbeaten
The win ensured City have gone a whole year unbeaten at home, the first time they have done so since 1976-77.
But it was not the comforting statistics that warmed the cockles of the City fans’ hearts, but the style and substance of the display against an unambitious Stoke side.
It was a dodgy game the visitors were playing, at times withdrawing all 11 players into the final third of the pitch in the hope of stifling the Blues’ attacking flair.
But this City team would back itself to pass its way through, or around, the Great Wall of China.
Last season there was much talk about Arsenal being the nearest English thing to the current, great Barcelona side. They were Barcelona Lite, until they met the real thing and were exposed as pretenders.
That mantle has now passed to City. Not surprisingly, this brilliant team of possessors and passers is constructed around a former Nou Camp star in Yaya Toure, and one who would fit in to the Barca team in a heartbeat, David Silva.
It is not quite tiki-taka that City play, but the high pressing, the patience, the slow-slow-quick and sudden penetration are all redolent of the Spanish aces.
To suggest this City team are close to the level of Barcelona right now would be rude and premature.
But the frightening thing for the rest of the Premier League – and Europe – is that they are still a work in progress.
Aguero, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy are still settling in, and will become more effective by next season.
But the solid ranks of stubborn Stoke were little more than a come-on to the seductive Blues.
The Stoke fans chanted “Boring, boring” as City kept the ball for long spells. You hope they had discovered irony, because if they truly prefer their side’s brand of up-and-at’em, let’s-win-a-throw-in football, then the game of football truly has died in the Potteries.
The beauty of what City did in the first half was to not only impose their own pattern of superlative football on proceedings, they totally nullified Stoke.
No corners, no free kicks in danger areas, no shots on goal, and only one throw-in in Blues territory. Stats to gladden a manager’s heart.
At the other end, it soon became plain that even hard-working Stoke would not resist the irresistible forever.
Scoring
It was a dangerous game from the visitors, as City are as capable of scoring from distance as they are of passing the ball into the net.
And when Adam Johnson let fly from 20 yards, the ball looped off Marc Wilson and twanged off Thomas Sorensen’s crossbar.
The tipping point came on 29 minutes and, while the finish was scruffy, the build-up was the antithesis of everything Stoke stand for – and that is not being uncomplimentary.
Awarded a corner, the Blues took it short and set about passing their way to goal. It spoke of an enormous belief and was vindicated as Silva slipped a pass to Yaya Toure who dinked a cross which Vincent Kompany touched on to the keeper.
Sorensen could only palm it as far as Aguero, and he clumsily helped it into the net.
The mental and physical toll which City take on teams was evident when Dean Whitehead was forced to field the ball down by his own by-line.
With bodies ahead and to the side, he aimed a sloppy pass to the edge of his own box, and Adam Johnson smashed an unstoppable, corkscrewing shot inside Sorensen’s near post.
Realising they could face a hammering whether they decided to stick or twist, Stoke wisely decided to have a go at City in the second half, which relieved some of the pressure on their shell-shocked defence.
But it also meant that when the Blues did attack, they had more time and space in which to operate.
So it was that just nine minutes into the half, Yaya Toure roved into an uncommon wide space deep in Stoke territory, and slid his pass for Nasri on the right.
The cross was simple and perfect, the finish equally so, a goal delicious in its ease.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Manchester City 3 Stoke 0 - Stuart Brennan's verdict
December 21, 2011
Comments
Login or Register to comment
good performance without getting into 2nd gear
the new year is blue
Has there ever been a game before this one when the visitors didn`t have one shot, not even off target ?
Happy days !!
Aguero's best game in a city shirt up to date. not at the game but watched on the tinternet a lot of the City players were in second gear but enough to get past a poor Stoke side.
I have never seen a blue win so bombastic since the Rag trashing 1-6... We were absolute on top of the potters in everything, especially in mental strength. No point of giving the ball away at any time. Looked like we had two players more the whole game. Real class act!
Silvaware is coming
Now the real work begins...
Nice easy win against a Stoke side who didn't want to win. Top for Xmas. :)
Next!
Another calm, controlled and technically top notch performance. The movement, the passing and more importantly the desire was all present in abundance yet again. The team just keep growing and as long as we cope with Yaya being away for a month we will be there or thereabouts come the spring. Utd are still annoyingly picking up wins and even though we are the superior footballing team and play with more flair and skill you cant be-grudge their winning habit. Actually forget that of course you can - we hate them and their lack of quality and i honestly think their reputation is a factor in other teams not yet realising quite how average they are..........1-6, ahhhhhhh, that feels better........
MOTM for me today was Barry who was brilliant although i also thought Nasri had a fantastic game, he never seems to lose the ball - he'll keep improving the more he settles into his new team. Johnson hit a belter and i loved seeing Bobby give him an encouraging thumbs up but for me personally two incidents at the end vindicate all the times Mancini is vocal in letting Adam know he can improve. That shirt pull was one of the most pointless bookings of all time and he really should have buried that chance right at the end, Mancini like all of us know AJ is a real talent but he can do more, frustrating but nevertheless i love seeing him play, he always has an impact. We love ya Johno...............
Merry Christmas one and all................
Won at a canter, cool running. Next. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to everyone to do with CITY. Happy anniversary to Roberto. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all at M.E.N.
Astonishing superiority. How Stoke got away with only 3-0 only they will know. 8-0 would have been fairer reflection. Lovin' it!!!!!!!!
Got what I asked for, a clean sheet and 2 goals in the Ist half and a 3rd in the 2nd. Commanding performance from a much changed eleven.
Good all round performance....... the players wont be knackered after that stroll....
Well Stoke tried to park the bus, couldn't find any parking spaces and went home. Can't remember the last time we had it so easy, with not even one shot off target for Stoke, quite frankly they were scared to death. Still despatched with aplomb and it's onwards and upwards.
Just heard Charlie Nicholas on Sky, he reckons we can't win the title. What are these people on???
i watched this highly professional performance in a sports bar in chicago which turned out to be a ghetto of arsenal fans... all still hurting from last sunday, and desperate for a result against villa, just to hang onto our coat-tails. how times have changed..........
a very merry christmas, to all lifelong blues (and to any newcomers as well, why be churlish...? there's plenty of joy to go around...)
We are reducing the goal difference.... btw you lot drew with FULHAM in the same ground!
happy days and happy xmas to blues supporters every where
Well done City, looked like Stoke were saving themselves for matches where they had a chance ? but no excuses for QPR and Fulham rolling over against the reds in home games
I reckon "twanged" must be word of the week. Nice one Stuart.
Totally Controlled Performance from The 1st whistle.....We just make things look so easy.....When will we hit Top Gear ?.MERRY BLUE CHRISTMAS everyone !.
No need to extend ourselves against a totally unambitious Stoke team. Did all that was necessary and won with easily with plenty to spare. The away games coming up should provide sterner tests.
Hi berties
Still in our shadows i see Manchester United 5.0 Fulham at the cottage. Mark my words Fulham and QPR will finish in the top 4 next season with your blues fighting relegation. You might laugh but you watch.
See you had the Dean tonight, more like mr Bean never allowed Stoke a shot at goal or a goal attempt how biased is that. Pullis had his tactics spot on and stoke dominated ciddy for most of the game just unlucky they were denied a penalty and that Aguero was not penalised for loitering in the box and offside. Joe Hart a long way to go to match De Gea and Foster in fact he is living in Fosters shadow.
Your Kolo was invisible and kerwyn gave him the runaround. The stats did not tell it all Stoke were superior and you's know it.
Anyway looks like 20 for my team with superior all round quality. Rooney is untouchable in this form and Berba's goal was sheer indulgence.
Well berties we know yer quququiverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring and shakiiiiiiiiiiing in yer boots SAF has you in his sites so be afraid berties.
Berties refer to us as Manchester United not Manu we don't like it and it is disrespectful and don't take offence at beinbg called ciddy know your place!
That makes us Joint top for christmas I think!
It must be hurting united with CITY sat on them.
Stunning performance all round, happy Christmas to blues world wide.
The two bookings were the only downside,not sure why Richards is committing fouls 75 yards from our goal. Johnson's booking illustrated how little feeling some of the refs have for the game, it was a nothing challenge nowhere near goal in a game that was over - why not a little word and have done with it? Especially when he chose to ignore his linesman who nearly broke his arm waving for a foul on Mario, I realise he played advantage but he still have to go back and find out what happened surely? Seems Mario can only commit fouls for most of these refs!
There was a time when Stoke would have proved a tough fixture particularly with Stoke on the kind of form they were in.
Now, the Blues are able to cruise through such games in second gear and didn't allow Stoke a single shot on goal and to be frank 3-0 flattered Stoke enormously.
Nasri seems to be a lot happier playing a more central role as he did today.
Poor Stoke couldn't do anything but watch City play rings around them.
It would be interesting to see what the possession stats and comparison of number of passes in this game.
I'm sure the stats would underline the utter domination by City
Yeah but have we broke any records lately? :-)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE everybody do yourselves a favour and read the post by BILLY OWEN,Urmston below.....