Manchester City may have lost the FA Cup derby on Sunday but there were plenty of positives to be drawn from the game.
And the latest instalment in the battle for supremacy only underlined the belief that the Premier League title race will ultimately be a straight dash between Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini.
After Sunday’s fireworks, MEN Sport’s James Robson finds five reasons for City to be cheerful:
1. Spirit of champions?
By the looks on the faces of City’s players and fans on Sunday you could have been forgiven for thinking it was the FA Cup holders who had secured their place in the fourth round.
That’s because of a rousing second-half performance that saw 10 men engulf the 11 of United and come mightily close to completing the unlikeliest of comebacks.
They didn’t manage to go all the way, but if you are going to lose a match, this is the way to lose it.
City’s fans left the Etihad feeling they had secured something of a moral victory.
Even in defeat, Mancini’s men sent out a message to United that they are prepared to fight them all the way in the race for the title.
2. Mancini – tactical genius
So often maligned by his own supporters for his perceived negative approach, the Italian’s tactical change when his team were down to 10 men at half-time turned the match on its head.
Withdrawing attacking players, David Silva and Adam Johnson, at the interval and replacing them with defenders, Pablo Zabaleta and Stefan Savic, looked like damage limitation.
Instead it allowed City a fluidity of formation that allowed them to defend in numbers when necessary and wrest control of midfield.
It prevented what looked like being a rout – and very nearly provided a famous comeback that would have been even more destructive to United than the 6-1 at Old Trafford in October.
3. Life after Yaya – but he’s coming back anyway
When United raced to a 3-0 first-half lead, City fans must have feared the worst in the absence of Yaya Toure. But judging by the way they rallied after the break, it was evidence that they can remain a force even while their inspirational midfielder is on duty at the African Cup of Nations.
Better news still is that he will return to the Etihad in time for the title run-in. And if Mancini’s side are still at the top of the table when their enforcer comes back, he could prove the final piece of the puzzle in their pursuit of the Premier League crown.
4. Noisy – and getting noisier
If the spirit shown by the players buoyed the crowd – then the same could certainly be said the other way round as well.
Perhaps most notable thing as United romped to an unassailable lead in that dramatic first half-an-hour was the fact that City’s support never once got on their backs.
Singing and chanting throughout, they showed their appreciation of a team that could be on the verge of achieving special things for the long-suffering club.
If United hoped that victory at the Etihad on Sunday would silence their neighbours – they couldn’t have been more wrong.
5. Aguero – the best is yet to come
Simply outstanding as a lone front man in the second half – running Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling ragged. The Argentine began the season in sensational form and if this is anything to go by, he won’t go missing in the winter months.
With 17 goals in all competitions so far, he has already filled the void left by Carlos Tevez. And all the indications are that he is only going to get better.
A goal scorer, creator of goals and leader of the line, he showed his true versatility with a virtuoso display on Sunday with only limited support.
What is your analysis? Have your say.
Manchester City: Five reasons to be cheerful
January 10, 2012
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Spot on with everything you say.
We will be relentless in pursuit of the title.
If United hoped that victory at the Etihad on Sunday would silence their neighbours – they couldn’t have been more wrong.......... Spot on MEN, Come on you Blues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIMNXogXnvE
Five more reasons to get excited about....1.City have a replacement for Joe Hart.
2.City can dig deep, and fight against overwhelming odds….it’s called character.
3.City can play without Yaya and Barry in the middle of their midfield and still do pretty well.
4.City can play when Kompany is missing. Micah was great as Captain and at CB.
5.City can create chances without Silva or Johnson.
Mr Robson is snug now knowing City could be without Kompany for four games plus the injury concerns about Balotelli and Silva.
Can I remind Mr Robson that cheats never prosper and Rooney did cheat in influencing the referee to give Vincent a red card, the evidence is clear cut ie SKY and ITV.
The positive is is its one less competition to wear down the club
1 more reason...James Milner!! he was quality on Sunday.
Very good summary of the situation. I think that our manager is the first reason for City fans to be optimistic. Like any other human being, he does not get it right all the time, but I have 100% confidence that over the coming seasons he will make City the best team in Europe. This season, however it ends,is only the first step in a long, long journey of success.
Without replicating the article, there are many things we can list from Sunday's game about THIS incarnation of City. Milner is a workhorse and a team player, Micah Richards is BACK, Aguero DOES care, we don't need Carlos Tevez, Mancini is adored, we have bottle, Savic isn't a baby and kinda suits a blood spattered face, Zabaleta is priceless to us but is still the ORIGINAL 'Blood Spattered Face Man' and finally for me? The tag 'typical City' has all but disappeared... Hands up who saw THAT second half coming? Exactly.... no one. Especially Baconface, Shrek and Rio. Hence the petty Twitter shots and usual 'New Bitter-ness' that followed. We didn't beat United, but, we still BEAT United. :)
Roll on the rest of the year. This is our City.
City had a good 2nd half,because United allowed them to, apart from a frantic last 20 minutes City posed little real threat, in fact United were able to complete triangle passes for long periods,in order to kill the game off.
City displayed the fightback spirit that has long been the trademark of Manchester United, got a standing ovation from BOTH sets of supporters, but anything less than the Premier league title for Mancini this season, will be deemed as failure.
Would the author of this article have published this if CITY had won on Sunday? I doubt it.
Great little article, could not have put it better myself. City fans were genuinely the 12th man and should be very proud of themselves let alone the team and manager. At half time I discussed intently with my son what Bobby Manc could do. I don't think we'd have come up with his plan if we'd chewed the matter over for a lifetime - what a mind he has for football!!! As to VK's sending off it certainly looked super harsh at the time but trying to be objective (as always of course) I will concede that Komps did give Foy a decision to make. When you look again at the replays Nani does anticipate and jump the challenge somewhat and studs were to be seen. BUT Mr Foy what was the OUTCOME? No one hurt - yes severe talking to and yellow card. Rules of this CONTACT SPORT reads:
"Serious Foul Play (Law 12) : Fouls and Misconduct.
A player is guilty of serious foul play if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play.
A tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play."
Where was the "excessive force or brutality" in Vinnie's challenge? For a foul to be deemed "serious foul play" excessive force or brutality MUST be evident. To some extent at least this is evident form the outcome of the collision caused by the tackle. Almost always a player who is the victim of excessive force and brutality will be violently upended and brought down. Understandably when this happens but the victim is fortuitously unhurt a sending-off is still correct given that good fortune alone had prevented serious injury resulting from the excessive force and brutality used. If Nani had failed to jump the challenge would he have been brought down? Almost certainly but then many a tackle which results in no foul being given brings the player down. To state the blindingly obvious this is due to the laws of physics, particularly relating to inertia and moments of forces. Combine this with the vulnerability of human balance - (despite the evolutionists blind protestations we humans, including Wayne Rooney, remain the only two-legged creatures that can play football with any conviction) - and it's possible to go down like a "sack of spuds" with the tackler screaming truthfully "I hardly touched him ref". Certainly Vinnie did more than "touch" his opponent but "excessive force or brutality" were not in evidence. Mr Foy take another look and get on the blower to the FA. We can see how you got it wrong in the moment but this tackle is never deserving of a ban. Show some modesty and fairness. Case dismissed.
Good article. Don't want to sound too criticle but I would have liked Bobby Manc to have made the changes in the first half.
Come on you Blue Boys.
The best is on it's way.
Let's start a caption competition on this picture. What's scholes thinking? " ill get Mehat and Mecoat! " or "should have listened to the Mrs" are 2 such examples. Maybe you could do better.
city made me feel proud as hell on sunday. didnt even feel like a defeat. I honestly think we just need to get a decent centre back and the prem will be ours. I also think james milner never got the credit he deserved against united. He was outstanding. come on you blues!!