Have Manchester City Got Enough Firepower For The Title?
It seems like nothing can go wrong for Manchester City at the moment. Although I am sure they’d have preferred an easier group in the Champions League!
After four fixtures, the Citizens are the only English Premier League side who have a 100% win record. Today they beat Watford 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium. At the same time, last seasons champions Chelsea were falling to a 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
Those results now mean that their is eight points separating City and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side. It also means that Palace are City’s closest rivals in the league table.
Last term Man City were let down by key players Yaya Toure and club captain Vincent Kompany. But both have come back and started this campaign with a bang!
New signing Raheem Sterling has started his City career with style and manager Manuel Pellegrini has strengthened his defence, plus Eliaquim Mangala now looks like he’s a world beater.
So far in those four league games Manchester City have scored ten and impressively have yet to concede this season.
The squad could soon be bolstered with the club’s hierarchy close to sealing a £50m move for Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian is supposedly having a medical with the Citizens this weekend.
The attacking midfielder will be another good signing and will add even more threat going forward.
But do Manchester City have enough cover for the strikers position to sustain this challenge?
It seems like a ridiculous question at the moment.
But look at the senior squad, they only have Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony as recognised strikers.
Today, against Watford, Bony wasn’t fit enough to make the bench due to a gashed leg. Pellegrini has suggested that the injury isn’t bad and the Ivorian hitman will be out for just ten days. But without the powerful forward, City had to promote youngster Kelechi Iheanacho onto the bench. The eighteen year old made his Premier League debut today but I wouldn’t think he’ll be ready for a full-time role in the first team this season.
Sergio Aguero will always bang in goals when fully fit but in each of his seasons at the Etihad the Argentine has picked up knocks and missed weeks at a time.
If either Bony or Aguero suffer from a serious injury this term then that could put extreme pressure on the only fit senior out and out forward in the squad.
Just imagine the chaos that would ensue if both went missing at the same period of the season!
Now Sterling could move up top if needed, but again could he fire in enough goals if he’s there for a prolonged spell? That is debatable.
Maybe De Bruyne could come in as a false nine but you wouldn’t want your season depending on that tactical move in the long run. It’s a solution for the odd game or two but not much beyond that.
This summer, City sold off Alvaro Negredo. The club have also loaned out Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to Serie A sides this transfer window. For me, I’d have got rid one or the other but not both unless another striker was coming in.
Looking at it, I would be tempted to bring in yet another full time forward. Maybe take a punt QPR’s Charlie Austin?
I know it has been a terrific start to Manchester City’s season but it can often be a disadvantage to overlook all the possibilities just because everything is going well at the start of a campaign.
But I’d still much rather Manuel Pellegrini’s problems at the moment compared to those of any of his rivals!
Posted on August 29th, 2015 by scott
Filed under: Article
‘I wouldn’t think he’ll be ready for a full-time role in the first team this season.’ I think you not to sure what you’re saying this player has shown he’s ready that’s the reason the allowed Jovetic and Dzeko to leave, did you just think they wanted to leave? He’s been on the bench every game Bony being there hasn’t changed that, keep your eye out for Iheanacho this year he’s gonna get games and make a name for himself
Quote: “Just imagine the chaos that would ensue if both went missing at the same period of the season!”
Last season we lost 4 strikers, moved to a very mobile front 4 and hardly dropped a point.
Worry ye not, Kelechi is destined for greatness – he would relish the opportunity, not only cope.
Hey guys I know Kelechi Iheanacho must have a bit about, otherwise he wouldn’t be at City in the first place. But he’s still unproven at this level. Obviously more game time will help him.
The blog is just an observational piece based on my opinion.
I would definitely feel more comfortable with a proven third striker, but I’m not sure who I would move out to bring one in. It’s a certainty that only one striker will be used at a time, so what quality of striker can you bring in to be #3 is probably a fair question. Likely not a very good one, so Nacho/Sterling/False Nine is the gamble that management seems to be taking. It’s a risky one though as Kun has not been able to stay fit for long periods of time.