From the media maelstrom following last Saturday’s match, you could be forgiven for thinking it was Emmanuel Adebayor alone who took on Arsenal in a bloody battle of wills and egos, rather than a whole City team that performed their gameplan to the letter.
What to make of it, and where does it leave us? Well let’s have a look at the two talking points.
Catching Van Persie
After the match Wenger said he didn’t see Adebayor kick Van Persie, and there’s an …
Given – A few decent saves and little chance with the goals that ended his run of clean sheets. 7
Richards – Another improved performance. Used his strength well against Diaby. Deserves to be credited with the opening goal. Showed Wright-Phillips how it’s done in the second half, beating a defender and teeing up Bellamy for the vital second. 8
Toure – Arguably the best defender on show. Kolo retained his composure in the face of Arsenal’s movement, and showed his captaincy …
Goals: Richards/Aluminia 20, Bellamy 74, Adebayor 80, Wright-Phillips 84 for City. Van Persie 62, Rosicky 88 for Arsenal.
Prior to the game, Emmanuel Adebayor said he never really understood why the Arsenal fans booed him. Well, I think it’s safe to say they’ll have a few reasons after the dust has settled on this match.
City lined up as predicted with De Jong coming in alongside Barry to bolster the defensive midfield and Adebayor played as a lone striker. Despite the sense …
City entertain Arsenal with a 100% record this season, and as the only side in England yet to concede a goal. If City can come through the next two fixtures with those statistics intact, then many will feel the club are truly set to challenge for trophies. However it underlines the strength of the ‘top four’ that in the eyes of most neutrals City will be going into both games as underdogs.
Much of the focus against Arsenal will be …
Ever since it became clear that Richard Dunne wasn’t going to be an automatic choice this season, there has been intense speculation as to who the new captain might be. It may be a minor surprise to see Kolo Toure, but only due to the strength of the other candidates.
Here, we take a look at the captaincy qualities and leadership experience elsewhere in the current squad:
Vincent Kompany – Last season Vincent impressed everyone with his maturity and composure off the …
Jeremy Helan is still trying to establish in the French courts that the pre-contract he signed as a 13 year old with Rennes is invalid. According to The Independent, the case has now reached a French labour tribunal after being rejected by the French League commissions and the French Olympic Committee.
The disputed pre-contract stated that a two year contract would be triggered if Helan represented France while at the Clairefontaine academy. He did, skippering the under-16 side. Speaking yesterday, …
City have become the latest Premier League side to be accused of unlawfully signing a youngster. This time it’s French club Rennes doing the accusing and Jeremy Helan the player in question.
The Independent broke the story, and FIFA have since released a statement to confirm they are investigating it:
“We can confirm that there is a case pending with Fifa’s Player Status Department involving Jeremy Helan, Stade Rennais FC and Manchester City.”
Helan, now 17, joined …
According to the official site, Brian Kidd has taken up the role of Technical Development Manager with the Blues Academy.
This appears to be part of an ongoing overhaul of the Academy that has already seen Jim Cassell move to Abu Dhabi and Andy Welsh take over at Platt Lane. Kidd is understood to get on well with Hughes and he will be charged with helping to bring the young players through to the first team. Steve Wigley had a similar …
It’s been confirmed that Tal Ben Haim has joined Portsmouth on a four year deal. This was a logical deal with the Israeli international having little chance of first team football at Eastlands, while Pompey are desperate for proven Premier League players to bolster their decimated squad. Throw in the Abu Dhabi link of both clubs owners and it makes even more sense.
City fans never saw the best of Ben Haim, who has struggled since he left Sam Allardyce’s Bolton. …
