Transfer deadline day....All quiet!

Bar out goings it was a very quiet transfer deadline day at Manchester City.  Some might see that as a sign UEFA'S FFP restriction was really biting but in all honesty City's main business in getting the likes of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany etc... to sign new long term deals could be the best business the club has ever done.

True there were issues.  Kompany hasn't had a settled partner, Martin Demichelis was only ever brought in as cover though injuries meant he was called on to play far more regularly than Manuel Pellegrini could have imagined towards the end of last season he possibly was City's best defender and had a decent World cup for Argentina.  That issue could well have been solved by the signing Eliaquim Mangala.  

Fernando at first puzzled me we had two decent holding players in Yaya and Fernandinho.  Though having seen his form in the league games he's played I totally get it.  He is a play breaker who isn't afraid to run with the ball and he can spot a pass.  Added to that his signing gives Pellegrini the option of  pushing Yaya further forward where his sheer size and skill have panicked many defences.

Joe Hart on his day is one of the best keepers in the world.  But does seem to lose concentration.  The signing of Willy Caballero is a good move as it keeps pressure on Joe, the sort he's not really had since Shay Given was at City .  Caballero is know and trusted by Pellegrini so any slip ups by Hart he knows the manager has a ready made replacement breathing down his neck.

It's no coincidence City's squad that played West Ham to win the title in 2014 contained many of the same players that won the title in such dramatic fashion against QPR in 2012.  City have a very settled squad which will not need much tweeking the next few years.  Then throw in hot academy prospects like Marcos Lopes currently on loan to Lille returning next summer.  Devante Cole appears to have settled well on loan Barnsley. Jason Denayer has looked very good both for City in pre season and whenever he's played whilst on loan at Celtic.  There are some good young players who will be putting pressure on Pellegrini for a chance next year.

The surprise departure in Alvaro Negredo has left many questioning if 3 strikers is enough.   Looking back to last season it more often was the case that if you were fit you started.  City rarely had 4 strikers available as Aguero missed  half the season with Jovetic missing more.  Jovetic appears to now be fully fit having had a full pre season and has been looking like a new signing almost with decent form.  Indeed injuries in key games like Everton away meant City switched to one up front.

All in all perhaps not the window some expected but in many respects did much need changing?

Early season review

Manuel Pellegrini's arrival at Manchester City also saw the 4 new players through the door and the departure of Carlos Tevez, whilst not being impressed with the way the club handled Roberto Mancini's sacking I had seen enough to suggest things weren't right between the manager and the dressing room.  Never really paying much attention to pre season (for me about fitness and bedding in new players)  I arrived at the Newcastle game full of hope and certainly wasn't disappointed City turn on the style and crushed a hapless Newcastle side with a style and swagger that was so pleasing to watch. Though the loss of Vincent Kompany to a groin injury was a worry.

Against Cardiff the swagger went and we conceded two sloppy goals  from set plays defensively we looked like we missed Kompany.  All this after dominating play and taking the lead.   The attack was too slow and that allowed Cardiff to keep 10 behind the ball whenever we attacked.  After the match there was a change in post match interview style, Roberto Mancini was on occasions quick to point out errors where as Pellegrini  tried to point to the positives. 

Against Hull sat behind the goal I was able to see those defensive frailties, the biggest issue was there was no one leading the line marshaling and talking so everyone was on the same page.  Whenever City went forward Yaya Toure and Fernandinho pushed up leaving space for Hull to break into if the attack broke down.  Again for much of the game the attack was simply to slow it allowed the tigers to stay solid, in fact on the rare occasions City upped the work rate and attacked at pace it resulted in Alvaro Negerdo scoring a great header after some lovely quick one and two touch passing.  Joe Hart was rarely on to make a save where as McGregor did pull off a few smart saves but you did get the impression City stole the points after Yaya Toure's brilliant free kick wrapped up the 2-0 win.

It's obvious we are still a work in progress but it's also clear City do need another Centre Half to cover if and when first choice pair Nastasic and Kompany are injured.  I'd also question if Yaya and Fernandinho can play in the same side they are basically doing a similar role what is needed is someone to sit back in centre midfield to mop up should attacks break down to ensure teams aren't instantly attacking the defence.  Up front we have the creativity and talent to ensure finding goals aren't an issue indeed yesterday proved that when Negredo came on city instantly looked to have more of a threat.

Player ratings and Player of the year

Joe Hart 7
If ever a players season summed up the clubs Joe's does.  Golden Glove again for 18 clean sheets in the league but some uncharacteristic mistakes have marred this season.  That said anyone who saw his display against Dortmund in the champions league will have been amazed at the brilliance Hart showed that night he earned City the draw as much as Mario Balotelli's late penalty.

Costel Pantilimon 7
Did very well in the few games he played certainly harshly dropped for the FA Cup Final.

Pablo Zabaleta 9
Has been a revelation this season lion hearted brave never say die attitude means Pablo will always be a fans favourite.

Micah Richards 6
Hard to judge Micah injuries have really restricted him so never really been match fit.

Vincent Kompany 7
A few early season wobbles but slowly but surely the confidence came back.  Always respectful in the media he is the ideal character for his role as club captain.

Matija Nastasic 8
Simply the buy of the season been a key part in helping Kompany find his confidence maturity and calmness beyond his young years.

Kolo Toure 5
Always seemed to take two or 3 games to find his feet before showing his form.

Joleon Lescott 5.5
Exactly the same as Kolo struggled for first few games before showing his best.

Gael Clichy 6
Solid left back who does seem to have a phobia of crossing the ball when further up Field.

Aleksander Kolarov 5
Not a natural left back and does struggle with defending but always a goal threat from free kicks.

Gareth Barry 6
Consistent and always noticeably missed when not in action.

James Milner 6.5
Always gives it his all but probably not had enough of a run to really show his best.

Javi Garcia 3
Started well then went backwards seemed to struggle with the pace of the league and not helped by being in and out of the team.

David Silva 5.5
By his own high standards not the best season.  There were definite glimpses of his best but not enough.

Scott Sinclair unable to score
Almost zero point in his signing I do feel sorry for the man too few starts to be fair to him.

Jack Rodwell 6
Again hard to judge due to injuries but as he gained match fitness there were good signs Jack will prove to be a great signing.

Samir Nasri 4
Slowed play down way to often and at times just didn't seem bothered.

Yaya Toure 5.5
At times brilliant at times lazy much like Silva not his best season.

Edin Dzeko 5
Always seems to score important goals but so frustrating to watch in and out of the team didn't help but even with a run of games he looked yards off the pace sometimes.

Carlos Tevez 7.5
Started off the season all guns blazing perhaps didn't hit the heights of his previous two full seasons but always put a shift in for the team.

Sergio Aguero 6.5
Injury hit season still capable of match winning performances and scoring spectacular goals.

Mario Balotelli 5
Never really got a long enough run to find his form before his transfer to AC Milan.

M11 3FF PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Has to be Pablo Zabaleta genuinely outstanding for most of the season never say die attitude fully committed to the cause.