What a difference a year makes

Last summer the dust was settling from Roberto Mancini's sacking and the subsequent appointment of Manuel Pellegrini.  The rumours of a dressing room divided with big stars apparently asking the club to sell them were all over the press.

Pellegrini certainly had a tough task but his calm demeanour seemed to rub off on the players, even when results didn't match performances very little seemed to bother "the engineer" He quietly and respectfully went about his tasks and whenever questioned he seemed to find the answer.  Indeed any side losing a player of the quality of Sergio Aguero for pretty much half of the season would struggle, but Pellegrini seemed to reinvigorate Edin Dzeko who came on strong when it mattered.

Other players who struggled last year also came to the fore.  Samir Nasri by his own admission had a poor 12/13 but was sensational for long periods of 13/14.  Aleks Kolarov was also a key player and for me made it so h/e should be the first choice left back.  Even Javi Garcia looked much improved under Pellegrini's guidance. There was a togetherness style and swagger as City won the first major trophy of the season in the Capital One Cup was won.

Then as Liverpool crumbled under the pressure of all but being certain of winning the title Pellegrini's City won 4 straight including a dramatic 3-2 win at Goodison Park, a ground where City have rarely won in the Premier League era to wrap up a 2nd title in 3 years.

It has been an incredible season 102 league goals with some amazing performances from many in the team.  Though special mention has to go to Yaya Toure 20 goals from midfield in the league was an amazing achievement. 

Though a lot of credit has to go to the manager.  Manuel Pellegrini his first season in England, what he achieved is a credit to the man.  To win two major trophies in his first season whilst still learning the league is outstanding.  He's set himself high standards and you know he'll want more!

Blackburn Rovers 0 Manchester City 4

After making headlines for all the wrong reasons midweek Manchester City needed a good performance to get rid of the storm clouds the media had hanging over the Etihad Stadium.  Roberto Mancini certainly picked an attacking side with Mario Balotelli up front with Kun Aguero.

After a quiet start things appeared to be going wrong in the 25th minute when Aguero sat down on the pitch having pulled up with what looked like a groin injury.  He was replaced by Samir Nasri and the first half petered out a few alarms but no major scares in either box.

The second half started and it was obvious City has upped the tempo Balotelli was unlucky with a delicious shot that clipped the post and even tried an overhead kick that was just wide.  Then in the 56th minute as a corner came out of the box Adam Johnson controlled the ball before bending a shot into the top corner of Paul Robinson's net.  Just two minutes later great work from Samir Nasri on the left and a good cross was met by Mario Balotelli who did well to beat Robinson with a great flick making it 3 goals in 10 days for the Italian.

Mancini had previously called for City to be more like local rivals United and keep scoring and that's exactly what City did when after setting up so many goals previously Samir Nasri swapped passes with David Silva before hitting a goal bound shot that deflected passed a helpless Robinson.  Stiill that wasn't enough for goal hungry City as near the end from a corner Stefan Savic rose well to bury a header in the net meaning a 4-0 scoreline that in truth after 19 attempts on goal to Rovers 7 did not flatter the men in Red and Black and sent 7,000 fans home very happy.

Rovers owners Venky will have been aware of the protests against Steve Kean with 3 wins in 21 games it does seem a case of him being on borrowed time.  But that should take nothing away from a very good performance from Manchester City whom sit a proud second in the League only on goal difference.