Blame Mancini for City's Champions League flop
By Mark Lawrenson
Published 06:57 26/11/11
De Gea must bulk up and wise up if he's to be United's No.1
Why Villa fans must get off McLeish's back
Roberto Mancini reverted to type in the Champions League.
It was so disappointing to see Manchester City not go for it and leaving out their best two full-backs, Micah Richards and Gael Clichy. They are both more attack-minded.
Sergio Aguero should have been in their best line-up.
Forget Mario Balotelli going back to Italy to prove a point. Who is the better striker when it comes to the crunch?
It has to be Aguero all day long. He is the player you can trust when it comes to the big games.
City are still in a great position in the Premier League title race. But there is a danger that Champions League disappointment will affect momentum.
It certainly gave them a lift after they beat Villarreal in dramatic fashion and then thrashed Manchester United a few days later.
That is the sort of buzz it can give you and it can have the opposite effect.
City's expectations have also been raised and so now there is disappointment when they don't win every trophy.
Those are the sort of expectation levels and pressure you put on yourself when you become the world's richest club.
They need a miracle to qualify now. The Europa League now looks far more likely, and that can be an unnecessary distraction.
It's a second rate tournament which is an annoyance for most teams rather than an attraction.
But then, when you are Manchester City, you can still end up fielding a reserve team full of internationals.
**
Alan Pardew has done brilliantly for Newcastle so far this season.
Their unbeaten run was finally ended by Manchester City and now they face a daunting trip to Old Trafford.
But Pardew will be hoping that Mike Ashley has taken a look at the progress, seen what they are building and that Newcastle can improve in January with a little more ambition and investment.
Not just one decent striker but maybe two decent players can help them build on their superb start to the campaign.
**
Interview: John Cross
Column
Crass of the Day: Why Gary Lineker should be ashamed of his xenophobic mocking of Arsene Wenger
Columnists 11:07 03/05/12Shame on Gary Lineker. His mockery, stupid French accent and derision of Arsene Wenger at the end of... Read More+
Column
Stop rewriting history: Hodgson may have got it, but Redknapp is still the better man for the job
Darren Lewis 10:45 03/05/12The revisionism surrounding Harry Redknapp this week has been an education to behold. Suddenly his f... Read More+
Column
Big Match Verdict on Chelsea 0-2 Newcastle: Torres has been transformed in a week
John Cross 22:27 02/05/12Fernando Torres has been transformed in little over a week. In fact, the Spaniard was the odd man ou... Read More+
