Tottenham 1 – 5 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
30 Jan
Sometimes, it’s hard to find satisfactory words to describe Manchester City this season. The only ones I could summon walking away from White Hart Lane last night were “how have we done that?”
Disbelief. Disbelief at five more goals. Disbelief at another thumping victory. More than that, however, disbelief at the level of performance during the game and disbelief at how scintillating we have been this campaign. This was a procession, a footballing lesson of how to attack relentlessly. A demonstration of intense skill and of ruthless control. It’s hard to become accustomed to what we’re seeing these days. It’s frightfully good.
Where to start? We are truly spoilt for choice. There was the blisteringly sublime opening half hour, full of purpose, drive and quality. Chances galore, one scored, plenty missed but breathtaking to watch. There were the final thirty minutes, characterised by midfield dominance and measured authority, of waves of attack, of goals and of joyous excitement. And in the middle, there was enough resilience and spirit to withstand Tottenham’s belated and limited pressure. This was a Spurs side brimming with confidence and with no small amount of talent in their team, yet we made them look like amateurs, unable to cope with City’s onslaught. It was a privilege to be there.
Collectively, it was as well as we have performed away from the Etihad throughout the season. At times on the road, especially over the past couple of months, we have managed to acquire the three points without showcasing our pulsating home form. We have had to show plenty of grit and character, and that is worthy of acclaim, but when we combine those qualities with the aesthetic brilliance of which we’re capable, it is simply captivating. Five goals, five different scorers and a memorable night.
Much of the post-match praise has been directed towards our creative superstars, and that’s certainly justifiable, but amidst a display of vibrant creativity, my man of the match was one of our unheralded individuals. Having started the season hesitantly and seemingly having lost his spark and energy, it was feared that we had seen the best of Gael Clichy. How foolish his critics were. As it happens, his struggles were overplayed somewhat because of his inability to deliver a telling cross and due to Aleks Kolarov’s improved form and threat with his powerful deliveries, but the Frenchman has gradually clawed his way back into form and was a monumental presence down the left in London last night.
Tenacious against the speed of Aaron Lennon, he sprinted to get tight to his man, stuck with him, pinched the ball off him and then surged forward. And he did it repeatedly. Impenetrable at the back and a constant source of high-octane pressing and all-action willing, he was indefatigable. It was a towering display.
To the side and then in front of Clichy was Martin Demichelis, another figure who has received his fair share of criticism this season. His doubters point to a lack of pace and a tendency to commit himself to tackles high up the pitch, but whilst the odd reckless lunge is, indeed, a problem, the benefits he brings to the squad are clear. Experienced and a leader, he’s a vocal figure who uses his nous, knack of reading the game and anticipation of danger to cover his absent mobility.
In the first half, he handled the physical threat of Emmanuel Adebayor with relative ease and he then thrived after the break when moved into the holding midfield role. Yaya Touré went off having had a quiet game and on a booking, so Demichelis stepped forward to provide some cover for the back four and to gain an element of control of the middle. He did just that. By no means was he flashy, but he won the ball, moved it along without fuss and kept us ticking over. It was just what was needed.
That there were so many claimants for the man of the match award just goes to highlight what an effective all-round team display this was. From Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany at the back, through to the likes of Jesus Navas and David Silva in midfield, we had everything: intensity, touch, variety, determination and much more. And had Edin Dzeko shown a more clinical mind in front of goal, we could, and would, have had double figures. His finishing was hopeless and many believed it was another frustrating Dzeko showing yet I’m hardly his biggest fan and I’d take a slightly different view.
My gripe with the Bosnian has always been his overall contribution or, rather, lack of one. He undoubtedly has a good goalscoring record, despite needing more chances than any other City striker to score, such is his profligacy, but questions have been asked about his workrate, his team ethic and his penchant for looking as if he’d rather be anywhere but on the pitch.
At White Hart Line, however, he fought for the others. He worked tirelessly, always offering himself as an outlet in the channel, never giving the home side’s centre-backs a moments rest. It was the type of aggressive, yet skilful, performance that Alvaro Negredo produces with regularity and yet it was rare for Dzeko to put himself about to such an extent. Yes, he wasted chances and there was a fear at half-time that we would regret those missed opportunities, but his overall contribution was admirable. Let’s just hope this newfound attitude and application continues.
Backed by a healthy atmosphere from travelling supporters who were ecstatic with the result and rendered near-speechless by the quality on show, it was an unforgettable game. There was even time for a Manuel Pellegrini chant or two to which the manager eventually responded, having had someone explain that he needed to wave! He deserved it. He has taken this team on to another inspiring level and is a pure joy to watch.
we were pretty decent last night
Yeh, it wasn’t half bad was it
Alph
Yes you were clearly better but it shouldn’t of been a penalty or red card and Tottenham had Paulinho, Sandro, Vertonghen, Townsend out plus Lamela and Kaboul so we had key players missing. Four of your goals came off spurs player’s via lucky run of the ball pinball wizard style a couple of them but for the amount of shots you had I aint surprised you scored 5.
“Clearly better”. We wiped our boots with you, and in your own back yard. To say 4 goals were “pinball” sounds a bit like sour grapes. Could have a had a few more but for excellent goalkeeping and the cross bar. As a City fan I really was fearing this fixture, I’m still a bit stunned by what happened. For 80 minutes we battered you. That first half hour was almost perfect (but for the fact we only got one goal). Loving it.
Cockney Magic
Are you consulting with a psychiatrist ??
what??? ha ha pure class sums city up
#plasticfans
seriously who says # on a blog?
Whether it was right or wrong – I was so pleased at Rose being sent off. Such karma after kicking the ball deliberately at Jovetic when down. Utter coward got his just deserts.
Well said Crispy …… I noticed that.
Well played men,feel lucky to support such a good bunch of players, hope Sergio gets well asap….. Superstar, great all over the pitch, very Nice when that happens, even better when you don’t get a fat head over it, so credit to Clichy, dimich & co they deserve respect, best of luck for Monday.
I wonder where the Mancini’s fans have disappeared during this season. Some people who were ”disappointed” that we sacked him . With Pelegrini EVERYONE, EVERYONE perfoms at a much higher level (if we except the 2011-2012-season’s-Hart).
I wonder what this has to do with Mancini or what is your purpose of starting a pissing match here. Bobby is one of the Club’s legend that would always be in City’s history for the joys he provided us esp that heart-stopping title win. He is gone and I, much, like many fans are grateful to him for what he did for the Club much the same way I am grateful to Pellegrini for what he is doing for the Club now
I am just pointing out that many people who were criticizing the board’s decision to sack Mancini are now gone. I can’t see many things he contributed, when we won the title our roster was WAY better than any other’s and the team was ALWAYS clicking. When our crisis after february started he could do nothing to reverse the situation.
Pelegrini is by far better than Mancini so some people here shouldn’t rush in to criticize.
Excellent against 10 men, scored 4 goals against 10 men, a well deserved victory but I’m not bitter or angry or frustrated or disappointed or totally pissed off and fed up with yet another season of disappointment and under achievement, oh how we need a billionaire sheik and the sooner the better.
We also did the same against 11 against you in our home game. It is not that you were doing anything useful/special when you had 11! you were being battered left and right!
Fantastic match report.
Articulate and exciting, What a result I posted a credible draw!!
Our injury luck strikes again, it may beat us in the end ???
You lot are deluded beyond belief. Not one of you mention spurs have half their team out. For the record when you beat us 6-1 that too was against an injury ravaged team and a flukey cross that went in after 14secs from Navas. Remember last season who ended your title hopes?! It wasn’t long ago that Shaun Goater was your club legend along Paul Dickov, says it all.
Not bitter then?
At least we have title hopes unlike hopeless Arsenal wanna-bes like yourself.
Really good argument that (wasn’t long ago Goater/Dickov were club legends). Meaning what exactly? We played lower leagues a few years ago so now we have won the league, FA cup and now top we can’t enjoy it? We should be doffing our cap and apologising for having the audacity to break the Utd/Chelsea/Arsenal stronghold (note Spuds not mentioned there as they haven’t challenged for, oh, say 50 yrs).
Who are your club legends NOW? We have Auguero; Kompany; YaYa; Silva who are already proper legends and are still playing.
Who are yours? Townsend? Dawson? Walker? Soldado? At least Dickov scored the goal in 6th minute of injury time to save our club and Goater scored bucket loads to get us back in the Premier League and ultimately benefit from the takeover – but I’m sure your current 11 will be held in the same regard….
Hahaha!
They still are and always will be legends; a point which is irrelevant to the 11-1 aggregate score against spuds this season that you very amusingly appear to be putting down to luck.
I just hope you enjoy battling it out with Everton for the Europa league while we challenge for the title against your much superior rivals.