What's going on in the CL?

City's starting eleven featured a surprise in the form of Nasri who started the game and banished both Jesus Navas and new signing Kevin De Bruyne to the bench. That was a mistake. What pleased City supporters was that Sergio Aguero was on the bench after being attacked by Scott Dann last Saturday.

Both teams are as cautious as two boxers who have great respect for each other and City is becoming more of a dominant force in the game after the opening quarter of the game. Unfortunately, however, the players seem taken by the seriousness of the moment, and they were far too stagnant.

It is noteworthy at this level is that City has to put away the chance they get chances. Sterling has two big chance that just have to be put away. Juve has three scoring opportunities and scores two from them. Another conclusion is that it the play must float along a lot faster.

Primarily, it is the central midfield that must play a lot faster to gain ground and to create chances. City has again put themselves in a difficult position in the group stage. But this group is likely to be very "tight" and all matches are important.

City in The Champions League

When this year's edition of the Champions League is ready to be kicked off, the last year's finalists Juventus FC are set for a visit to the Etihad, and Manchester City. A City that has started the season in the best way. Five wins, 11 goals produced and zero conceded. It is worse for Juventus; No victory in the first three matches in the league and a very precarious situation for Allegri and his players.

Manchester City are now making their fifth appearance in the Champions League. In the past two years, City eliminated by FC Barcelona. In this years edition of the Champions League, Manchester City seem to have finally been assigned a group randomly, in which the first place can be viewed as  reasonable. Previously, Manchester City have never been a sure thing for the first place in the group, but this is as close as it gets.

Take over the group first, and then Europe.

It's Nacho Time!

Sergio Aguero was forced to leave the game due to getting injured and Jesus Navas missed an open goal. Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up and blessed Manchester City. The 18-year-old substitute scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time.

Manchester City already had David Silva and Raheem Sterling on the injury list. Crystal Palace gave City a new heavy blow when Sergio Aguero was the subject of a vicious tackle by Crystal Palace player Scott Dann after 18 minutes. It should have been a red card for Dann.

To replace Aguero on the field came the new signing Kevin de Bruyne who made his debute in light blue. The new acquisition played the ball with a good pass to Jesus Navas who rounded the goalkeeper and got a open goal. The winger finished the chance, but missed.

Instead of the superstars, it is an 18-year-old who will get the headlines. Kelechi Iheanacho came on at the end of the match and after only having been on the pitch for a few seconds, he scored the 1-0 goal in stoppage time and became another great City hero.

It is undoubtedly Nacho Time!

Transfer window Round up

It was a silent deadline day for Manchester City with no business taking place in the final 24 hours of the transfer window. The last added signing to the squad was one of the greatest high profile transfers in the Premier League, with Kevin De Bruyne coming in from Wolfsburg.

The promising Turkish striker Enes Unal was the first player who got signed on the 6^th of July, just in time for the prospect to join the team in pre-season. He is now on loan at Genk.

Raheem Sterling was the first big signing in July and he was promptly followed to Manchester City by Fabian Delph who joined from Aston Villa a couple of days later.

Patrick Roberts was signed to City next from Championship side Fulham before Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi brought in from Valencia on August 20^th.

James Milner and Micah Richards left City for Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively. Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic also left City for Roma and Inter on loan. Marcos Lopes joined Monaco, Jason Denayer was loaned to Galatasaray and Jose Angel Pozo signed for Almeria.

How De Bruyne Should/Will Be Used

With Kevin De Bruyne on board it would seem that Jesus Navas would have to step aside. It will not be Raheem Sterling and it is certainly not David Silva who shall be stepping aside.  With Navas pace and direct style of play, he has given City an important dimension. It is no coincidence that Navas played 35 league games last season. But now his chances in the starting line seem drastically reduced.

As a winger Silva will of course still move more centrally. He will move fairly freely, but there is still a difference. As a winger, he has a defensive responsibilities on the flank and it will inhibit his offensive game. It will also mean that City becomes slightly brittle on the flank. Kevin De Bruyne is a number 10 that often moves out toward the edges to create numerical advantages in the middle. Expect him to move freely and cross the ball from the edge of the area and also expect quick passing triangles when he and Silva find each other.

Welcome to Manchester, De Bruyne!

Manchester City vs Watford

With great swagger, Pellegrini does not change anything in the starting line-up from the previous match. Given how good the guys played and with a international break approaching, one might wonder why he would do it? One reason may well be to bring in some new blood to show something and bring new energy during a match where City's worst opponent is their own motivation.

This problem becomes evident during the first half to almost be described as the world championships in trot football. City look uninterested, uninspired and energy releasing during the match opening 45 minutes.

At the break Pellegrini stirred around in the pot and he takes a underperforming Navas and on comes Nasri. This means that Pellegrini also makes a tactical change and sends Silva out on the right and he  places Nasri on the left wing. Sterling is in the middle. It takes only 90 seconds for Sterling to run free and Sagna crosses the ball towards the world's most expensive Englishman who makes it 1-0.

In the 55th minute Yaya fires off a hard free-kick into the Watford wall. Somehow the ball bounces out to Silva who, as usual, beats a perfectly weighted pass forward to Fernandinho coming in from the right and he fires a rocket of a shot straight in the net and if the match was decided by 1-0 is definitely closed at 2-0.

Iheanacho got to make his Premier League debut after 87 minutes for Manchester City in front of a standing ovation for both him and for Sterling who he replaced. Over 90 minutes Joe Hart was not tested at all.

Finally, the match ends with a very confident 2-0 win which means that Pellegrini broke a 103-year club record for the most number of league wins in a row. The new record is now 10 wins in a row.

















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