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.

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.

Dangers in City's UCL Group

This thursday Manchester City once again got dealt a rough hand in the Champions League with the likes of last years finalist Juventus, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Europa League champions Sevilla as their opposition. Who are the most dangerous players of these teams to face?

Thorgan Hazard, Borussia Mönchengladbach

Hazard is a Belgian football player who just like his brothers Eden and Kylian is playing attacking midfield. After struggling to break into Chelsea's first team after a set of loans to Zulte Zagrem and Borussia Mönchengladbach he decided for permanent move to Germany. 

He has a average shot accuracy of 47% and a average pass accuracy of 79%. His biggest strengths are key passes and taking set pieces not to mention that he is quick over the first few yards.

Denis Suarez, Sevilla

Former City player and academy graduate Denis Suarez who left City for Barcelona is a Spanish Youth international who is highly rated in Spain. After opting for more playing time Suarez was loaned out for two season to Sevilla. 

He has a average shot accuracy of 42% and a average pass accuracy of 81%. His biggest strengths are  his key passes, crossing and taking of set pieces.

Paulo Dybala, Juventus

City fans may remember Dybala after they were offered him while he was still playing in the Argentine League before moving to Palermo later that summer for whom he played until this summer when he was brought in to replace a former City striker Carlos Tevez. Dybala has in the past been likened to City's own Sergio Aguero.

Playing as a false nine, Dybala has a average shot accuracy of 42% and a average pass accuracy of 82% and a average of winning headers of 52%. Last year in Serie A he scored 13 goals and managed to get 10 assists.

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Who is Plan B?

As the season is creeping closer and closer and the transfer window is starting to get shorter and shorter, It would seem that Manchester City have done half of what they're suppose to do and half of what they promised the supporters that they would do.

What has been done so far is: Filling up the English/Homegrown quote with the best homegrown/english players available. (Roberts, Sterling, Delph). This is very good of course as the club has also brought in a heap of 18 year olds to build for the future not to mention that there are a few youngsters from the EDS steadily approaching the first team.

But when will the finished, top of the line players be added to the squad? The De Bruyne's and Pogba's? It is looking less and less likely that City would get both of them. The one that City is most likely to get is De Bruyne and right now it feels like it's 50/50. But in case City pulls off De Bruyne but not Pogba who would be the Plan B?

Leon Goretzka. Leon Goretzka is one of the most promising box-to-box midfielders in the world and has been for the last 2 years. Unfortunately he has been in the shadow of Pogba and Verratti, respectively. Born in 1995, he made his debut for Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga where he played regularly for the whole 12/13 season and he managed to score 4 goals.

In the summer of 2013 he completed his move to Schalke 04 for what is assumed to be around €4 million. In his first season at Schalke 04 he played 25 games and scored 4 goals in the Bundesliga. He appeared in every Champions League game and smaller cup game as well. In the 14/15 season he was out injured and only managed to make 10 appearance in the League and 1 game in the Champions League. His absence definitely affected Schalke as their results in the league were poor without him at the end of the season.

Goretzka Stats (13/14 Season) :
Successful Tackels: 1, 2
Successful Interceptions: 1, 1
Key Passes: 1, 1
Dribbles: 2, 2
Fouls Committed: 1, 1

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Aguero's Legendary Status

His controlling the ball and powerful bursts forward make him unstoppable in the box. A brilliant finisher who is presented with a chance and he scores, he has a capacity to create space in the most difficult circumstances. So who is he? A true Manchester City hero, that's who.


In 2011 Gael Clichy and Stevan Savic transferred to City and Sergio Aguero's arrival at City was completed on 28 July 2011 as the club’s third signing of the summer.

He quickly announced himself as one of the world's deadliest strikers as soon as he arrived at Manchester City, scoring twice on his debut against Swansea and assisting one more in the first Premier League fixture of 2011/12.

Sergio 'Kun' Aguero scored 30 goals in his debut season at the Etihad Stadium, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in the top flight since Francis Lee. Aguero secured his place in Manchester City history as he ended the Premier League title drought by scoring the last minute winner at the Etihad against QPR. 

Aguero started very strong in 13/14 season with four goals in his first six Premier League games of the season including two goals against Manchester United in the convincing4-1 win.

He scored 28 goals in 13/14 campaign and he won his second Premier League title in 13/14 and he was also a Capital One Cup winner as City defeated Sunderland 3-1 at Wembley.

A cumbia band called Los Leales have even recorded a song with Sergio Aguero as the lead singer. The song was written in his honour and is called "El Kun Aguero". There's no doubt that Sergio 'Kun' Aguero should have a statue risen for him.

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Alex Sandro City Bound?

There seem to be a little issue on the left fullback position at Manchester City, at least if various fans online are to believed. There could be something to it. With both Clichy and Kolarov are pushing 30 and they have different qualities and with Angelino deemed not ready yet to step up there must be a mid-way gap in between. It could be Alex Sandro.

Unless City have someone else lined up, he seems like he would be the best option for City's presumed Left Fullback problem. He has recently asked for a transfer and at the moment Juventus are in talks to sign him for around 20m Euros. City will most likely keep Clichy for his Homegrown status, but Alex Sandro is 24 years old and would seem like a great buy to replace Kolarov.

Manchester City Target: Fabinho

Born in Campinas, São Paulo, Fabinho began his career at Fluminense. He was called into a first team matchday squad for the only time on 20 May 2012, as he was an unused substitute in the 1–0 win at Corinthians.

After not making any senior appearances at Fluminense he was sold as he was seen as very promising to Rio Ave but was shortly there after loaned out to Real Madrid Castilla where he made 30 appearances and scored 2 goals.

Then he was loaned out to AS Monaco for two seasons where he enjoyed two seasons in Ligue 1 and one with Champions League football where he showed his versatility by playing in Central Midfield for some games. He has made a total of 61 appearances and scored 1 goal for AS Monaco who recently bought him from Rio Ave.

Manchester City are rumored to be close to completing a move for AS Monaco defender Fabinho, with the French side holding out for £18 million for the Brazil international. City see the 21-year-old as a long-term heir to Pablo Zabaleta, but is he worth the £18 million right now?

Fabinho had a 82% success rate with his passes, including his long range and shorter passes. He made 93 interceptions during open play as well as completing 81 tackles in open play. For a right fullback he is as creative as it can be expected with 22 chances created. He has also conceded 54 fouls and won 45 fouls in the 14/15 season.

According OPTA's data these are the stats for Fabinho:

Successful Tackles: 81 out of 97

Duels Won: 236 out of 383

Aerial Duels won: 51 out of 79

Clearances: 79

Blocks: 3

With some time for development he would certainly be a heir for Zabaleta whilst Pablo Maffeo takes some time for his personal development as a player. Fabinho is definitely worth the £18 million that AS Monaco has quoted.

Manchester City's Transfer Window So Far

DONE DEALS:

Enes Unal

From Bursaspor
Presumed transfer fee £ 2 million
Position: Forward
(6/7) Enes Unal is an 18 year old Turkish striker who has scored four goals in 37 appearances for Bursaspors the first team. But mostly, he is known for his goal statistic at the youth level. For the Turkish U16 National Team, he has scored 24 goals in 25 matches and in the Turkish youth league he scored 170 goals in 102 matches! Now he is ready for City and probably he will belong to the EDS  team this season or go our on loan to a less competitive league.

David Faupala

From Lens
Presumed Transfer Fee: Free
Position: Forward
(10/7) Faupala is a 18 year old striker from France. He comes to City as a free transfer after his contract with Lens had expired. He has not done anything of note in the Lens first team, but he has been prominent in the youth team. However, he has played well and took a seat in the French U18 national team. The Frenchman will play in the EDS team.

Raheem Sterling

From: Liverpool
Presumed transfer fee £ 44 + 5 million
Position: Attacking Midfield/Winger
(14/7) After a spring of rumors, Sterling is now a City player and his contract runs for five years and he will wear jersey number 7. The price is the highest ever paid for an English player and City have never paid more for a player before. The 20 year old is an English international, so of course he will count as homegrown. Sterling has, despite his young age already been named player of the year at Liverpool twice and last year he won the coveted "Golden Boy" award. Pellegrini is very pleased with the transfer and he says that Sterling is one of the world's best offensive player. Sterling himself seems overjoyed after the transition: "The thing that impresses me most is the world-class level of our squad. We have a team capable of winning year in and year out. The more good players you have around you, the more chance you have to show your own class. Here at City, I have everything I need to reach the next level. ", he said.