Showing posts with label Yaya Toure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yaya Toure. Show all posts

Saturday, 29 August 2015

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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Monday, 24 August 2015

Manchester City vs. Everton

After two impressive efforts against West Bromwich and Chelsea, City travelled to Goodison Park to extend their 100% record start of the season. Pellegrini kept the same starting XI on the field as he did against Chelsea the previous week.

The first half is underway at a rapid pace and it is City who holds the baton. Aguero kept stressing Everton in the penalty area, and it resulted in some really good chances. Aguero forced Howard to make several impressive saves in the Everton goal and Silva conjured a chance for Sterling which Sterling unfortunately missed.

City's back line was not entirely comfortable with the speed Everton came at them with will and both Mangala and Fernandinho gets yellow cards because of some less well-timed tackles. Lukaku is a constant threat and and he managed to score but the goal was correctly flagged for offside.

0-0 at halftime.

The second half begins as intense as the first ended and the game keeps on going back and forth although City has most of the ball. Eventually City scores and it is Sterling who is behind it. After making it into Everton's penalty area with speed from the flank he passed to an overlapping Kolarov who shoots from a low angle to make it 1-0 for City 60th minute.

After the goal it is still mostly City who dominates but while the City takes it easy and does not stress, it becomes all the more intense when Everton has the ball. Occasionally they put a little pressure on City and after a miss by Hart on a corner Everton almost scores.

They didn't get any other chance to score and in the 88th minute Yaya, and Nasri offered the fans some footballing candy when Yaya bends the ball into the penalty area and Nasri scores easily with careless a lob over Howard and into the top corner and it's 2-0 to City. In summary, a good performance by City.

Sunday, 16 August 2015

Manchester City vs Chelsea

Last season there were signs indicating that Manchester City was facing a re-building period in the summer. The team looked like they were going through a tough time last spring and gave up early in the title battle against Chelsea. Moreover, City had the highest average age of all the teams in Europe's top five leagues while stars like Vincent Kompany and Yaya Touré had off seasons.
After two rounds there is a rekindled Manchester City. City is out for revenge.

Manchester City was dominant today in the win against Chelsea. During a strong first half, it was City who had the momentum. Their performance was a clone of Pellegrini's debut season. Sergio Aguero, who started on the bench in the premiere, created four or five chances. His 1-0 goal was a masterpiece of its kind, where he with minimal space, turned and finished off the attack with a low shot that crept its way into the low corner.

David Silva has moved into the number ten role and there he is completely magical. He played brilliantly against West Bromwich and he was extremely good again against Chelsea. Raheem Sterling ran away from Branislav Ivanovic and over again and he has already given the City a new dimension. Fernandinho is another player who dipped last year and now looks to have found 2013/14 form. Eliaquim Mangala also looks more stable. Manchester City now appears as "the team to beat".















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Monday, 10 August 2015

Match Report: Manchester City vs West Brom

This year's premiere was played at The Hawthorns where West Bromwich stood as the opposition. It was a fine first game. After total domination City was the victorious team with 3-0 as the scoreline when the referee blew the final whistle. The goals were scored by Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany.

City supporters only had to wait eight minutes before the 1-0 goal was a fact. Navas found Yaya Toure, who just outside the penalty area fired a shot that might have/have not touched Silva and then the WBA central defender Dawson, to finally roll slowly into the goal behind a bewildered Myhill.

WBA parked bus á la Tony Pulis and Mourinho. It is usually difficult to open up a tight defence but when Yaya Toure is on the right all bets are off. After 23 minutes, Bony laid the ball off to Yaya, who let off a curling shot that was bombed into the top corner behind a chance-less Myhill. 2-0 to City was a fact.

The last chance of the first half went to City and a fantastic Silva laid off a sharp through ball to an onrushing Kolarov who fired the ball over the goal.

The second half did not start unexpectedly with a goal scoring chance for City.

In the 58th minute the game was settled. From a corner kick delivered by Silva reached Kompany who headed the ball into the far corner for a 3-0 lead. They subsequent scenes when Kompany ran up to the happy City supporters behind the goal and celebrated already feel classic!

The last half hour was relatively uneventful as City was already winning and they kept WBA at bey. However, with three changes were made as Bony, Sterling and Yaya were substituted for Aguero, Nasri and Demichelis. However, Myhill finished the game with two fine saves after Aguero and Kolarov tested him in the final stages of the game.

Final Result: 3-0 Victory for City.






Kompany's Epic Celebration.
















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Saturday, 8 August 2015

3 Things before the season starts

At the moments there's just a couple of days left before City kick off their season against West Bromwich and it shall be honored by bringing up three hot topics that are worth thinking about during theses coming days.

Will the new SAS conquer the Premier League?

Sterling's transition to the light blue part of Manchester has been well documented. But maybe it is the beginning of something special? 2013/14 season, Liverpool were close to winning the Premier League with their SAS (Suarez and Sturridge) and last season Barcelona won the Champions League with MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar). Perhaps it is time for the City to create success with their own version of SAS (Sterling, Aguero, Silva)?

Silva and Sterling has shown potential of a fine collaboration during the preseason. Silva benefits balls forward and Sterling running deep. If their collaboration has seen promising so far, what happens when we add Aguero? It could get interesting.

Will this season the beginning of the end for Kompany and Yaya?


Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure have been two of the team's key players during the period that might possibly be City's most successful ever. But last season they were not up to par. Kompany is now 29 years old and critics argue that he has lost speed as he does not fit in Pellegrini high defensive line. Yaya is now 32 years, and last season he was severely criticized by both journalists and fans, especially when he seemed to lack the proper motivation. In fact, both key players need to perform the upcoming season if City are to have any chance of the title - and above all to silence their critics.

Is it finally time for young people to have the chance?


City during recent seasons have not been known to unleash the youngsters into the first team. But this season they might do just that. 20-year-old Jason Denayer is believed to be one of four central defenders in the squad, so he'll have a fighting chance. Worth pointing out is that Denayer recently signed a five year contract with City.

With Jovetic and Dzeko out, no striker seems to be close to be enlisted as their replacement, so perhaps this will be the season when 18-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho get the chance? In the current situation, it feels like the most likely option. It has also been speculated that the 19-year-old Marcos Lopes'll get the chance, but in the current situation it seems that his hottest option is a loan or a sale to a French club because he would otherwise have to compete with Silva, Sterling, Nasri, Navas and possibly De Bruyne.














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Friday, 24 July 2015

Match Report: Manchester City - Real Madrid

It was set for football feast in the final match of International Champions Cup. An Absolutely amazing number of 99,382 people had gathered to experience the pre-season friendly match between Manchester City and Real Madrid. It wasn't a fantastic experience for Manchester City when Real Madrid in a simple manner won the match with 4-1 as the end result. Benzema, Ronaldo, Pepe and Cheryshev scored for the Spaniards. Yaya Toure scored for City via a penalty.

It was a debut appearance for new signing Fabian Delph against Real Madrid. The back line consisted of a 20 year old, and a 16 year old. Vincent Kompany was not available as the stork is on its way to the family Kompany at any moment.

The first incident of the match came in the eighth minute when Sterling was trying to get a penalty for City. However, the referee did not Sterlings dive after Pepe touched him easily with the arm. However, the referee made a big miss two minutes later after Real's goalkeeper Keylor Navas, completely knocked out Yaya Toure.

In the 19th minute it happened. This was suppose to be Fabian Delphs big day when he got his debut against Real Madrid in front of nearly 100 000 spectators. However, his debut lasted just under 20 minutes after he suddenly just laid on the field and grabbed towards his hamstring.

One minute after the City's nightmare continued when Benzema scored 1-0 to Real. In the 24th minute Ronaldo fired off a shot. Hart was on Ronaldo's fierce strike but he could not prevent the ball from going into the goal. 2-0 to Real.

A couple of minutes later 3-0 goal arrived. Isco struck a perfect corner, and then Denayer and Kolarov completely lost Ramos and Pepe and could the latter in a childishly easy nod another ball behind Hart in the goal.

In the closing seconds of the first half City were rewarded a penalty. Yaya Toure stepped up and converted the penalty into a goal. 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first half.

The second half started as the first one, with Real Madrid dominating. There had been no changes but later on in the second half, Lopes, Zucchini, and Iheanacho came on.

The changes did not give much to affect the results. Moments later Isco showed up City's back line and then he through a sharp pass found Cheryshev who could easily bump in 4-1. Sagnas defensive game was in this case none-existent.















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Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Match Report: Manchester City - Roma

In the training tournament International Champions Cup City faced off with Roma on Australian soil. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after an entertaining and exciting game that was played at a surprisingly high tempo considering that both teams are in pre-season. Sterling and Iheanacho both scored for City while Pjanic and Ljajic scored for Roma. The match was subsequently decided on penalties, which City won after Hart stood for a great show.

The game starts and Already after two minutes in the City-sweater Sterling scores his first City goals. The Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho got off a perfect long range pass through Romas high back line that found its way into a free Sterling, who coolly put the ball into the net behind De Sanctis. 1-0 to City.

However, City's joy did not last long as Roma scored to make it 1-1 in the seventh minute. Just outside the penalty area Pjanic smashed the ball and through a superbly shot ball it suddenly went into the net behind Caballero. Really nicely done indeed.

In the 22nd minute City should've received a penalty, but in some strange way the referee decided to not award it even though he stood from a perfect position saw Sterling getting swiped off his legs by Florenzi in the Roma penalty area.

At half time both teams made a bunch of changes. In the 50th minute Roma were kind to invite City to more goalscoring opportunities. Roma juggled the ball nice and quietly in the back line until  Ashley Cole suddenly hit the ball to Iheanacho who was free with De Sanctis and he was completely ice cold when he booted the ball into the net to make it 2-1 to City.

Roma managed to scored the 2-2 goal with five minutes left and although this time the goal was really neat. Roma were given a free kick just outside the City penalty area and Ljajic elegantly lifted the ball over the City wall. This meant that the game would be decided on penalties.

Kolarov missed while Yaya, Navas, Lopes, Hart and Horsfield scored. For Roma Doumbia and Keita missed after Joe Hart showed his class and his mockery skills while Nainggolan, Ljajic, Destro and Falque was more accurate.

City win 5-4

Saturday, 18 July 2015

Match Report: Manchester City vs Melbourne

The Manchester editions of Melbourne and Manchester met in a pre-season friendly match that took place in Australia. The pace was not the best but both teams still created chances.

The match began at a relatively sluggish pace, but in the eighth minute Willy Caballero was close getting Melbourne ahead. Caballero kicked the ball poorly and a Melbourne player could play the ball into the open goal, but in an impressive recovery Kompany prevented a goal.

Until the 19th minute the game went back and forth in slow tempo, but after Yaya clipped a free kick in the bar the pace was upped. Minutes later Barker fired a shot off after Yaya pushed for the attack.

In the 32nd minute a fine cross from the right made both Humphreys and Maffeo loose their markings which later led to a chance for Mauk who shot the ball high over the open goal. In the sequence afterwards Navas hit the crossbar with a fine effort.

In the second half Melbourne created chance. Novillo got the ball far down the right wing and made his way Horsfield past and then proceeded lob the ball over Caballero who was rushing out, but the ball bounced out for a goal kick.

In the 84th minute Nasri got off a hard shot that Velaphi almost dropped into his own net, but he managed to steer the ball out to a corner. But one minute later came the class came out and this time it was Nasri who showed it. Unal got the ball to Nasri via a touch and Nasri volleyed it into the net and Manchester City came out victorious.









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Wednesday, 15 July 2015

City overcome Adelaide United in a 2-0 Victory

City opened their pre-season tour in Australia with a 2-0 victory against Adelaide United, thanks to second half goals from Brandon Barker and Bruno Zuculini. The game was played behind closed doors while Pellegrini assessed the fitness status of the player he currently has at his exposure.

A lot of players from the EDS liked of Cameron Humphreys and Manu Garcia, were rewarded with starting places alongside more senior colleagues including Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri.


Pellegrini made some changes at half-time, and it was substitute Brandon Barker who opened the scoring with a good and low finish into the bottom of the far corner. Bruno Zuculini, who spent last season on mixed success loans at Valencia and Cordoba, secured the win in the 84th minute, following some excellent work by Clichy who served up a perfect cross that resulted in the goal.