“Squeaky bum time” taking it’s toll on Mancini’s Manchester City

A month ago we were talking the Manchester City title winners of the ’60s, perhaps even the United of ’99 or the Arsenal of ’04. Now, the Newcastle United chokers of ’96.

Earlier on in the season City were sweeping aside opponents without batting an eyelid. Strong or weak opponents, home or away, if they didn’t win then they would dominate. It was always going to be a tight race, but City looked like champions in waiting at one point.

Yet within the space of 30 days, a five point lead has turned to a five point deficit for the Citizens and the title initiative handed to the red half of Manchester. Loses and draws are bad at any time for a club bidding to win their first title for 40 odd years. But they are even worse when there are arch rivals are hitting form in the midst of “Squeaky bum time”.

Just what is causing Manchester City’s stuttering form? Even with Aguero, Silva, Balotelli, Kompany (you get the picture), they are falling behind in the race at a make or break stage in the season.

A crafty fan may blame the fixture list given to them at the start of the season. It is easy to blame and criticize City for this dip in form, but one must also appreciate the opposition they have come up against. Swansea and Stoke away both posed difficult challenges, so too did Sunderland, all of them experiencing very pleasing seasons.

It equally seems that teams have adapted to City’s style of play nowadays.

Early on in the season, City’s full backs pushing up drew defenders out wide, leaving space in the middle for the talented midfield to work with. There is no better example of this then at Old Trafford, where Milner and Silva terrorized Ferdinand and Evans.

However, of late teams have figured out how to stop this happening, Stoke and Sunderland in particular were not drawn out wide. It is not coincidence that Silva’s dip in form has coincided with teams giving him less space in the middle of the field.

But title winners overcome these sorts of difficulties, just look at Manchester United last night, facing a determined Blackburn side. Praise must also be given to the Red Devils themselves, as a matter of fact. Phrases like “the experience to win titles” and “a never say die attitude” are becoming extremely cliched in the modern day Premier League, but there is no doubting that both apply so well to this Manchester United side. 10 wins from the last 11 for Ferguson’s men is the form that one might expect from 19 times Champions, and they have applied massive pressure to Manchester City.

That pressure is starting to show on Roberto Mancini’s part. We know that of the two he is not the master of mind games, however some of his statements of late have been ludicrous, proving more a disadvantage than an advantage.

“No, I don’t trust Mario, no, never, but Mario is like this. I don’t think anyone can trust Mario”

Asked if he considered taking Balotelli off, Mancini said: “We had only Carlos on the bench. I thought about this after five minutes”

How do these sorts of statements help his team? Also, in saying that Manchester United would “definitely draw” against Blackburn, he effectively wrote Sir Alex’s team talk for him. At this rate, you feel its just a matter of time before he whips out the famous; “I would love it if we beat them, love it!” line.

The subject of many of the Italian’s quotes has been his countryman Mario Balotelli. Every title winning team needs a maverick. United had Ronaldo and Cantona down the years, Chelsea had Drogba, Arsenal had Lehmann.

But one has to judge whether they are more of a help or a hindrance, whether their talent outweighs their off pitch controversies, it is hard to judge with young Mario. In defense of him, arguing over a free-kick is not an unusual thing for any player to do. I would not criticize him extensively for that.

But his other antics throughout the season have attracted unwanted attention to Melwood training ground.

When they win 6-1 at Old Trafford, setting his bathroom alight with fireworks can be brushed under the carpet (as much as something like that can be). However, when you are losing it is a lot harder to ignore, and that is the key issue for him and for City at this present moment. One can expect him to the focus of attention at the Etihad on March the 30th, when Manchester United visit seeking revenge. Whether or not it is attention for his skills on the pitch or off it may prove key to City’s title hopes.

The title is by no means lost. It’s not over till the fat lady sings, and she probably isn’t even on the stage yet. Even if United win against a spirited QPR and City lose to a resurgent Arsenal side, there would still be hope for them. If the Premiership Pendulum can swing one way, it can swing back the other, however unlikely it may seem.

However, City can give up any hope of the title if they do not sort out their off pitch antics and on field weariness.