Hardly anything went right for Manchester City yesterday as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard saw Enzo Maresca’s side well beaten at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Looking at the match and how it transpired, there is one area of the pitch that City must strengthen before the transfer window closes. That is the midfield. It looks like Manchester City are about to step up the process of fortifying their engine room. It is exactly what must be done to help give Enzo Maresca the midfielders he needs to fully implement his system.
The Manchester City midfield is in desperate need of quality reinforcement which stood out yesterday.
Enzo Maresca started Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden in midfield yesterday against Arsenal. Anderson made his City debut, Mateo Kovacic played in a role that he isn’t ideally suited to and Phil Foden started as the number ten. Manchester City weren’t necessarily swamped in midfield by Mikel Arteta’s side. What stood out was how disjointed Enzo Maresca’s side were and how easy they were to play through in the opening half-hour of the game.
Elliot Anderson was by no means poor in his City debut. He did put himself about in the hour he was on the pitch. Anderson also needs time to grow into life as a Manchester City player. Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden had moments but overall the necessary quality wasn’t there in the engine room for Manchester City. The midfield trio that Maresca opted to start with played like a lineup that had never played together before, and they were. But there is a desperate need for City to add the quality they need to fortify their midfield.
Rodri won’t be a part of the solution to Manchester City’s midfield issue. Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday that he is on the verge of completing a move to Barcelona. Rodri’s departure, alongside that of Tijjani Reijnders opens up space in Manchester City’s midfield. It must be filled with quality players. Now, City must shop from the top shelf to bolster their midfield. They have done this when they signed Elliot Anderson. Now they need more quality in midfield to add the options that Enzo Maresca needs.
Help does look to be on the way, but as Enzo Maresca pointed out,
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca was asked about Manchester City’s prospects of completing a move for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Maresca reminded everyone that Bouaddi remains a Lille player, but he added that the sooner that City complete any new signings the better. He explained: “He’s still a Lille player, but any new signings, any new players, for sure the sooner they arrive it’s better because we’re going to start the Premier League in one week. And if they start to work with us as soon as possible, it’s better because they can also understand the way we want to play.”
Manchester City must add quality to their midfield. Rodri’s impending departure, alongside that of Bernardo Silva, does mean that Manchester City’s midfield needs bolstering. Also, City’s performance against Arsenal yesterday showed that City need to strengthen their midfield with quality performers. The time for Manchester City to make their move to bolster their midfield is now and it does seem like they will make the necessary moves in the coming days.
Bernardo Silvas planned departure was known some while ago as was the highly likely departure of Rodri (the transfer fee dance has only just been completed but that shouldnt have been allowed to prevent timely reinforcements).
Im not sure whats going on with Bouaddi because his club seem willing to sell him but the sticking point is they expect to be allowed to keep him for another season.
Not sure of what part of the season has now started and a hope to make signings in the next few days isnt registering with some at the club. Most if not all City fans hoping that Marescos desire for the thug Fernandez isnt part of the answer.
Im also slightly confused by the fact that Foden is now not being seen as the solution to the number 10 position but Cherki sat on the bench for a good part of the match.
On the number 10, Cherki’s half-hour off the bench just solidified his status as our first-choice in my opinion. He was another who had only trained for four days and he looks razor sharp. Admittedly, the sting had come out of the game by then but Cherki did look very good and was probably our most dangerous attacking player for the match during his time on the pitch.
Yeah, Adam, Cherki is going to see a lot of minutes this season in that role. After being ghosted by Deschamps in the WC, he should be ahead of our other participants in this summer’s fiasco of a competition.
I would say firstly most of the team he started with did not have a pre season. Secondly why do we buy players and then play them out of position. Anderson looked lost and should have played as the holding midfield.
Agreed they needed minutes in their legs and they got that.
I’ve seen criticism of Anderson’s performance online, and I don’t agree with it. There were more than enough flashes of quality from him and as for his positioning that will improve the more he works with the team. I’m wondering if he was a bit lost with his role being he’d only trained with us for four days.
Adam I agree with you that Anderson did as much youd expect given hes had no ore season. Hes also adjusting to players he doesnt really know yet in a system thats new to him.
Then again people having a go at him are just seeking any means to criticise City. The 115 being one of their favourite bleats.
Yes I saw an earlier comment suggesting such and ignored it.
And quite rightly so. It is time this 115 matter was resolved for good especially as all the good money from the Legal boys have been firmly placed on a City win.
If the PL had 95% proof then it would have been over 18 months ago. Hearsay and circumstantial evidence V hard copy bank statements, the latter wins every time. If the Panel move away from that then it will be off to the High Court for a judicial review.
Over the last 2 seasons we have made many signings at some cost yet the quality of the squad looks threadbare. The question is ? Have we made bad signings or merely handled our signings badly?
Marmoush, Nico, Reindjers all looked to be good yet faded away. The worst signing however is a cast iron regular who not only is positionally poor and gives no assurance to his defenders, I mean Donnarumma.
For many years there has never been a Utd player I would want but now I wished we had their goalie and Bruno.
On Marmoush, he had a hot streak for Frankfurt before we signed him. His career outside of that didn’t pull up any trees. I think we have the version of Marmoush that he always has been. Capable of the spectacular but can flatter to deceive.
Tijjani Reijnders had a fatal flaw out of possession and that played out and was why he fell out of favour and the jury remains out on Nico at this stage.
It would seem like all three just weren’t the level of signing that we needed although I hold out hope that Nico will be a good player for us.