The Two Extremes Of Sven's Problem
There's no doubt that the Sven effect has transformed City into a confident and professional outfit this season.
The football is unrecognisable from the dire spectacle City fans had the misfortune to watch in the last 3 or 4 seasons and thank goodness for that. City are riding high in 3rd place and playing some stuff, although I have to say the awful performance against Sunderland on Monday night took me right back to the darkest Pearce and KK days - I suspect that was just a blip on an otherwise wonderful season so far.
As I've said, the performances are a vast improvement, but they can and must still get better and more consistent if we're serious about challenging for Europe.
Sven's forays into the transfer market have been very successful on the whole, but there are two areas that still need to be sorted out, namely the 'keepers jersey and the forward line. The top and the bottom of the team, if you like, have been problematic since Sven took over and even now, they look far from being resolved. The bit in the middle, i.e the back four and the midfield are solid enough, but don't be surprised to see some additional strengthening in January.
Now that Kaspar is away on loan, it's a straight fight between Hart and Isaksson with Hart just edging it at the moment for the green jersey. Joe has done very well for a young lad, but he does obviously lack experience which has shown a few times this season. He will develop into a top, probably future England 'keeper, but it's a big ask for him to play at this level every week at his age.
As for Isaksson, despite him being here for 18 months, we still haven't seen enough of him to make up our minds. It's obviously an uneasy relationship between him and the club as neither Pearce or Eriksson have shown total faith in him - why, I really don't know.
Up front, we are clearly lacking a 20 goal per season striker. Bianchi may be that person, but like Isaksson, we just don't know. Mpenza has toiled hard on his own up front, but he's clearly not cut out to be a lone striker, something that showed against Sunderland, when he didn't win a ball all night. Enough's already been said about Samaras and the best think for him and City would be an early exit elsewhere to rebuild his career. Of the three, I'd probably only keep Bianchi and persevere with him.
Where does that leave us then? Well, with money to spend we need a top international 'keeper and two proven strikers at this level. With the transfer window looming Sven will be linked with every player under the sun and if true to form will buy none of them and pull off a surprise or two when he does eventually dip into the market.
Let's hope he and the backroom team have been hitting YouTube a lot over the last few weeks and have spotted some more talent ;-)
Good luck to the team and the travelling support today - Fratton Park is an awful place to go to at the best of times; I think I'd settle for a draw if I could.
9 comments:
I don't know why everyone is making a goalkeeper our top priority I can't thing of any goal conceded that was the fault of Joe Hart.
The real need is for a couple of aggressive ball winning midfielders and as for the strikers they are still not getting the service. I can't think of many occasions when a striker has been put through with ball to feet. Far to many balls are still played to them in the air.
With Vassell back to something like his best and Bojinov returning in the New Year is even a striker a top priority ?
I think so, because we're not getting enough goals, and Vassell really isn't a striker.
What we need is a fox in the box
The reason why Isaksson hasn't been given a prolonged run as first choice in the 18 months he's been with City has nothing to do with his goalkeeping capabilities. It's down to the fact that he's one of the most injury-prone footballers in the game. he's always been like that and it's not likely to change I'm afraid.
Fair point, but when he has been fit, he has not be first pick for both Pearce and Sven.
I thought Hart was magnificent yesterday by the way and if he keeps this up, I might be inclined to agree with Alphieblues comment above.... but I still think it's a big ask to expect a young kid to maintain that sort of form all season
A great all round performance yesterday especially from the young Fernandes who on that performance will give Johnson a run for his money when he is fit again.
Joe Corrigan's first season. He was terrible. League Cup (I think), at Blackpool he stood up and watched the ball trickle through his spread legs.
And yet Joe Mercer persevered with him. I don't think there's a City fan anywhere that would argue with the fact that Joe Corrigan turned out to be City's all-time third best keeper. And when you consider that the contenders for the top spot include Trautman and Swift - that wasn't such a bad call on Joe Mercer's part. I've been watching Hart this season, and I've seen him develop from a young flappable teenager, to a confident goal stopper.
Yet another reason I like Sven - he's doing things the Joe Mercer way!
Th main thing is he is doing it Sven's way
alphieblues
OK !!
Blue from Wigan,
That's a fair point... after seeing Hart against Pompey, I'm becoming more impressed. If he turns out to be half as good as Corrigan, he'll still be some 'keeper !
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