The Manchester City feelgood factor has been revived once more through a thoroughly professional FA Cup win at a winter monsoon lashed Selhurst Park.
Admittedly, the Blues recent humbling at Everton calls for caution, but Planet Blue has been boosted once more, gathering bags of encouragement from this past week’s upbeat performances against Spurs and Palace. It could yet prove to be the case that Pep publicly declaring City’s Premier League title challenge as being over has served to ease pressure upon his squad.
8 nil up in the FA Cup thus far, the Premier League fixture list now offers up a big, big opportunity for a close to fully fit City squad to make something of a charge at the top of the league in advance of and around our return to Champions League action against Monaco. West Ham, Swansea, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Stoke are The Blues next five domestic opponents dependent upon cup commitments and quite frankly City have got to be expected to win all of those fixtures. Were that to prove to be the case, Pep’s men would be nicely set up for a pivotal March into April ‘Triple Crown’ against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in consecutive matches.
Of course, we should not get too far ahead of ourselves in what has proven thus far to be a borderline madcap season but there are signs if you look at City’s overall level of performance in recent weeks that something is starting to click. Many Blues have suggested that considering the wealth of talent within his squad, increasing familiarity with Pep’s methods should lead to greater consistency and a strong second half of the season. If the Blues can maintain their attacking verve and generate a winning run throughout February in all competitions then a platform for success built upon some hard earned experience this season will be in place.
The key to silverware will be goals and it could well be that shorn of the injured Aguero at Palace, Pep has unearthed an exciting young attacking trident who can terrify any opponents with their pace. The enthusiasm, zip and quickness of thought displayed by Sane, Jesus and Sterling with a combined age of 62 bodes very well for the rest of the campaign. This was a canny showing from the ‘fleet foxes’ whom I would be sorely tempted to start again with at West Ham on Wednesday night. Maybe the injection into the squad of Jesus’ bold and exciting approach will be the catalyst for the winning consistency we crave. He looks supremely talented and strong enough to handle ‘the treatment’ he is going to come in for.
At the back we found more reasons to be cheerful this weekend with our club captain VK making an assured, possibly crucial return to a defence that again looked far more at ease with vocal shot stopper Caballero behind them. However, this cruise control victory was constructed by two other elements of City’s old guard. Silva and Toure were immense in the way that they ran the show from start to finish. The sight of the sprightly Silva charging half the length of the field with City’s young guns tearing away ahead of him was a joy to behold. If Spanish Dave can maintain his mercurial form we could be seeing more of the killer through balls that were his trademark in our title winning seasons.
And so to Monday evening and the comedy gold which has become our involvement in domestic cup draws. Will City’s current run of being drawn TWELVE times against Premier League rivals in the last 15 draws continue? Will TV’s favourite Stretford Galacticos series of being pitted against lower league opposition in ELEVEN of their last 14 draw participations endure? All will be revealed!
Finally a message to BBC Radio Manchester and City legend Ian Cheeseman whom I understand is unwell. Speedy recovery Cheesey and best wishes from everyone at VMC, we need you back with us for what could yet prove to be a thrilling second half of the season!
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