For the second season in succession City suffered the humiliation of a second round exit to lower league opposition. Last season it was Doncaster, now add Chesterfield to the ever increasing list of clubs that have ‘shocked’ Manchester City.
But was it really a shock? Prior to the game most City fans were hoping for, rather than expecting, victory over a modest league one outfit. The fact that expectations amongst supporters have again reached such a low is cause for concern at a club where ‘self destruct’ is an apt description for normal business. Perhaps the only shock to come out of last night’s game was the fact that no-one that supports City was shocked in the slightest?
To avoid the accusation of sour grapes, Chesterfield deserved this victory. Their players gave the impression of wanting it more and their winning goal would have graced any cup tie.
As for City? Well it remains the continuation of a long theme. However much the manager wishes to gloss over the clubs current run by saying it is a new season he cannot dispute the fact that City have now lost 13 of their last 16 games and have an away record that is best described as abysmal. Rumours abound that Pearce has lost the dressing room, and if it can be confirmed that Barton told him in no uncertain terms where to go when leaving the field it is indeed a sad state of affairs.
Despite Samaras scoring last night, both forwards looked close to useless and it is a fair reflection of the state of things that people shouted for the introduction of Dickov to offer a greater goal threat?
To single out the forwards is perhaps unfair when all of the team were poor, how many more goals are we going to concede from wide free kicks for starters, however it is the team’s inability to score goals that is costing it the most. That inability has led to a lack of confidence throughout the team which is manifesting itself further back, in midfield and defence, with the result that City look firm relegation candidates.
I don’t know what the answer is but it seems that we cannot carry on the way we are going. Perhaps it is time to change a manager who was employed on the back of a good run of results that he has never since replicated.
Manager Rating
Pearce seems to have no answers for how to decline the slide. Defeat to lower league opposition yet again should raise serious questions regarding his ability to manage at this level.