Manchester City have been looking increasingly ropey at the back as of late, and there are several different factors that are contributing to worryingly porous backline.
Vincent Kompany’s loss of form.
This season, Vincent Kompany has not looked at his imperious best. One of Kompany’s best qualities is his ability to marshal a defence and inspire confidence in those around him. Recently, Kompany has appeared to not only be less commanding, but also less decisive in his own decision making. A season ago, it would have been unthinkable that Kompany would be making some of the errors he has been guilty of this season. Much of Manchester City’s defensive rigidity relies upon Kompany, and if he under-performs the entire back four suffers.
Mangala’s inconsistency
Eliaquim Mangala has been the subject of much debate since his big money move to Manchester City in the summer. By his own admission, his performances on the whole have been underwhelming. Still, Mangala has the potential to be a world beater in his position, if he is given the time and support he needs. The last thing that should happen is that he is disregarded or overly criticized in his first season at the club.
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The role of a central defender is a symbiotic one, the partnership in a 4-4-2 formation is essential, and Mangala has perhaps been unfortunate to come into the side at a time when Vincent Kompany has not been at his imperious best. I would fully expect Mangala to rise to the occasion at the same time as Kompany rediscovers the form we all know he is capable of.
Lack of protection
Under manager Manuel Pellegrini’s system, full backs press high and there is usually a sole defensive minded midfielder left back to help out on the counter. Too often this means that central defenders are pushed out wide to cover for marauding full backs, with one of Fernando, Fernandinho or Yaya Toure attempting to track back to get men in the box. The system can, and has, worked very well for Manchester City due to the extra attacking impetus it gives the team.
The return of Yaya Toure should encourage a return to business for Manchester City
The problem arises when you factor in a defensive partnership still in its infancy and a lack of consistency in who plays in central midfield. The enforced absence of Yaya Toure has placed a lot of focus on Fernando, and his high profile failings which is fair, but it is a problem easily rectified. The return of Yaya Toure should encourage a return to business for Manchester City, but leaves the issue of what to do when the Ivorian leaves very much up for debate.