Manchester City season review: November
What a season it’s been for the Blues. Records have fallen and the Premier League has been won in a very special way. We have seen some highs. We have seen some lows. Questions on Pep’s style of play answered and, for the most part, domination of the English game.
heading into November, City were in total control. Points clear in the League, they were also in a strong position to win their Champions League group. The first game of November would test that though, as Guardiola took his Blues away to Naples.
Initially going a goal down to Napoli we then went 2-1 up before being pegged back to 2-2 thanks to a Jorginho penalty. Seven minutes later, Leroy Sane would power his way through the back line before getting wiped out. The ball fell to Aguero and, with the referee playing advantage, he restored our lead.
In the process he then put his name in the record book by eclipsing the previous top City scorer, Eric Brook. The cherry on the cake came with a Raheem Sterling late goal to make the score line a much better 4-2.
It was back to domestic football with the visit of Arsenal. City would go on to win that fixture 3-1, with Wenger bemoaning some controversial goals. Of course the third goal, scored by David Silva, was widely accepted as being offside but Arsenal’s play didn’t deserve anything. A trip to Leicester followed an International break with more good fortune.
Vincent Kompany was only a few minutes back from his injury return before a mis-timed tackle brought down Jamie Vardy. Arguably the last man it could easily have been a red card for the Belgium International. Goals either side of the half saw the blues get a well deserved victory and continue their unbeaten run.
Returning to Champions League and City secured the Groups top spot with a game to go. At home to Feyenoord it was a late Raheem Sterling strike which separated the sides on the score sheet. City dominated in possession, as you might expect. A positive for the Blues was to see Phil Foden came on for Yaya Toure in the final fifteen minutes.
Wrapping u the month with two quick 2-1 games. The first happened away to Huddersfield while the second was at home to Southampton. Again they were both tougher than they should have been, and both could have been points dropped.
Huddersfield went a goal up before half-time. A penalty shortly after the restart saw Aguero pull us level but had to wait until the final six minutes to secure all three points. That despite having 80% possession, and completing 336 successful passes in the second half alone.
It was a similar story three days later, with the visit of Southampton. After seeing our lead wiped out with a Romeu strike in the 75th minute, it looked we’d have to be happy with a point. Twelve shots on target from 26 overall combined with 74% possession, City should have had the game done and dusted.
Again it was a late Raheem Sterling strike to secure the points. Despite his critics toward the end of the season, how many points did he get us in the dying moments in games?