Does Mancini trust his defenders?

Just eight games into the season, in all competitions, the reigning Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City have conceded an incredible 16 goals!

On their way to the said Premier League crown last year, Roberto Mancini’s side conceded the least amount of goals, just 29 in their 38 league games, which leaves you wondering why they’ve leaked so frequently so far!

Mancini has slightly tinkered with the side, altering not on the formation but their defensive personnel. At times Manchester City has gone with three at the back; however over recent weeks have gone back to the formation that treated them so well last year. If it isn’t broke don’t fix it I say!

At the moment it doesn’t matter though, be it three of four at the back the Citizens are conceding too many goals.

Captain Vincent Kompany is a mainstay in the starting eleven; however they don’t have another world-class centre back to play alongside him. Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure aren’t regulars with the 20 year old Serbian international Matija Nastasic making his debut in the Bernabeu recently, only highlighting how little Mancini trusts Lescott and Toure.

In the left back position, both Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov are better offensively with both costing their side with individual errors last campaign. Another player Mancini clearly doesn’t trust is Micah Richards, who despite being injured currently doesn’t start enough when available. Pablo Zabaleta is a solid full-back without ever being brilliant, whilst Maicon’s best years are behind him.

With no full-back ever guarenteed a start you wonder if Mancini only has real trust in one of his defenders? 

Nigel De Jong was never a real favourite with Mancini; however he offered good protection in front of the defence when he played and I do believe Manchester City miss his defensive qualities. Both Javi Garcia and Gareth Barry do good screening the defence and are better ball players then De Jong, they just aren’t as good as De Jong at the nasty side of the game. Granted Yaya Toure is extremely good at this; however his best attributes are going forward.

Mancini’s only centre back addition in the summer window was Nastasic; however Jack Rodwell has featured in a back three this season. One thing is for certain is I wouldn’t expect Mancini to go another summer window without adding another world-class defender into his ranks.

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