Under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City have made a steady, if not spectacular, start to the season. But which players have not quite performed to the best of their abilities?
Joe Hart
Joe Hart, England and City number one, has had a dodgy start to this season. A few high-profile errors have been mixed with some excellent saves but, unfortunately for keepers, it is the mistakes that everyone remembers. Nine goals conceded in the first eight games may not seem calamitous, but a title challenge is based on a solid defence. His solid defence hasn’t been helped by the absence of Vincent Kompany, who has missed half the season through injury, but even so some of the errors have been down to his own doing. I have no doubt that Hart will return to his best form soon but City fans will prefer it to come now and England fans before Rio in the summer.
Jesus Navas
Jesus Navas will have been one of the signings that the City fans will have been looking forward to. After signing from Sevilla for £14.9m, everyone was expecting big things from the Spanish international, but it hasn’t quite gone to plan just yet. Six league games, no goals and just one assist hasn’t quite justified the fee paid for him. It hasn’t seemed to affect City’s appetite for scoring but, if he can find form and Sergio Aguero and co are presented with even more chances to score, there may be no stopping the blue half of Manchester regaining the title.
Edin Dzeko
Some may feel it is unfair to include Dzeko on this list considering his lack of starting opportunities, but just two goals so far hasn’t done anything to warrant his inclusion in the first team, especially ahead of Aguero. The Bosnian is more of a target man but has only won nine out of 17 aerial battles, not providing his team with the most reliable out ball and it is easy to see why Pellegrini leaves him on the bench. He was the definition of a super sub last season and he’ll have to become that again if he is to force his way into the first team this season.
Javi Garcia
Garcia is another player who has struggled to cement a place in the first team. Filling in for Kompany at centre back was hardly ideal and he was exposed on several occasions by Hull and Cardiff, especially the latter and Frazier Campbell. His poor defensive abilities can be seen as a big reason for defeat against Cardiff, an early season slip up that City can ill afford. He has struggled to force his way into midfield and looks set to be a bit-part player for the remainder of the season.
James Milner
Again, some may not agree with the assertion that Milner is within the worst five players in the City team but, seeing as I’m basing it on players who have played at least five league games, he makes the list. Unfortunately, for both club and country, he has become a player who, when the game needs closing out, he’s the man. But no goals and no assists in seven games is still not good enough for a ‘wide man’ who has only a 50% success rate at beating his man. Yes, Milner isn’t the most skilful winger, but in a team such as City you need to be on the same wavelength as the likes of Silva and Aguero. The general feeling seems to be that Milner is not and will remain Pellegrini’s trusty bench man.
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