Manchester City are boring, they are underachievers, they have got millions of pounds worth of talent and they don’t know how to use it.
These are the topics of conversation about the blue side of Manchester that have gone on between most football-loving pub goers across the country.
And they have every right to think like that. Before the international break, City had lost to Chelsea in a display where they never tried to win the game , and that dismal performance came two days after they were knocked out of the Europa League.
Yet this week they leapfrogged Chelsea after yesterday’s 5-0 win over Sunderland, are eyeing second place in the league and have the momentum going into their FA Cup semi final with their bitter rivals.
A lot changes in this mad house of millionaires, towards the end of this topsy turvy season these overpaid disappointments could be cemented into a coveted Champions League place and be on the verge of their first trophy since the League Cup in 1976.
This change in fortunes could be personified in the attitude of Mario Balotelli. Last week he couldn’t put a bib on and was throwing darts at youth team players. Yesterday the final whistle went to the sight of the first beaming smile I have seen since I started watching him play. Not quite the “perfect” Mancini described him as but a damn site better than a moaning child who has attracted criticism everywhere he goes.
Even manager Roberto Mancini was surprised at the result, but it could prove the catalyst towards the success that these long-suffering fans deserve. City’s last seven league games include two big games against Liverpool and Tottenham but five others where they would fancy their chances, including the likes of Blackburn away and West Ham and Stoke at home.
To achieve the Champions League spot they have to do what Tottenham have not done, and win these kinds of games. They are ahead of Spurs because the North Londoners have dropped points against the struggling Ws and that separates Champions League material from the Europa League Thursday nighters.
The team that last month were accused of being over defensive will take satisfaction of winning 5-0 with five different goalscorers. Just to clarify, even without Tevez they would still have won 4-0, which is unusual for City. The question is, can they take the encouragement from this result and turn it into a: dramatic win over United, a 100 per cent from their run in and a top four finish?
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