The impressive win at Newcastle was forged on the back of a balanced attack that saw Toure and Nasri both hit their best form this season.
After the derby drama at the Etihad, Manchester City bounced back in the best possible manner with a convincing away win at Newcastle. For the first half of the match, they played some of the best football in the league this season, with Nasri in sparkling form before being forced off injured, and Yaya Toure showing the kind of form that won City the title last year.
With this in mind, has Mancini now found the best front six for his side?
Javi Garcia came into the midfield due to Gareth Barry’s suspension, and gave his best performance in a City shirt .His presence in the air is unbelievable, and he looked far less sluggish in the centre of the park than he has done previously. Barry will probably still come into the team when he returns from suspension, but Garcia gave plenty of encouraging signs that he will be able to make an impact in the Premier League on Saturday.
More importantly was Mancini’s decision to start Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero together. These two seem to be clearly the best option available to him, and it is remarkable on how few occasions he has paired the Argentinians together. Tevez and Aguero have delivered wins for their side the last 13 times they have been started together.
In the league this season they have started six games together, with City scoring sixteen goals in winning those matches. Aguero missed some games through injury, but Mancini’s constant rotation of his strikers has had a negative impact on their effectiveness in front of goal, and Tevez and Aguero have to the preferred pairing for the foreseeable future.
The most encouraging aspect of the win on Saturday was probably the improvement in Samir Nasri’s performance. The Frenchman’s poor form at City hit a new low in the Manchester derby, but he was fantastic during the 37 minutes he was able to play at St James Park. If he can maintain this form, then City’s reliance on Toure and Silva will be lessened considerably, making them a far more dangerous side as a result.
Manchester City are only competing in the FA Cup and the Premier League now this season. Rotation of players will still be required, but Mancini has to focus on doing this only when it benefits the side, as simply trying to keep all his players happy will hinder the teams chances of success.
The most important part of this is that Tevez and Aguero start together, as they have proved time and again they are the most effective pairing at the club.
image: © garethrogers
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