Four days in: Disappointment, Doping, and Defying the Odds

Even by the end of the first week of the London Olympics, it is highly likely the majority of the population will still be talking about the truly fabulous opening ceremony on Friday. Today, the intricacies of Daniel Craig's royal confrontation were being carefully deciphered amongst those I was working with, as day four of the Games rolled on. One might be forgiven for forgetting there are actual sporting events occurring! Yet they are, and we have witnessed some fantastic drama befitting of the grandeur of the occasion and the skill of those on show.

While the medals started to clear off the shelves and around the necks of those most deserving, others were left with more than a sense of extreme disappointment at having missed out, despite the immensity of the efforts involved. Britain's men were unable to ferry Mark Cavendish to the sprint finish he so desperately craved. It seems the road racing team were the victims of their own incredible success over the past month, as the rest of the peloton appeared to expect the Brits to single-handedly pedal it back into touch with the early breakaway. Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, the winner and runner up of the Tour de France, were selfless in this respect, with the former possibly putting his own time trial chances in doubt for the benefit of his colleague. The women's race on day two was a resounding success, as Lizzie Armitstead did manage to ride herself into contention at the climax and subsequently delivered the country's first medal of the games, quelling the fears of a stuttering start to GB's medal haul.

In the aquatics centre, the first noticeable controversy began to swirl in the waters of the swimming pool on day two. China's Ye Shiwen, aged just 16, swam a relentless final length in the women's 400m individual medley - faster than Ryan Lochte's equivalent 50m - to claim gold and a new world record. Almost immediately, the eyebrows were raised on Twitter and the tube (even the BBC's Claire Balding prodded at the possibility of the d-word). The reaction was unsurprising given China's undesirable doping past. However, the lack of any solid evidence for such foul play and a staunch defence headed by several high-ranking Olympic officials suggest Ye's performance was nothing more than an extraordinary piece of athleticism. We surely must instead feel privileged to have witnessed such a feat, though the debate will no doubt rage for weeks to come. Moreover, of course, questions will continually be asked about the ethical processes by which China produces its talent for various Olympic sports, but with 23 medals so far - 13 of them gold - and atop the medal table, something seems to be working. On the outside lane of that very same pool, Rebecca Adlington, Britain's defending champion in the 400m freestyle defied her difficult position to claim an excellent bronze medal. In many ways that result was as impressive as her winning swim in Beijing four years ago.

The host nation's most feel-good success was undoubtedly in the men's team event in gymnastics. It was a very well-written script: the last time Britain's men won a medal in the event was in 1912. The Titanic had just sank in icy waters back a century ago, but 2012's competition was fiercely heated. After all the apparatus, the scoreboard had Britain in second before a Japanese appeal pushed them to third. Make no mistake: any colour of medal in this event defied all expectations, rightly deserved a storming moshpit of celebration and got something like it (as well as a chorus of boos when asked to recognise the judges' contribution). The five fresh-faced gymnasts - the youngest being 23 -  were equally elated despite the demotion to second and have simultaneously captured the nation's enduring pride.

The opening days to the Olympics has also had a royal tint of silver. Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaugher was a part of the three-day eventing equestrian team who finished second overall. She can now at least boast being the most successful Olympian in her family (her mother, Princess Anne was unsuccessful on her horse in 1976). On the other hand, her single success does not budge the 4kg of medals hanging on another Olympian's scales. Michael Phelps tonight became the most decorated Olympian of all time. The swimmer added a silver in the 200m butterfly and another gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay to take his tally to 19. More are to come in the coming days which could potentially take him to 22, and while some may not hail him as the greatest Olympian in history, there is no doubt his legacy is secured regardless of how his critics have viewed his arguably less-dominant performances in London than seen in Beijing and Athens. It has been quite a few opening days, and while this has been but a taste of what has transpired, expect more of the same.

A Games to be Proud of, in Spirit and in Substance.

There is no denying that the next 17 days will be 17 of the most unique that we as Brits have ever witnessed. The Olympic Games. Sport will take centre stage as - for a couple of weeks at least - all the economic misery and subsequent social unease are put to one side, and we can instead all look forward to a bloody good show from London and the rest of Great Britain. The work to get to tonight has been observed and reported sporadically by news outlets over the past seven years since that magical day on July 6th 2005 when it was officially announced that London would host the Games, yet for the people involved the work has been constant, and the fruits of their labours will be revealed in a matter of hours. The excitement has only reached noticeable levels as 2012, the year of the Games began. Now that the moment until the Games officially begin has gotten ever closer, there has scarcely been a pinch of coverage that has not mentioned the Olympics every few seconds.

This is not something to be groaned at. Rather, it should be embraced as a genuine once-in-a-lifetime event. A real 'where were you?' moment. Perhaps the greatest 'where were you?' sporting event since 1966, and one of the greatest national events since the end of the Second World War. For the entire world has sat up and taken notice that (despite reports of many turbulent events in the build-up) London may actually be ready to amaze the planet. Thousands of foreigners have descended upon this not-so-sunny island with hopes of retuning with the glow of having been lit up by the skill and determination of the 10000 athletes who will compete. Boris Johnson offered his 'we are ready' speech to the delight of thousands at Hyde Park yesterday, and we as a nation of proud cynics may also join those in being delighted; firstly by Danny Boyle's £27 million opening ceremony, and secondly by the wide array of sporting events that are to follow. The Paralympics too are not to be missed, and will showcase the incredible display of those who have not let their disabilities hinder their desires.

The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, has not had the ideal preparation to defend his 100m and 200m titles, but it is not foolish to expect him to do something special. His countryman Yohan Blake may also write his name into the record books. The man they once called the human dolphin is returning to the swimming pool to try and win another stockful of gold medals. Countless others who may not possess the same level of superstardom but certainly possess just as much of the talent will be aiming to take as many medals back to their respective countries and to see their hard work and dreams fulfilled in some form. Whether it be for the satisfaction of personal achievement, the desire for recognition and respect, or just for the pure national pride, they will all be pushing themselves to the limits of human potential.

Looking closer to home, and there are dozens of athletes who have endeared themselves to the public, especially since Beijing's Games in 2008. A few names stand out and keen eyes will be fixed upon these men and women more than most. Rebecca Adlington, A virtual unknown four years ago,  is now the country's inspiration in the water. Hopes are high that she cuts through the waters rather than treading them. In another water sport, poster-boy Tom Daley has overcome personal tragedy to once again take on the might of Chinese 'robot' Qiu Bo off the edge of the 10m platform. Having lost his father to cancer last year, he arguably has extra motivation to top the leaderboard. Newly crowned Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins turns his attention to the vélodrome, while his Team Sky compatriot Mark Cavendish, the fastest man in the world on two wheels, will set out to cement that undeniable fact. On the running track, Jessica Ennis has overcome injury woes in order to prove herself as the most well-rounded athlete the country - and the world - can boast.

The concept of a 'home' Games has allowed for a reigniting of our country's national sport once again in Olympic competition. For the first time in the lives of all of two generations, football has come home (at least for the Olympics). In the men's competition Ryan Giggs finally took his bow on the international stage last night for Team GB, ironically at the stadium where he has won most of his club medals. Beforehand, he made it clear what the competition meant to him as a Welshman who never had his chance at a European Championship or a World Cup. 'An Olympic gold would be up there with my European medals', he remarked. It is still amazingly refreshing to see the 38-year-old with the same drive he had twenty years ago. With a host of young talent alongside him, he and the rest of Team GB can hope to build on their somewhat unfortunate draw with Senegal.


The preparation has had it's dazzling highs and earth-shattering lows, but the impact of the next two and a half weeks of competition will shape Great Britain's legacy for the next century, and though nowadays we cannot claim the greatness we once had, confidence should be had in Great Britain's readiness to create a legacy worthy of its name (and win a hell of a lot of medals!). Let the Games begin.

There were 11 sky-blue bottlers on the wall... (plus Vieira)

Garry Cook once said of AC Milan, 'If you want my personal opinion they bottled it'. This now infamous line was said in relation to Manchester City's audacious proposal to bring Kaka to the City of Manchester Stadium for a word-record £100 million back in 2009. I am going to borrow the first part of former chief executive Cook's statement about the Italian giants for my own purposes. If you want my personal opinion, to 'bottle' something is to crumble in the face of mounting pressure. Three years ago, AC Milan merely did not wish to sell their player to City (Kaka instead went to Real Madrid that summer) and it is unlikely that this constitutes a meltdown - keeping hold of your best player is hardly a dreadful thing. Three years later and substantially more than £100 million spent and it appears City are contriving to do some bottling of their own. Unlike the sour anti-climactic dealings with Milan, this bottling is being done on the football pitch. After Mikel Arteta's wonderful late strike at the Emirates condemned them to a fifth defeat in their last nine away games, City must hardly believe that they find themselves an astonishing eight points behind Manchester United and two goals behind them on goal difference (when at one point it was 17 in their favour). This is a period of crumbling if ever I saw one.

The demise seen at the Etihad in the last few weeks was not beyond prediction. There exist a range of reasons, some small and some striking, for the complete change in attitude from City's players. Apart from the glaring tactical problems (a chronic lack of width together with a lack of adequate cover at the back) most players just haven't performed for their manager and the badge they wear on their shirts. Mancini seemed to be largely behind the scenes when Kaka was sought after once upon a time, and now it appears his lack of man-management skills has lent itself to a poor attitude on the pitch and subsequently poor performances, especially away from home. David Silva is completely out of form. Sergio Aguero has stopped scoring. He has given up on Joker-In-Chief Mario Balotelli (or should that be Joke-In-Chief?) after yet another red card against Arsenal, seventy minutes after he should have walked for a disgraceful lunge on Alex Song. The striker's petulant lack of professionalism has spread like a poison through the dressing room, and it appears Mancini has just about lost patience. 'I can do nothing', he replied post-match when questioned about Balotelli's attitude, which says more about the greying Italian's coach-to-player capabilities than it does about his immature countryman. A second player-related misjudgement has been to allow Carlos Tevez back into the squad. Despite his undoubted talent, it is unlikely that many managers would go back on their word not to play him again, after his antics on the bench in Munich and subsequent five-month departure to Argentina to play golf and sing in karaoke bars. Mancini has failed to see through the potential disruption it can cause, and though not as significant as the Balotelli problem, it raises some issues about the inner workings at the club.

Heading away from the literally and metaphorically muddy dressing room up to the clean and neatly furnished offices and we come to one Patrick Vieira, the 'Football Development Executive' at the club. Apparently, all Vieira can find time to do is to begin the annual title race mind games with Sir Alex Ferguson (or whoever else is in with a shout). After stating that bringing Paul Scholes out of retirement was 'weakness', he proceeded to claim United get preferential treatment from referees. Now United are no angels when it comes to discipline and lucky decisions, but City should also take a look at themselves as well. No examples necessary. Regarding the Scholes situation, Vieira should choose his words more carefully. Scholes scored the second goal against QPR to seal three points and is enjoying a mini-renaissance at the heart of United's midfield, while Vieira himself spent most of his last year as a footballer on City's substitute bench. Perhaps he should get back to his day job, whatever that may entail.

There is no one reason for the swing in fortunes for the Manchester clubs, and though City have not yet lost the league there is more than a sense of inevitability around the fate of the Premier League trophy. At Old Trafford, it is a case of getting the job done with minimal distraction. Ferguson even took his players to St Andrews for a round of golf before the Blackburn match to escape from the hype of the title race. At the Etihad, Roberto Mancini has allowed a sense of self-importance to fester over several months (which may have ironically started with the 6-1 thrashing of their rivals) and is now showing in the dismal displays on the pitch, reports of scuffles between current players, and unnecessary comments from former players. Add that to the usual pressure that comes with being top of the league for so long and an implosion was always in the making. In Manchester City's case, the implosion is the sound of a lot of bottles falling off the summit and smashing into many tiny pieces.

Ten years for Moyes, but how much longer will he stay?

Moyes will hope for more moments like this on Tuesday in the Merseyside derby

On March 14^th 2002 at Goodison Park, a 38-year-old Scot named David Moyes was unveiled to the media as the new manager of Everton Football Club. Presumably, Moyes himself could not have forseen the impact of the words he uttered that day. ‘I am joining the people’s football club’, he declared. Who would have thought that almost ten years later, those words still ring true to the majority of the blue half of Merseyside? Even more remarkably, who would have thought that the man who said them would still be in the job? The people, it is clear to see, love Moyes. For anyone unfamiliar with Everton or the workings of modern football in general, lasting ten years at one club must mean the manager is doing pretty well.

Indeed, Moyes has performed wonderfully at Everton for a decade and there are no signs that his performance at the helm is on the wane. Saturday evening saw an excellent 1-0 home win against Tottenham, to add to the scalps of Manchester City and Chelsea already taken this season. Results like these are nothing new to Moyes’s Everton. They have helped him guide the club to consistent top-half league finishes for several years, with perhaps his greatest achievement coming in 2005 when Everton ended the season in fourth place, displacing their great city rivals Liverpool and disrupting the ‘top four’ that had previously been thought of as ‘unbreakable’. Since then the club have finished inside the top eight in all but one season. An FA Cup final in 2009 was another highlight, and they have enjoyed several well-earned European journeys under the stern ginger Glaswegian. In the decade he has walked the corridors at Goodison, Everton fans will most likely tell you that they are in a much better state than they once were.

Moyes’s success has come against a backdrop of severe financial limitations. Many fans feel that a lack of new investment and a lack of transparency over club economics from owner and chairman Bill Kenwright has hindered the club’s progress. Still, it is a testament to his managerial abilities that Moyes has been able to operate in a manner that belies the restraints that have clearly prevented Everton from again becoming one of English football’s dominant forces. He has been astute in his recruitment of players season after season, with perhaps current skipper Phil Neville his most underrated and influential acquisition. Overseeing Everton’s academy has yielded fruit, too. Moyes professes that a certain Mr. Rooney is the most talented player he has ever seen at the club. Several other signings such as Tim Cahill, record signing Marouane Fellaini and the recently departed Mikel Arteta have helped endear Moyes to the supporters. Apart from Fellaini and very few others, Everton have been forced to spend small under a burden of debt and rely on offloading and loan signings to reform and bolster a squad that has also been extremely unfortunate with injury. Yet still Moyes has soldiered on and in 2012 Everton’s current 7-game unbeaten run sees them in ninth, just two points off the men in red across Stanley Park.

The question ‘what next?’ has been sounded many a time with regards to David Moyes. He has the unwavering support of Kenwright and the board – something that is refreshing to see in today’s game and one of the reasons he has been able to celebrate ten years in charge. However, with concerns over the club’s long-term ambitions and whispers of managerial movements elsewhere, it is not imprudent to suggest that Moyes may not be at Everton much longer. Many believe Moyes would fare expertly at a club who can provide the funds he likely craves. Moyes himself is a highly determined character and may see the lure of riches and potential trophies at other clubs too tempting to refuse. He has been touted as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford, as well as being linked with the post at Chelsea and at Tottenham. But for now, what is clear is that Moyes loves the club, and the club and its people love him. What is also clear is that whatever happens in the near future, it will be a long time before the words ‘David Moyes’ and ‘Everton’ don’t fit snugly together in a sentence.

Give Pearce a Part-time Chance, We've Got Nothing to Lose

Last Wednesday’s friendly against Holland provided some interesting revelations about this current England team. For one, Fabio Capello’s work over the last few years has yielded little fruit, save for the necessary (and welcome) introduction of a new generation of players to take the mantle from the forever disappointing ‘old guard’ when it comes to the international scene. It was the under-21 coach Stuart Pearce who took charge in the 3-2 defeat last week and for the most part he was correct in fielding a youthful team to aid several players in their transition to the senior side. He was explicit in stating his motives: ‘It is disappointing but the object of the exercise was to learn.’ He would have learned that it is not a question of a lack of ability, but a lack of experience that is a problem, and will be for any side featuring players such as Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jones, Fraizer Campbell or Chris Smalling. Even the older heads are not exactly used to the national setup – captain Scott Parker, at the age of 31, was earning just his 11th cap, and Gary Cahill his eighth. Until Arjen Robben’s last minute winner England had done well to fight back from two goals down, belying the relative inexperience of the squad in terms of collective caps.

Subsequently, the question was raised to Pearce about a summer job. He replied that he is available should the Football Association be unable to install a new manager before the upcoming European Championships. Since then, general secretary Alex Horne has revealed that the new man will not be appointed until near the end of this season. This would give a month, perhaps five weeks, for the new man to imprint his ideas upon those who will wear the white shirt in Ukraine against France on June 11^th. It is a meagre amount of time for any incoming boss to really get inside the heads of his players, for that is what is required if England are to succeed in any way. Pearce, however, knows his players extremely well, especially those whom he took to the 2009 under-21 Championship final. There is some pedigree there, despite what may be said about his managerial ability. Five years with the under-21s in an age where managers come and go as quickly as Lionel Messi is a sign of excellent loyalty to his country and it would be harsh not to allow him his shot at the big time.

Nobody is trying to convince anyone otherwise, but the side currently and bizarrely ranked fifth in the world by FIFA are not exactly favourites for this competition. The rejuvenated French, the youthful and efficient Germans and the love-in at the Spanish camp headed by Xavi and Iniesta are all well ahead of England in most ways. Were Don Fabio still in charge, that familiar national expectation that builds up the Three Lions to a footing akin to winning a World War would inevitably be astronomical. Were anyone new in charge (for example, a certain Mr. Redknapp of White Hart Lane, N17) that expectation increases several-fold, understandably but wrongly. With Pearce in charge, that expectation would certainly be diminished. This is not a bad thing. England might just be able to get on with the job of getting past France, Sweden and Ukraine without a public outpouring of anger, exasperation and eternal condemnation for their country’s footballers. Who knows where a good run in the group stage might lead?

Seeing as England are in all probability not going to win the Euros, let us spare the country the ‘build ‘em up high to knock ‘em down low’ mentality and give Pearce a chance to do what he can with a team that will need more than just the period between May and June to be moulded into a competitive force on the world stage. Another shake-up in terms of squad selection and possibly captaincy so close to a major tournament is going to do more harm than good. Psycho, as he became affectionately known, has missed penalties when it matters and therefore has something in common with several players. He might just impart some wisdom and that personal touch. He’s been there before as a player. He’s already there now as a manager.

Premier League Team of the Year 2011

It's one thing to come up with a team of the season, but another thing entirely to come up with a team of the year. It has to take into account accumulated statistics, consistency over two separate halves of two separate seasons, and general overall performances for whichever clubs are fortunate to possess the players who make the difference. Add in a summer transfer and a new lavish contract and we have two clubs contributing to a player's inclusion in this prestigious blog. So, here it is.

Premier League Team of the Year (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper – Brad Friedel (Aston Villa and Tottenham)

In terms of consistency in 2011, there is no goalkeeper equal to the big American in the Premier League. He has not missed a league game since the 2004/5 season, and is subsequently the current record holder for the most consecutive appearances in the top-flight. Oh, and he is 40 years old. To have moved clubs in the close season and still managed to have kept his rightful position as Spurs’ number 1 (usurping Heurelho Gomes in the process) says it all about his temperament, approach to the game in the autumn of his career, and of course his ability as a shot-stopper.

RB – Micah Richards (Manchester City)

Roberto Mancini must have had good reason to offer Micah Richards a new five-year contract in the summer of 2011. An FA Cup winner’s medal aside, stellar performances, particularly in the latter part of the last campaign helped them keep a league-high 18 clean sheets and propel them to third. Again a consistent performer, Richards has been constantly on City’s team sheet this campaign while they challenge for the title, and his impressive performances have merited a regular place in a competitive line-up. His technical traits have all improved, while his beast-like strength and speed on the ball has made him a threat in attack as well as a top defender.

CB – Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

“He comes from Serbia, he’ll f**kin’ murder ya”, goes the song from the Stretford End. Very fitting. United’s team captain will challenge for every aerial ball and will most likely win. He makes block after block, times his tackles to perfection, and has been 2011’s best central defender in the league. Soon after scoring in the win against Chelsea which all but wrapped up United’s 19^th title, Vidic was named the Barclays Player of the Season. This season his return to the side after injury coincided with a run of clean sheets after United’s earlier uncertain form. News that he will miss the rest of the season is a huge blow for the club.

CB – Phil Jones (Blackburn and Manchester United)

It is hard to believe that this boy is not yet 20. The praise he has received from peers has been overwhelming. Now being talked of as a new Keane or Duncan Edwards, despite being a natural centre-back, Phil Jones has had a fantastic breakthrough year – not allowing the media hype to affect his performances for club, and now country. He finished his time at Blackburn in stellar fashion – notably keeping a clean sheet at Arsenal – prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to pay £16m for him in the summer. At United he has simply flourished, playing more games than any of his team-mates this season.

LB – Leighton Baines (Everton)

Being left out of the England squad to South Africa may have, on some level, helped Leighton Baines. Since that disappointment, and especially this year, he has, by a distance, been Everton’s best player. Baines is an ever-present on David Moyes’s team sheet, and for good reason. He has been the league’s highest assisting defender in 2011, contributing quality crosses from the left, while also taking responsibility for most of The Toffees’ penalties and free kicks. He possesses a wonderful left foot, and has often left Goodison Park applauding the left-back’s style and composure on the ball.

DM – Scott Parker (West Ham and Tottenham)

It is perhaps a little bittersweet that Scott Parker is playing the best football of his career after he has turned 30. This year has undoubtedly been his most productive year, despite undeservedly being relegated with West Ham. He earned the Football Writers’ Player of the Year due to his committed defensive midfield performances for the stricken Hammers. His subsequent transfer to Tottenham has given him the ability to showcase his passing and controlling of games in a team of real quality, forging in particular a wonderful partnership with Luka Modric in midfield. It is no coincidence that he remains unbeaten for Spurs when he has played for them.

CM/CAM – David Silva (Manchester City)

Since Manchester City became genuine title contenders, all the talk has been of this little Spaniard. Constantly referred to as the league’s best midfielder, he has it all: dazzling trickery, the ability to accelerate away from opposition players, fantastic determination, and a lethal finish – pretty much everything required to be a playmaker. He has chipped in with his fair share of goals, and has assisted with 9 already this current season. In Silva there is an air of a young boy just enjoying his football, while keeping his team flying high atop the Premier League as 2011 ends.

CM/CAM –Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham)

There was a time in 2011 when Rafael van der Vaart carried Tottenham single-handedly through games to victory. The exceptionally talented Dutchman produced the goods and the goals, at times from nowhere, to ensure Spurs had something to shout about come May. He ended last season as their highest assist-maker and top scorer; the latter is a stat that is all the more remarkable considering he is not even a striker. This incredible form continued after the summer break, when van der Vaart equalled a Tottenham record by scoring in five consecutive league games.

ST – Demba Ba (West Ham and Newcastle)

Another player who has benefitted from performing well for a relegated team, Demba Ba has been a terrific addition to English football. He is a no-nonsense striker with a devastating eye for goal, and since joining West Ham in January has scored 18 goals in the league – 11 of them this campaign. Alan Pardew at Newcastle has given him the perfect tactical set-up with which to add to his tally, and he has repaid his manager’s faith. He has two hat-tricks already this season for the Magpies, while his goals and link-up play has contributed to their best start in years.

ST –Daniel Sturridge (Bolton, on loan, and Chelsea)

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has recently questioned why Daniel Sturridge was allowed to leave the club in 2009 under old management. It is clear now that he would gladly have him back. Being loaned out by Chelsea to Bolton in January 2011 proved crucial for the 22-year-old, and has resulted in a breakthrough year for the speedy forward. He was magnificent for the Trotters, and scored 8 goals in just 12 appearances. He has returned to Chelsea with confidence and as a genuine goal threat. A further 8 league goals since August has kept the misfiring Fernando Torres sat firmly on the bench, which says much about Sturridge’s current form.

ST – Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

There are not enough superlatives to describe this player in 2011. A round of applause from Thierry Henry after his stunning volley against Everton might just do his year justice, for van Persie is one goal from equalling Henry’s club record of 34 goals in a calendar year, and just three behind Alan Shearer’s all-time record in the same period. 33 goals in 32 league games is the kind of form Messi and Ronaldo are so used to, so it is not outrageous to say the Dutchman is, in terms of form, up with the greatest players in the world this year.

Losing at Chelsea Won't Result in a City Train-wreck

Last night's entertainment - El Cashico, if you will - at the Bridge revealed what most of us knew, or at least thought. Manchester City are not unbeatable. I even called it myself, feeling Chelsea would overturn the shock concession of a goal less than two minutes into the game and come away with the three points. Of course, gut feelings from fans count for very little unless they are somehow in André Villas-Boas's inner circle. For the first 20 minutes, City were dominant, and for periods were unplayable. Sergio Aguero and David Silva looked sharp, as they should be with the talent they both possess. Behind them, Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry were passing through Chelsea's midfield with relative ease. It has been that way throughout most of the season. Before last night, the same, or similar setups in City's formation had seen them drop just four points since the beginning of the campaign. For all we can say about their unbelievable spending power, it is still quite a feat to manage, especially considering the potentially volatile individual egos strutting around the dressing room at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini has kept City on a steady course, and has not allowed his players to become too arrogant about the fact that they are many people's favourites to grab the Premier League trophy from the steely Govan knight who resides across Manchester.

It is perhaps more of what Chelsea did after the first quarter of their rain-soaked clash with City that changed the game. They dropped much deeper and their defensive line was much less at risk from any runs in behind from the tricky duo of Silva and Aguero, or from the raw pace and power of Mr. Balotelli up front, which was seen 98 seconds after Mark Clattenburg blew to kick things off. Tasting defeat for the first time thanks to Frank Lampard's substitute heroics from penalty spot may not be a bad thing for Mancini's men. It has showed them that they are vulnerable at times, and they will no doubt strive to right wrongs and plug defensive gaps that are there. There is little that needs reassessing in tactical domestic terms (their brief European adventure aside) because of the quality of their players and the subsequent quality of their play going forward: 49 goals scored in the league says as much. They have suffered little through injury: a huge factor for any championship-challenging team, and perhaps most importantly the strength of their squad will go a long way to guiding them through the difficult winter period. Mancini, however, must improve his side's discipline if they are to keep up their push for silverware. Against weaker teams losing a man will not, and has proved not to be too detrimental to their results, considering City have usually been in winning positions for large periods of matches. Against the stronger teams, it is a different story, as Gael Clichy's dismissal showed last night. For the final half an hour, there was a sense of inevitability that the ten men would succumb to AVB's boys. Yet losing at Chelsea will not spark a derailment of City's title aspirations. They are too good for that. Starting against Arsenal next week, we will likely see improvement and a powerful message that they are not going to be dropping down the table anytime soon.