Ben Findon from the Daily Telegraph and fellow Man City fan Stevie Williams give us their thoughts on Manchester City’s early season struggles ahead of their visit to Loftus Road on Saturday.

Is this perception that City kind of won the league last season "by default" simply because Chelsea and Man Utd weren't very good and Liverpool ballsed it up near the end fair or a product of media Liverpool bias?

BF: There's definitely bias in certain sections of the media. Not so much against City but in favour of Liverpool, which in fairness would have been an incredible story had they won it. And we all know how it works with Manchester United. City aren't seen as a particularly sexy club, and the novelty of them doing well has worn off. But we can live with that. When it got to the crunch, Liverpool crumbled and City didn't. That's how titles are won.

SW: The best team over the course of a Premier League season is crowned champions. Chelsea could've performed better, but they didn't and yes Liverpool "slipped" up at the end, but City won the league because we were the best over 38 league games. Media bias.. everything was geared for Liverpool winning the league, the ticker tape parade, the MOTD opening credits, the Sky Sports titles and of course another six or so Sky pundits with a Liverpool background. More coverage should've been given to City however it did let us go quietly about our business while the world basked at Liverpool and their year of glory.

Were you disappointed with City's summer transfer business? Has it left them short?

BF: Fernando and Mangala looked good buys for areas in which City did need strengthening. Mangala in particular is taking time to settle in but should come good. Fernando has already showed his worth. Letting Alvaro Negredo go without bringing in a direct replacement looked a slight gamble but can understand thinking behind it.

SW: Not really disappointed as we knew that we had an unfair limitation placed on us by Michel Platini and UEFA - a club in millions and millions of pounds worth of debt may break transfer records however a club on the up and transforming a large part of Manchester and a growing worldwide support should be punished because we dare to compete the elite teams. I was shocked at how easily we let Negredo go and failed to bring in another striker with Aguero's injury history as well as Jovetic's problems and knowing Dzeko's sometimes extremely poor performances. Mangala has yet to produce anything to make his price tag worthwhile other than a performance against Chelsea. Fernando has impressed in patches. It could've been a lot worse.

What have you made of the start to the season you've had so far?

BF: Disappointing. Whether it’s a title-winning hangover, World Cup legacy or new players taking time to settle, it isn't good enough. Europe is a particular worry. City still look like Champions League novices. They also seem unable to raise themselves for some of the bread-and-butter league stuff and it was alarming to watch them hanging on grimly against a United side who should have been put to bed long before the end last weekend. And they are too reliant on Sergio Aguero's goalscoring prowess.

SW: Our start has been a lacklustre one — we’ve not yet found our stride and not performed how we would expect this City side to do. Most surprisingly it’s our home form that’s shocking. A few times it has seemed the mentality of the players has been that simply turning up will do. Yaya Toure has been terrible, he needs dropping rather than the team trying to play around him, this view may not be shared by many City fans as he has been exceptional since his arrival but for whatever reason this season he has been terrible. To summarise our start: would've have expected better but a very long way to go yet and Chelsea aren't galloping away.

Why do City continue to struggle in the Champions League, and will they eventually get to grips with it?

BF: That's the big mystery. Clearly being drawn in tough groups doesn't help but doesn't explain throwing two points away in Moscow, or at times being opened up by Roma at the Etihad. Probably will get to grips with it - just hope it isn't too late for this year.

SW: Don’t know. We have the squad for the Champions League but we just don’t turn up.
We haven't had the easiest groups due to our ranking but this can’t be used as a get out clause. I would like to think it will click soon but judging by this week’s woeful display it might not. We should be doing better with our squad — I think semi-finals is more than achievable but something is not working and like I said I have no idea what it is.

How do you think Pellegrini has done in 18 months so far? What do you like about him? Where could he improve?

BF: A brilliant antidote to the fractious Roberto Mancini era, which ended rather sourly. To come in and win two trophies in his first season is a great achievement. Like his calmness and the way the players clearly respond to his personality and systems. But if this season ends without a trophy, the pressure will be back on next year and it could be time for another change.

SW: Pellers has done fantasticly. He has stopped all the stupid stories that were all over the tabloids, he has got the best out of some players who I thought were on their way before he took over such as Kolorov and Dzeko, he delivered two trophies in his first year and the way he comes across is as a very cool calm and collected individual. I like almost everything about him. He should think about dropping Yaya Toure and get back to the drawing board for the Champions League formations and tactics but he is the gaffer and in this charming man we must trust.

Where is the team strong, where is it weak?

BF: Sergio Aguero seems to be the only striker in form at the moment - and he is vulnerable to injury. Yaya Toure has been much criticised but he ruled midfield against United and his quality will shine through again. David Silva and Joe Hart have been consistently excellent. Frank Lampard has been a pleasant surprise and the team always looks more solid when James Milner is in. Defensively, the integration of Mangala has not gone well and City are shipping too many goals to average sides like CSKA, Hull, Newcastle and West Ham.

SW: On paper we are strong everywhere but on grass we seem to be weak at the back and in central midfield. I think Mangala was meant to be the answer to partner Kompany but on recent performances I would be much happier seeing the pairing of Kompany and Demichelis - we are shipping far too many goals. In central midfield Fernandinho and Fernando have been far from fantastic when they have played and Yaya Toure I need not mention again. James Milner has been brilliant, the most underrated player in English football in my opinion. We are strong in attack, especially with Silva and Aguero, should we lose both of them for a while we will really struggle.

Are Chelsea too far ahead already, do you think City can overhaul them? How do you see the rest of your season going?

BF: City were written off when United pulled clear in 2012 and Liverpool did likewise last season. And look what happened then. Far too early to say. I think City will hit their stride but I agree that Chelsea look ominous and if they are clear in the run-in, I wouldn't expect a Liverpool-style collapse.

SW: Chelsea haven't won a thing yet. Yes they are playing very well but they haven't yet played anyone. They drew with us and we were down to ten, they drew with United and they are rubbish and they have looked far from convincing in a few other games but they have the points. I can’t see anyone other than City or Chelsea winning the league. Liverpool will be the one of the Sky four that misses out with Arsenal and Man Utd joining City and Chelsea in the top four although I obviously hope United have an even worse season than last. At the bottom I think Burnley, Leicester and, sorry, but QPR will go.


And are you one of these City fans for whom all this money and success still doesn't feel quite right given the previous 100 years, or do you bloody love it?

BF: It's a dream come true. After years of being kicked all around the backyard, we get trips to Wembley, league and cup titles, regular Champions League football and ritual humiliations of United. Plus the incredible development of the Etihad campus. The only way to win things these days is with money. All the top clubs have to spend big. Long may it continue.

SW: It doesn’t feel right watching this success. It doesn't feel right leaving Arsenal disappointed with a point. I miss the atmosphere before the money and bandwagon supporters that success brings… but I would rather us be losing in the Champions League than the Auto Windscreens Shield. I am happy as a pig in muck really and with Man Utd doing so well it makes it even better.

The Twitter @BenFindon1, @loftforwords

Pictures — Action Images

Photo: Action Images

TacticalR added 21:20 - Nov 7 Thanks to Ben and Stevie. I haven't followed City too closely this season, but from what you're saying it doesn't sound as though you think that there is too much wrong. City still look like a team that can destroy other teams once they get into their stride, although nobody seems able to explain why they have struggled so much in Europe.
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francisbowles added 10:06 - Nov 8 Thanks to Ben and Stevie. How refreshing to have proper football fans, enjoying their teams good fortune BUT with a sense of modesty and decorum. How different from last week! After Saturday, I will be hoping City go on a long run to the title.
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