The Daily Telegraph’s resident Man City fan Ben Findon slums it with LFW for the second time this season, reflecting on a mediocre campaign by City’s recent high standards.
Second place, back in the Champions League, but City's season is being billed as a failure — do you agree? Assess the campaign for us.
BF: No trophy, and getting only one step beyond the Champions League group stage has to be judged a serious failure. There seemed to be a major hangover from last season's late run to the title - and maybe the World Cup - that has affected a variety of key players and, it has to be said, the manager.
Only Sergio Aguero, possibly David Silva and maybe Joe Hart have lived up to their reputations, but the likes of Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko have had seasons to forget. From being joint top of the league with Chelsea at the turn of the year, the side have fallen away alarmingly and clearly need some fresh faces for next season.
What have been the main reasons you haven't been able to retain the league title?
BF: Last season's incredible dash to the league title and a draining World Cup campaign for a number of the players seemed to leave them flat right from the start of this season. Manuel Pellegrini has many qualities but firing up a tired looking squad is clearly not one of them.
Then there were last summer's signings. Chelsea imported Costa and Fabregas. City bought Fernando and Mangala. Even the best squads have to regenerate, and this seems to have been a major problem for the City hierarchy over the last few years. City are still relying on the Hart-Kompany-Toure-Silva-Aguero spine which brought the league title three years ago. The squad is ageing but needs a transfusion of youth.
Manuel Pellegrini is being made out like a dead man walking this summer — do you want him to leave, do you think he will, is he being judged harshly and what have been his main mistakes?
BF: I think he may have run his course, a bit like his predecessor, Roberto Mancini, did when he lost his influence in the dressing room two years back. It is more important, though to rebuild the squad with two or three high quality signings. It must not be forgotten that Pellegrini won two trophies in his first season, and player recruitment is not all down to him.
What realistic alternatives are being mentioned, and who would you want?
BF: Pep Guardiola fits the City template, and Carlo Ancelotti has the right CV. Not at all sure about Jurgen Klopp. Patrick Viera should be a great City manager of the future but it is a little too early for him at the moment.
Who have been the stand out performers?
BF: Sergio Aguero. Absolute goal machine and would not swap him for any other striker in the world. David Silva remains a magician even if the team does not always seem set up to bring the best out of him. Honourable mentions for Joe Hart, James Milner and the undersung but dependable Martin Demichelis.
Where are the weak links in the team? Who would you like to see replaced and by whom?
BF: Central defence. Can Vincent Kompany regain his position as one of the Premier League's best ever defenders, and is Mangala good enough to play alongside him? If not, City need top-quality replacements. Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri have looked increasingly out of sorts and it may be time to move on, especially as City need to rethink midfield. Wilfried Bony has yet to settle after his January move. Injuries have not helped but City fans have not seen a lot so far.
Short, medium and long term aims for the club…
BF: Nothing less than the Premier League title along with perhaps a cup next season. And proper progress into the latter stages of the Champions League.
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