Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini watches as things don't
quite go to plan against Everton. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty
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Roberto Mancini, satisfied with his winning start as City's
manager, replaced the willing Benjani Mwaruwari with the
technically superior Roque Santa Cruz and asked Martin Petrov and
Craig Bellamy, each cutting inside on their stronger foot, to play
wide in what appeared to be an expansive system for an away game.
The wingers were charged with exploiting Phil Neville and Leighton
Baines, the opposing full-backs, on their weaker sides, with City's
4-2-1-3 technically offering their midfield cover and shielding
strengths in Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry, with Carlos Tevez
working feverishly in front of them. It looked well balanced to
contain Everton's recent improvement.
No. The injury to Santa Cruz forced an adjustment, allowing
Robinho a chance to show he has the attitude and determination to
perform away from home – something he failed to do – but City's
wingers found Baines and Neville resolute and quick off the cover
to close. Tevez only occasionally eked out space in the first
period, when Marouane Fellaini was never far away. The visitors
were pinned back by Everton's early passing and their delivery of a
more direct ball to the front. Louis Saha made life uncomfortable
for Richards and Vincent Kompany, with Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar
and Fellaini aggressively anticipating the knockdowns and squeezing
the play. The supply lines to Petrov and Bellamy became scarce as
Everton bossed the game, bypassing City's midfield with the
alternative of the direct-ball approach as they mixed up their
game.
With their 4-2-1-3 system second best, City's chances of
recovery were damaged by an apparent susceptibility to pick up
knocks. Benjani replaced the limping Petrov, forcing Robinho and
Bellamy to switch, but the system went unchanged. Good teams react
and show tenacious qualities. City, in contrast, continued to
concede all round the field. Tevez was pushed flatter, staying
further up-field and alternating with Benjani – the Argentinian's
game is at its best when he is linking the play. Neither Barry nor
De Jong, denied Tevez's support, was able to free himself from a
spirited marker to receive, and both failed to cope with the
industry and pressure of Pienaar, Cahill and Fellaini. Mancini had
effectively lost his midfield. Pablo Zabaletta and Javier Garrido,
passive full-backs, were deprived of passing options when in
possession with Everton's players positioned expertly to deny them
a get-out forward ball. Maybe Mancini could have flooded midfield
to gain more possession, but it was a day when his side's body
language was laboured.