6 reasons to believe City can win the title

Sunday’s thrashing of fiercest rivals Manchester United has seen bookmakers, pundits and fans alike
start to consider the realistic possibility of Manchester City overhauling United as top dogs in the
Barclays Premier League.

Odds have been reduced, and particularly in the second half, Fergie’s team looked well short of ideas on how to stop the Blues. Here’s a look at some thoughts that will have City fans encouraged for the rest of the season.

1) Strength in depth - It’s always been said that the foundations of a squad and being able to
replace key players with adequate back-up is key to having a chance in the title run. City
certainly have that this season. Taking Sunday as an example, Mancini was able to field a
formidable starting eleven, many of whom are regulars in their respective international
squads. Adding to that, he was able to name a subs bench including top quality players like
Nasri, Dzeko, Kolarov and De Jong. Adam Johnson and the controversial figure that is Carlos
Tevez didn’t even find a way into the 18-man squad!

2) Goals galore – 33 goals scored in the opening 9 games of the season is an impressive statistic
whoever you are, whatever league you are in. Aguero and Dzeko are the key to this great
start, with 8 and 6 goals respectively, as well as Balotelli, Milner and Silva all chipping in to
the tally. If they continue in this rich vein of form, it’s difficult to see how defences will keep
the Blues at bay.

3) Manager – Roberto Mancini, a favourite with the City fans, has ridden the storm of a difficult
beginning to his career in Manchester and now looks to have real control and stability in
the team. His tactical decisions and team selections are more often than not spot on, as has
been shown from results. Extra credit must also go to him for the handling of the problems
with Tevez, without seemingly let it become an issue on the pitch.

4) Solid as a rock – As well as being the league’s top scorers this campaign, City also maintain
the meanest defence, conceding a mere 7 goals. Lescott and Kompany have formed a mighty
partnership in the centre of defence, behind the ever-impressive Joe Hart, and the full backs,
Clichy from the left and Richards or Zabaleta down the right, are always good attacking
outlets and solid defensive tools.

5) Where’s the competition? – We may only be 9 games into the season, but already holding a
5-point lead at the top of the table and showing up their closest opposition on their own turf
certainly will be encouraging to anyone associated with Manchester City that this season
could be the one that provides a league title. The other likely contenders have had problems
in the early stages of the season; an indifferent Arsenal are sitting mid-table, Chelsea have at
times looked unusually sloppy under new boss AVB, and Manchester United, as always are
up there, but it’s been shown they aren’t untouchable by City themselves.

6) There’s always January! – If the blue side of Manchester were to find themselves in danger
of throwing away their current lead in the league, the January transfer window can always
provide City with a spot of ‘retail therapy’, when it’s practically guaranteed Mancini will be
given money to spend bolstering the squad for the second half of the season. With the funds
to out-buy almost any club in the world, it’s hard to see there being many problems with
future transfers into the club, a luxury every manager wishes for.

John F