Imagine the scene: while Ange Postecoglou was gearing up Tottenham for their Saturday evening match, the Etihad was hosting a grand celebration for Rodri’s Ballon d’Or, a spectacle that even WWE would have envied. The event was so grand that it almost seemed like Rodri was about to strut down the red carpet like Vince McMahon, were it not for a minor knee injury that held him back. In bold gold letters, the answer to Tottenham’s prayers was there for all to see: the name of the man Manchester City sorely miss, and will continue to miss, Rodri. Spurs went on to win 4-0. A one-man team? Let’s not get carried away. Mateo Kovacic, a four-time Champions League winner, was also absent.
An aging team? Maybe we’re getting closer to the truth, especially considering the five-game losing streak that has Pep Guardiola scratching his head as if he’s polishing an ancient Roman coin. The team has been showing signs of wear and tear, with a lot of pointing and not much doing. A true sign of aging is when players start instructing others to do as they say, not as they do, because their legs just can’t keep up. If Kyle Walker being outpaced by Timo Werner was the meme of the day, there were numerous other moments of hesitation and delay that were unthinkable just a month ago. A clear-out needed? That’s what some City fans are suggesting, though some of the younger players like Rico Lewis, Josko Gvardiol, and Savinho haven’t been spared criticism either.
So, Pep, what’s the solution? Perhaps it’s time to revisit the “basics of football,” as former City utility man Fabian Delph once suggested. Remember when, in one of those many City documentaries, Delph advised his teammates to “win our individual battles, stick together as a unit, [eff]ing defenders defending, midfielders box-to-box, [eff] keepers making saves”? Remember how Pep dismissed Delph’s advice? Not so clever now, is it, Catalan genius, the man who once said, “I don’t train the tackles, what are tackles?” Maybe it’s time for Guardiola, who often embraces English football traditions, to go back to these basics. Traditional thinking among managerial greats like Ferguson, Paisley, Allardyce, and Pulis was to shore up the defense, lock down the midfield, and hope the striker scores a goal to stop the slide. Work the channels, clear the danger. When in doubt, knock it out.
Perhaps Delph, now retired but possibly available, could offer Ilkay Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne some valuable tips on the art of midfield play. Given the team’s current lack of a midfield, as highlighted by that Hollywood display of Rodri’s absence, why not bring in someone like Big Joe Royle to replace Juanma Lillo and call Niall Quinn to give Erling Haaland some pointers on flick-ons and holding the ball up? Micah Richards could drill the defense. Let’s not get carried away, though.
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