Match Reflection: Manchester City 5 - 2 CSKA Moscow

‘Beauty and the Beast’ seal last 16 qualification for the first time in City history

By Adam Bailey

The Etihad Stadium was treated to another five Manchester City goals on Tuesday night as Álvaro Negredo and Sergio Agüero ran riot in a 5-2 win over CSKA Moscow. 

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Manuel Pellegrini’s impressive Champions League credentials were on the line before the crucial tie in Manchester, but his side were in fine form to seal a comprehensive victory that fired them into the last sixteen for the first time in their history. 

In the Spotlight: Viktoria Plzeň

No. 5: A lowdown on the Czech champions and their chances of European success this year

By Aaron Leggott

Ahead of our first Champions League game of the season, Aaron Leggott caught up with Czech football expert Chris Boothroyd (@theczechup) - editor of the very successful website "The Czech Up." 

Štruncovy Sady, the home of Viktoria Plzeň
Photo: http://bitoredfan.blogspot.co.uk/

Blue Review: Is the criticism of Joe Hart fair?

Sketchy performances have led to questions being raised

By Rebecca Halliwell

This week it was the turn of Rebecca Halliwell to deliver her first opinion piece of the season in the Blue Review series. She has decided to look at whether the criticism aimed at Joe Hart's recent performances is unjust or not.

Profile: Fernandinho

Brazilian set to follow Navas to Manchester

By Aaron Leggott

It seems that Manchester City have learnt their lessons from last year as they look to seal their deals as soon as possible this summer. With Navas all but a City player, it looks like Fernandinho will also be wearing Sky Blue next season, pending a medical.

Sky Sources have quoted a fee of £34 million has been agreed between City and Fernandinho's current club Shakhtar Donetsk, but figures are believed to be nearer the £25 million mark. 

Fernandinho looks set to leave Shakhtar after seven years
Official Shakhtar Facebook

After making an impressive 184 appearances for Shakhtar, the Brazilian holding midfielder is set to bolster City's midfield as the Blues look to make a serious statement next season. For those who don't know much about him, here are some facts for you:

Name: Fernando Luiz Rosa (Fernandinho)

Age: 28

Position: Defensive midfielder

Club Appearances: 256 

Club goals: 45

England: Progression or Regression?

By Aaron Leggott

After Sunday's quarter final defeat at the hands of Italy, something inside got me thinking about the past couple of years since the disastrous few weeks under Fabio Capello in Bloemfontein.

Before that World Cup, England were in great form under Capello. Losing just two friendlies, the Three Lions won their first eight qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, ensuring qualification with two games to spare.

Have things really improved since Germany humiliated us two years ago?
Photo: Tom Jenkins

EURO 2012: Group D Review

A Ukrainian fairy tale see's the co-hosts top Group D

Match day 1: By Aaron Leggott

The fourth day of Euro 2012 saw possibly the biggest shock of the tournament so far, as co-hosts Ukraine saw their idol Andriy Shevchenko strike twice to create a night to remember in Kyiv.

Shevchenko creates a fairy tale ending for the Ukrainians
Photo: Martin Rose/Getty Images Europe

Sweden, who boast a squad of fine talent, including AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were the clear favourites but were unable to deliver as Ukraine used home advantage to deliver a spectacular win.

City vs Norwich: Match Preview

It's been another great week to be a Manchester City fan. Not only have we secured a place in our third semi final in as many years, but we have also beaten Arsenal away from home for the first time in 27 visits - incredible stuff. 

Sitting at the top of the league, it seems the sky is the limit for us this season - apart from in Europe. However, I will look at the Champions League situation in more depth after Saturday's game. Speaking of tomorrow's encounter, I would like to welcome any Norwich City fans who are taking a look at this match preview and congratulate you on a very good start to the season. 

As every football fan probably knows, Norwich secured their second successive promotion in May and were the first team to do this since, yes, you guessed it, Manchester City. We recognised the difficulty in jumping up two tiers within as many years, and were subsequently relegated. 

However, I see something different with this Norwich side. Personally, I believe Paul Lambert has done a terrific job at Norwich and deserves all the plaudits he is getting as his transfer policy is not only unique, but it seems to be working. Instead of buying "experienced" Premier League players who are past it, he has brought in some of the best of the players from the Football League.

Players like Steve Morison, who was drafted in from Millwall in the close season, has performed magnificently in his first ever Premier League season. In fact, his five goals this season have been keeping captain Grant Holt on the substitutes bench, which is some achievement. 

Trying to remove any sort of bias though, I find it hard to see Norwich getting a positive result tomorrow. We have been nothing short of breathtaking this season and with all respect to the Canaries, greater teams have been annihilated by ourselves this season already. 

Our home form is scintillating, and we have gone almost a whole year unbeaten at home, which is a remarkable achievement. For those who don't know, our last defeat at the Etihad Stadium was against Everton on the 20th December 2010, where we succumbed to a 2-1 defeat. 

Our key player on the day though will be David Silva, and we will once again need him to be in top form if we want to be playing at our best. I am not saying in any way that we are a one-man team, but I have never seen a player like Silva in the flesh in my life - he is absolutely immense and some of the things he can do with a football ceases to amaze me. 

Norwich come into the game on the back of a good result against QPR, and you get the feeling they will give it all they have got come 3pm on Saturday. I wish them all the luck this season, as it is good to see Lambert experimenting with the best of the football league, but I can't see them holding us to a result!

Prediction: 3-0 

Predicted lineup: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Milner, Silva, Johnson, Balotelli

What do you think of my prediction? Leave your comments below!

International Duty: How have our players done this weekend?

Well, I think it's quite apt to start with England, considering we had 6 players picked for the squad for the 2 matches this week. Joe Hart and Gareth Barry started for England last night in a side which beat Bulgaria 3-0. James Milner and Adam Johnson also made appearances from the bench.


Hart was a spectator for most of the match, but made a good reaction save in the second half, as well as misjudging a cross. Good performance on an unpredictable pitch.
Barry continued his impressive start to the season and even grabbed an assist for the first goal.
Milner and Johnson were both late substitutes and didn't really have enough time to show their worth. Milner did prove his versatility by slotting into a more central attacking midfield role though.

News: Adam Johnson speaks out ahead of the new season

Speaking to the MEN's Rob Dawson, the 24 year old winger has said that he is happy to play wherever manager Roberto Mancini asks him too this season, knowing of the ever increasing options available to the Italian tactician. Ever since his arrival to the Etihad Stadium, he has frequently been used on the right wing, a tactic used by many foreign clubs nowadays where wingers are played on the opposite side.

With regards to his new founded position, Johnson said: "Foreign wingers play on the opposite side and I think that’s how it’s going. I’ve had conversations with the manager and there are some things we agree on and some things we disagree on."


Johnson was very much quick to praise Mancini's mentality though, and is grateful for being brought to the club way back in January 2010

"Which side do you want me on, boss?"
AJ is prepared to be flexible this year

“He just wants to win every game. He focuses on everything, down to the last little thing, and  that’s probably one of the reasons we did so well last season."

"Since I signed, everything has changed for me. It’s given me the chance to play for England and express myself in a massive team. I don’t think the defensive side has ever been an issue in my game but at City you don’t have to use it as much. Now I’m at City I get the chance to attack more and that’s what I like doing.  

"Since I’ve come to City I think I’ve definitely improved. When you play with top players it brings you on. You probably learn more from just watching the players in training than you do from the coaches sometimes.”

He is looking forward to the prospect of playing Champions League football next season for the first time of his career, and said: "The Champions League is a massive thing. I haven’t played in it and it’s another thing I’d like to do in my career.”

Johnson also spoke of his desire to make the cut for the England squad for the 2012 European Championships next year, after narrowly missing out in last years World Cup squad

He said: "I want to be playing games because there's a championship at the end of the season. That’s definitely at the back of my mind. I definitely want to go there after missing out on the World Cup and I think England have got a great chance."