November 30, 2024 • 9 mins
Manchester City has experienced a notable run of poor results this season.
The defending Premier League champions are on a six-game winless streak across all competitions - the longest winless run for the team in a while.
BBC radio football commentator Mike Minay joined Elliott Smith to discuss the factors behind the team's string of bad luck.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Let's talk some more football here on News Talk ZB.
Manchester City on a diabolical run of form at the moment,
quite unbelievable, the run that the four time champions of
England are currently on. This will be the most high
catching scoreline right across Europe this weekend. And it's five, yes,
five consecutive defeats for the champions and that three all
(00:36):
draw against Fire and would after being three nil up
as well. To add into the mixed lead's heat across
to Manchester. BBC radio football commentator and a reporter for
Manchester City is Mike mcname and he joins us now
on News Talk ZB. Mike thinks, so much for joining us,
No problem, well, broad question, what on earth has gone
(00:56):
wrong with Manchester City?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Start worry if you like?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, I mean, how long did your show? Do you know?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
What?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
There are men many factors behind this, I think, but slowly,
week by week we are kind of learning which factors
are our most important. So the one that will go
over the whole season is rodri and Rodger's injury. I
think he is obviously a crucial player. The argument for
him being the ball on door winner, which he was,
(01:26):
was simply I think with all the other contenders, somebody
else could do their job to a better ability or
the similar ability. So you know Vinicius Junior for example,
where you could there are other wide wingers in Bappe
for example, who could possibly do a similar job. Arling
Harland was in the contention. You can find other goalscorers.
And with Roderi, nobody can do Roger's job better than
(01:49):
Roderi and nobody, you know, there's not a team in
the world that Rodri doesn't walk into. So I think
that's that's one big factor missing him. But that shouldn't
be the only factor. That shouldn't be an excuse not
to win another game ever again. So I think within
that they you then look at a number of injuries
and I think this is quite crucial. At one point,
(02:09):
Manchester City we're missing Rodery, Walker, Stones, Diaz, Docu, Grealish,
I've missed a Kokovacic if you if you look at that,
I think there's there's an obvious you know, any team
that's missing eight first team members would would struggle, and
that has happened to Manchester City. They are getting some
of those backs. So when I said that, we're learning,
(02:32):
you know, perhaps how important each factor is. If we're
gonna look at injuries, we're starting to learn just how
important that's been. If results pick up when injuries come back,
then then we can say that is ultimately the biggest factor.
I think one of them was Pep Guardiola's contract, but
that's now been sorted. We know he's got two more
years and they're still losing, so maybe it isn't the
biggest factor. And finally is I think the other one
(02:54):
to look at is possibly an aging squad. So you've
got Ilkai Gunda and his back after a year out,
and it's amazing almost what a year out can do.
I think he doesn't quite look as on it or
as sharp as he did in twenty twenty three when
he left as the trouble winning captain. I think the
other ones keep an eye on is Kyle Walker, who
(03:14):
used to be able to give attackers ten yards and
still make that back when defending. I don't think he's
quite got that now. I think he's lost a little
bit of that pace, whether he accepts it or not.
So I think overall, very long winded answer. I appreciate
when you combine all those factors, there is an issue
in Manchester City that they're all combining together. And confidence
(03:35):
is such a fragile thing. So when one of those
things starts to go wrong and the results start to turn,
then it starts to have a knock on effects and
we've seen that with the five straight defeats. I think
we saw it in midweek against Fine Ord in the
Champions League in that from three nil up City a
year ago would not have thrown that away. And people
have looked at the changes Pep Guardiola made that night
(03:55):
and he'd have made those changes a year ago and
it wouldn't have It wouldn't have had an impact and
they'd have won the game three nil. They might not
have got a fourth, but they'd have won three nil.
But I think soon as that goal went in, you
had a slightly put together side, a tired side, put
an inexperienced side in some of the positions, and you
just for the first time in a long time, felt
(04:16):
that actually three to one meant the game wasn't done,
and ultimately, as it wasn't, it wasn't done. So yeah,
a lot of factors. It's certainly made it an interesting
talking point for a club that actually over the past
few years have been pretty boring to talk about because
they're winning all the time. So now we've got something
new to talk about.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Certainly, how is pitp Guardile handling this run of defeats
or six games without a win, because he wouldn't have
had this in his entire managerial cariger to this point,
as you mentioned Manchester, he accustomed two sixties. But some
of those issues you mentioned there are compelling factors behind it.
(04:54):
But how's pit Guardy handling all.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
This with steely determination? He is now repeating a lot
in his press conferences that he's here, that he wants
the challenge, that he he's up for the fight. He
you know, he wants to find new ways. That is
his job. He realizes that he keeps sometimes referencing twenty
sixteen in that when he first came to the club,
(05:19):
he was written off in the first season was a failure?
Could he crack the Premier League? And he's certainly in
the other seven years eight years he's been here, has
shown as that he most perfectly can can't you know,
find the solutions? And he keeps changing his tactics. It's
not the same Manchester City style that was there in
twenty seventeen. The core basics are the same, but there's
other little methods around it and intricacies that he's worked on.
(05:43):
So this is just the latest challenging. He has said
that he said to the board with his contracting up
that give me the chance, let me turn this around,
let me find the next solution. So he's yeah, he's
certainly ready for the fight.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The fan base his we attached on have hid some succeies.
They often coming for criticism. The Manchester City fan base
in the one that sort of swelled in recent times.
There's the success gone on, but you know what, they're
not banging for blood of pick Guardiola, are they?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
No? Not yet. I think that there is a portion
of the fans base that have only known success or
I think there are some that have sadly just got
used to the success. So any dipping standards. You know,
no side is going to win every title every year forever,
and I think anything below first place in Manchester City
is a disappointment. But the a lot of a patient
(06:36):
and a lot of appreciate what they've done. For Premier
League titles in a row, something that no other side
has done before. So I think, yeah, he's got a
lot of credit in the bank. Pep Guardiola. There was
a joke going around our office the other day just
how many more would they have to lose before he
before he lost his job, But the conclusion was still
they are, you know, a long way off even contemplating that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well, it doesn't get any easy. At five am tomorrow morning,
New Zealand time Liverpool at Enfield, and then you've got
Nottingham Forest featuring New Zealand goal scoring machine Chris would
to face off against later in the week. So look
a couple of trickier fears for Manchester City to navigate
over the coming days as well. Really tough ass when
you haven't won any in the last.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Six Yeah, well, let's quickly just touch on Forrest at home.
You had backed Manchester City to win the game and
Forest wouldn't have been in contention. However, with Spurs winning
at the he had the first team to do so
in two years. Then suddenly that changes things and as
you say, yeah, Chris Wood is certainly going to be handful.
It'll be interesting to see what defenders are around then
(07:38):
to handle. Chris Wood bought the bigger game, the most
important game. Let's not beat around the bush. Let's call
it a title deciding game or title race deciding to
see if Manchester City are perhaps still in the races.
Is it Liverpool? It's an Anfield, a ground that Manchester
City notoriously struggle out. They've had two wins there since
(08:01):
two thousand and three. One of those was behind closed
doors in COVID that the other victory in two thousand
and three. He was the last time City won there.
With fans, they don't particularly enjoy going to Anfield. They've
had some really rough experiences there. They've got to draw
there last year. Johnstone's open the score in McAllister equalize.
But this is a Liverpool side that, despite the questions
over him with Jurgen Klop departing, actually have had the
(08:24):
second best start in Premier League history. They are They're
a roothless machine at the minute. They beat the European
champions Real Madrid on Wednesday night at Anfield as well.
So I think most important for Manchester City is to
get the first goal. If Liverpool get the first goal,
I fear where cities heads will be at Anfield, will
(08:44):
be baying for blood and the as a danger. I
think that you know, Liverpool could could run away with it.
Eleven points if Liverpool win is the gap. I think
that's too insurmountable for Manchester City, even at this early
point in the season.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Thank you very much, Mike Mana. Great to check with
you on News Talk ZIB this afternoon BBC Radio Manchester
commentator and reporter. You say again five a him tomorrow morning.
We have Manchester City gone wrong. I left the country
for five weeks and returned and they hadn't won a
single game in that time. Liverpool fans you must be
(09:18):
absolutely licking your lips at the prospect of facing Manchester
City at Anfield and the lines Dean tomorrow morning.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Sat B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Let's talk some more football here on News Talk ZB.
Manchester City on a diabolical run of form at the moment,
quite unbelievable, the run that the four time champions of
England are currently on. This will be the most high
catching scoreline right across Europe this weekend. And it's five, yes,
five consecutive defeats for the champions and that three all
(00:36):
draw against Fire and would after being three nil up
as well. To add into the mixed lead's heat across
to Manchester. BBC radio football commentator and a reporter for
Manchester City is Mike mcname and he joins us now
on News Talk ZB. Mike thinks, so much for joining us,
No problem, well, broad question, what on earth has gone
(00:56):
wrong with Manchester City?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Start worry if you like?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, I mean, how long did your show? Do you know?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
What?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
There are men many factors behind this, I think, but slowly,
week by week we are kind of learning which factors
are our most important. So the one that will go
over the whole season is rodri and Rodger's injury. I
think he is obviously a crucial player. The argument for
him being the ball on door winner, which he was,
(01:26):
was simply I think with all the other contenders, somebody
else could do their job to a better ability or
the similar ability. So you know Vinicius Junior for example,
where you could there are other wide wingers in Bappe
for example, who could possibly do a similar job. Arling
Harland was in the contention. You can find other goalscorers.
And with Roderi, nobody can do Roger's job better than
(01:49):
Roderi and nobody, you know, there's not a team in
the world that Rodri doesn't walk into. So I think
that's that's one big factor missing him. But that shouldn't
be the only factor. That shouldn't be an excuse not
to win another game ever again. So I think within
that they you then look at a number of injuries
and I think this is quite crucial. At one point,
(02:09):
Manchester City we're missing Rodery, Walker, Stones, Diaz, Docu, Grealish,
I've missed a Kokovacic if you if you look at that,
I think there's there's an obvious you know, any team
that's missing eight first team members would would struggle, and
that has happened to Manchester City. They are getting some
of those backs. So when I said that, we're learning,
(02:32):
you know, perhaps how important each factor is. If we're
gonna look at injuries, we're starting to learn just how
important that's been. If results pick up when injuries come back,
then then we can say that is ultimately the biggest factor.
I think one of them was Pep Guardiola's contract, but
that's now been sorted. We know he's got two more
years and they're still losing, so maybe it isn't the
biggest factor. And finally is I think the other one
(02:54):
to look at is possibly an aging squad. So you've
got Ilkai Gunda and his back after a year out,
and it's amazing almost what a year out can do.
I think he doesn't quite look as on it or
as sharp as he did in twenty twenty three when
he left as the trouble winning captain. I think the
other ones keep an eye on is Kyle Walker, who
(03:14):
used to be able to give attackers ten yards and
still make that back when defending. I don't think he's
quite got that now. I think he's lost a little
bit of that pace, whether he accepts it or not.
So I think overall, very long winded answer. I appreciate
when you combine all those factors, there is an issue
in Manchester City that they're all combining together. And confidence
(03:35):
is such a fragile thing. So when one of those
things starts to go wrong and the results start to turn,
then it starts to have a knock on effects and
we've seen that with the five straight defeats. I think
we saw it in midweek against Fine Ord in the
Champions League in that from three nil up City a
year ago would not have thrown that away. And people
have looked at the changes Pep Guardiola made that night
(03:55):
and he'd have made those changes a year ago and
it wouldn't have It wouldn't have had an impact and
they'd have won the game three nil. They might not
have got a fourth, but they'd have won three nil.
But I think soon as that goal went in, you
had a slightly put together side, a tired side, put
an inexperienced side in some of the positions, and you
just for the first time in a long time, felt
(04:16):
that actually three to one meant the game wasn't done,
and ultimately, as it wasn't, it wasn't done. So yeah,
a lot of factors. It's certainly made it an interesting
talking point for a club that actually over the past
few years have been pretty boring to talk about because
they're winning all the time. So now we've got something
new to talk about.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Certainly, how is pitp Guardile handling this run of defeats
or six games without a win, because he wouldn't have
had this in his entire managerial cariger to this point,
as you mentioned Manchester, he accustomed two sixties. But some
of those issues you mentioned there are compelling factors behind it.
(04:54):
But how's pit Guardy handling all.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
This with steely determination? He is now repeating a lot
in his press conferences that he's here, that he wants
the challenge, that he he's up for the fight. He
you know, he wants to find new ways. That is
his job. He realizes that he keeps sometimes referencing twenty
sixteen in that when he first came to the club,
(05:19):
he was written off in the first season was a failure?
Could he crack the Premier League? And he's certainly in
the other seven years eight years he's been here, has
shown as that he most perfectly can can't you know,
find the solutions? And he keeps changing his tactics. It's
not the same Manchester City style that was there in
twenty seventeen. The core basics are the same, but there's
other little methods around it and intricacies that he's worked on.
(05:43):
So this is just the latest challenging. He has said
that he said to the board with his contracting up
that give me the chance, let me turn this around,
let me find the next solution. So he's yeah, he's
certainly ready for the fight.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The fan base his we attached on have hid some succeies.
They often coming for criticism. The Manchester City fan base
in the one that sort of swelled in recent times.
There's the success gone on, but you know what, they're
not banging for blood of pick Guardiola, are they?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
No? Not yet. I think that there is a portion
of the fans base that have only known success or
I think there are some that have sadly just got
used to the success. So any dipping standards. You know,
no side is going to win every title every year forever,
and I think anything below first place in Manchester City
is a disappointment. But the a lot of a patient
(06:36):
and a lot of appreciate what they've done. For Premier
League titles in a row, something that no other side
has done before. So I think, yeah, he's got a
lot of credit in the bank. Pep Guardiola. There was
a joke going around our office the other day just
how many more would they have to lose before he
before he lost his job, But the conclusion was still
they are, you know, a long way off even contemplating that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well, it doesn't get any easy. At five am tomorrow morning,
New Zealand time Liverpool at Enfield, and then you've got
Nottingham Forest featuring New Zealand goal scoring machine Chris would
to face off against later in the week. So look
a couple of trickier fears for Manchester City to navigate
over the coming days as well. Really tough ass when
you haven't won any in the last.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Six Yeah, well, let's quickly just touch on Forrest at home.
You had backed Manchester City to win the game and
Forest wouldn't have been in contention. However, with Spurs winning
at the he had the first team to do so
in two years. Then suddenly that changes things and as
you say, yeah, Chris Wood is certainly going to be handful.
It'll be interesting to see what defenders are around then
(07:38):
to handle. Chris Wood bought the bigger game, the most
important game. Let's not beat around the bush. Let's call
it a title deciding game or title race deciding to
see if Manchester City are perhaps still in the races.
Is it Liverpool? It's an Anfield, a ground that Manchester
City notoriously struggle out. They've had two wins there since
(08:01):
two thousand and three. One of those was behind closed
doors in COVID that the other victory in two thousand
and three. He was the last time City won there.
With fans, they don't particularly enjoy going to Anfield. They've
had some really rough experiences there. They've got to draw
there last year. Johnstone's open the score in McAllister equalize.
But this is a Liverpool side that, despite the questions
over him with Jurgen Klop departing, actually have had the
(08:24):
second best start in Premier League history. They are They're
a roothless machine at the minute. They beat the European
champions Real Madrid on Wednesday night at Anfield as well.
So I think most important for Manchester City is to
get the first goal. If Liverpool get the first goal,
I fear where cities heads will be at Anfield, will
(08:44):
be baying for blood and the as a danger. I
think that you know, Liverpool could could run away with it.
Eleven points if Liverpool win is the gap. I think
that's too insurmountable for Manchester City, even at this early
point in the season.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Thank you very much, Mike Mana. Great to check with
you on News Talk ZIB this afternoon BBC Radio Manchester
commentator and reporter. You say again five a him tomorrow morning.
We have Manchester City gone wrong. I left the country
for five weeks and returned and they hadn't won a
single game in that time. Liverpool fans you must be
(09:18):
absolutely licking your lips at the prospect of facing Manchester
City at Anfield and the lines Dean tomorrow morning.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Sat B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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