While Manchester City’s defensive problems and particularly Roberto Mancini’s inability to settle on a consistent partner for skipper Vincent Kompany have grabbed the headlines, City’s striking problems have been ignored somewhat. To be frank, to suggest that there are any “problems” is a bit far-fetched. City do often look capable of scoring at will and possess four top-level strikers in Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko.
The problem is, just who does Mancini call upon as his regular strike partnership? Yes of course, the chosen two cannot play every game and rotation, particularly in the forward positions where fatigue can often hit is key, but when the pressure games come around just who will Mancini turn to? It’s safe to say that Aguero will be one of the two. The Argentina international is a favourite of Mancini and scored 30 goals in his debut season in England, the last of which dramatically giving the Citizens the Premier League title at the expense of local rivals Manchester United. Aguero’s pace, vision, low centre of gravity and ice-cool finishing at pressure moments makes him a certainty to start if fit.
But who partners him? Based on early-season form one would have to say Carlos Tevez would deserve a run in the team. A newly-streamlined Tevez seemed to be playing the best football of his career before the first international break, as he scored four goals in City’s opening four matches in all competitions and generally looked to be back to his hustling, committed best for the club. However, Tevez’ spell away with Argentina seems to have not only sapped his confidence but also some of his sharpness and since then, Mancini has rotated and left him on the bench more often than not.
Mario Balotelli may have starred in the summer for his country, scoring three goals as Italy reached the final of Euro 2012, but it must be remembered that the moody Italian hardly enjoyed the best end of seasons under Mancini. Having endured a barren run in front of goal, Balotelli’s red card at Arsenal in April left him sitting out of the majority of the Citizen’s final league games, although he did return to provide an assist for Aguero’s title-winning moment. Indeed, Balotelli has barely featured in the City team this year and in his few appearances has been peripheral to say the least.