This bank holiday Monday we welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park once again. We had a chat with Rob Toole from fan site Typical City about their season so far and thoughts ahead of the trip to South London.
Q. How has the season been for you since your 3-0 win over us just before Christmas?
Not outstanding by any stretch of the imagination. When we last played Palace at the Etihad that was probably, in retrospect, our finest few weeks of the season. Since then we have gone from being on a par with Chelsea to finding ourselves in a battle to stay in the top four.
Throw into the mix two disheartening cup exits in the FA Cup and Champions League and it almost seems as if the season has fallen away before it really got going. Our main issue has been consistency. There have been fleeting moments of brilliance but on the whole there is a sense of lethargy among the players and the team is far too vulnerable to any team, regardless of their stature, that dares to press us.
Q. Do you still think you have a chance of beating Chelsea to the title?
In a word, no. City had been hanging in there for a while but I think the final nail in the coffin was the defeat against Burnley a few weeks ago. With eight games left it is asking an awful lot for a City team that has under-performed for most of the season to win all of the remaining games and, at the same time, hope that Chelsea drop nine points (assuming that they win their game in hand).
Of course, stranger things have happened. Both of City’s recent Premier League titles have been won from positions of seemingly no hope but I just do not see it happening this season. Quite frankly, City do not deserve to win the title so there cannot be too many grumblings, in my opinion.
Q. Are the fans fully behind Manuel Pellegrini or is he starting to lose some support?
Of course, I cannot speak for an entire fan base but there certainly seems to be an air of doubt among some City fans, but I think there is also strong support from others. It is hard to turn your back on a manager that only last season won our first ever domestic double. Especially when some of the football that we played last season was the best I have ever seen City play in my lifetime.
In spite of that, it is impossible to deny that we have regressed this season. That in itself does not appear to be the main gripe though. I think many fans get immensely frustrated seeing the same mistakes being made time and time again. Pellegrini’s dogged insistence on playing two centre forwards whenever possible has seen us come undone far too many times, particularly in Europe.
Ironically, when all our strikers were injured in December Pellegrini was forced to be creative with his tactics and, as a consequence, we played some really good football and were winning games in style. Overall, it really is a mixed bag. Though Pellegrini’s reputation remains intact, I do not think he is held in the same regard as he was this time last year.
Q. You have yet to see the best of Wilfried Bony but do you think it was a bit of a panic buy in January?
I have seen it suggested in some quarters that this was a panic buy but I do not think it was. I think what it did do is address a short term need to have a fourth striker so I can see why that perception might exist that it was a panic buy. Since the departure of Alvaro Negredo at the death of the summer transfer window last year we have been short of one striker so it would be naive to think that the club were not thinking of replacements in the run up to the January window.
With the futures of Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko in doubt it could be a shrewd move to have Bony bedded in nicely by the time next season starts. Personally, I am a big fan of his and I was really chuffed to see him brought in. His style of play seems suited to the way City try to play so it could be a great move for us. His most recent performance against West Bromwich Albion was easily his best in a City shirt so far which suggests he is beginning to adapt to life at City.
Q. Did the club see to its needs in the January transfer window?
I would say they addressed the short term need, as I alluded to above, but I think a much bigger overhaul of the squad is needed and that is likely to happen in the summer. The same core of players (Hart, Kompany, Silva, Toure, Aguero) have been in place for a good number of seasons now and have been hugely successful but this season is the first where I have thought a few big changes are needed.
Every team has cycles and this looks like it could be a transition period for the club. Last summer, City added depth to the ranks but it is hard to argue that any of the summer signings have really had a great impact. There is work to be done if City want to be challenging for the title again next season.
Q. What do you expect to see happen in the summer in terms of personnel at the club?
I expect to see quite a few changes, both in terms of players leaving and players coming in. I think City need two or three marquee signings that are really going to shake up the squad and demand a place in the starting eleven. If you look at the impact that Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have had on Chelsea this season, I think those are the kind of transfers City need to be making.
I would expect to see City try to sign a centre forward, at least one midfielder and quite possibly another defender. The list of players that could leave is quite long for all manner of reasons but do not be surprised if some of the following are not at City next season – Milner, Dzeko, Jovetic, Toure, Fernando, Kolarov, Clichy.
Q. Perhaps you could let us have your views on how Palace have done this season?
Much improved since the arrival of Alan Pardew. Neil Warnock was never really going to do much at this level whereas Pardew is a bit more proven, I guess. It looks like Palace are going to steer well clear of a relegation battle so that is not bad at all.
Quite frankly, I am amazed that Palace are in the league at all this season as they really did look dead and buried last season before Pulis came in. The job he did was outstanding and your place in the league is warranted. I think City fans will be eternally grateful for your role in the title race last season, too.
Q. Name a City player that Palace should be wary of and a Palace player that City should be wary of ahead of this fixture?
David Silva. The man is a genius and if he is not closely watched he could single handily dictate the game. His ability to ghost into space and find a killer pass is up there with the very best. The likes of Sergio Aguero may pose a more obvious threat but Silva is the real driving force for City.
As far as Palace are concerned, I am a big fan of Yannick Bolasie. He is fast, strong and skilful and seems to be one of those players who will dare to do something a bit different. The way our full backs are playing this season he could have a field day come Monday evening.
Q. Your prediction?
It is a tough one to call. For me, it very much depends on which City turns up. We are so hard to predict this season I do not know what to expect. Let me say 1-2. City almost always concede but I think they will do enough to get the points. They tend to pull performances out of the bag when they are really needed and with second place under serious threat, this is one of those occasions.
