Huddersfield Town welcomed the champions to the John Smith Stadium, facing the highest odds against a home win since records began. Having departed company with David Wagner and sitting rock bottom, well bereft of safety, the aura around the John Smiths wasn’t particularly optimistic. However, under new management, they had a free shot at Manchester City, who needed a win to keep face with leaders Liverpool.
A free shot was indeed taken, when Mark Hudson named a very fresh lineup, with Diakhaby and Mbenza being the standout names. The intent was clear – Swapping out the physicality of Mounie and Depoitre, and replacing it with pace and mobility, to fully exploit any potential chances at the turn of play.
City started 2 traditional right backs, and their 3rd choice centre half in a back 4. The set up was almost obliging Huddersfield to come and have a go. Kevin De Bruyne started the game, with Sergio Aguero replacing the red-hot Gabriel Jesus up top.
Manchester City never really got out of first gear for the entire first half, and Huddersfield were very alert of that fact. They threw men forward and hounded Sterling, Fernandinho and De Bruyne, who were forced into conceding possession several more times than they’d have liked, or expected for that matter.
Danilo’s deflected thunderbolt gave City a deserved lead, but it never looked secure till the break. Pep Guardiola worked his magic at half time, and City flew out of the blocks, cruising to a 3-0 lead within 11 minutes of the restart; Sterling and then Sane pouncing at the end of extremely calm and intricate Manchester City plays. Leroy Sane now has the highest assists tally of any Premier League player since the start of last season (23), 5 more than his nearest counterpart.
It was at 3-0 that the players once more invoked the doctrine of pragmatism over adventure, for referee Andre Marriner was proving to be in an extremely lenient mood. Huddersfield’s players may have accepted that it wasn’t to be their day, but the fans very admirably showed their support till the very end, loudly cheering on every completed pass, and every dribble.
The Need for VAR
Refereeing wasn’t quite up to the mark today, with each side being on the end of decisions that left the camps both, aggrieved as well as relieved.
Andre Marriner failed to give what Mr Andy Townsend on commentary called “As clear a penalty as any this season” when Raheem Sterling was very clearly felled in the box by Terence Kongolo, with the score at 0-0. That decision was rendered moot when Leroy Sane assisted Sterling for City’s second. But that too, stemmed from an offside position.
Kyle Walker may have been considered lucky by many neutrals for being allowed to finish the game, with a very reckless challenge in the orangish (card) territory. Likewise, Aymeric Laporte was a lucky man to avoid serious damage when he was on the receiving end of a studs-up boot-to-shin collision. VAR cannot come soon enough, for the safety of the players, as well as for righting recurring wrongs.
Huddersfield’s New Attacking Pair
Adama Diakhaby and Isaac Mbenza displayed signs of liveliness every time they got the ball, and tried running at Laporte and Danilo all through the first half. It was a welcome change for the Huddersfield fans, who’ve seen their team score fewer goals than Sergio Aguero across all competitions.
Steve Mounie did get a cameo late on, but his glaring miss from 6 yards out with the entire goal beckoning would not have done him any favours as the new manager looks to find a combination that will somehow keep the Terriers alive. Going forward, I personally believe Mbenza and Diakhaby will offer a better outlet, and for their sake, a better source of much-needed goals.
Vultures Starting To Prowl? But What For?
With Huddersfield set to play Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal in their next 3 games, and Fulham leading Spurs at the time of writing, one wonders if other clubs are perhaps starting to look at Huddersfield’s squad with intentions of pouncing on some of their prized assets should they not retain their Premier League status.
Of course, it is extremely early to say they’ll be going down for sure, but with the January window open, it may not be completely out of the realm of possibilities that a fellow Premier League club would look to offer their players another season of PL football. However, how many of their players would realistically improve the squads of even fellow strugglers Fulham and Cardiff? Aaron Mooy and Adama Diakhaby come to mind immediately, but there’s not too many of them, which makes David Wagner’s achievements thus far seem all the more incredible.
Back to Back Clean Sheets
Manchester City kept a clean sheet for only the 2nd time since early November, making it 2 in 2 games now. With John Stones rested and no recognised left back starting, Laporte and Otamendi between them did a terrific job whenever they were called into action.
Manchester City must go on another winning run now in order to truly keep Liverpool glancing nervously behind their shoulders, for the men from Anfield seem to have an uncanny mixture of luck and ability to grind out win after win after win. Clean sheets will go a long way in ensuring no more silly points are dropped, and with Benjamin Mendy nearing a return, City should have their first choice back 4 intact sooner rather than later.
