Emphatic win against Watford showcased Pep Guardiola’s men at their well-grooved best, full of invention and good habitsWelcome to the new order. Domestic games: played 51, won 43. Domestic trophies: three out of three. Five goal hauls: eleven. Defeats since Christmas: one.Scan the history books, fan back to the big city clubs of Victorian times, linger on the red-shirted eras of the last 50 years. English domestic football has never seen anything quite like this single-season hit from Manchester City. It turns out we really do all live in a sky blue world now. Continue reading...
Demoted to the bench the Spaniard came on to provide a thing of beauty for his first goal and the winner in extra timeAs a manager you know it is definitely, undoubtedly and incontrovertibly your day when you are faced with one major selection decision, get it demonstrably wrong and then win the game because of it.Troy Deeney, Watford’s captain and frequently their inspiration, is known for giving occasional sermons about “cojones”, and once again proved his qualifications for delivering them by rocketing home the penalty in the fourth minute of added time that completed his team’s comeback from two goals down. Gerard Deulofeu, the slight, wispy Spaniard who scored their other two goals, is not so much the chest-thumping,...
No one really knows whether the Manchester City right-back should have been sent off – all we really have are opinionsIt seemed fitting that this FA Cup semi-final should end with Manchester City’s players keeping the ball in a kind of ad hoc rondo deep in the Brighton half, 1-0 up and just doing enough, their opponents held at arm’s length like an outmatched little brother, fists windmilling uselessly.It seemed fitting the victory tune on the Wembley PA should be Wonderwall, with its downbeat, ruminative opening chords. It seemed fitting also that it should be Brighton’s fans who cheered loudest in those moments, the entire end on its feet applauding the players for reaching this far, for an energetic performance,...
Javi Gracia’s side were joint-third favourites for the drop, but are now the league’s best side when the top six are factored outBefore the season began, Watford were joint-third favourites for relegation, considered by bookmakers to be better only than Cardiff and Huddersfield. Javi Gracia was fifth in the betting to be the first top-flight manager to be sacked. General opinion was clear, and scathing. Fast forward eight months and Watford are jostling with Wolves for both seventh place in the top flight and, on Sunday, a spot in the FA Cup final. If, as many always expected, they have to plan for a competition other than the English top flight this summer, then it will be the Europa League...
Man City’s quadruple bid continues in FA Cup, Fabinho can prove his worth to Liverpool and a pivotal Klassiker in GermanyBrighton are unlikely to go into their first FA Cup semi-final since 1983 with high expectations. Chris Hughton’s players produced an incredible comeback to beat Millwall in the previous round, but they know the odds will be heavily stacked against them when they face Manchester City, who have already won three games at Wembley this season. City remain on course for a historic quadruple after 13 consecutive wins in all competitions and while Sergio Agüero is doubtful after picking up a minor injury at Fulham last Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s side have been boosted by the return to fitness of Kevin...