Roberto Mancini’s first three fixtures as City’s manager were against Stoke, Wolves and Blackburn, and these strugglers were swatted aside in a style befitting a club with ambitions as big as their budget. This jaunt down the M62 to Goodison Park was when real questions began to be posed.
The conclusion was stark, Everton not simply victors, but superior in every measure. Led by Steven Pienaar's unremitting excellence they were two ahead by the break. Had Shay Given and the woodwork not intervened, the score would have been embarrassing.
Paul Wilson, The Observer
With Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy also anonymous, City were exposed in attack and defence by a spirited Everton, for whom Marouane Fellaini was again outstanding. Everton could and probably should have won by more.Oliver Brown, Sunday Telegraph
Everton exposed City’s defensive deficiencies – an area where recent improvements have perhaps flattered to deceive – with embarrassing ease, while Robinho earned the rare indignity of being substituted as a substitute.It is about the lowest experience a player can endure, but Mancini had little option. The Brazilian, far from the first time, played like an imposter: dithering, uninterested, uninspired. If the manager has any strictness to match his style, he will remove this carpet-bagging misfit without a second’s hesitation.
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