United on the brink as City go down without a fight

Arteta's strike all but end City title hopes

Hopless, Useless, Gutless and Clueless. Four words that sum up Manchester City's 1-0 defeat against Arsenal. Having seen Manchester United win earlier City knew that they had to win. As a result you would expect to see a hunger and fight in City's display. This was their time to really stand up and show their qualities as a title winning side. However in reality as soon as the game began City looked a beaten team. The players looked as if they had conceded the title already. In truth Arsenal could have won the game long before Mikel Arteta's strike 10 minutes from the end. Arsenal dominated and no one could argue with the result. It was just incredible to witness such a lack of gile and will from a team challenging for the title. So much had been written and said about this Manchester City side but yesterday showed a stark reality about the team.

It seems as with some horses when they are in front it's ok however once they are passed the horse will not fight and come back. To me it showed a real lack of backbone from City. It seems they have no ability to dig in a get the result needed. Manchester United have done that on countless occasions, and one of the reasons for it is a team spirit. Manchester United are a team, unlike City who are a group of individuals.

Mancini left with much to ponder

Yesterdays performances of Gareth Barry, James Milner, Jolean Lescott, Samir Nasri and Mario Balotelli were abysmal. More worrying for me is that 3 of those are English and many would say will be in the Euro's. Barry's dreadful pass that gave Arsenal their goal and summed up another miserable display from him in that central role.

 Despite having spent over 200 million to me Roberto Mancini (left) I look at Manchester city and see no team. Until this is rectified they will not win the League. To win the league over a 38 game Premier League season is very tough and only if you are together will you have a chance. Although I must admit City's demise in the last few months has surprised me. I did think at Christmas that it would go to the wire and that meeting between the two on April the 30th be crucial. However with 5 games to go the likelihood of this is slim. Many will say they are second and that is an improvement but for me Mancini has not built the sort of squad that money should. City have over-paid for many players of which they have not delivered the goods, the likes of Edin Dzeko who cost 27 million a fine case in point. The Carlos Tevez affair and Balotelli's continuous off the field antics do nothing for the togetherness of a team. As a result Mancini should take plenty of the blame.

Another sure sign of my point is that if Mancini is sacked, as I think he will be, then a new manager will want to get rid of many of the squad and bring in many new players. Now I know people will say "well all new managers like to do that, put their mark on the team" although I do not think that would happen if Sir Alex Ferguson left United at the end of the season. Having said this if Mancini stays I am sure he will do the same, although I never did and still do not think he is the right man. 

A criticism of Jose Mourinho is that, he only has success because he is with top clubs and has a huge budget. This is true to an extent although the manager still has to build a team and mould them into a way of playing to be successful. This is why Mourinho is superior to Mancini. I am sure that if Mourinho was appointed when Mark Hughes was sacked or before that, Manchester City would have won the title. It may not have been pretty but I am sure they would have won. For me Mancini has no one to blame. He can not complain of lack of funds or support that for sure. He picks the team, he buys the players and he will take the blame. Mario Balotelli is the key here. Mancini signed this man, he knew exactly what he was like and it has cost him. When a man with the statue of Jose Mourinho refers to a player as 'unmanageable' it is obvious that the player is a trouble maker. He is not popular amount the City players it is clear. At half time yesterday Balotelli was down injured with the physio yet every Manchester City player walked straight past, not a word. Also the reaction of Joe Hart to his sending off, said it all.

I doubt Manchester United can believe how easy it has been, as City have collasped. Yes, United have put the pressure on and gone on that traditional United of winning game after game from March onwards. They have played well and been inspired but the likes of Giggs and the returned Paul Scholes. But for City the disappearance of David Silva, so masterful early on in the year is a real problem. As United have got stronger City have got weaker and weaker.

For me this season in the Premier League has been incredibly exciting and it is not finished yet. Although it must be the poorest in terms of quality Premier League ever. The English teams ventures into Europe this season prove this fact. United knocked out in the groups and then embarrassed by Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League. I know Chelsea are in the Semi-Finals some how, although the game with Barcelona will really test their new found confidence. This Manchester United team is  the weakest I can remember. This is a team relying on two players of 36+ age. This fact makes it even more galling that City have failed. In truth despite having without doubt the strongest squad of players in the division the reality is that City do not deserve to win the league.