Foden’s expected goals (xG) is just 0.07 per 90 minutes, the 19th best in the City squad. That suggests that while he is creating good opportunities for others, he is not getting into the right positions to score himself. And that is a problem. Foden’s best play came when he was making those darting runs in behind from the right wing, and now that he is expected to create from deeper positions, he is not having the same impact. Guardiola needs to find a way to unleash Foden in a way that maximizes his strengths and gets him back to his best form.
Proposed solution: Move Foden back to the right wing and find a different solution for the De Bruyne-shaped hole in midfield
3. Where are the goals coming from?
City have scored just 16 goals in their last 10 league games, an average of 1.6 per game. That is significantly below their usual standards, and a major reason for their recent struggles. Erling Haaland has been in fine form, netting 10 goals in the league so far, but beyond him, there is a lack of consistent goal-scoring threat in the team.
Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, and Phil Foden have all struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis, leaving City overly reliant on Haaland to provide the goals. This lack of goals from other players is putting added pressure on the Norwegian striker and making it easier for opposing teams to set up defensively against City.
Proposed solution: Get the attacking players firing on all cylinders and find ways to create more goal-scoring opportunities for players other than Haaland
4. Defensive fragility
City have looked shaky at the back in recent games, conceding 10 goals in their last 5 league matches. The absence of key defenders like Ruben Dias and John Stones has been felt, with makeshift partnerships struggling to cope with the attacking threat of opponents. The lack of defensive stability has been a major factor in City’s recent poor form and needs to be addressed urgently.
Proposed solution: Get the defense back to full strength and work on improving the defensive organization and communication on the pitch
5. Tactical rigidity
Guardiola’s tactical approach has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with some critics suggesting that he has become too predictable in his team selection and tactics. The reliance on a false nine system with Haaland dropping deep to link play has worked well at times, but opponents have started to figure out how to nullify City’s attacking threat.
Guardiola needs to show more flexibility in his tactics and be willing to adapt to different opponents and game situations. This could involve changing formations, personnel, or playing style to keep opponents guessing and create more opportunities for City to score goals.
Proposed solution: Be more flexible in tactics and team selection to keep opponents guessing and maximize City’s attacking potential
Overall, City are facing a challenging period in their season and Guardiola will need to make some significant changes to turn their form around. With key players returning from injury and a few tactical tweaks, City have the quality to bounce back and challenge for major honors once again.
Discounting dead balls from the equation, Phil Foden’s output drops to 0.32, which is still a high mark. However, as the central creative midfielder for Manchester City, one might expect his output to be even higher. Foden’s shooting has seen a significant decrease from last season, with around 10 percent fewer shots from open play. There seems to be an indulgence in the efforts he is taking, with Guardiola encouraging players to “break the game” by shooting from distance.
Last season, Foden showcased his ability to strike with menace from range, but this season there has been an over-reliance on such efforts, resulting in shots that are not threatening for the goalkeeper. While Foden’s xG per shot was below the Premier League average last season, he was able to get into prime spots and strike with menace. Now, there is a lack of quality in his shot selection, possibly due to the absence of other players willing to take on the responsibility.
A proposed solution to improve Foden’s output could be to move him back to the flanks when De Bruyne returns, allowing him to create more opportunities from wider positions.
Can someone other than Haaland take a shot?
Manchester City’s signing of Erling Haaland, the best pure striker in the game, has led to a shift in their approach to better facilitate the Norwegian forward. While Haaland’s scoring prowess has been evident, City’s overall effectiveness in comfortably winning games has suffered. The team has become too reliant on Haaland for goals, with a significant percentage of their shots and xG coming from him.
This season, Haaland has taken 55 out of City’s 212 shots in the Premier League, highlighting the imbalance in their attacking play. Other players like Alvarez, Foden, or Gundogan need to contribute more in terms of shots, xG, and goals to provide a more well-rounded attacking threat. The current shot distribution resembles that of a struggling team heavily reliant on one striker for goals.
To improve their attacking play, City needs to find a running mate for Haaland, with De Bruyne offering a potential solution when fully fit. Other players need to step up and take more shots to alleviate the pressure on Haaland and provide a more varied attacking threat.
Do these players have too many miles in their legs for defending?
Manchester City’s defensive record has been concerning this season, conceding 13 goals in 11 games, more than twice the tally of league leaders Liverpool. Patterns have emerged in their defensive play, with opponents finding success by exploiting spaces left behind the press.
There may be concerns about whether certain players have too many miles in their legs for defending, leading to lapses in concentration and defensive organization. City needs to address their defensive issues and tighten up at the back to prevent further goals from being conceded.
Evanilson, Jorgen Strand Larsen, and Sammie Szmodics have all managed to score what seems like the same goal this season. In the past, Manchester City was known for snuffing out attacks at the source with their high pressing style. However, this season, things seem to have changed.
City’s pressing intensity remains similar to last season, but their effectiveness in regaining possession has decreased. The number of recoveries in the final third has dropped, allowing opponents to make more progressive passes. The team is pushing up the field, but they are struggling to prevent the opposition from passing around them.
There are several reasons for this decline in defensive performance. Erling Haaland is not the commanding leader in an out-of-possession system, and other players lack the experience or physicality to handle the demands of the Premier League. Veterans like Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are pacing themselves for a long season that extends into July, holding back their full potential for later in the campaign.
Kyle Walker, once a defensive powerhouse, seems to be struggling to regain his top form after a period on the sidelines. His pace and defensive prowess have been crucial in supporting a high defensive line, but his recent performances have raised concerns about his effectiveness.
One proposed solution to City’s defensive issues is to drop the defensive line back, allowing the team to regroup and better control the opposition’s attacks. This adjustment may help City to regain their defensive stability and limit the opponents’ chances.
Another key factor in City’s defensive struggles is the absence of Rodri. The midfielder has been a vital player for the team, providing defensive cover, creativity, and control in the middle of the park. His absence has left a significant gap in City’s defensive structure, and finding a suitable replacement has proven to be a challenging task.
While players like Mateo Kovacic can offer some qualities similar to Rodri, they lack his overall impact on the team’s defensive stability. City may need to look for reinforcements in the transfer market to address this issue and ensure that they have adequate cover for Rodri in the future.
In conclusion, Manchester City’s defensive struggles this season can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a lack of pressing effectiveness, key players out of form, and the absence of a suitable replacement for Rodri. Addressing these issues will be crucial for City to maintain their defensive solidity and compete at the highest level.
