by MCFC Editorial
Media Watch: 'Silva deserves to be Player of Year'
We kick-off another busy week for City with fulsome praise for David Silva following yet another dazzling display from El Mago at the weekend.
There’s also warm words from Pep Guardiola for Fabian Delph and some fascinating statistics which suggest the Blues have stepped up another level this season.
But we start with Silva who both scored and helped orchestrate the Blues’ 4-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.
For many, the midfield maestro is playing some of the finest football of his career.
And according to TV pundit Chris Sutton, writing in his Daily Mail column, the weekend provided yet more compelling evidence that the Spaniard is a worthy candidate to be named Footballer of the Year.
Sutton writes: “When asked to name his toughest opponent, the great Zinedine Zidane said Paul Scholes. I'm sure plenty of players in the Premier League now would name David Silva.
"Manchester City's magician reminds me of Scholes: both great technicians who shun the limelight, instead focusing on simply being better than everyone else.
“Under Pep Guardiola, Silva has adapted his game. He has always been a brilliant creator. Now he is using his intelligence to drift into space, make piercing runs in behind and score.
“He plays with such serenity in our fast-paced, high-intensity league that it's as if he is having a kickabout in his back garden.
“Silva has twice been nominated for player of the year in 2012 and 2018.
“This year, I am backing him to go one better and receive the accolade his talent deserves."
The 32-year-old’s performance at the London Stadium also caught the eye of Daily Mail reporter Steve Sammers.
In his Monday morning review, Sammers penned: “The game was over as a contest by half-time as the superb David Silva, the elusive Raheem Sterling and the born-again German striker Leroy Sane put the match beyond the reach of Manuel Pellegrini's men.
“There were no jeers as referee Andre Marriner blew the whistle to mark the end of 45 minutes in which City were breathtaking. Such scorelines have been known to prompt vicious comments towards the West Ham board. Not on Saturday.
“It was as if the home fans knew they had seen something special in a City team that could arguably become the most gifted to win the Premier League.
“Come springtime and a more accurate assessment of how good this City side are will be possible, but it is beyond debate that they will take some catching.
“There will be more exacting tests ahead, no question, but West Ham were demolished by the superb pass-and-move football that was a joy to watch. At the hub was David Silva, who just seems to get better and better."
Over in the Daily Express meanwhile, there is praise for Fabian Delph following his fine display for the Blues at the London Stadium.
Delph once again demonstrated his vital versatility by producing an assured performance at left-back following the injury to Benjamin Mendy.
And, as Tony Banks reports, it was further confirmation of his value to both club and country.
Banks writes: “Teams occasionally target Delph because he is not a natural left-back and could be a potential weak spot in a team that does not have many.
“They usually find they are wrong – as West Ham did. Slotting into the role with Benjamin Mendy injured, once again the 29-year-old was his usual unflappable self.
“Despite the fact that this was only his third start in a league game this season, Delph helps this City side fit together so seamlessly.
“Delph had skippered England for the first time against the USA nine days earlier and Pep Guardiola said: “The reason he can do all these things and play in different positions is because he is a nice guy.
“You cannot be the England captain and help the team if you are not a good guy. Fabian is an important player for us. Last season he helped us by playing in that position when Mendy was injured, and he did well.
“It is not easy when you play in different positions, but he has. There is always room for the team to improve, but Fabian is always a banker for us – and the other players know it."
Finally, the Manchester Evening News have thrown up some fascinating statistics which make for pleasant Monday morning reading for every Blues fan.
Monday gossip
posted on 26/11/18
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 7 minutes ago
Amazing isn't it, City have owners (they don't) who represent a corrupt regime, other clubs it doesn't matter what the owner does to get his money. Blinkered or what? Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs or had savings wiped out because of (in part) the actions of a greedy tax avoider and that is ok. Actually, the fact that he would rather have a cheese room than quality players says a lot. I suppose it takes attention away from the staggeringly empty trophy room.
This is a team who have fans that think all their players are worth £100m+. If they were your greedy owners would sell them in a heartbeat and give the manager 20% of it to buy replacements.
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Look, I'm not talking about morals here. I'm just saying the fact is, City have had billions invested in players, and Spurs have not. I'm not judging them on their morals and ethics. Weird that you keep mentioning them.
Oh and BTW, our 'empty' trophy room is actually fuller than yours.
posted on 26/11/18
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 7 minutes ago
Amazing isn't it, City have owners (they don't) who represent a corrupt regime, other clubs it doesn't matter what the owner does to get his money. Blinkered or what? Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs or had savings wiped out because of (in part) the actions of a greedy tax avoider and that is ok. Actually, the fact that he would rather have a cheese room than quality players says a lot. I suppose it takes attention away from the staggeringly empty trophy room.
This is a team who have fans that think all their players are worth £100m+. If they were your greedy owners would sell them in a heartbeat and give the manager 20% of it to buy replacements.
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Look, I'm not talking about morals here. I'm just saying the fact is, City have had billions invested in players, and Spurs have not. I'm not judging them on their morals and ethics. Weird that you keep mentioning them.
Oh and BTW, our 'empty' trophy room is actually fuller than yours.
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Yeh I think despite the money City still have won less than Spurs.
posted on 26/11/18
http://www.haveyoueverseentottenhamwintheleague.com/
posted on 26/11/18
They seem to have become all giddy because they finally won a game against one of the top teams. Not the top 2, obviously. That would be stretching things too far. They have scored a magnificent 3 league goals more than the Rags, a team that are at best described as 'workmanlike' and have conceded more than twice the number of goals that City have. To repeat, City have invested in the team, Tottenham have preferred to invest in a cheese room. This is hardly the fault of City or their owner. You have wasted money when you had it and now your owner spends money on his yacht rather than his football team. Perhaps if he thought you may get through the CL group stages he may give you 2/6 to buy a player?
posted on 26/11/18
To be fair I have seen Spurs win the league, but I have never seen my club play in the third tier of English football.
posted on 26/11/18
What is it with Spurs fans? One win of significance in years and they want to have an open top bus parade on JA? They have spent a year or more trying to generate a rivalry with Liverpool and now they want to haunt the City board despite regularly blocking anyone from commenting on theirs. They have reached 3rd with a good win against a very lacklustre Chelsea but Liverpool are above them without their front 3 playing well. As the Liverpool front 3 start to click they will be a real danger to anyone and Spurs may have trips to Eastern Europe to come in the Ropey League which makes it harder to manage than the CL in some respects. They may finish 3rd but I think Arsenal and Chelsea may be stronger than them over the season.
posted on 26/11/18
comment by sandy YNWA (U20567)
posted 27 minutes ago
To be fair I have seen Spurs win the league, but I have never seen my club play in the third tier of English football.
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We have won the league an a trophy in Europe been krap relegated premiered and won the league three times more since spurs last won the league
posted on 26/11/18
Despite having a certain Mr S Pearce as a manager for a while!!!!! Any team who have fans who have survived that deserve any success they get. It is a wonder we are still here, there were weeks I considered watching boats go by on the canal as an attractive alternative to watching that.
posted on 26/11/18
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 44 minutes ago
Despite having a certain Mr S Pearce as a manager for a while!!!!! Any team who have fans who have survived that deserve any success they get.
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Was it that season when United got Glazered, and we sung “USA!! USA!!”?
That was the highlight of that season, if I remembered correctly.
posted on 26/11/18
That and 'shoooooot' any time a City player had the ball outside our own penalty area.