VMC's HansChristianClintonsen runs a straight talking rule across the City side from his corner of the Etihad ahead of this weekend's big game in Laandaarn Taarn...

With pressure on Mancio now, David Silva was awesome on Wednesday night. It's hard to be critical of Sergio Aguero too who I think is our second best player behind Silva. Being ultra critical, he has either slipped or, as against Real, taken a heavy touch at the crucial moment of hard to come by chances. I wonder if his trusty black boots that were replaced with a five million pound Puma deal, should be reprised with a Puma stripe and an 'airJordan' branding effort brought in? Yet, I do love Sergio's outstanding ability and perfect mentality.

I'm happy to put some of the issues over our Champions League exit down to it again not being our night. Although there are minor niggles to iron out to reach perfection. Edin Dzeko needs a winger.

I like Maicon's crossing ability, but it's not sufficient for me. We did not need another full back who can't defend. We need a winger we can trust.

I would look to ship out Samir Nasri who for me is becoming the new Steve McManaman, Scott Sinclair - if he's not up to the job - Carlos Tévez, Mario Balotelli, Aleksander Kolarov and Maicon. Bring in Napoli's Edinson Cavani, the lad from Atletico, Ramadel Falcao (or the scout who keeps finding striker after striker for them), plus Neymar from Santos to provide width and genuine heart; and two more reliable full backs who can work in a three, if required.

Looking at central defence, I think Joleon Lescott has suffered as he had hit a good vein of form and understanding with the Captain. Matja Nastasic is clearly one for the future, but he has not earned his place yet with performances to match that partnership.

Back in midfield, Yaya Touré, so often having produced in the big games was hugely disappointed and on current form warrants dropping.

Overall, we've been too experimental.

I also think players did not perform as they can do against Real Madrid. Gareth Barry double subbed for Javi Garcia on 60 minutes would have been a good move.

Keep the faith and whatever you do, Stay Blue!

Do you agree with HCC's assessment of the City team and the Champions League exit? Give us a shout with your take on the state of play!

UPCOMING FIXTURES
all times East Manchester

Su 25 Nov 16h00 Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, PL
We 28 Nov 20h00 Wigan, DW Stadium, PL
Sa 01Dec 15h00 Everton, The Etihad, PL
Tu 04Dec 19h45 B Dortmund, Signal Iduna Park, CL
Su 09Dec 13h30 The rags, The Etihad, PL
Sa 15Dec 12h45 Newcastle, St James' Park, PL
Sa 22Dec 15h00 Reading, The Etihad, PL
We 26Dec 15h00 Sunderland, Stadium of Light, PL
Sa 29Dec 15h00 Norwich, Carrow Road, PL

Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=300681#...

Radical changes...or are they?

We could do with another decent ball playing midfielder that will give us a more direct approach and maybe trade Kolarov in for a younger model but apart from that I'd leave things as they are.

Well no I wouldn't, I'd ship Tevez out if I could but that doesn't look likely.

Would love to see what would happen if Yaya was ''dropped'' !!

Can't see it happening as even when he's having one of his frustrating “jogging” days he’s always capable of pulling us out of the mire.

Anyway, we had plenty of time to see how the team played without Yaya last season (as we will again in Jan 2013) and aside from the 3-2 home win against Spuds, I can’t recall that going too well.

City remain a 'work in progress' for me. I believe that Mancini admitted as much in the post match interviews after the RM game. Long gone are the times when managers would be afforded the luxury of time to come close several times before delivering the silverware. Patience is short it seems and the pressure builds very quickly. Just check with Roberto de Matteo. To win trophies whilst a team is undergoing these transitions both within the playing staff and across the whole of the club organization and structure is a real result in my eyes.

If Fergie were starting out as a manager in the top British League in the current era I doubt he would last any longer at one club than many of the existing managers do.

'Shipping people out' and 'bringing people in' is no longer easy. I would not argue with the need for the evolution in playing staff to continue. As City have witnessed recently in the efforts to offload the then troublesome Tevez and the on-off-on-off circus surrounding de Rossi, in the murky world of agents and 'advisors' and the impending restrictions on club's spending power this activity is a real challenge. Money doesn't talk dspite what te media hacks would have us believe. The manager cannot simply create his 'Wish List' on his laptop, email it to the Chairman and the wait for the packages to arrive at the training ground as ordered. Some players will succeed, others will lose form, others will lose interest. The manager has to .....manage....these situations day by day, week by week whilst a the same time continuing to deliver the results demanded by the owners and fans and required to keep the club in contention for honours. A difficult balancing act with very thin margins for error. Win every game in the PL season and you get 114 points. If say the benchmark to win the title is 90 points that means you can afford to drop only 24 points (setting aside for the time being whether these are against championship rivals). City have already dropped 8 points. That leaves only16 more left in the 'bank'. Or to put it another way - 5 defeats and 1 draw in the remaining 26 matches......

I seem to have drifted from the point (no pun intended) here

Back on topic ....Wouldn't mind seeing some of the names mentioned at the Etihad but might be a while yet.

Fair comment, Skoorb.....I'm inclined to agree with the 90 point mark, and usually you will have a positive record against those in the mix with you.

Yes, last season was very close with only one opponent.....with the rest it was a country mile....early signs of deja vu this season, maybe?

Over the past ten seasons the average total of the PL Champions has been 88 pts.

The highest total ever was set by Chelsea in 2004/05 - 95 pts

The lowest winning total was set by the rags in 2010/11 - 80 pts

90 points has been the winning total on two occasions during this ten year period and that level has been exceeded twice. Once by Chelsea above and the following season.

The margin for error is thin indeed.