{"id":521913,"date":"2019-09-10T14:01:41","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T18:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=521913"},"modified":"2019-09-10T14:01:41","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T18:01:41","slug":"manchester-city-manifesto-week-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/09\/10\/manchester-city-manifesto-week-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester City Manifesto: Week 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester City<\/a> Women take centre stage in this week\u2019s edition of the Manchester City Manifesto<\/a>.\u00a0 The Women played the first-ever women\u2019s Manchester Derby on Saturday against newly-promoted Manchester United.\u00a0 It was a game of two halves where the performance of two Cityzens shone above the rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Manchester City Women 1-0 Manchester United Women<\/span><\/h2>\n

This game really defined the description of a tale of two halves.\u00a0 The entire first half it was Manchester United winning the ball high, getting on the front foot, and creating chances.\u00a0 Manchester City could have been one or two goals down at halftime had it not been for Elle Roebuck\u2019s heroics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roebuck was forced into multiple big first-half saves but one stood out above the rest.\u00a0 The 19-year-old keeper was shuffling to her left on a ball floated in from the left-wing.\u00a0 As the cross was met and directed back across goal, Roebuck sprung back to her right and with an outstretched right paw kept the score at zero.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was one of many outstanding stops that Roebuck made in the first half to keep City in the game.\u00a0 City is so fortunate to have her and currently injured England number one Karen Bardsley<\/a> on their roster.\u00a0 Roebuck has starred since Bardsley\u2019s initial injury last season, and it looks like she\u2019s aiming to keep that spot long term.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline Weir Stars<\/span><\/h2>\n

But the game really turned when Caroline Weir<\/a> took over.\u00a0 The 24-year-old Scottish international came out for the second half on fire.\u00a0 City made the choice to press the hell out of Manchester United in the second half and Weir was at the forefront.\u00a0 Her impact pressing Manchester United\u2019s backline is what earned City\u2019s breakthrough.<\/span><\/p>\n

And let\u2019s be clear, it was Caroline Weir\u2019s breakthrough.\u00a0 She stole the ball in midfield, turned, controlled, and unleashed a rocket with her left foot into the far corner.\u00a0 The ball sat up perfectly for a strike as pure as possible, and with that Weir vanquished Manchester United.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s a great way for Manchester City to start their FA Women\u2019s Super League season.\u00a0 And with a WSL record attendance of over 31,000 there to see it, all in all, it was a perfect start to the Manchester City Women\u2019s season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aymeric Laporte Update<\/span><\/h2>\n

By now most reading will know that Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte<\/a> suffered a torn meniscus in the game against Brighton last weekend.\u00a0 Laporte, who has already had surgery, will be out until at least December, with Christmas looking like the target return date.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the aftermath of that news, many have begun to speculate what City\u2019s next move should be.\u00a0 There have been reports of multiple players being lined up for purchase; all of which are categorically false.\u00a0 Man City may continue gathering information, but they are not going to sign anyone because of the injury to Laporte.<\/span><\/p>\n

Manchester City Replacement Plan<\/span><\/h2>\n

What is going to happen is a lot more Fernandinho<\/a>.\u00a0 The Brazilian will be deployed at Centre-back almost exclusively until Laporte is back from injury.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t be surprising at all if this was the impotence to a permanent position switch. At the very least it is a tactical wrinkle Pep Guardiola can turn to at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n

So for further notice, the centre-backs will be; Fernandinho, Nicolas Otamendi<\/a>, John Stones<\/a>, and Eric Garcia.\u00a0 Garcia is just 18-years-old but has continually impressed with play beyond his age. He played well in Spain\u2019s U-21 games during the break and is reportedly going straight back to the senior squad training when he returns.<\/span><\/p>\n

It does look like Pep will turn to Garcia before he chooses to play Kyle Walker<\/a> at centre-back.\u00a0 The arrival of Joao Cancelo<\/a>, plus the nation ageing of Walker\u2019s game has led to some suggestions of him playing centre-back.<\/span><\/p>\n

This would have been a great opportunity to test that experiment, and it could still happen down the line.\u00a0 But something else like another injury or poor performance would need to happen first. Pep has his centre-backs and he will stick with them through this Laporte injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n