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United 1 – 6 City | Statistical Analysis

There was no doubting that City’s victory was a phenomenal result and served to underline that they are very much genuine challengers for the Premier League title. From an analysis perspective though what was especially interesting about the game yesterday was how evident both sides strengths and weaknesses were highlighted.

A look at the head to head comparison between the two sides shows on the whole they were evenly matched in many of the statistical categories. There are, however, key differences between the two sides – and this backs up the analysis in this recent article I wrote comparing the season to date – which pointed at the reasons that City came away with the win, and in some part, explain why the margin of victory was so great:

Head to Head Stats

 

Individual Comparisons

Given the margin of victory (and the fact United played virtually half of the game with ten men) there was little difference in possession between the two (51.1% to 48.9% in favour of City with City having 660 touches to United’s 618). What is key here though is not the amount of possession itself butwhere the possession is and what you do with it. In terms of final third entries, United had the edge (59 to 54) but City both attempted (and had a higher completion rate) more passes in the attacking half and final third. To take this even further, the numbers show that United conceded 22 chances whilst City yielded half of this amount – both totals consistent with the season to date. United were also more careless in possession, losing the ball 17 times compared to City’s nine.

It was interesting to look at how both sides attacked. United, by selecting two genuine wingers in Ashley Young and Nani they clearly focused out wide attempting some 30 crosses whilst City made just 17. Whilst Young had a bright opening to the game, he faded and the fact that City made 36 clearances (the important note being that 13 of these attributed to Micah Richard and Gael Clichy) highlight that in the main City stifled their hosts in this regard.

With less emphasis on the central area of the midfield (United fielding the duo of Anderson and Darren Fletcher) it afforded Roberto Mancini the option to leave out Nigel de Jong in favour of a more attacking presence. James Milner – who may have been the one to make way had de Jong played – continued his recent impressive form and as this Guardian Chalkboard shows, he was instrumental in supporting City in this area; his assists key in getting City to the 2-0 lead before the floodgates opened as United fell into disarray.

Star Man: David Silva

The player who was central to all that City did though was David Silva. The Spaniard has started the season in the same manner that he finished 2010/11 and was at times breathtaking yesterday, borne out in his numbers from the game:

The performance yesterday more the rule than the exception, illustrating perfectly why Silva is such a threat and merely confirmed his emphatic start to the season.

Early days still of course but here was your favourite for the all of the Player of The Season awards and for all of the attacking threat that City carries it is Silva who shines brightest. Carlos Tevez may have been the heart of the City side that saw city lift the FA Cup and qualify for the Champions League but that side has evolved into a different beast: more ruthless, clinical and fluid than the 2010/11 season and this time it is David Silva who is not only the heart, but the soul that runs through this City side.

dannypugsley
dannypugsleyhttp://www.bitterandblue.com
Managing Editor of SBNation's Manchester City blog 'Bitter and Blue' and author of 'Man City 365'.
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