Manchester City may be some way off the Premier League summit but they remain top of the table in the tinkering stakes. Pep Guardiola has made 55 personnel changes in his opening 16 league games — more than any other manager in the top flight. Last night he made five alterations from the team who lost 4-2 to Leicester City on Saturday. For the 16th consecutive league game, Guardiola changed his defence. The City head coach dropped John Stones and replaced him with Nicolás Otamendi while Bacary Sagna made way for Gaël Clichy. He also switched from a back three to a back four, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Otamendi playing at centre back.
Home help required
Pep Guardiola’s home record was key to his success in Germany and Spain. Bayern Munich dropped just 18 points at home during his three-year tenure at the Allianz Arena whereas Manchester City have already surrendered nine points at the Etihad Stadium this season, prompting their tumble down the table. The draws against Middlesbrough, Southampton and Everton, as well as the defeat by title rivals Chelsea, have proved costly. Guardiola’s predecessor Manuel Pellegrini lost five times at home last season, which ultimately derailed the team’s title charge. Guardiola will hope that last night’s victory against Watford will be the first in a long run of home wins.
Huffing and puffing
Pep Guardiola cut a typically frantic figure on the touchline last night. The City head coach regularly remonstrated with fourth official Mark Clattenburg after becoming annoyed at a number of Kevin Friend’s decisions. In contrast, Walter Mazzarri was a much more relaxed figure in the technical area, perhaps because he had sneaked out of the Etihad Stadium just before kick-off for a cigarette. The flamboyant Italian occasionally smoked in the dugout during his time as Napoli coach but the UK’s smoking ban meant that he had to go to the periphery of the stadium grounds last night for a quick pre-match cigarette to calm his nerves.
Touré back on song
Yaya Touré looked a spent force on his last start at the Etihad Stadium in August in the Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest. Guardiola asked the 33-year-old to play in the No 10 role in what was in effect a dead rubber after City won the first leg 5-0. The midfielder failed to keep up with play and linked up poorly with Kelechi Iheanacho. Last night, he was far more impressive in a deep midfield role. He dictated the tempo of City’s play from just in front of the back four and maintained his discipline, rarely entering the opposition box. His passing was also impressively accurate. This leaner, more streetwise Touré is one whom Guardiola can rely on.