By looking at a handful of statistics, one would think that Manchester City is cruising towards their second Premier League title in three seasons. The noisy neighbors have scored 54 goals in just 19 game. City is also in a tie for the third least goals allowed with just 21 conceded. However, one key aspect of City’s game has kept them battling for Champions League qualification next year rather than chasing another league title: their form away from home.
City’s opening 19 league matches have been split nearly equally between home and away with 10 matches taking place on their home ground and nine on the road. In City’s fortress the Etihad Stadium, the team has looked to be one of the best in the world winning all ten games all while scoring 38 goals and letting in only six. City has sent some of the best sides in the country home feeling embarrassed with some dominating performances at the Etihad. City has defeated defending league champions, and bitter rivals, Manchester United 4-1 at home and also tallied wins over Everton (3-1), Norwich (7-0), Tottenham (6-0), and Arsenal (6-3) at home.
Away from home, City has looked like an entirely different side. City has picked up just 11 points out of a possible 27 in its away matches. Despite the fact that City has beaten some of the best in the league at home, the noisy neighbors have lost to some of the worst sides away from home. Newly promoted Cardiff City was the first to knock off City on the road, beating them 3-2. Aston Villa defeated City by the same score line. Lowly Sunderland also knocked off City at the Stadium of Lights, making it the third straight year City lost at Sunderland. Elsewhere, Southampton and Stoke also managed to steal a point from City on their travels.
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It’s hard to believe that a club that has arguably the deepest and most talented players could be so dominant at home and incredibly average on the road. With a roster full of international superstars, one would think the team has the talent to win both home and away. City has managed to win games away from home in other competitions this year, but have failed to show any sort of consistency on the road in the league. City won all three of its road games in the Champion’s League group stage including a win in snowy Russia over CSKA Moscow and a win over the defending European Champions Bayern Munich.
If City is going to start playing more consistently in the league it will have to sure up its back line as well as its strike force. Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo have become the main striker duo at the Etihad. The two have combined for 20 goals in Premier League this season; but, 14 of them have been scored at home. Aguero is also set to miss a month with a calf injury, so the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic will have to try to fill Aguero’s shoes. However, they will have to not only jump on City’s home goal scoring machine, they will need to be clinical away from home to make sure City isn’t dropping any more points on the road.
Likewise, the City defense has also been given much of the blame for City’s poor road form. Starting goalkeeper and England number one Joe Hart has been benched in favor of Costel Pantilimon. Pantilimon is no long term replacement and is by no means a world class shot stopper. City will either need to get Hart back into form or look elsewhere for someone to put between the sticks. The center back pairings have also been giving City nightmares. With captain Vincent Kompany sidelined much of the fall, City has shown to not have many second options in the heart of their defense. Aging Joleon Lescott has fallen out of favor for City manager Manuel Pellegrini, as the Chilean has looked elsewhere to fill the void left by Kompany. Javi Garcia, normally a defensive midfielder, looked out of place in defense, while the young Matija Nastasic has been suffering from a sophomore slump at the Etihad. Even with Kompany back, he will need a solid defensive partner to anchor the City defense. Through 16 games, Argentinian Martin Demichelis has looked the part after having a brief hiccup adjusting to life in the Premier League.
City should look across Manchester at their bitter rivals Manchester United’s away form. David Moyes’ side has started their climb back into the title race in large part to their away form. United has recorded six wins in 10 matches away from Old Trafford, while losing just two. In a roller-coaster of a season, City needs to find consistency both at home and on the road. At home, City looks to be world-beaters. Their passing, movement, and positioning at the Etihad proves they have the talent to win anywhere. Perhaps City’s defining moment will come in the Champion’s League knockout when it will face European giants Barcelona. A win or draw in the Camp Nou can go a long way in terms of boosting confidence for a team many criticized for not having enough drive to repeat as league champions last year. As long as City is backed by their Qatari owners, City will always have the resources to be in the title race; but, the games must still be played. Unfortunately for City, half of them will be away from the friendly confines of the Etihad Stadium.