Spurs still look a better team than City on the evidence of that game. I don't see how the predictions of City threatening the top 3 and Spurs dropping off down to upper mid table are gonna come true if they both keep playing like they did today. Well, long way to go.

Given's right to think that he should leave. He's unlikely to displace Hart now.
Keane should stay put if he can, all the Spurs strikers are of a similar level, so he will get games assuming Redknapp hasn't already made up his mind.

Spurs were superb - apart from the strikers. Daws Ekotto Bale and Huddlestone did everything they could but our strikers let us down. Defoe yet again fluffed a 1 on 1 and lost the ball too many times. If we are to hold on to 4th and compete in CL we need a Drogba style striker. Unfortuneately, there's none out there. I'd go for Kevin Doyle though. Superb alrounder who offers much more than Crouch and Pav. Come on Harry, sign up Doyle now!

Joe Hart played very well today. Far too good for a team like City. If he keeps this form up it's surely a matter of time before on of the big clubs come in for him.

Watching Bale over the last year, you get the sense that he is destined to become one of the best wingers in the world.

How many holding midfielders do Manchester City need to loose a game?

The article misses the point....

City didn`t play badly, Spurs were just better. Impressive stuff.

I'm not so sure Kolarov was 'excellent'. Assou-Ekotto looked better and cost about 10% of his fee. City looked a bit tippy-tappy and with the lone front man Tevez often dropping off, they lacked presence up front.

Spurs looked outstanding for 45 minutes. Time will tell if this was just one of those days for them or a sign that they can't score that goal at that moment, which the top teams do.

Interesting to see Giovanni Dos Santos back in favour at Spurs. Another beneficiary of Walter Mitty's, sorry, Harry Redknapp's famed man-management skills, along with Pavelochenko, Keane, Bentley, Gomez...

Can someone tell me why Tevez spent half his time playing defensive midfielder too though? I've heard of tracking back but a lone striker should never be playing the Makelele role. How many times did City wingers look into the box only to see Tevez playing next to De Jong BEHIND them?

Finally, and more crucially: Sean Wright Phillips is the worst footballer I've seen in several decades. SWP would struggle to get into sides in the MLS at this point.

He's positively abysmal ... at best.

All huff and puff

Still couldn't bring the house down.

Poor Spuds

Kolarov was fine. Silva did well enough. De Jong's passing however, was atrocious. Toure was playing like bloody Lucio, great composed performance.

You've got to say that Adebayor should have started today. A front three with about 9ft between them? Away from home? This is exactly why City needed Dzeko, but Adebayor is probably good enough. At least he's the right kind of player.

A good point. Season starts here.

Good entertaining opener, and on that basis here's sweeping generalisations..............

- Silva to flop and not adjust to the pace of 'the best league in the world'. Caught dawdling on a couple of occassions

- Ditto Yaya Toure.

- Mancini to be gone by New Year with City off the pace and not in the CL spots

Take a screenshot, go on, and hammer me at the end of the season

You boys need to get a grip, First game of the season at home and you only draw! Don't make me laugh
Arry hasn't got a clue- lucky if you finish top ten

Ever thought that the reason why Harry went with Crouch & Defoe ahead of both Robbie & Pav is because he had the pair in training all week? I know Robbie only went to Ireland, whilst Pav's been all the way to Russia & back, but he is over 30 now & a midweek game so soon after pre-season, without being in Spurs training all week, kind of makes it obvious that he would miss out today.

Guardian writers' prediction: 2nd

Wright-Phillips and Silva were terrible. How are these two ahead of Ballamy?

I thought We defended very well and a clean sheet was so important after dominating the first half, Gomes never had a save to make and Citeh never had a corner until well into the 2nd half. Bale could and should have won it for us. Pav had more attempts on goal in 15 minutes than the diminutive JD had all game. We did fade a bit in the second half but City could not capitalise. Ther'e just a shit team with money, a shit team with money, just a shit team with money. COYS

Johna said it all really. That and Huddlestone was a silent hero today. Immense.

City were criticised at times last season for using 2 holding midfielders. What does Mancini do? Starts the season with 3, lol.

I think Mancini believes he is still in Serie A. I was watching a couple of City's pre-season games & they were getting 10 men behind the ball regularly. City were FAR more attacking & adventurous under Sparky but maybe Mancini is looking at Mourinho's Chelsea model. For so many flair players in the squad tho, I would expect much more of an entertaining brand of football.

as a city fan, we were poor... an unfit Tevez, a tired Silva (flew back Thursday night from Mexico),an off-form Richards and SWP, and an over-defensive midfield; when we broke forward, we seldom had anyone in the box. 0-0 was the best we could hope for, and that largely due to the impeccable Hart. it will take time, of course, for the new signing to come in and find their feet, but today we could have done with the fight and invention of Bellamy or the guile of Ireland, both of whom have been banished from Bobby Manc's squad. strange days...

Silva looked god tho for £25m, didn't he? pfffft

After seeing man city performance i guess its going to be the same old top four; Arsenal, Cheslea, Liverpool and Man United

Even more stodgy than Mourinho's Chelsea.

He really should be able to do more than constipate the game with over £300M worth of talent.

Is £100 million all it takes to buy a point at White Hart Lane these days?

Bargain.

What has Daniel Taylor gotta say to this?

Loads of slanderous/negative comments.

City doing everything right.

(Poor start but Kompany was awesome)

hiphoppopotamus
14 Aug 2010, 4:46PM
Guardian writers' prediction: 2nd

How many games in a league season? All City wanted was a nil nil. Job done. Roll on Liverpool.

So Mancini opted for caution as per type ? ... not surprising and I doubt it's anything to do with his origins. Rednapp was always going to get his charges to come out ... well, charging. First game against a rival for one of the sacred top 4 berths. Against new boys in the league. I suspect most coaches would have done the same in set-up as the Italian did. Batton down and wait for the storm to abate. Spurs are a good team and will give most teams a hard time at WHL.

Second half he instructed Silva to move inside and deeper. Called the somewhat isolated Tevez back a bit and lo & behold City started to take charge. Silva found his confidence and rhythm and for me was by the end of this game, one of the real positives for the manchester team, along with Kompany (but then we knew this previously). I thought Toure (Y) came onto a game too though he still seemed to dwelling on the ball as if he was still strutting around the Camp Nou - he'll get sharper.

Koralov looks strong.

Yes, Bale is looking good but that was certainly helped by the fact that he was up against the one full back in the league who is quite possibly less spatially aware than Glen Johnson. One can only assume that Mancini sees something in Richards during the week.

Robbie Keane is old news.

The Given vs Hart conundrum. While Hart undoubtedly kept them in the match with a series of good saves, the saves were nothing that we don't see or haven't seen Given make for a decade. I don't think there is any doubt that either keeper is a good shot stopper, its the other aspects of their game that need attention - the decision making and positioning in the case of the younger.

I thought both teams came out of that game with a lot of credit.

Good to see Adebayor hasn't lost his first touch.

The only flaw was that Tottenham couldn't get a goal. Well played Hart, but as someone above said, the very best teams find a goal in these kinds of games. Encouraging start.

MoneybagsC did well to get the draw.

How many games in a league season? All City wanted was a nil nil. Job done. Roll on Liverpool.

If 'all City wanted was a nil nil' then maybe they're not equipped to finish in the top 2, eh?

smifee
14 Aug 2010, 5:40PM
Good to see Adebayor hasn't lost his first touch.

The only flaw was that Tottenham couldn't get a goal. Well played Hart, but as someone above said, the very best teams find a goal in these kinds of games. Encouraging start.

MoneybagsC did well to get the draw.

Fair analysis Smifee, though I think Adebayor should have been on from the start (he seems to thrive when the crowd are against him) . Tottenham miles ahead n first half but Hart stood up to the challenge. Toure and Kompany were the business and the possession and passing improved in the second half for City. Nil nil away at White Hart Line first game of the season? Absolute disaster for City? My Arse.

Don't think Carlos should be captain though - Kompany for me.

Simple,this.What was the score again?
As posted above,the tax-evader and his chirpy boyz huffed and puffed and...nowt. City were bad.No disguising it,no disputing it.
Spuds though..sorry for having a decent keeper.Oh and sorry for Kompany having played football before.Naughty,that.
If City are that bad all season then a lot of money has been wasted and Mancini wil be long gone.
Spuds though..can they be much better?
What it comes down to is that if the opposition are as bad as City were today,good teams beat them,especially at home.Spurs drew.

hiphoppopotamus
14 Aug 2010, 5:42PM
How many games in a league season? All City wanted was a nil nil. Job done. Roll on Liverpool.

If 'all City wanted was a nil nil' then maybe they're not equipped to finish in the top 2, eh?

Ah would you grow up for flips sake. If league titles were handed out after ONE GAME, don't you think they would try harder?

Ruining football aren't they? Blah blah blah

Ah, so they weren't trying as hard as they could. Seems fair enough. Maybe a pay raise is in order.

hiphop, you're aaaaaaaaaalright..

Spurs looked good for the first half hour but ran out of ideas. Crouch, Defoe and Keane shouldn't be anywhere near a team competing for the top 4 and potentially playing in the Champions League. The thought of a Crouchey flick on at the Bernebau or Keano wagging his finger at the San Siro makes me feel ill.

Bale could well go on to be player of the season, he looks a real talent.

3 defensive midfielders fail to break opposition down. Prepare for Groundhog day!

Balboa
14 Aug 2010, 5:32PM
Loads of slanderous/negative comments.

City doing everything right.

(Poor start but Kompany was awesome)

Balboa
14 Aug 2010, 5:34PM

hiphoppopotamus
14 Aug 2010, 4:46PM
Guardian writers' prediction: 2nd

How many games in a league season? All City wanted was a nil nil. Job done. Roll on Liverpool.

I know Flipmartian claims to be a former liverpool fan now supporting city but are you really, really sure that you have not converted as well Balboa

Balboa
14 Aug 2010, 5:32PM
Loads of slanderous/negative comments.

City doing everything right.

(Poor start but Kompany was awesome)

Balboa
14 Aug 2010, 5:34PM

hiphoppopotamus
14 Aug 2010, 4:46PM
Guardian writers' prediction: 2nd

How many games in a league season? All City wanted was a nil nil. Job done. Roll on Liverpool.

I know Flipmartian claims to be a former liverpool fan now supporting city but are you really, really sure that you have not converted as well Balboa

A few thoughts from a smokey bar in GR:

Hart is fantastic and proved that he was worth a punt in the WC, which Fab sadly bottled.

Toure, De Jong and Barry looked solid - but perhaps push Yaya further forward given his creativity in his pre-Barca days (and displayed today with 3 fine through balls). This would reduce Tevez's isolation in the final third. Either that or play Silva more centrally and start Johnson.

Give Yaya Toure the armband - giving it a player because he runs and runs is naivety in the extreme - especially when Mancini is touting his team as contenders. Once again, Tevez's final ball was atrocious today.

Modric should have played further forward, perhaps linking up more with Bale who seems to have blossomed in his wider position.

Spurs are looking tight at the back, with Huddlestone sitting in front of the impressive King-Dawson combo.

Crouch must be dropped if Harry is to see progression. Either like for like in Pavlychenko, or replace with Dos Santos or Kranjaer who could provide width when in possession and allow more freedom to Modric.

Both teams will finish in top 6; But 3rd or 4th at best….

Silva disappointed the most today, but through no fault of his own. If you buy a number 10 then you play him there.

I think Mancini's preference for three defensive midfielders has to do with his expectations. At Inter, he worked in a midfield diamond with the likes of Cambiasso, Zanetti and Stankovic, and they're an extremely accomplished and technically complete trio. I doubt Barry and Nigel de Jong meet those lofty standards but Yaya Toure in particular has a chance, with his energy and range of passing.
Three defensive midfielders also allows additional cover for his fullbacks, which saved Mancini today really. Richards was horrible and in my eyes Jerome Boateng is a can't-be-bothered version of Micah Richards, if his lackadaisical World Cup displays are of any evidence.

I suspect that if City keep Robinho then they will line up 4-3-3 with Silva in the number 10, or at least at the tip of a diamond.

I thought Keane and Pav offered more than Defoe and Crouch.
But I have always thought that.

It took incredible tackles by De Jong and Kompany respectively to deny Keane and Pav respectively. And if Bale had headed straight across the box at the death instead of trying to score near -post, then Keane was right there unmarked for the winner.

But, it's a long season.

As for Bale- a year ago everyone was joking that Spurs had never won a match that he'd started. Now, he'll start every match and England will be wishing he could play for them.

as for the tarnsfer market? I think Davies would do very well at White Hart Lane but the belle of the ball right now is Bellamy to be sure.

and Dos santos could start pushing Lennon for playing time too.

Spurs are going to have to finish off their chances if they're going to finish top 4 again. We tore City to shreds in the first half - despite their negative 3 defensive midfielder approach - but couldn't make the breakthrough.

A top class striker is definitely needed. Trouble is, who?

Spurs looked good but thing that sticks out for me is that for all the money City have spent, and for all the good to excellent players they have bought, they really do not have any who are top shelf.

Chelsea started by buying Carvalho, Drogba and Cech, all 3 of whom could arguably at times qualify for a World XI. They already had Terry and Lampard -- maybe not World XI quality but close enough -- and added Ashley Cole. And they did it with absolutely a World XI quality manager. Sure they bought a lot of other players -- Ferreira, Maluda, Obi Mikel, Kalou, Joe Cole etc. -- who have nothing on Tevez, Zabaleta, Kompany, Yaya Toure plus some others who I expect to come good, like Johnson.

City are good enough to qualify for the CL and perhaps good enough to get out the group stages, but that's about it. I don't mean to slag that or them, it's would be quite an accomplishment given where they were 5 years ago, but "is that all you get for your money?"

Mancini to be gone before the next transfer window though who knows what they'll replace him with?

All that money and city start with SWP. What a joke. I really don't see city even finishing top 4. I think the team selection shows that Mancini is looking for a top 4 finish and not the title, which actually may be sensible. If they were going for the title you have to try and win every game. Silva will probably do some awesome things this season but overall I have never thought he is suited to the PL. He is an archetypal tippy-tappy player which is not a cherished attribute in the PL, at least outside Arsenal.

Spurs just have to break the bank for a top class forward. Sell Crouch and Keane for prob 15 mil plus (overall), add another 5-10 mil and they should be able to find someone (especially if first round of CL qualification goes well). While Crouch is a very likeable footballer he is simply not good enough for the top end of the league. As always the atributes that should come easily to a big man: hold up play and heading skills, were missing today.

After reading some of the above comments, I think what's needed is a little perspective. Undoubtedly some players looked off the pace, be it due to international duties or lacking match fitness, but trying to conclude David Silva's worth after one game is ridiculous. I thought he looked like the only flair player City had on the pitch, comfortable on the ball and put some good passes together; had Adebayor been on longer, and first touch better, City may have had more luck infront of goal. SWP, will not be a regular feature ahead of Johnson, Viera I'm guessing will never play again, nor will Mancini be able accommodate de Jong, Barry and Yaya every game; I doubt Mancini will even know his best starting 11 by Christmas. Squad rotation is common place now, but whereas simple straight swaps, are common place amongst Chelsea and Man U, like Nani for Valencia or mikel for essien, they generally keep there stock shape or formation(most of the time,) for Mancini to accomadate his players, I can only envisage constant formation changes and styles, hardly conducive to the kind of fluency and understanding needed for teams to compete at the top level. As the report reads Spurs today played more or less the same side that beat City at the end of last season, Array knows his best team, and will obviously stick with it, but it is a worry rolling over from last season about potency upfront, on paper it would appear of little concern; but the facts are Defoe has not looked the same player since last Christmas, likewise Keane the same since returning from Liverpool, Pav a great sub but not consistent over 90 minutes and Crouch(I may be open to abuse for saying this) don't think is good enough as a first choice striker. The void left since berbatovs departure has never been filled. Why all the talk about Belamy? Surely Santa Cruz, would be a much better addition.
Regardless of this, the bottom line remains, that Spurs are unchanged, City have spent well over £100m since the teams last met, and Spurs still looked the much better side by a long way. Well played Joe Hart, I wonder if he will stay the no.1, longer than Mancini keeps his job?

Neither side have improved since last season - in City's case the megabucks spent have been a damp squib. Mancini will be on borrowed time if he has no interest in winning at the likes of Spurs the top four will be out of reach let alone the title. Only Chelski are certain of a place in the top four on the first weekend.

Joe Harts form is bound to dip the curse of the england no1