(Monday 10th August, 2014)
I think it would be fair to suggest that Baggies Manager Tony Pulis can be labelled as old school in many aspects of his approach to the game and his brutal honesty following the 3-0 defeat to City was refreshing to hear even if it maybe gave away his sides future tactics against the bigger boys in the league later on in the season.
Starting with two forwards in a positive formation (new signing Rickie Lambert and Saido Berahino) Pulis admitted after the game that he should have started with an extra man in midfield as the extra space exposed was exploited by a fantastic performance from the Spaniard David Silva.
Last season much criticism was labelled at Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany as City struggled domestically and in Europe for consistent form, not helped by Sergio Aguero’s injuries which kept him sidelined for parts of the season. A fact that made his goal scoring exploits look all the more impressive come the end of the season. Both players started the season looking like they had a point to prove and a first half brace by Toure was added to by a second half Kompany goal. Both players were bedrocks for the stability which had enabled City to win the title the season before last and City fans will have renewed hope following this polished display that the title may well be heading north once more come May.
Interestingly the last five league titles have been won by a team that won their opening game of the season on a Monday. Good omens for City?
Two nil & we f**ked it up 