Do Manchester City Need Samir Nasri Next Season?

Manchester City finished off their trophy-less 2014/15 season with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday.

Aguero winning the Golden Boot was 'the' highlight of City's season

Sergio Aguero won the Premier League Golden Boot, his first since moving from Atletico Madrid in 2011, for scoring 26 goals in a Barclays Premier League campaign that saw Man. City finish in second place.

Joe Hart bagged the Golden Glove award, his 3rd in the last four seasons, for keeping more cleansheets (14) than any other goalkeeper in the English top-flight.

Those two individual awards, albeit not significant in the grand scheme of things, are a reminder of the kind of players City have at their disposal and that there have been a few positives to come out of a season which simply didn't go to plan for the Sky Blues.

City crashed out of both the Capital One and FA Cup competitions at a very early stage, losing to Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, respectively, at their Etihad fortress. They couldn't breach the 'Barcelona barrier' either, losing 1-3 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League R-16 for the second season in succession.

Throughout the season that has just finished, there were talks of the City squad requiring a major surgery, replacing the older legs - Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy, to name a few - with young, energetic and world class players of the calibre of Paul Pogba, Kevin de Bruyne, Roberto Firmino, Layvin Kurzawa and of late, Raheem Sterling.

Samir Nasri, albeit not in the age categories of the Toures, Kolarovs and Dzekos and who only signed a 5-year contract at the beginning of last season, is another City player alleged to be on his way out of the Etihad.

It was also reported that he had an altercation with Manuel Pellegrini, who dropped him from City's starting XI after a string of poor performances during the late February-early March period, with Nasri making only four substitute appearances thereafter.

In this article, let us get an idea of what the Frenchman did in an injury-hit season, and whether he could get the axe from City's squad for next season.

Read on...

The Frenchman has traveled with the City squad for their tour of North America

Nasri only made 32 appearances across all competitions for the Cityzens in the 14/15 season, suffering injuries - a couple of groin and one calf - on three different occasions, that affected him from replicating the wonderful form he showed in Pellegrini's first season in-charge of the club.

Calling it a bad season for Nasri, however, doesn't make sense if you go by the stats that clearly demonstrate the Frenchman's contribution to City whenever he played.

As an attacking-midfielder or inside forward, the 27-year old, in the season that has just finished, completed 90% of his attempted passes, which was the most by any City attacker, in 24 Premier League appearances.

Not only did he pass for passing sake, but he also created an average of close to 2.2 chances (52 overall) per game, which was bettered only by David Silva (2.9) and Jesus Navas (2.3) - with the duo playing 8 and 11 more games, respectively, than the former Arsenal player.

More impressively, Nasri completed 27 of his 31 attempted take-ons, proving his efficiency in keeping possession and going past defenders.

He also chipped in with a couple of goals and had a shot accuracy of 63%, which, again, was bettered only by Jose Angel Pozo, who made just three league appearances.

In the Champions League, Nasri wasn't as effective as he was in the league, despite making 6 appearances in the competition. He completed 89% of his passes, but mustered a mere 1.2 chances per game, while also completing just 3 take-ons over six appearances.

Nasri was ultra-impressive in Stadio Olimpico, delivering Champions League success for City

His highlight of the season, however, came in this competition, where he scored a goal and assisted the other for Pablo Zabaleta, in City's 2-0 win over AS Roma last December.

Looking beyond Nasri's stats, City need to determine the reason for holding onto their No.8. In Silva, City have a better player than Nasri and in the same mould as the Frenchman; the Spaniard is also adept at creating goal scoring chances (93, in the league alone), completing take-ons (74% success rate, in the league alone) and scoring (12, in the league alone) goals, too.

Therefore, Nasri, without a smidgen of doubt, doesn't bring something different to Pellegrini's side that also has Navas and James Milner, who play as wingers and defensively contribute a lot more than what the Frenchman usually does.

Nasri found Neymar's pace too hot to handle in the second leg of the Barca-City tie

He is also devoid of pace and, at the Champions League level, he will struggle because of that, as we saw what Neymar did to him when City played the Catalans at the Camp Nou.

If the 2013/14 English champions do secure the services of de Bruyne, Firmino and Sterling, or even one amongst the trio, they ought to make a decision on Nasri's role in the squad.

Because unless Pellegrini decides to adopt the 4-3-3 system, which could see the Marseille-born midfielder play in one of the two advanced midfield positions, it is not going to be possible for him to feature regularly in the starting XI.

He, for me, won't be satisfied with a bit-part role and that could cause serious problems with offloading him, as he is currently on a huge £120,000 per week salary at the Etihad.

Final Thought

The former Arsenal player has possession-retaining ability

Nasri is a very good player, who can make things happen for City when they are playing against parked buses: he can drive into the box, play neat one-twos and thereby, add potency to City's attacks.

However, his work-rate is definitely on the lower side and also lacks pace, which is a significant downside for a player who can play only as a winger at City.

As we all know, it is going to be an intriguing summer at City, and what they do with Nasri will further add to the excitement.

Manchester City Transfers: Five Midfielders The 2013/14 English Champions Should Target This Summer

Manuel Pellegrini has vowed to sign a crack player this summer

Manchester City have endured a forgettable 2014/15 campaign that has not seen them make any progress they were hoping for at the start of the season.   

City would have wanted to defend their 2013/14 Barclays Premier League title and progress beyond the R-16 in the UEFA Champions League, but neither of those ambitions have materialized and Manuel Pellegrini's position as manager of the Etihad outfit remains in the balance.    

Too many marquee players - except Joe Hart and Sergio Aguero - in that squad have failed to play to potential this season and Pellegrini's title-winning squad has looked a mediocre one, despite the additions of Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando Reges, Frank Lampard, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero, on paper and on the pitch.   

City were handicapped by the Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions placed on them by the UEFA, as a result of which they were allowed to spend a mere £49m on transfers this season, and Pellegrini has oft mentioned it as one of the reasons for his side's failures this term.    

However, having had an income of £346.5m following their league and cup double winning 2013/14 season, City hope to be relieved of the FFP restrictions that will allow them to spend big money, Txiki Begiristain willing, and bring fresh talent to the club ahead of next season.    

Of the marquee players who have under-performed this season, the likes of Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic are likely to be sold by the club this summer, in a bid to decrease the average age of the squad, which is 29 currently, and replace them with ebullient and slightly younger players.    

Though the trio of Nasri, Dzeko and Jovetic maybe replaced quite easily, it will be a monumental task to find a player who can fill the void that is to be left by Toure, who has been the leading light for City over the last 5 years.   

Add to that the departures of James Milner, who has not a signed a new deal offered to him by the club and Frank Lampard, who will be moving to New York City FC at the end of his loan deal, and the Citizens ideally would need five new players for various positions.

Paul Pogba, the Juventus and France midfielder, is the primary transfer target for the club who think that he would be an ideal replacement for Toure. But City are not the only club that is targeting the French international, who will command a transfer fee well in excess of £50m. 

Add to the colossal transfer fee, the decision of whether to move and where to move remains with the player, and there is no certainty that Pogba will opt for City ahead of the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), clubs that are also linked with the box-to-box midfielder, if they come for his signature.

But who will be the alternatives for Pogba, that City should really consider recruiting this summer? Pellegrini has proved his desire to sign a 'crack player', who will give the Citizens an identity they have lacked of late, but who is it going to be? Read on...

Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria is terrific in 1v1 situations

The Argentine has endured an unimpressive first season in England as a Manchester United player, though you cannot question Di Maria's pedigree as one of the world-class players in the modern game. 

Since his arrival from the Santiago Bernabeu for a whopping £59.7m, Di Maria has made 31 appearances for the Red Devils across the Premier League and FA Cup, scoring 4 goals and registering 10 assists so far.

His slump in form started only after November of last year, when he suffered hamstring and pelvic injuries in quick succession and returned to action only during this January. 

Yes, since his return, Di Maria has simply not been at it and his performance last weekend against West Bromwich Albion was obnoxious, to say the least.

Let us, however, not forget that he took the Premier League by storm soon after his arrival at Old Trafford, as he scored 3 goals and created 31 chances in his first 11 appearances for the club. 

Di Maria, going by his profile and exploits as a Los Blancos' player, is not a goal scoring midfielder, but what he will give Pellegrini is versatility: he can play on the left or right flank, as a genuine midfielder (No.6 or No.8), as a second striker, and play these roles to great effect when in form. 

I, for one, would love to see him at the Etihad and Pellegrini starting to play the 4-3-3 system, with Di Maria playing in one of the two advanced midfield positions that saw him register as many as 22 assists across all competitions in his final season at Real. 

It was while playing as a midfielder that he helped Carlo Ancelotti's men win the 'La Decima', as they came from a goal down against Atletico Madrid to lift the Champions League. 

The 27-year old also possesses this knack of being a good ball carrier, who can run 50-60 yards with the ball at his feet. 

City, if they want to compete against the big boys of Europe, need a player who can do that on a consistent basis and Di Maria's forte lies in his ability to break through opposing defenders who stand in his way. 

Therefore, recruiting Di Maria, who also might command a transfer fee of £50m or more, would mean that City bring in a player who has proven his mettle at the Champions League level and will give them that identity Pellegrini is craving for.

Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey scored an astonishing goal against Galatasaray on Matchday 6

The Welshman has enjoyed two highly impressive seasons back-to-back: he scored 16 goals and registered 9 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions during the 2013/14 season; in the ongoing season, Ramsey, in 34 appearances so far, has scored 9 goals and made 7 assists, despite missing 12 games. 

Ramsey, similar to Di Maria, has played at the Champions League level and made 41 appearances in the competition for Arsenal. 

He is only 24 and has plenty of football left in him, if City are looking for younger players who will deliver them success in Europe. 

The other advantage of recruiting Ramsey, lies in him being a homegrown player, an aspect that the Manchester club needs to consider ahead of their squad submissions for domestic and continental competitions next season. 

Ramsey plays with a lot of flair, has great passing vision and genuine goal scoring ability. In addition, he would come from a team that plays an attractive brand of football that Pellegrini, like Arsene Wenger, is a protagonist of.

On the downside, though, Ramsey is prone to long-term injuries that have seen him miss as many as 73 games since joining the Gunners in 2010.

Unlike Ross Barkley, a talented homegrown player who is estimated at a whopping £50m by Roberto Martinez and Everton, Ramsey could be brought to the Etihad for a viable £25m. 

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Sigurdsson has enjoyed a wonderful season at Swansea City

This might be an interesting choice among all other players in the list, but Sigurdsson is a very versatile footballer, who has played remarkably well for Swansea City since joining the Welsh club on a permanent deal at the beginning of this season.

In 31 appearances across all competitions for Swansea, Sigurdsson has scored 7 goals and registered 10 assists, which is the third-best in the Premier League this season, behind Cesc Fabregas' 17 for Chelsea and Di Maria's 10 for United in just 26 games compared to Sigurdsson's 30.

The Icelander also fulfills the homegrown player criteria, making him a viable choice for City. 

He is technically sound; has great accuracy in his free-kicks and will provide goals for City as a midfielder. He can also play in more than one position - as a No.10, midfielder and winger - and will suit City's style of play. 

He committed his near future to Swansea only last year and might not move again this summer, but like his old teammate Wilfried Bony, the allure of Champions League football might get him contemplating over a move to the exquisite Etihad. 

If City want to bring him to the club, Sigurdsson will be a pretty economical option, for a transfer fee of something like £15-20m.  

Javier Pastore

The fleet-footed Argentine is another player who has plenty of Champions League pedigree under his belt.

This season has been very good for Pastore who, in 45 appearances across all competitions for the Parisians, has scored 7 goals and made 13 assists, most of which have come in domestic competitions, though.

In the Champions League, Pastore has not racked up any major stats this season, though he had an impressive game for PSG in the second leg of their R-16 tie against Chelsea. 

Javier Pastore would be a good addition to City's engine room

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off early on in the game, Laurent Blanc made a tactical switch that saw Pastore shift from left-flank to midfield where, along with Marco Verratti, he pulled the strings effectively for the visitors, who twice came from behind to level the game and win the tie on away goals. 

Pastore is a player who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and, like Di Maria, can go past defenders on his own. 

Against the West Londoners back in March, the 25-year old completed 4 of his 8 attempted take-ons and created 1 goal-scoring chance. 

With City fans clamoring for a player who can produce better end-products than Jesus Navas has been able to during his two years at the club, I can't think of a better option than Pastore, whose movement on and off the ball, is impeccable, and thrives on dribbling past defenders.

Again, he can play in more than one position, giving Pellegrini tactical options during games.

If City do want to bring Pastore, who only has a year remaining on his current contract at Parc des Princes, to the club, they would have to spend something like £20m or more for his services.

Koke

Koke is a combative midfield player

Atletico Madrid's Koke has had a couple of excellent seasons at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, during which he has helped them win one La Liga title and become a force to reckon with on the Champions League stage.

In 45 appearances across all competitions for the reigning Spanish champions, Koke has scored 4 goals and registered 13 assists while playing in a variety of roles - winger, midfielder, No.10 - under Diego Simeone. 

He is just 23 years of age and already has plenty of experience at the top most level of the game. 

His work-rate compared to other players in this list, is very good and plays with his heart on his sleeve. 

Owing to his age and the stardom he has achieved in such a short space of time, City might have to splash a transfer fee in excess of £40m. He will, however, be worth the huge money.

Final Thought

Manchester City need to act quickly, and astutely, during the upcoming transfer window that will be crucial to their chances of competing for silverware next season.

Their current squad, as is already evident, is devoid of enough top-class players to become a strong European force. 

And, if the Citizens aspire to go further in the Champions League next season, they need to bring at least one of the aforementioned quintet, preferably Di Maria, to the Etihad. 

Barclays Premier League Preview: Manchester City vs Aston Villa

The 2-0 victory over West Ham United was much needed from City's point of view

Manchester City play host to Aston Villa in gameweek 34 of their 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign, and will be looking to register their second consecutive league win after comfortably overcoming West Ham United by 2-0 last weekend.

The reigning English champions have experienced an obnoxious second half of the season, which has seen them win only 6 of their last 14 league games since the beginning of this calendar year and consequently drop to 4th place, behind Arsenal and Manchester United in the 2nd and 3rd places respectively, on the Premier League table.

In Aston Villa, they face the kind of opponents who will be full of energy after defeating Liverpool in the semifinals of this season's FA Cup and also winning their last Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Can they repeat such heavyweight success when they travel to the home of champions tomorrow tea time? Read on...

City

Though there has not been much scope for satisfaction of late from Manuel Pellegrini's perspective, the City manager will be happy about the return to form of his first-choice striker, Sergio Aguero. The Argentine ace has scored 3 goals in his last two Premier League games, going past a 100 City goals as a result of his brace against the Red Devils and solitary goal against the Hammers.

In fact: the victory over Sam Allardyce's side saw some of the key personnel in the City ranks find form and put in really good performances; Jesus Navas was the standout performer for the Citizens, who also had the likes of Fernando Reges, Eliaquim Mangala and Pablo Zabaleta put up solid defensive displays.

Looking ahead to the game against Tim Sherwood's side, the priority has got to be on consistency and following up last Sunday's win with another home victory in the Premier League.

City, in their last two league fixtures, lined up in the archetype 4-2-3-1 system, which their supporters have been calling for of late.

Pellegrini, a staunch advocate of the 4-4-2 formation, has seen his side play better while lining up in the 1-striker system, though the Chilean's decision has been forced due to injuries to Wilfried Bony and Stevan Jovetic while Edin Dzeko's poor form has seen him consigned to City's bench in the last two games.

As far as tomorrow's home clash against Villa is concerned, Pellegrini's men need to strike early and score that all-important first goal.

The Villains will, most probably, sit deep and make life difficult for their illustrious opponents, who have not been able to breakdown teams that have defended in numbers in front of their own goal.

If the Ron Vlaar-led Villa backline can frustrate City's attackers and not concede that first goal, they will be a force to reckon with on the counterattack.

City's rearguard too, will have its task cut out against the fleet-footed Villa players and needs to be on its toes, to avert any danger to Joe Hart's goal.

Wilfried Bony has trained with the squad this week, and could start against Villa

It will also be interesting to see if Pellegrini goes back to playing 4-4-2 if Bony returns to action from his ankle injury, as the Ivorian has trained with the squad during this week.

Villa

Tomorrow's visitors, despite progressing to the finals of the FA Cup where they will be facing Arsenal at the Wembley Stadium on 30th of May, are still not out of the relegation battle along with the likes of Hull City, Leicester City, Burnley, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers - teams that follow Sherwood's side in 15th place.

The appointment of Sherwood in February has brought about renewed hope for the Midlands' club, though their Premier League results have not been consistent: the Villains have won only 3 of their last 7 league games.

However, having said that, Villa have scored a lot more goals since Sherwood took over the reigns from Paul Lambert, scoring 15 goals in their last 9 games across all competitions and also conceding a respectable 10 goals during the same period.

Christian Benteke will be a key player for the visitors tomorrow

Going into tomorrow's game against Manchester City, the goal scoring form of Christian Benteke, who has scored 8 goals in his last 6 league games for Villa, will be particularly pleasing for Sherwood.

The likes of 19-year old Jack Grealish, Fabian Delph and Carlos Sanchez have also raised their performance levels in recent games and need to produce solid displays against the Champions, if Villa are to get something from this game.

Defensive discipline will be the game plan as far as tomorrow's visitors are concerned, as Manchester City, despite their recent struggles in front of goal, still possess one of the world class attacking forces in the Premier League and are fighting for direct qualification into next season's UEFA Champions League.

So, from Villa's perspective: hard work and defensive endeavor will have to be their mantra when they travel to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.

Final Thought

Manchester City will look to start quickly and catch Villa off guard early on in the game.

However, considering the confidence levels of the Aston Villa players, following their recent success over Spurs and The Reds, we could just be in for an exciting game, with both sides looking to score goals and playing an attacking brand of football.

Score Prediction

Manchester City 3:1 Aston Villa