Consistent team selection, wide area solutions, effective pressing, and standout individual performances. It is far too early to be thinking about trophies but there was plenty on the pitch to be positive about. New arrivals stepping up, those in their second season delivering, and the side is refreshed with new ideas.

What did we learn across those matches and what can we expect in the next run of games?

Preseason

Before getting into the Premier League matches, let's quickly recap the preseason. City headed over to the USA on tour to get started, losing to Celtic (3-4) and Milan (2-3), drawing against Barcelona (2-2) and beating Chelsea (4-2). All before heading to Wembley for the Community Shield, which City won on penalties. You'll notice from the graphic below just how many first-team players were missing. Particularly those who played the most minutes last season. By comparison to Arsenal, the likely title rivals along with Liverpool, who saw nearly all of their key players back into the team early during preseason. Getting good minutes as well as starts.

Transfer Window

Among the title contenders and those pushing for the top four, it wasn't a summer that saw many make big moves in the window. City were able to bring in one of the best wingers in La Liga last season, who is capable of becoming the first-choice right winger, and bring back Ilkay Gundogan. A midfielder capable of providing solutions as a six, eight, ten, and false 9. Able to create as well as he can control the tempo of a match. Having as much impact on the pitch as he will off it for the fans and team morale.

IN Ilkay Gundogan - Free, Savinho - €25.00m
OUT Julian Alvarez - €75.00m, Joao Cancelo - €23.00m, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Sergio Gomez - €9.00m, Tommy Doyle - €5.00m, Yan Couto - Loan, Kalvin Phillips - Loan, Maximo Perrone - Loan, Issa Kabore - Loan
Approximate fees

Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City

It was a tricky match to open up the season and an away fixture City will be glad is out of the way. We saw from the starting lineup that the approach was different this season and it was all about the wide areas. Savinho and Doku after switching wings showed how dynamic they can both be 1v1. Rico Lewis and Kevin De Bruyne were key to how the team wanted to build, progress, and create using the space outside.

Last season many teams blocked central progression to the midfielders, this season City had some new ideas and tools to deal with it. Mateo Kovacic's drive through midfield to score wasn't as impressive as his performance at number six in the absence of Rodri. Proving he's a capable backup option.

Here is a look at that shape in action on the pitch, De Bruyne looking for space on the left flank, and Rico Lewis drifting inside slightly. These positions caused issues for Chelsea’s midfield who felt they needed to track them.

It’s the confusion those positions bring to Chelsea that allowed an opening for Jeremy Doku. Palmer is too aggressive jumping up to Gvardiol. Gusto is occupied with De Bruyne so Doku steps round Caicedo as he comes across, finding Bernardo on the edge of the box.

The last point to mention was the different setup for pressing the opposition. City moving to a 4-1-4-1 with two number-eight closers together in the middle and behind Haaland. Give him a runner/passer if the ball is recovered. Reducing the spaces centrally to be covered, allowing City to put more pressure on the ball and force opposition towards the flank which they can close down easier in numbers.

For more details on the match check out our full review linked below. 👇

GW2: Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich Town

Next up was a promoted team led by a promising young manager. City continued with their use of De Bruyne in the buildup out wide, leaving the Ipswich midfielders a decision to make on who marks him. Jeremy Doku in front occupied the full-back, linking up with De Bruyne several times. Rico Lewis continued his preseason form into the season, always being free in/around the box to support attacks. Providing half-space runs for Savinho. Able to counter well if there is a turnover. Laying down his marker as the first-choice RB this season.

When without the ball, City were also different in their press. Tucking the wingers inside, pushing the two eights up behind Haaland. In a 4-1-4-1 shape. Eventually scoring the second goal after an excellent bit of work from Savinho to win the ball off Muric, De Bruyne finished it off.

For more details on the match check out our full review linked below. 👇

GW3: West Ham 1-3 Manchester City

Against West Ham the team picked up where they left off, forcing turnovers with their press thanks to intelligent movement from Bernardo Silva. Along with his work rate has been a standout player in midfield. Jack Grealish came in for the injured Savinho and showed how good he can be when available and sharp. City would look to find him in space on the left side and then support him with under/overlapping runs—namely, De Bruyne who Grealish picked out several times. Erling Haaland scored his second hat-trick of the season, three incredible finishes, and looks ready to break his scoring record. Valuable contributions off the bench from Gundogan to control the tempo of the match and link up with Erling Haaland. Matheus Nunes looking confident in the team, came on to provide the pass-through for Erling Haaland's third.

For more details on the match check out our full review linked below. 👇

Moving Forward

City are top of the table and look sharp early in the season but they are still without key players. That's something to be excited about and watch after the international break when the number of games ramps up. It's a long way to go and an unforgiving schedule.

Phil Foden is yet to start a match. Rodri is yet to play a single minute and City have won comfortably in his absence. Oscar Bobb won't be back til the new year but he will be an important player when he does.

It's important the players fit and on the bench get minutes after the break. Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, and John Stones are yet to start a match. Playing less than 50 minutes between them.

The Depth City has across the team, especially in midfield and on the wings, is an advantage over the other teams in the league. But only if they are rotated well. I think the use of the bench in the final twenty minutes, particularly in the Premier League will be quite important. You can have one or Bernardo or Gundogan to bring on and control the tempo.

One of Savinho/Doku/Bobb/Grealish to come on to shift the dynamic out wide. One of many defenders to see out a lead. Taking Haaland off after 70 minutes will help manage his minutes and add up across the season. There is a healthy amount of competition for places. It won't be easy for Kyle Walker, John Stones, or Nathan Ake to get into the team consistently. As mad as it sounds. Testament to how well Rico Lewis has played.

A reminder that whether it's Grealish/Doku on the LW, Savinho/Bobb on the RW, or De Bruyne/Foden in midfield, we will need them all at their best throughout the season. Not one or the other. That's how we'll see the best version of Manchester City this season.

Premier League Starts

A quick look at how City have started compared to other seasons. The 24/25 line is projecting out from our current rate of 3 points per match. That’s optimistic but on the other side of that, both Arsenal and Liverpool haven’t started like the 19/20 Liverpool did with their performances. City has won titles with slow starts and fast starts.

Premier League Minutes

Below are the minutes for Manchester City in the Premier League so far. You’ll notice five players highlighted, those are the top five outfield players from last season for minutes in the Premier League. Three of them haven’t started a single match.

Rico Lewis 2024/25

A far too early look at his radar visual. Lines up with the eye test, receiving the ball high up the pitch and carrying it into the final third. Winning possession high up the pitch effectively. Aerial duel W % will eventually come up with a bigger sample size but it's not his strength and given his role, he's going to be involved in so few of them.

Erling Haaland Scoring Record Broken?

Something to keep an eye on is the finishing of Erling Haaland after his hot start. Incredible finishes across all three matches and with his current scoring rate (~2Gls per 90) he would breeze past his record before we even got halfway through the season. Even for Haaland, keeping that scoring rate up is impossible.

So if we halved his scoring rate in an attempt to be more realistic with the demands of a long season, he’d still be on track to beat his scoring record with six games left to spare. 🤯

Other

England is under new management, for now, with Lee Carsley taking the job during the international break as caretaker manager. Likely that, with two wins, he will take up the full-time position. Carsely led England U21s to an unbeaten Euro 2023 win without conceding a goal. If you want to learn more about his tactics in that tournament then check out the thread below. 👇

Belgium won against Israel (3-1) thanks to a brace for Kevin De Bruyne and the third goal from Tielemans. Jeremy Doku set up De Bruyne with this cutback below, something he’s done throughout the opening three games with the most clear-cut chance being the big miss Rico had against Ipswich. Something to watch when City are back…

Rodri had his piece in the Players Tribune come out recently. Talking about his time growing up, learning English, witnessing those great Spain teams, and his moment in the Champions League Final. Highly recommend.

If you want to get into more specific details on how City built out from the back against West Ham then check out this thread below. 👇

LAST WORD👋

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Bailey