Striker-less Manchester City Formation Must Remain Short-Term Fix Only

Manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed in his Friday press conference that Manchester City will once again be without a striker when they take on West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko will be out until well into the new year, and Stevan Jovetic, whose injury record remains a serious concern, is also unavailable. The Montenegrin could, however, make an appearance against Burnley in City’s last match of 2014.

It leaves Pellegrini contemplating at least another game in which James Milner, assisted by David Silva, will operate in a false-nine role. It worked well against Crystal Palace in the 3-0 win last Saturday, and as Silva pointed out recently when speaking to Richard Tanner of the Daily Express, it can be useful against sides who defend in numbers:

"

When you play against this type of team, who put a lot of men behind the ball, it can be good to play without any strikers because the opposition don’t have any reference. I like to play in the middle, even though I can play on both wings. When I play in the middle I get chances to score, and that is why I scored the two goals. But I will be happy to help the team when the strikers are back.

"

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Silva revelled in his role against Palace, with far more freedom to drift and play centrally, an area he tends to do more damage in than when played on the left. And Palace, who defended deep and got plenty of men behind the ball, struggled to cope with the fluid movement the false-nine system allowed for.

Pellegrini, though, will be desperate to get his full complement of forwards back fit, especially when more rigorous tests are put in front of the Sky Blues. Arsenal visit the Etihad in January before City's crucial trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea at the end of the month.

The fitness of Aguero, who bagged 19 goals this season before suffering a knee injury against Everton, is likely to be a key factor in whether or not City can retain the title they won in May.

Chelsea pose a formidable threat to that ambition, and City are likely to have to play far better than they did last season when they saw off Liverpool’s challenge to win the league.

Having inherited a squad full of gaping holes, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has put together a side with the right mix of power, pace, tactical acumen and creative intent. They have the best goalkeeper in the country and a solid, well-organised back four screened by the superb Nemanja Matic, who has arguably been Chelsea’s best player so far this term.

With Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas, two of the most creative players in the league, providing chances for Diego Costa, who has brought a new edge to their attack, they are a far more formidable proposition than the Luis Suarez-inspired Liverpool of last season.

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Aguero is very often the difference in tight games. His ability to shift the ball and shoot before a defender has even had the chance to make a challenge remains one of City’s most potent weapons, and to compete with this Chelsea side, they need that available to them.

Dzeko, too, brings goals as well as a physical presence and an ability to hold the ball up that City otherwise lack. His value to City’s title win cannot be underestimated, either, after a string of vital goals during the final weeks of the season.

A striker-less system may work for now, particularly given the nature of the sides City will play during the festive period, but it’s only a temporary fix. Chelsea will take some stopping, and only with options up front do City stand a chance of overhauling them.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.