Breaking Down Sergio Aguero's Performance for Manchester City vs. Palace

It’s been a season of realisations for Manchester City. A realisation, perhaps, that the core of the team over the past four or five seasons, which has helped them win four major domestic trophies and qualify regularly for the Champions League, has come to the end of its cycle.

A realisation that an injection of youth and pace is desperately needed to reshape the team and allow them to perform at their best consistently again. And, on Monday evening at Selhurst Park, a realisation that they have a fight on their hands to even finish second in the league this season.

Their 2-1 defeat may have been harsh given their dominance in terms of possession and chances created, but it was just the latest example of City’s inability to beat lesser sides on a consistent basis. It leaves them fourth in the Premier League table.

Whether Manuel Pellegrini is involved in this summer’s transfer strategy given his side have lost seven and won just four of their last 14 matches remains to be seen, but whoever is in charge is likely to recognise the need for significant changes.

One player whose position is safe ahead of what looks like a big summer in terms of changes to the City squad is Sergio Aguero. At 26, he, unlike players such as Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta, has years left in his prime, and he’s shown again this season just what a lethal finisher he is.

He’s bagged 17 league goals and 23 in all competitions, despite an injury ruling him out for a month earlier in the campaign. There are very few strikers in Europe who can match his quality in front of goal.

However, like many of his team-mates, Monday wasn’t his night. He had three shots, one of which hit the post in agonising fashion. He looked sharp, managed to complete 85 percent of his passes and produced some nice moments of interplay with David Silva, but, overall, he had a limited impact.

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It’s typical of Aguero that even on a night where he was below par, he was consistently wanting the ball, dropping deep when necessary to find it. It's a willingness and desire not always found in players during difficult moments for their team, but Aguero never goes hiding.

There was little in the way of an understanding with his strike partner, Edin Dzeko, though, and the Palace defence found it too easy to combat them. There have been times in the past when they have linked up well, but have they ever looked like a natural fit in the same way Aguero and Alvaro Negredo did for the first six months of last season?

In theory, they should work rather well, with Dzeko’s physical presence a foil for Aguero’s pace and movement. But Dzeko’s first touch at Selhurst Park was woeful, meaning he couldn’t get a foothold in the game and bring Aguero into it.

As a result, Aguero had to go chasing the ball, doing too much work outside of the final third—hardly ideal given he is at his best in and around the 18-yard box. Their understanding and appreciation of one another's position was minimal.

It was far from vintage Aguero, but, as ever, he gave everything and nearly produced a moment of magic when he hit the post.

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.