7 Most Frustrating Things About Being a Manchester City Fan Right Now

It’s been a whirlwind opening to the new season for Manchester City and their fans.

Two 3-0 wins have seen them set the early pace in the Premier League, with the quality of their play staggering in both games. Their victory over Chelsea last weekend was their finest display in a long time.

They are playing with pace and urgency—exactly what was missing last season when they struggled to match their achievements of the previous campaign. They may have been written off prior to the season by a raft of experts, but City look well placed to make an aggressive title challenge this time around.

But, as always in football, there are frustrations for the fans. Here are seven things annoying the City faithful right now.

1. The Struggle to Land Kevin De Bruyne

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Given the wealth of City’s attacking options, there are some who feel adding Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne to their ranks is unnecessary, indicative of the Blues’ perceived profligacy in the transfer market.

However, given the strides he has made since his move to the Bundesliga, it’s clear why Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, has identified him as a principal target.

He scored 10 and assisted 20 in the German top flight last season and looks to be one of the most promising young attacking midfielders in world football. The 24-year-old can operate in a number of positions, capable of producing wonderful crosses from wide areas and incisive through balls when playing more centrally.

So far, though, City have failed to land their man. According to Sky Sports, De Bruyne's future is still uncertain, meaning there remains a chance he could join the Blues. It seems Wolfsburg, understandably, are playing hard-ball to secure the best possible fee they can for their prized asset.

2. Criticism of the Club’s Youth Policy

Myths abound in football, but few annoy the City fans quite as much as the suggestion their club has no interest in youth development.

It is, of course, true that City have struggled to integrate their academy players into the first team since the club was taken over by Sheikh Mansour in 2008. The accelerated investment into the senior squad has made the leap far more difficult to make. It’s understandable.

However, in December, the club opened a £150 million first-team and youth-development facility. The City Football Academy (CFA) is world-class and provides everything a young player needs to become a star.

They currently have a group of young players who look capable of making an impact on the first team. Jason Denayer, Marcos Lopes, Kelechi Iheanacho, Angelino and Brandon Barker are all seen as genuine talents.

The club are serious about youth development, even if those outside East Manchester appear unable to see it.

3. Pellegrini’s Inability to Give Players a Chance

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Having said that, for some, Pellegrini is a worry. He seems very reluctant to give the most promising young players a run in the side, and there are concerns over his ability to lead the club's promising crop of players into the first team. 

Iheanacho impressed hugely in preseason and looks set for stardom, yet with City cruising in their opening match at West Bromwich Albion on the first weekend of the season, he was left on the bench rather than being given an opportunity to capitalise on his blistering preseason. 

Denayer has already played for Belgium and was a key part of Celtic's hugely successful team last season having spent a year on loan there, yet reports suggest City are set to sign Nicolas Otamendi before the transfer window shuts. 

This season will be a true test of Pellegrini's "holistic" abilities, with Pep Guardiola waiting in the wings. 

4. Criticism of the Club’s Approach to English Players

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The Etihad is seen by some as a graveyard for English players.

It’s a refrain heard over and over. City ruin the careers of English players, such as Jack Rodwell (who suffered a series of injuries) and Scott Sinclair (who simply wasn’t good enough).

These examples were cited to suggest Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph should not sign for City in the summer, scare tactics that appear to have become a commonly held opinion for many outside of the club. 

The detractors conveniently ignore Joe Hart, Gareth Barry and James Milner, all of whom have managed well over 100 appearances for the club, playing key roles in title-winning sides.

The idea English players should avoid signing for City is absolute nonsense.

5. Lack of Investment at Left-Back

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It’s been clear for a while to most observers that City are weaker at left-back than perhaps any other area.

Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov have been competing for the role for a number of years, yet both have struggled with consistency. With City hellbent on impacting the latter stages of the Champions League, as well as maintaining their domestic success, surely they need something more. 

6. Financial Fair Play

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UEFA's financial fair play (FFP) initiative was initially seen as a good move by most across Europe. With some clubs having fallen foul of disastrous, irresponsible owners who led them to financial ruin, FFP was the coping mechanism football had waited for. 

But it has turned out rather differently. It limits investment from wealthy owners, denying those outside the current elite an opportunity to break into the top tier of European football. 

City failed FFP tests in 2014 and were fined £49 million. They also had their Champions League squad size reduced, and perhaps most damagingly, they had their net spend for last season limited to £49 million. 

Now, UEFA are relaxing the FFP rules, allowing investment if they feel the club in question aren't putting their future at risk. 

FFP has become a farce, and the City fans are perhaps the most angry about it. 

7. Attendance Talk

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Is there a more boring conversation in football than that of attendances? 

City's inability to sell out their Etihad Stadium for every league and cup game has led to a slew of jokes about their perceived lack of fans, with #Emptyhad now a staple on Twitter when a single empty seat is seen at a game. 

So when the club announced a three-stage plan to expand their stadium and take the capacity to over 60,000, there was collective head-scratching across the Internet. 

The fact is they have sold all of their season tickets for the coming season in their increased 55,000-capacity stadium and sell out regularly for Premier League games. 

The club has struggled to do the same in the Champions League and domestic cups, but given that the price of attending football in England is so ludicrously high now, it would take an ignorant person to criticise people for not finding extra money to attend certain matches.