Ranking Manchester City's Attacking Options on Their Goalscoring Threat
There’s strength and quality right across Manchester City’s squad after an excellent summer transfer window. They’re now favourites to win the Premier League after taking 18 points from their first eight games, as they head into the second international break of the season two points clear at the top of the table.
Arguably, it's going forward where they look at their strongest, with their summer transfer activity allowing Manuel Pellegrini to select from a cast of wonderfully creative players. They’ve scored 26 in 11 games across all competitions already this season, with Pellegrini’s commitment to attacking football remaining steadfast.
With Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne added to an already-vibrant array of attacking options, City have by far the best forward line in the league. No one can match their goalscoring capability.
They have a forward line with a great blend of attributes. Sergio Aguero, Jesus Navas and new signing Sterling offer blistering pace. Samir Nasri, De Bruyne and David Silva possess wonderful vision and speed of thought. Yaya Toure, who contributes to the attack despite his deep-lying starting position, has an abundance of strength and stamina. There’s a bit of everything for Pellegrini to choose from.
In 2013/14, Pellegrini’s first season in charge, City scored over 100 league goals. It would hardly be a surprise if they bettered that tally this season given the added brilliance they now have.
But which players from his ensemble of forwards offer the clearest goalscoring threat? Here, we rank Pellegrini’s attacking stars based on their ability to score goals.
9. Jesus Navas
1 of 9
Jesus Navas has gone 53 league games without a goal, a damning statistic that underlines his lack of confidence in front of the net.
His miss against Crystal Palace, with the goal gaping and at his mercy, was his best chance to end the drought in recent times. Played through by De Bruyne, Navas did brilliantly to go past two defenders and the goalkeeper, but his finish was appalling.
It was a similar story against Everton when he had a glorious chance, only to dwell on the ball in horrendous fashion and allow the Toffees a chance to regroup.
Navas offers pace, width and incredible work rate, but scoring just isn’t his forte.
8. Samir Nasri
2 of 9
Given Samir Nasri’s quality, his goalscoring record is frustrating and disappointing.
In 2013/14, he bagged 11 in all competitions, a decent haul for a playmaker. However, in his three other seasons at City, he has averaged just below five goals, a paltry return for such a talent.
It’s difficult to see where his City career is now headed. He’s clearly out of favour and has been since March, and with De Bruyne and Sterling now added to the mix, his opportunities could be limited further.
Nasri remains a superb player—arguably the best in the City squad at retaining possession—but his attitude often undermines his ability.
7. Kelechi Iheanacho
3 of 9
Some young players immediately appear destined for the top. Kelechi Iheanacho, City’s 19-year-old Nigerian, looks like one of them.
His chances so far this season have been limited—perhaps more limited than they should have been. Pellegrini seems somewhat reluctant to give him anything more than a short cameo, but anyone who has seen him play for the elite development squad or on City’s pre-season tour will know he has a lot to offer.
His last-gasp winner against Crystal Palace will be the first of many at City.
6. David Silva
4 of 9
If there’s one area of Silva’s game that has been criticised in the past, it’s been his finishing.
His shooting sometimes lacks power, meaning his threat from outside the area is minimal. He’s a player concerned much more with chance creation, and, therefore, his appetite to get into the penalty area and score goals hasn’t always been there.
Last season, though, saw a change. Silva scored 12 league goals—the highest tally of his career to date.
He will want that trend to continue this season, and given his ability, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t.
5. Raheem Sterling
5 of 9
Sterling has brought pace and running power to City’s attack, with his role on the left also balancing their previously lop-sided front line.
His one league goal for the club thus far came against Watford after being switched to a more central role.
He played the second half against the Hornets as a withdrawn striker, just off Aguero, and it’s a move Pellegrini is likely to utilise again. It worked brilliantly, with Sterling’s instinctive finish coming moments after the restart and turning the game in City’s favour.
Indeed, it’s interesting that his best moment in front of goal for City has come when he didn’t have time to think. When he has had easier chances, his finishing has been poor, and it’s an area he has to work on.
With his pace in behind, Sterling will always provide a threat, and his recent strike in the League Cup against Sunderland should increase his confidence inside the area.
4. Wilfried Bony
6 of 9
The problem Wilfried Bony faces in terms of scoring goals is confidence. His start to life at City after his move from Swansea City in January was so stop-start he struggled to develop any rhythm.
His African Cup of Nations involvement delayed his introduction to the side, and niggling injuries disrupted his progress once he had returned from the competition.
Pellegrini’s switch to a lone-striker system reduced his starting chances still further, and, as a result, Bony has looked somewhat overeager to impress when given chances.
His hold-up play has been superb this season, but he is snatching at chances in front of goal. However, he scored 25 league goals in 54 games for Swansea, which suggests, when given a run in a side, he can deliver.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
7 of 9
De Bruyne has shown already that not only will he bring superb passing and technical quality to the City side, he can score goals, too.
He has four goals from just five starts. His caressed volley against Newcastle United was, arguably, the pick of the bunch, but his first for City, a powerful low shot that flew into the bottom corner against West Ham United, also demonstrated his quality.
The Belgian has scored with both his left and right foot so far, with unerring accuracy and unshakable confidence the common denominator.
De Bruyne is much more of a creator than a goalscorer, but his 16 goals in all competitions for Wolfsburg last season underlines his confidence in front of goal.
2. Yaya Toure
8 of 9
Toure, the four-time African Footballer of the Year, may start as a deep-lying midfielder in City’s 4-2-3-1 formation, but his ability to drive forward at pace and produce moments of goalscoring magic mean he is a huge threat in front of goal.
He is primarily used alongside Fernandinho. This season, with City now possessing so much firepower in the three "support" positions behind the lone striker, Toure has appeared happier to sit and play a more disciplined role, less likely to break forward and try to influence proceedings in the final third of the pitch.
This may see a reduction in his contribution to attack, but with his ability, it wouldn't be a surprise if he continued to weigh in with goals, despite a more conservative style.
In Pellegrini’s first season in charge, Toure scored 20 league goals—24 in all competitions. It would be a difficult task to beat or even match that total, but he’s certainly capable of weighing in with with crucial strikes.
1. Sergio Aguero
9 of 9
Undoubtedly City’s most potent goal threat is Aguero, last season’s top scorer in the Premier League with 26 goals.
Is there a better out-and-out goalscorer in world football? Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be considered the two best players in the game, but in terms of a specialist goal-getter, Aguero is perhaps the finest.
The accuracy of his finishing is remarkable. When given a chance, there’s often very little doubt he will score.
His two goals in the final five minutes against Bayern Munich during City’s 3-2 win over the German side in last season’s Champions League group stage demonstrated his killer instincts. Restricted to very few chances for much of the game, he got two sights of goal in the closing stages and delivered emphatically, putting City on the brink of an unlikely qualification for the last 16.
He’s scored 115 goals in 175 games for the club, becoming the fastest player in the club’s history to reach 100. He’s already a club legend—unanimously considered the best striker City have ever had.
His five goals against Newcastle United last weekend brought to an end his slow start to the new season. The burden of goalscoring responsibility rests most prominently on his shoulders.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
