Breaking Down How Manchester City Can Get Wilfried Bony Back on Track

Replacing Sergio Aguero is an impossible task for Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The Argentine, currently out with a grade-two hamstring tear, is arguably the best out-and-out striker in the world and carries a goal threat few can come close to matching. Pace, strength, balance, poise and incredible natural instincts—Aguero offers a unique package of striking talent.

It’s unreasonable, therefore, to expect Wilfried Bony to replace him seamlessly, particularly given the run of bad luck he’s had since joining the club in January. International involvement, injuries, illness and a change of formation have all held him back so far.

But with Aguero’s injury, sustained during Argentina's 2-0 defeat to Ecuador last month, Bony has finally had a chance to demonstrate his ability with a consistent run in the side. His form has been patchy. Despite scoring four goals in his last six games, many remain unconvinced as to whether he is the striker City need to lead the line when Aguero is unavailable.

His touch veers from sensational to poor. One moment he controls a high ball with the outside of his foot, looks up and plays a clever reverse pass, the next it bounces off him and City’s attack is stymied.

His finishing, at times, has also let him down. The man who scored the most Premier League goals throughout the 2014 calendar year looks to be snatching at chances in a blue shirt.

Yet, clearly, there is a very talented player beneath his current veil of inconsistency.

JORGE GUERRERO/Getty Images

On Tuesday, in City’s stunning 3-1 win away at Sevilla, he gave arguably his best performance since moving to the Etihad, holding the ball up superbly and bringing others into play with deft touches and neat flicks.

His goal, a first-time side-foot finish from inside the area, demonstrated the quality he can produce inside the area. It was a natural, almost nonchalant piece of finishing after great work from Jesus Navas down the City right. 

It is perhaps the pressure of filling Aguero’s boots that is holding the Ivorian back from displaying his best form consistently. He knows he needs to produce while City’s first-choice striker is out, otherwise his chances of involvement will be limited when he returns, particularly given 19-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho is pushing for more starts. With sections of City’s support beginning to wonder whether Bony was an astute signing or not, he appears to be aware of the murmurs of discontent.

If Pellegrini feels Bony is the right man, and all the signs so far suggest he does, then he needs to continue to play him during Aguero’s period on the sidelines to given him a fair chance of bedding into the team. 

Bony was originally signed as a foil for Aguero in a 4-4-2—a clear attempt by Pellegrini to recreate the Aguero-Negredo partnership that was so fruitful for the first half of the 2013/14 campaign.

But with City blessed with an array of talented attacking midfielders, the switch to 4-2-3-1 late last season worked wonders, and 4-3-3 is also now being introduced at certain moments. Neither of those formations suit Bony as well as a straight 4-4-2, and he can consider himself somewhat a victim of circumstance.

What has worked well in recent weeks, though, has been when Raheem Sterling has played more centrally and close to Bony. Those two link up well and appear to complement one another. Making sure he is pace and runners around him seems vital in maximising his talent. 

Given the barriers he's faced since joining City, it's difficult to say at this stage whether he is the right man for the club or not. Certainly playing for City brings different expectations and demands than at Swansea. 

He needs his run in the side to continue, and Iheanacho is more than capable of playing just behind him. He needs players around him who display pace, movement and a willingness to make runs off him. 

If, when Aguero returns, he still hasn't shown his best form, it would be fair then to judge him harshly, but right now there's a feeling he is on the cusp of something better and he needs time to settle into the first team. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.