The Manchester City Project

Manchester City appoint life long fan Chris Bardsley as manager for the 2015/2016 season on a one year rolling contract after long drawn out negotiations!

My overall aim is to turn Manchester City into European Champions & build a managergerial leagcy but thats going to take time & abit of luck along the way.

Looking to bring down the average age of the squad and develop young talent by bringing them from the youth teams & in the transfer market.
I have a few young players in mind to bring to the club but wont be signing anyone until start of next season.

Hopefully the board stay with me through bad results and back me in the transfer market and with the philosophies that are agreed.

August Fixtures & Results



Things off to a good start for the new boss, unbeaten in the first four games.

September Fixtures & Results



First hiccup comes against the very talented Leicester City side who stiffled the City attack and scored a very good counter attacking goal through Jamie Vardy. Manchester City good on the day but just couldnt break through the very solid Leicester city defense.

Not the best of starts to the champions league campaign although a very respectable draw to the holders Barcelona. None the less a draw at Celtic Park very dissappointing after a controlled dominated display.

October Fixtures & Results

A very good away win at bitter rivals Manchester United, although United were good on the day, Citys attack was too much to handle with Sergio Aguero & Yaya Toure getting on the scoresheet, Uniteds only consolation was a very well taken goal through Memphis Depay.

Champions league campaign back on track with a well deserved 3-2 away win athe the cauldron that is Galatasary, two Burak Yilmaz goals were not enough as clinical finishing from Aguero x2 & Nicolas Otamendi took the points.

Premier league campaign and Capital One cup going well with 4 wins.

November Results & Fixtures

Back to backs wins against Galatasaray sees City take 2nd spot behind the formidable Barcelona, dominant performance in a 3-0 win.

A draw with lowly sunderland in the middle of wins against Spurs & Chelsea, sees Aguero take top spot in the scoring charts! Great start to the season for the little Argentine.

City fought galliantly against a very good Barcelona side who grab top spot in the Champions League group with goals from Ivan Rakatic & Neymar. City came close to a goal and hit the woodwork through Jesus Navas but just wasnt to be on the night.

December Results & Fixtures

City through to the Capital One Cup Semi Final with a very good win over Everton at Goodison Park, usually a bogey ground for the Blues. Manager Chris Bardsley fielded a very young side which included youngsters such as Patrick roberts, Brandon Barker and the talented Kelechi Ihenacho. Goals from Roberts, Bony x2 and Ihenacho send us into the Semis.

Champions League qualification secured at the expense of Galatasaray with a very nervey and sloppy home performance against Celtic who on the night could have sent City into the Europa League if it wasnt for that man Aguero to rescue it. Brillaint MOTM display from Kun Aguero.

Stunning wins over Bournemouth & West Ham keep City in the mix at atop of the League table.

Stoke & West Ham again fell to what was dominant displays from the Blues.

City ticking along very well going into the new year.

New contract for the boss!
The Board are delighted with the progress over the last 5 months and look to tie the Manager down to a year contract, based on results and smooth attractive football!

Champions League Group Stage Finishes.....

Barcelona top the group only on goal difference as City run them close.

First Knockout Round sees City go up against Bayer Levekusen in what promises to be a very exciting tie over two legs.

January Fixtures & Results

Through to the Capital One Cup final after a two legged victory over Championship side Hull City, again manager Chris Bardsley fielded some young stars and it came up trumps with young Roberts again on the scoresheet. What a prospect he looks, the club have already turned down loan offers for the English winger. he looks very comfortable in the 4-3-3 currently being played.

FA Cup success maybe on the cards after 3rd and 4th round wins over minnows Braintree & Luton Town.

City held to a very lucky draw against everton, the Toffess played very well and maybe should have got all three points after a blatent penalty turned down, City can count themselves very lucky to gain a point after a very dissappointing performance, Wilfried Bony grabbing Citys only goal off the game, while a delicous strike from Ross Barkley evened the game.

Arsenal secumbed to a very poor display and Arsene Wengers men wont sleep easy after that! City dominant to take them top of the league with goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero x2 & Vincent Kompany.

February Fixtures & Results

City going very well in the league with wins against Newcastle, 3rd placed Leicster City but a slip up came when Alan Pardews Palace produced a very efficent, disoplined performance to shut out the attacking prowess of Manchester City. Yannick Bolassie grabbing Palace's goal after poor defending from summer signing Nicolas Otamendi.

FA Cup Quarter Final looms for the Blues as they brush aside Everton at the Etihad after a very subdued performance, it took tactical changed from the boss to turn thr tie in the favour of City as Kelechi Ihenacho & Fabian Delph grab the goals.

Champions League Knockout Round First Leg was a massive sucess as Leverkusen were hammered 3-0, a very aggresive crowd from the away fans at the Etihad wasnt enough as City put on an attacking masterclass with goals from Sergio Aguero x2 & Wilfried Bony put City in the box seat for the 2nd leg.


CAPITAL ONE CUP SUCCESS!!!!

City win the Capital One Cup in what is manager Chris Bardsleys first and hopefully many trophies.
Goals from Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero And Raheem Sterling give City a very convincing victory over Chelsea at Wembley!!
Chelsea just never got going and Jose Mourinho will no doubt be dissappointed with his teams display, although a very well taken penalty from Diego Costa was their only consolation.

March Fixtures & Results

March kicks off with a second and very hard fought win over Manchester United, this was a very close game with both teams playing attractive football but its City that take the points and the bragging rights with a 1-0 win, fantastic build up play from Toure & Fernandinho leaves United players chasing shadows with a beautifuly weighted pass through to Sergio Aguero who finishes with aplom. Great advert for English football even if it did end only 1-0.

Liverpool faced City twice in 7 days in the Premier League & FA Cup Quarter Final.
The FA Cup tie ending 3-2 in what was an end to end game from both sides but its City who nick it with goals from Raheem Sterling x2 & Yaya Toure.

Liverpool were the opponents again, this time in the Premier League and City running out comfortable winners. Jurgen Klopp had his resources stretched with injuries to Daniel Sturridge, Phillipe Coutinho & Jordan Henderson who went off injured in the respective FA Cup tie between these two teams.

Champions League Quarter Final Place Secured with victory in two legs over Bayer Leverkusen!!!

City beaten on the night but that didnt darken the mood as City progress with a two leg win of 4-2.
Two goals from Stefan Kiesling secured a 2-1 on the night win as a consolation goal from Fernandinho is all city could muster, Leverkusen played well and took some pride from the tie back to Germany.

Manchester City Progress to the Quarter Final!

Mid Season League Update

City dominating the League as is stands with:

30 games played
+42 Goal difference
70 points

Chelsea doing well themselves but find themselves in 2nd place do a City side playing very well. (long may it continue)

Usual suspects occupying 3rd and 4th, while dark horses Leicster having a good season thus far lying in 6th

Mid Season Player & Team Stats

Mid Season Review

Competitions Overview

Team Report

Mid Season Tactics Review

4-3-3 Narrow (Tiki Takka)

This tactic is the one i use and is brilliant for tiki takka, for me its the the best tactic for this current City side and is getting me really good results.
As you can see from the pictures control mentality is a must as i look to control and dominate possession of thee ball. the BWM does all my hard work while the two DLP (whoever they may be) play the lovely one touch passing, with KDB or Raheem Sterling dropping deep looking for the ball in a false nine position. Aguero in his standard trequetista position and Wilfried Bony as my complete forward. Bony this season has scored 22 in 33:

Sergio Aguero this season has scored 25 in 38:

I usually swap and change Fabian Delph in a box to box position for Fernandinho which works well and does a very good job and has an average rating of 7.14.
Kelechi Ihenacho is often brought on for Bony in a poachers role but can often be used as a target man for me because of his good hold up attributes and strength.

If anyone has any other tactics that work well or team instructions/player instructions please feel free to comment. Always looking for new idea or if you think i should change anything from the current set ups