Manchester City have clearly been struggling this campaign to hit the same levels they have done in the previous four Premier League campaigns, currently sitting fifth with 48 points, a whopping 22 points away from first-place Liverpool.
Despite their poor form, Pep Guardiola’s side are still topping plenty of the league’s metrics, however.
They are averaging the most possession per game in the division with 60.8% and have the highest successful pass percentage with 89.9%. They also sit second for shots per game, averaging 16.1 shots per match, with only Liverpool averaging more with 17.
Clearly, City have identified their need to invest, spending big money in the January transfer window to bring Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez to the club.
But, who has been underperforming this season, which has led to such heavy investment?
The biggest losers from Man City's awful season
One man who has underperformed since returning to play for Guardiola’s side this season is İlkay Gündoğan. The German has made 39 appearances for the Citizens so far, scoring two goals and providing three assists. It’s a far cry from that 2021/22 season where he was involved in 16 goals across all competitions.
18 of his appearances have come from the base of midfield, a byproduct of Rodri being missing through injury, which has led to an underwhelming return for the 34-year-old midfielder, not having the same effect on the ball for his side, whilst not solving their out-of-possession issues either.
Another key figure who was a huge part of Manchester City’s infamous treble campaign, but now finds himself lower in the pecking order, is Jack Grealish.
The 29-year-old has made 26 appearances this season, netting two goals, providing five assists and totaling 1,319 minutes played.
The English winger, who has struggled with a few injuries in the past two seasons, now finds himself behind the likes of Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Marmoush and even Phil Foden, who himself has had a very poor season thus far, underwhelming for both club and country.
The Englishman, who was criticised by Thomas Tuchel during the international break, has struggled to replicate the dazzling numbers of 2023/24 when he won the PFA Player of the Year award.
He has scored just ten times, down from the ridiculous 27-goal haul of last term. So, perhaps they may regret losing another academy star…
Better than Foden: Man City's lost "wonderkid"
Spending two years in the City academy system from 2018-2020 was a highly promising individual, a “wonderkid” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig.
That player was Jamie Gittens. Remarkably, he never played for City’s U21s but did feature in two U18 Premier League games. Then, in a puff of smoke, rather like Jadon Sancho, he headed for Borussia Dortmund.
Well, at BVB, it’s safe to say he’s starring. Gittens, who was in Lee Carsley’s latest England U21 made, has made 40 appearances for Dortmund so far this season, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in 2,535 minutes played.
Boasting “electric pace” in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, the English winger is certainly starting to turn heads in Europe, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United linked with the young winger.
So, how does he compare to that man Foden? Certainly favourably in the goalscoring department.
Goals
0.39
0.34
Assists
0.11
0.17
xG
0.18
0.26
xAG
0.13
0.23
Progressive Carries
5.78
2.72
Progressive Passes
2.09
5.49
Shots Total
2.57
3.02
Key Passes
1.10
2.33
Shot-Creating Actions
3.80
4.67
Successful Take-Ons
3.84
0.93
When comparing Foden and Gittens’ underlying metrics this season, you can see how their playstyles differ, with the former being more creation heavy, looking to drop into pockets of space, play progressive passes and create for others, whilst the latter has a direct manner, looking to attack the box with carries and score goals.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
Whilst Foden isn’t a natural winger, he has seen 18 of his 38 appearances come from wide areas, due to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and now Marmoush, who can both play as that central attacking midfielder in close vicinity to Erling Haaland.
On the other hand, Gittens would have provided City with something they have lacked in wide areas this season, and that’s goals, with both Doku and Savinho excelling in the creation department, as opposed to the direct, high-shot-volume playstyle of their former academy star.
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