Five things we learned from Stoke v Man City

Silva returned to Premier League action, but was unable to make the difference

Stoke, inspired by Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic, blew Manchester City away at The Britannia. Here, Paul Joyce looks at 5 things we learned from the game.

 

The gloves are off?

It was the afternoon when City could have made a statement in this most open of title races, winning away at the sort of venue which tests the credentials of prospective champions.

Yet was the sight of seven City players wearing gloves – including Joe Hart – an insight into how they felt?

Kolarov, Demichelis, Silva and Sagna were the only ones who abstained. In contrast, Afellay, Wollscheid and Butland donned mittens for the hosts.

The Britannia was blustery, but it won’t have been as cold as the chill in the away dressing room at half-time and then after the match.

Make no mistake a 2-0 defeat flattered Manuel Pellegrini’s insipid, inept team who finished when 10 men when Fernando went off in the 74th minute with a hamstring problem after the permitted three substitutions had already been made.

 

No Silva lining

David Silva was making his first Premier League starts since the 6-1 destruction of Newcastle on October 3, but he was a peripheral figure and it was no surprise he was replaced by Navas after 62 minutes.

Without Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, City’s lack of leaders was all too obvious.

The sight of them being blown away inside the first 15 minutes was reminiscent of Liverpool’s win at the Etihad, but it was the lack of a response that was also alarming.

Yet given the amount of money which has been lavished on their squad, it is making excuses for them to constantly focus on the absentees.

 

Butland racked up another clean sheet and a fine performance

 

England’s, England’s No2?

Chants of “England’s, England’s No1” reverberated around the Britannia and here was more proof that Jack Butland represents the first real challenge Joe Hart has had to be the country’s first choice goalkeeper.

Hart remains the man in possession, but Butland’s save after Kevin de Bruyne had tricked his way through in the 14th minute was crucial.

Stoke marched up-field within 60 seconds and Shaqiri’s brilliant pass to Arnautovic brought his second goal of the afternoon.

A save at his near post from Kolarov just before the break was also key. So much so, the home fans delighted in chanting “England’s No2” at Hart during one passage of play.

 

City need reinforcements

The timing of the sale of 13 per cent of City to Chinese investors (CMC) could come in handy even if it is not meant to go on the team.

Everywhere you look City need strengthening: in attack where Bony does not convince and in midfield where Fernando was a liability for the first two goals and in defence where they are shorn of composure when without Kompany.

Even though City have splashed out on full-backs in recent seasons and have two experienced internationals in each position - Zabaleta and Sagna on the right and Kolarov and Clichy on the left - too often they are culpable in the build-up to goals.

It is another area that needs revisiting in the summer when the inevitable reinforcements are recruited.

Southampton and England left-back Ryan Bertrand would be one option worth pursuing. Alternatively, it is worth asking if CMC kept the receipt?

 

Mark Hughes deserves some plaudits

Hughes had been philosophical about his own time at Manchester City, which ended in the sack six years ago this month, when interviewed in the build-up to the game.

“I've no bitterness towards City. I wasn't really their guy," he said.

"I was appointed by another group of people so when that group changed, if I'm honest, it was only a matter of time before I got replaced. Looking back I probably lasted as long as I could."

Yet it should be not been as a stain on his CV. Barring Shawcross, Cameron and Whelan every other starting player for Stoke was bought by Hughes since his arrival in 2013.

The contribution of Shaqiri and Arnautovic here was something else. This is Hughes’ team and the results reflect well on him.