Manchester City Debate: Can Roberto Mancini Reach 70-Point Target?

At his unveiling as Manchester City’s new manager, Roberto Mancini refused to be drawn on whether a target had been set for him this season.

But chief executive Garry Cook had already let the cat out of the bag – if Mark Hughes was sacked because he was judged to be falling short of the 70-point target set for him, why should the new man be any different?

Now if 70 points were expected to be tallied from 38 games (at an average of 1.84 per game), that means that at this stage, Hughes was only two points short of being on course.

Here, Goal.com UK looks at the task ahead for Mancini if he is to lift City from 29 points from 17 games to 70 points (or more) from 38. It’s 21 games left, 41 points required. Easy, right?

December
26 Stoke City (h)
28 Wolves (a)

These two fixtures certainly add credence to the thought that Mancini’s appointment was delayed so that he didn’t have to face Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham once the advent calendars were opened. Nothing less than a win at home to Stoke should be accepted, though Wolves (assuming they play a full-strength XI) are certainly capable of holding City at Molineux.

Goal.com UK projection: 4 points.
Projected standing: Played 19, Pts 33

January
  11 Blackburn (h)
16 Everton (a)
26 Stoke City (a)
  31 Portsmouth (h)
  TBA Everton (h)

There could be a string of City debutants while the transfer window remains open, but this is a set of fixtures that should cause little concern. The trip to Goodison Park will only become a sterner test if Everton’s injury woes ease, while Stoke are a different proposition at the Britannia Stadium. City also have an outstanding fixture at home to Everton, shifted earlier in the season due to Europa League commitments. Let’s put that down for a win here, too.

Goal.com UK projection: 13 points
Projected standing: Played 24, Pts 46

February
  6 Hull (a)
9 Bolton (h)
21 Liverpool (h)
27 Chelsea (a)

Hull and Bolton simply have to be taken care of, because finally – after nearly two months in the job – Mancini is going to face some top-class teams. Liverpool are surely going to have corrected their run of form by late February, while Chelsea should be back to full strength after the African Cup of Nations. Expect this to be Mancini’s first wobble.

Goal.com UK projection: 6 points
Projected standing: Played 28, Pts 52

March
  7 Tottenham (h)
13 Sunderland (a)
  20 Fulham (a)
27 Wigan (h)

Another rough month. Spurs summarily dismissed City in the match that supposedly convinced the Eastlands boardroom that Hughes was no longer the right man for the job, while Sunderland have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light this season, and Fulham have knocked off the Reds from both Merseyside and Manchester at Craven Cottage. The visit of Wigan to Eastlands can’t come soon enough.

Goal.com UK projection: 5 points
Projected standing: Played 32, Pts 57

April
3 Burnley (a)
  10 Birmingham City (h)
17 Manchester United (h)
24 Arsenal (a)

The fixtures computer seems to have been intent on leading City a merry dance this season – two prospective ‘gimmes’ followed by two blockbusters. Mancini will need results against United and Arsenal if he is to have a chance of reaching 70 points, but it might only be draws.

Goal.com UK projection: 8 points
Projected standing: Played 36, Pts 65

May
1 Aston Villa (h)
  9 West Ham (a)

If the Goal.com UK projections are correct to this point (and let’s hope nobody is betting heavily on that) then Mancini will need to win both of these fixtures to hit the 70-point mark. The game with Villa could have even more at stake, depending on each club’s league position. Then the season is rounded off against a West Ham side that might be playing for their Premier League lives by then. Don’t expect a bonanza of points here.

Goal.com UK projection: 1 point
Projected standing: Played 38, Pts 66

Steven Saunders, Goal.com UK