22 hours ago
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Manchester City were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham at the Etihad on an afternoon where their old flaws returned to haunt them.
Next week was already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic and unpredictable ends to a transfer window in recent memory at Manchester City, but a dispiriting defeat that undid so much of the good work from the opening weekend of the season has changed the picture again.
A pattern is beginning to develop here. City looked back to their best against Juventus, then saw all those old flaws return against Al-Hilal. They had been ironed out again at Molineux last week, only for Tottenham to reopen old wounds at the Etihad. The only thing consistent about this team is their inconsistency.
Almost every positive from that 4-0 win at Wolves turned into a negative here. Spurs might have a new manager in charge, but they still have the kryptonite to neuter this City team. Although more and more sides are starting to get a sense of how to play against this City side.
If there was a rush to hold judgement last week, then the same should be true now, although this defeat will be a concern. It did suggest that so many of the issues that plagued City last season were still evident, just as that shock exit to Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup did.
Where do Pep Guardiola and Hugo Viana go from here? The decision to leave Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan out of the matchday squad looked like a message that their days were numbered, but then Rayan Ait-Nouri picked up an injury and Gundogan's midfield replacements spent the afternoon treading water.
City's attack also looked unexpectedly toothless. They huffed and puffed through a flat second half that never really felt like they were about to blow the doors down and get themselves back in the game.
But a lot of the intrigue over the last couple of weeks has centred around the goalkeepers, and this afternoon blew that discussion wide open.
James Trafford had been one of the many City positives last week. The 22-year-old looked assured on his long-awaited City debut, making a couple of smart saves and showing his comfort with the ball at his feet.
His chipped pass to Tijjani Reijnders to begin the move for the excellent third goal was a highlight, and the young goalkeeper would have left Molineux feeling bullish, if still a little uncertain amid a summer of change.
But just as this team looked unrecognisable from the one that thrashed Wolves, so Trafford looked like a different goalkeeper to the one on show a week ago.
He doesn't lack confidence, but it felt like one edgy moment led into another at the Etihad. He was almost caught on the ball by Richarlison with the game still goalless, and it went downhill from there.
Between the first and second goals, he raced out of his area and inadvertently used a hand to get the ball away from Mohammed Kudus while raising his knee into the winger's chest. There wasn't enough there for VAR to intervene, but it was the kind of clumsy and nervy moment that can shake a goalkeeper.
Maybe that was why Trafford got his distribution wrong for the second. The short pass to Nico Gonzalez was never on and although the Spaniard wanted the ball, Trafford had to show better judgement. The effervescent Pape Matar Sarr was ready to pounce and it ended with Joao Palhinha doubling the lead.
Within a couple of minutes, the TV director had the shot he wanted, the camera panning in to the back row of the City bench, Ederson's face somehow avoiding betraying any of the emotions he must have been feeling.
It summed up a situation that even Guardiola seems a little uncertain on. Before and after the win at Wolves he said Ederson remained his No. 1, but when he was back fit he kept him on the bench.
As for who starts in goal at Brighton next week, well, who knows. Dropping Trafford now would be a cruel blow for a young goalkeeper, but much will depend on what happens in the next seven days.
Paris St-Germain waved Gianluigi Donnarumma off on Friday night, but as far as anyone is aware, he doesn't have a new club lined up. That could change if Galatasaray finally land Ederson, but he isn't desperate to make the move. Something has to give.
In the meantime, we wait, but clarity is clearly required. Donnarumma would be an upgrade on Ederson and a world-class, reliable No. 1, even if there is a feeling his reactive, goal line style doesn't suit this City side.
Trafford is a better fit, but he is inexperienced at this level. With Ederson as his rival, he had a clear pathway to the first team next season. If Donnarumma comes in at the age of 26, the whole picture changes. Maybe Trafford can be forgiven for having a lot on his mind at the moment.
All might become clearer for everyone next week, but this was a day when more questions than answers were posed around the goalkeeping situation.
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