In today’s media watch we take-a-look at an opinion piece which tips Sergio Aguero to win the Golden Boot this season, plus a recap of last night’s internationals…
First up, we start with Sergio.
READ: Etihad Player of the Month | Sergio Aguero
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Aguero has had an impressive start to the season, with five goals, one assist and three woodwork strikes in the opening month of the campaign.
Kun also bagged his 200th City goal in the 2-0 Community Shield win over Chelsea and hit a hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Huddersfield Town, which has seen him be crowned Etihad Player of the Month for August!
Our striker has certainly impressed Playing for 90 writer, Matt English – who believes Sergio will bag the Premier League Golden Boot Award at the end of the season. Sergio already has one Golden Boot trophy to his name, after the 2014-15 season, but could another be on the way?
“A hot start to the season has Golden Boot candidate Sergio Aguero in a good position,” English scribes.
“Sergio Aguero is one of the elite strikers in the Premier League. His ability to score goals in a variety of ways make him such a deadly weapon for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. With a hattrick already to his name, Aguero is setting his sights on the prestigious award.
“Many other names are being thrown around this season as potential winners of the Golden Boot. Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and other fantastic forwards are all capable of this honor. Aguero has a bit of an edge on the others, though, which could see him edge out the competition come May.
“Playmakers like David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are the two key factors in the midfield that will push Aguero towards the top of the Golden Boot charts. Both Silva and De Bruyne are at the top of the list for best passers in the league, constantly topping the charts in chances created and passing percentage.
“Aguero thrives off of the service of these two midfielders when he makes his trademark runs in behind the defense. Having that sort of service only makes Aguero’s job of scoring goals that much easier, resulting in more goals for Aguero, and more importantly, more goals for Manchester City.”
Next up, we turn our attention to another opinion piece – this time in the Manchester Evening News.
MEN journalist Simon Bajkowski closely examines City’s stats from the opening games of the season so far.
“By dominating possession, City should be guaranteed to face fewer shots on goal - and so they have. The defence have allowed just 28 shots in the first four matches of the season, an average of seven every 90 minutes and the best rate in the league,” Bajkowski writes.
“However, they have conceded three goals in four games; that’s the same as Chelsea and Watford, two more than early leaders Liverpool.
“Shots on target do not tell the full story of course since 40-yard chancers and 4-yard open goals both come under the same umbrella, but City have gifted more of the latter than the former.
“Part of City’s success last season was the relentless drive to recover possession in the first ten seconds after losing it, either by dispossessing an opponent to start another attack or fouling them to stop the play as far away from their goal as possible. Allowing crosses into the box, not sticking with runners or defending dangerous spaces is not part of the masterplan.
“The squad have been hard at work at the training ground in recent weeks drilling different defensive partnerships in the knowledge that there won’t be much time left for practice when three competitions kick in this month.”
Finally, a number of our Blues were in action last night in the UEFA Nations League, and it was our very own Oleks Zinchenko who made the headlines this morning.
READ: International round-up
Zinchenko scored a 90th-minute winner to give Ukraine a victorious start to their UEFA Nations League campaign as they beat the Czech Republic 2-1.
The 21-year-old came on with 66 minutes on the clock and delivered a crucial strike to move his side top of League B: Group 1.
BBC reports: “Zinchenko stroked in from close range after a mix-up between the Czech goalkeeper and defender.
“The hosts had taken the lead in the fourth minute through Roma striker Patrik Schick’s clever run and finish.
“Schalke winger Yevhen Konoplyanka equalised for Ukraine just before half-time as Zinchenko netted the winner.”
That’s all for today, but we will be back tomorrow with all the latest from the back pages!
