Five Thoughts: Manchester City 2-1 Swansea City

Part the First: More Like This, Please.

That's your game winner and it looked for all the world like the City side we enjoyed last season. The quick pass to the top of the box, a slick entry pass, and a cool finish. Last season, it seemed like we enjoyed one of these a game. I'll say it again: more, please.

Part the Second: Nasri

Man of the match with one of the better performances by a midfielder this season. I lost count of the number of "did you see that?" passes made by #8. Welcome back, Samir.

Part the Third: Defense, people

The first Swansea goal was a reminder to yours truly why I always try to get Wifred Bony on my team when I play FIFA. He's a helluva lot of fun to watch, a load and a half to cover and has a terrific touch. All his best qualities were on display in the match's opening goal. It makes the job doubly tough when you play him onside, which is what Navas and Zabaleta both did and I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why. I won't be too hard on Pablo and Jesus other than to say they've got company in their defensive lapses.

Bottom line: Swansea had some fine chances to equalize that they frankly shouldn't have been allowed to have (and none more so than after the 84th minute on a heart-stopping breakaway and a deflection from a free kick). With almost any other team, you could write "it's football, that happens." With City, we can safely write, "It's City, it happens all the time."

The midfield played awfully well today--Toure, Fernandinho, Navas (that cross!) and especially Nasri all played well. The striker corps contributed--Sergio as usual deserved a goal and Jovetic we thank you for that finish. But the back line is going to have to tighten up mightily if we're going to make a run at anything this season.

Part the Fourth: About that Reus transfer?

That's on hold (warning: ugly injury).

BONUS THOUGHT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON: From the boss: "On the whole, a good performance bookended by 10 minutes of sloppiness and nervousness at the start and end of the game." Couldn't have said it better.

Part the Fifth: Poll!

You know what to do.