Summary: After another important round of Premier League matches topped by another edition of the Manchester Derby we are left with even more questions than answers about this league both in terms of what really happened to Manchester City and Roberto Mancini both as defending champions and as two seemingly frustrated entities who each seem destined for a separation as soon as this summer as rumours of serious player moves and flirtations with Monaco have resurfaced. We begin with the outcome of the match itself where the result really never seemed quite surprising, but the grand takeaways might just be the extensive gap at the top of the table and what it means, the continued goal draught for Robin Van Persie and whether Wayne Rooney is under the microscope with Sir Alex having perhaps issued something of a warning for his longer term place with the club. We examine the differences in the title race between last season and this season, what might be behind the collapse for Manchester City a year removed from its biggest triumph in years and whether the symptoms might indeed be linked to Roberto Mancini and his management tactics and whether he is long for Manchester given those persistent rumours and if Manchester City can find the right the kind of replacement to improve upon his shortcomings. This includes some of the emerging political fallout being conducted in public over transfer strategy and his longer term failures in the Champions League since his days with Inter in Serie A. Also discussed here is the longer term ramifications for QPR, the chase for top four with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all under pressure for different reasons and if David Moyes might have finally reached that place where he might reach for new destinations given the plateau and unchanging economics with Everton Football Club.
