City lose Vodacom final

A slight disappointment - City lost the final of the Vodacom Challenge this afternoon, 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs. The players did not look fully fit, and were well contained by the physical and competitive South Africans.

Emmanuel Adebayor started up front with Craig Bellamy, with Martin Petrov and Shaun Wright-Phillips out wide, and Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry in central midfield. Unfortunately, neither of our wingers threatened as much as they might have liked: SWP was particularly quiet. Up front, Adebayor impressed with his hold up play if not with his finishing, but Craig Bellamy was uncharacteristically muted along side him - failing to make a compelling case that he, rather than Carlos Tévez, ought to be Adebayor's first choice strike partner.

We created a few chances - and wasted many good positions - but can have no real complaints with the scoreline. It was particularly dispiriting to concede yet another goal from failing to mark at a set-piece.

If there was one positive to take away, it was Gareth Barry: he controlled central midfield with an ease and authority that we have not seen in too many City midfielders recently. His tackling was crucial, and his passing was excellent. Once him and Stephen Ireland (sorely missed today) start performing well together not many midfields will be able to touch ours.

An obstacle

Will the Confederations Cup upset our push for the Vodacom Challenge? It's set to take place in South Africa in mid/late June. Brazil have matches against Egypt (June 15), USA (June 18) and Italy (June 21), followed by a semi-final on June 24 and the final on June 28.

And it could well rule our Brazilian contingent out of the Vodacom Challenge, which starts just three weeks later. Mark Hughes said of it today:

"I realise that players such as Robinho could be playing for Brazil in the Confederations Cup which is also in South Africa in June.

"But the Challenge is a very important part of my pre-season training.

"At this stage I will be bringing all my top players.

"But one never knows what can happen in the next few months."

On the plus side, we get to see Elano and Robinho playing in what would otherwise have been a month entirely barren of football.