Manchester City 2020-21 : A THREAD
There is still a lot to play for this season, but so far it's been a bit of an inconsistent one for City. This thread I'll analyse the formations, the problems, some interesting stats of key players and I'll give my opinion in the end.

1. Formations used:
Pep has used three formations on the ball this season which includes 2-3-2-3, 3-1-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. All of this formations have some weakness and strengths which varies with each player.
The 2-3-2-3 is the one which Pep used during our title winning years...

...but it hasn't been utilised to it's potential because we have lost Silva and Fernandinho's age has caught up. This formation also leaves a gap in the wide areas for counters for the opposition which was covered by Dinho. Absence of Silva also means that we cannot play 2 no.8s

In short this formation doesn't have the players required to balance each position.
The 4-2-3-1 seems to be the formation that suits our attackers more right now, but again we lack a dynamic, ball winning midfielder and a natural attacking LB for this to work consistently.

The 3-1-3-3 has been used for couple of games this season, but for this formation to work we need a left footed winger at LW and a right footer on the RW.
Even though all the formations have their benefits, the balance is missing since every attacker prefer the right side.

2. The width:
Pep's most important tactic in all the clubs he has managed is the use of width. This season though it's been a different story in some games. He has been trying to play inverted wingers and inverted fullbacks which completely makes the pitch compact.

After realising this he started using the wingers wide, but we only have wingers who prefer to cut in, hence they run into the defensive block.
Pep since then has relied on double pivot which resulted in using wide overlapping fullbacks which in turn will benefit the wingers.

If you look at the average positions against West Ham and compare it to Burnley and Fulham, you can see how we have utilised the width against the latter and the results have been positive too.

3. Player selection:
In all the three formations above it is important to use specific players in specific formations to get the best out of the team, but it's fair to say Pep hasn't done this on more than one occasion.

For example: if Pep wants to use 4-2-3-1 it's important to play Cancelo and Mendy as fullbacks with Sterling and Mahrez as inside wingers and for the 2-3-2-3/3-1-3-3 to work it's important to use left footed winger on the left, similar on the right.

4. Stats of individual players:
• Sterling
The below graph shows Sterling's best position. LW with wide FB here indicates Mendy and inverted FB is Cancelo, Zinchenko
It's clear to see he thrives as a right winger. His numbers are below average when he plays with inverted FB.

• KDB
KDB's stats when he plays as no.10/as a second striker:
610 mins(approx.) - 18 chances created
KDB when he plays deeper as an eight in right centre midfield:
290 mins(approx.) - 18 chances created
It's clear to see where his strength lies.

• Foden
Foden's poor games this season has come when he's played on the left half space in the games against Leeds, WBA, Olympiacos at home. He significantly has more influence and touches when he shifts to the right half space either as an eight or as a winger.

Although the players have been performing at a level below standards, it's important to play to their strengths and especially that of a player like KDB, Sterling who thrive when they play on the right. Both of them have been given more minutes in their weaker position.

When Pep plays them in their natural positions we get good results and quality football. On more than one occasion he has got it wrong, but that is maybe because we haven't got the right balance in the team and he prefers some players over others because of the performances.

Imo I'd like to see him use the 2-3-2-3 formation more because that's where we thrive. So far we have used that formation with the right balance of players only once and that was our best game as a team this season. (Marseille away). Check out the typical City move in that game.

Conclusion:
According to me both the players and Pep have performed below standards. It's also important to note that we have lost some key players and it'll take more than one or two windows to replace them.