There must have been more questions than answers within the Manchester City camp after their 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
While City’s 4-0 victory against Wolves highlighted their seeming overarching improvement as a side, Pep Guardiola’s side still look vulnerable while defending long balls and counter-attacks like they did during the previous campaign.
Manchester City will be analysing why they looked as out of sorts as they did against Tottenham, with even big-hitters like Ruben Dias having an off day against Spurs as well.
James Trafford was culpable for Joao Palhinha’s goal as his risky pass to Rico Lewis led to the concession of a needless goal as City went into half-time trailing by two goals.
Chris Sutton has doubts about James Trafford after Man City vs Tottenham
Trafford will be hoping to redeem himself against Brighton as his display against Thomas Frank’s side was undeniably poor.
While Trafford impressed against Wolves, he looked out of his depth against Spurs, conceding a soft goal, unnecessarily rushing out of his box on several occasions and misplacing his passes time and again.
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After Manchester City’s defeat to Tottenham, Chris Sutton suggested on BBC Match of the Day that Trafford does not look like he is at the level to play for Pep Guardiola and Co, saying: “I’ve got to say, I’m not really sure about the goalkeeping situation. James Trafford, is he really top drawer? If there’s a choice between Ederson and Trafford, I’d choose Ederson every day of the week.”
“He was really poor for the second goal, it was a really weak pass. He didn’t even pass to the right side and that absolutely killed Manchester City. Tottenham going 2-0 at half time gave them a massive leg up but yeah, I’m not so sure he’s a top-level goalkeeper.”
Pep Guardiola provides James Trafford verdict after Man City vs Tottenham
Manchester City News confirmed Pep Guardiola’s side are eyeing Gianluigi Donnarumma, who recently announced he is leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
In case the Italian makes his way to the Etihad Stadium, Trafford, who Manchester City signed for £27 million would likely become his side’s number two.
But after Manchester City lost to Tottenham, Pep Guardiola commented on Trafford’s showing against Spurs by admitting that no player is guaranteed to start all the time, including the 22-year-old.
“James made a good first game, and we decided [for him to] continue.”
“When I take the decisions normally in the first part of the season, not just for the keeper, the keeper is a special position, of course, to have more consistency in the goal. For all the players, when you play one or two games, everybody thinks: ‘This is the starting lineup, this player is going to play.’
“I learn from many years that with this amount of games, everyone will play and be important. It’s just today I decide that [Trafford to start].”
Trafford will be hoping to prove his doubters like Chris Sutton wrong and emerge as Manchester City’s long-term number one after the bump in the road he suffered against Tottenham.