I remember when Bony was at Swansea, and watching him and all the goals he scored and how he was almost being a one-man army for the team, I kepy singing his praises. He was one of the most underrated players in the Premiership and he deserved better than Swansea.
When City bought him, it looked like they were going to clean house. Having one of the best strikers in the world with Aguero, but because of his injury, having a great back-up in Bony who showed how good he was with Swansea. Looked like a no-brainer. With Man City's superior squad, and two of the best strikers in the Premiership, they would walk the league.
Nope.
This is the classic case of a wrong fit. Bony is still a very talented footballer, but he just doesn't work well with the players at City. It happens. Off the top of my head, I look at Bale. He has not been a total failure for Madrid, but in the past two seasons he's been more of a brick than a star. But once he hit his stride for Spurs, he was incredible. Bale just worked better with the players around him at Tottenham and the way they played as opposed to Madrid.
In Swansea, Monk played a quicker game, which meants Bony could be involved a lot more and the team was more suited to his style of play. Since he was the main striker, during training sessions, the midfielders would all alter their game based on the way in which Bony would move. So hitting those quick through balls won't work since Bony is isn't quick. The balls to his feet and giving it to him in space so he can turn and shoot was the preference.
At City, the kind of service that Bony gets is what Aguero is used. The ball is either crossed with speed into the box or there are those sharp through balls coming through. With the acceleration, power and sharpness of Aguero, that's of much benefit to him. But when Bony is in that striking position, he's just not going to move with the kind of guile and acceleration that Aguero has. So in the end, you're getting too many instance when the play breaks down when it comes to him, or he's just passing the ball back which negates the attack.
This has been a better season for him, but it's not good enough. With an injury to Aguero always a fear and Kelechi slowly being brought into the team due to his age, and inexplicably not being included in the Champions League squad, Bony will keep getting opportunities if City don't get another striker this month. All I can say to that is for him to have a conversation with Pellegrini and the players to try and play a quicker game and give him the ball to his feet in space, so he can pop off shots. That's the only way you're going to see the best out of Bony because the games I'm watching now, he's not offering much for City.
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