Confidence sky high in Blues camp

CHAPMAN’S CORNER

CONFIDENCE has been the key to City’s recent success – the players are full of it at the moment.

There are a number of high profile stars out missing through injury at present, but you’d never know that watching City dismantle Palace in the way that they did, particularly in the second half.

Aside from the raw ability side of things, confidence is the next most crucial component in a team or a player.

If you go out onto the pitch feeling that belief that you are going to beat the opposition, then that’s a crucial trait.

That’s been in evidence with City of late, and that’s eight straight victories for them now.

I’ve been saying for a while now that Chelsea will be caught by mid-January, and I feel that more than ever now.

You just can’t see city getting beat, the way they’re playing.

Against Palace the whole team from back to front was quite simply superb.

James Milner came in to do a specific job up front to cover for injuries, and he was brilliant too.

It’s now West Brom away on Boxing Day, then Burnley and Sunderland at home over the festive period, before the FA Cup game against Wednesday during the first weekend in January.

Certainly on paper City ought to be picking up nine points from the three Premier League fixtures. I don’t foresee any other outcome really.

I noticed the Latics score at MK Dons, and I have to say I was staggered.

As if the Yeovil result wasn’t bad enough, they somehow then manage to ship seven in the next game. It’s very odd, so let’s hope my old team turn things around quickly.

I’ve got a nice few days off over Christmas, and actually being at home with the family all day on Christmas Day will be something I haven’t enjoyed for many a year.

I’ll be at the West Brom game, but I’ve got other days off to come over the next week or so, so I’m going to make the most of it.