Man City, the juggernaut taking English soccer by storm

They’re scoring at a rate not seen in English soccer since the 1890s, in the days when the penalty kick was new to the law book, 2-3-5 formations were the norm and goalkeepers could handle the ball anywhere in their own half.

And their goals are coming from all angles and in all forms - off 54pass moves, from 30-metre screamers off the underside of the crossbar, off simple crosses from out wide.

Manchester City has been an irresistible attacking force, scoring 29 goals in its first eight games in the Premier League and six goals in its first two games in the Champions League.

The 7-2 win over Stoke on Saturday featured six different scorers and has been widely lauded as an attacking masterclass. One of the goals was even a length-of-the-field effort started with a back-heel by center back Nicolas Otamendi.

City has discovered a cutting edge that was missing so often last season, when it scored 80 goals in 38 games - third highest in the league and yet manager Pep Guardiola was regularly holding his head in his hands during games as chances were spurned.

Now it is so different. You have to go back to Everton in 1894 for the last English team to have scored so many top-flight league goals by this stage of the season. City has five or more goals on four occasions in the Premier League, has 10 different scorers, and has 17 goals in its last three home games.

In Europe, ahead of today’s match against Napoli, only three teams have scored more than City in Champions League group play.

“We are almost the same guys as last season,” Guardiola said, “but now we have the feeling we are going to score a goal. Don’t ask me why.”

Yet, Guardiola, a scholar of soccer, will know exactly why. Here are the French league last season, is having to settle for second-half cameo appearances.

DE BRUYNE’S ROLE

Guardiola’s decision to deploy De Bruyne in a deeper midfield role is paying off handsomely. The Belgian is dominating games with his vision and timing of the pass, and has arguably been the player of the season in England so far, having scored one goal, set up five others and created 26 chances.

Yesterday, Guardiola reiterated that De Bruyne was among the best players in Europe, below Lionel Messi. “The best is just one,” he said, “but he is one of the best.”

De Bruyne’s new role is also getting the best out of central midfield partner David Silva, who is playing just ahead of De Bruyne and given license to go forward more.

GABRIEL JESUS

Toward the end of last season, Guardiola said City would have challenged for the Premier League title had Gabriel Jesus been available from August and not just from January, as part of the terms of his move from Palmeiras. Jesus also missed 2 1/2 months during the second half of last season because of a broken bone in his foot.

Jesus means so much to Guardiola because of his pressing, his unlikely physicality, and his ability to stretch defenses with his pace. He is only aged 20 and is already the starting striker for Brazil.

City used to rely on Aguero for goals, but no more. In him, Jesus and the galaxy of midfielders, they won’t be short of them this season.

Results

English Premier League: Bromwich 1-1. Spain La Liga: Las Palmas-Celta Vigo 2-5. Italian Serie A: HellasVerona-Benevento 1-0. Italian Serie B: Entella-Empoli 2-3. Lega Pro A: Piacenza-Viterbese 0-1. Leicester-West