Kompany dismissal may leave Man City empty handed this season

Manchester City are out of the FA Cup, but looking at the bigger picture the sending off of Vincent Kompany in the defeat to Manchester United may have greater repercussions on how many trophies they win this season.

Rewind back 12 months and it was Arsenal who were considered outside contenders to win four trophies.

However, their whole season blew up in late February when losing the Carling Cup final to Birmingham and being knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona.

Soon after they were also eliminated from the FA Cup and effectively too far adrift in the Premier League title race to challenge.

Manchester City may not make it until February before suffering the same fate as Kompany’s sending off threatens their campaign a month sooner.

They are now already out of the FA Cup and the captain’s four-game ban will include both Carling Cup semi finals with Liverpool.

This comes at a nightmare time for Roberto Mancini with fellow centre back Kolo Toure already absent at the African Nations Cup, along with brother Yaya, who is arguably the most influential player in their entire squad.

Therefore, the pressure will firmly be Joleon Lescott and Stefan Savic, who is inexperienced at the top level, to keep their aspirations on track and especially ensure they get a result from a massive Premier League game with Tottenham later this month.

Manchester City are to appeal the decision and Mancini remains confident that the ban will be overturned.

If not though, Manchester City could find themselves out of the Carling Cup and by the time Kompany returns it may be advantage Manchester United in the Premier League title battle.

And with the club unlikely to take the Europa League entirely seriously, Manchester City’s odds to win no trophies this season may appeal at 5/1.