A total of 5 dropped points in 5 days last week means City are no longer in a position to mount a major climb into the European places but it's anticipated the Blues will travel to Spurs on the final day with the opportunity of sneaking into the top 10.
While Everton, Bolton and Reading appear to have the UEFA Cup places sewn up, there is all to play for amongst the teams scrapping for mid-table pecking order, of which City is one.
Given Aston Villa are another of those teams - and marginally above City - claiming 3 points this Saturday at home against Villa is crucial for the Blues.
What all these clubs share is a culture of coming close to success at any given time, then somehow failing somewhere along the line because the necessary quality to go that extra mile is lacking in some department.
Joey Barton has certainly made it clear where he feels City are holding themselves back so we don't need to go over that again.
Some would say the club gambled its Premiership status by choosing not to sack Stuart Pearce, but the manager took a gamble himself by bringing Emile
Mpenza in from Qatar, and the Belgian striker's immediate goal return has vindicated the board's decision to hold onto Pearce - for now - and brought relief to the City faithful.
That it was a City side, led by Pearce, which sent Watford down at the weekend highlights the fact the board did right by sticking with their man.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Fulham and West Ham, who both paniced this season by changing their manager, will avoid the same fate as Watford.
Read more from Ally on his City blog: http://mcfcforever.blogspot.com/
While Everton, Bolton and Reading appear to have the UEFA Cup places sewn up, there is all to play for amongst the teams scrapping for mid-table pecking order, of which City is one.
Given Aston Villa are another of those teams - and marginally above City - claiming 3 points this Saturday at home against Villa is crucial for the Blues.
What all these clubs share is a culture of coming close to success at any given time, then somehow failing somewhere along the line because the necessary quality to go that extra mile is lacking in some department.
Joey Barton has certainly made it clear where he feels City are holding themselves back so we don't need to go over that again.
Some would say the club gambled its Premiership status by choosing not to sack Stuart Pearce, but the manager took a gamble himself by bringing Emile
Mpenza in from Qatar, and the Belgian striker's immediate goal return has vindicated the board's decision to hold onto Pearce - for now - and brought relief to the City faithful.
That it was a City side, led by Pearce, which sent Watford down at the weekend highlights the fact the board did right by sticking with their man.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Fulham and West Ham, who both paniced this season by changing their manager, will avoid the same fate as Watford.
Read more from Ally on his City blog: http://mcfcforever.blogspot.com/