“I wonder though if we are now going to see an unprecedented wave of red cards on match days because we sanction ‘if’s’ and ‘maybe’s?’
“Are we going to look back at video evidence for every single challenge that goes unnoticed by the officials, look at different scenarios and potential outcomes of what could have been considered a good tackle and then sanction it?
“Players and managers are starting to expect more sending offs from referees and I think it’s for the wrong reasons.”
On that basis, Savic might even have worried about his involvement in the game as referee Lee Mason pointed to the penalty spot following his foul on Agger. There was no malice in the Montenegrin’s challenge, but his boot was so high, Mason might have judged it as serious foul play. It wasn’t, of course, but Kompany’s point is that uncertainty now reigns when it comes to tackling.
He added in his statement: “My understanding is that English football prides itself on the hardness, the fairness and the tradition of its game.
“That is why hundreds of millions of people tune in to watch Premier League football and English referees have always been a key factor to that success in my opinion.
“I don’t agree with people saying that referees in this country aren’t doing well as I think they are the best in the world. Hopefully common sense will prevail again in the future and I for one hope not to see consistency in sending offs and suspensions when the intent of a player is to win the ball.
“If football fans decide I’m wrong in raising these concerns then I will have no problem in accepting the fact that times are changing again for our game.”
Times are certainly changing for City. Without Kompany and Kolo Touré, plus Yaya Touré and the injured David Silva, Mancini’s team are now without some of their most experienced and instrumental players.
Mancini has hinted at frustrations at his inability to add to his squad this month, with the club’s Abu Dhabi hierarchy determined to halt their lavish spending in order to comply with Uefa’s incoming financial fair play regulations.
But while City clearly cannot continue to solve every problem with a flash of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan’s chequebook, sometimes it has to be a case of needs must.
Mancini has the numbers within his squad, but his back four lack experience.
Savic is clearly not ready for the Premier League, while Joleon Lescott appears less certain without Kompany alongside him. Deploying the impressive Micah Richards at centre-half would be a solution, but that would only leave a hole at right-back.
But while Kompany’s statement ensured his message reached its audience, Mancini’s selection of Savic might have just done the trick in terms of unlocking the club’s coffers.
As good a prospect as he may be, his presence at the heart of the defence only highlights the need for a new face.
City's faltering form
Roberto Mancini’s side have lost four and drawn one of their last eight games:
Dec 12 (Premier Lge)
Chelsea 2 Man City 1
Dec 18 (Premier Lge)
Man City 1 Arsenal 0
Dec 21 (Premier Lge)
Man City 3 Stoke 0
Dec 26 (Premier Lge)
West Brom 0 Man City 0
Jan 1 (Premier Lge)
Sunderland 1 Man City 0
Jan 3 (Premier Lge)
Man City 3 Liverpool 0
Jan 8 (FA Cup)
Man City 2 Man Utd 3
Jan 11 (Carling Cup)
Man City 0 Liverpool 1