The Italian's expensively assembled starting line-up found themselves in the eye of a ferocious storm in the first half hour of the Premier League curtain raiser against Tottenham. 

In truth, if it hadn't been for Hart's heroics, Spurs could have been out of sight. But after winning the backing of Mancini's countryman Fabio Capello in midweek, the Mansfield-born stopper was in inspired form.  Razor-sharp reactions denied Jermain Defoe from close range and every inch of Hart's 6ft5 frame improbably clawed a deflected drive from Benoit Assou-Ekotto out of the top corner. These were just two highlights of a complete goalkeeping display.

In recent history, City have been blessed with some stunning turns from their last line of defence. Tony Coton's performance against Leeds on the opening day in 1993, Nicky Weaver's star turn in 1999's vital promotion clash with Ipswich and Shay Given's debut salvo at home to Middlesbrough come instantly to mind.  In the latter game, Given effectively condemned Hart to a year in exile on loan at Birmingham. His colleague duly knuckled down and has returned to Eastlands to reclaim the goalkeeping jersey by the sheer force of his own endeavors.

Whether Given at 34 has the stomach for a similar fight is questionable. His prickly response to questions about his first-team prospects while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland would suggest otherwise.  An expected appearance against FC Timisoara in the Europa League on Thursday is unlikely to appease an accomplished performer who will not be short of potential suitors.

The initial results of City's goalkeeping conundrum - a richly gifted youngster hungrily pursuing excellence while a revered veteran contemplates his next move - lay bare the pros and cons of Mancini's job in managing a well-stocked and lavishly gifted group.

Carlos Tevez emerged at White Hart Lane proudly displaying the captain's armband. The clear message to former skipper Kolo Toure was that his years to top-level experience do not make his place in the side certain.  Alongside the imperious Vincent Kompany at the heart of City's defence, the Ivory Coast star was spurred on to arguably his best performance for the club.

Mancini's selection in the centre of midfield was less successful. The solution to having a raft of holding midfielders in your squad is not shoe-horning as many of them into your starting XI as is humanly possible. Too often in a sometimes chastening first half, City's central trio of Nigel de Jong, Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry were pushed flat and deep in front of their back four, inviting a constant stream of Spurs pressure and leaving the diminutive attacking talents of Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Silva and Carlos Tevez isolated.

More damningly, adequate cover was not given to full-backs Micah Richards and Aleksander Kolorov as Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale wrought havoc down the flanks for Tottenham. Only when Barry moved to a left-sided midfield position in the second half ahead of substitute Pablo Zabaleta did the wide areas start to look secure.

In the friendly win over Valencia, De Jong, Barry and Yaya were successfully deployed in a midfield diamond. Barry opened the scoring and was joined by Yaya in making a number of penetrative runs into the penalty area, beyond playmaker Silva and Emmanuel Adebayor and Tevez up front.  A week on in North London, Tevez was a lone forward, City's attack lacked focus and even when Mancini's side regained their poise in possession after half-time, their attacking play was devoid of a definite pattern.

This is something the Blues' boss will hope the arrival of Mario Balotelli and the imminent purchase of James Milner remedies. But he must also encourage a dynamism and intent that was lacking on Saturday to allow these players and others to realise their potential in City colours.

Tottenham's first half showing displayed the benefits of a thrusting, attacking 4-4-2 style in the Barclays Premier League, just as the well stocked midfields at this summer's World Cup demonstrated the virtues of a possession-based approach in the modern game.

City have the personnel to undertake either system successfully when their new arrivals have bedded in. Mancini must display greater conviction by using both to win football matches.

Rob Manford, MCFCfans