Manchester City fans have already raised concerns over Elliot Anderson’s role after the club-record signing struggled during Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
The 23-year-old made his competitive debut for City following his £115 million transfer from Nottingham Forest. Anderson was one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders last season and has also established himself with England.
Enzo Maresca handed Anderson a starting role alongside Mateo Kovacic, deploying him as a No. 8. However, the midfielder appeared restricted by the tactical setup and struggled to influence the game.
Anderson was substituted after 60 minutes following a disappointing display. He completed 81% of his passes, failed to get his only shot on target and couldn’t find a teammate with any of his six crosses. He also won just 33% of his duels and recorded no tackles.
Although the Community Shield is only a pre-season-style fixture, City supporters believe Anderson’s positioning could become an issue when the Premier League campaign begins.
One fan account criticised his role, claiming that Anderson was “being used completely wrong” and was barely involved in the game.
A Forest supporter also suggested that Anderson is most effective when operating centrally, where he can get on the ball more frequently and dictate play.
The midfielder was also targeted by rival fans, with some questioning whether City’s huge investment in him was justified after just one competitive appearance.
Ultimately, City will need to determine whether Anderson’s poor showing was simply an off day or whether Maresca needs to change how he uses his £115 million signing.
