Now that Mancini and Carlos Tévez have followed Mario Balotelli out of the club, the melodrama levels at City may have dropped. Pellegrini does not appear one for politics, for inconsistencies in dealing with players. There will be fewer fireworks off the field but plenty on it, judging by this display.
Some judgment must be reserved until City face opponents with less of an open-door policy defensively than Newcastle. Steven Taylor is not half the defender he thinks he is and may contemplate his limitations during a three-match ban for clothes-lining Agüero with Newcastle losing 2-0. It was not the most violent offence but it was an act of folly. With Jonás Gutiérrez having limped off with a hamstring injury, and Yohan Cabaye not in the right mood to play after Arsenal's bid, Newcastle were in disarray.
Their loyal fans, 1,700 of whom travelled to witness some hapless defending, bayed their anger at the end, beseeching the club to spend some money. Some lay the blame at the door of the manager's office but it is hard to escape the belief that Alan Pardew has been undermined, so creating a mood of uncertainty. The players must wonder who is the real powerbroker, Pardew or the director of football Joe Kinnear. It is an unhealthy situation. Kinnear seems manager-in-waiting, further creating doubt around the dressing room.
Pardew deserves better. So do the fans.
Newcastle need to recover quickly and stand united, performing with the same passion as those faithful 1,700. Whatever new mess the club manufacture, the Newcastle fans turn up, buying their season-tickets even in the knowledge that they will be treated to a season of frustration. They buy the shirt even if the name on the front has brought controversy to the club. Newcastle's support are the conscience of a club that too often takes them for granted. They sang loudly as much in defiance as expectation.
Newcastle need some of the players to show more leadership. Too many disappeared yesterday. Taylor disappeared down the tunnel just before the break. A good full-back in Mathieu Debuchy was particularly poor. Only Krul emerged with any credit, standing tall in the teeth of the City storm. He did well to keep the score down to 4-0.
This was a night when City showed their class on and off the pitch. The club produced a wonderful 16-page supplement to the late, great Bert Trautmann, even including a copy of the 1956 FA Cup final programme. All the fans, City and Newcastle, then joined in an emotional minute's applause to Trautmann.
The moment the game started, City demonstrated their new-found zeal under Pellegrini. They played with pace and panache, counter-attacking irresistibly, heavyweights pummelling middleweights with powerful combinations, taking the lead within six minutes. Debuchy was far too laissez-faire in reacting to Dzeko's drive to the goal-line, Taylor did his posed statue impression and the ball diverted to Silva, whose header flew into the net. Pellegrini punched the air two-fisted, an image that will be seen again and again this season.
City fans were being royally entertained, even being treated to an elegant piece of defending by Joleon Lescott, who timed his dispossession of Hatem Ben Arfa well. City's other centre-half, Vincent Kompany, also stole the ball after 22 minutes and charged upfield before finding Dzeko. A nimble flick carried it on to Agüero, who outpaced Taylor easily before angling a shot back in across Krul.
City continued to hurt Newcastle. There was no mercy, no let up in their intensity. Taylor handled an Agüero ball and escaped a penalty but then departed for a straight-arm swing at the Argentine.
The pain continued after the break. Only Krul prevented a humiliation. He somehow saved a header from Dzeko but had no chance after 50 minutes when Touré swept in that superb free-kick. Cue that celebration from Pellegrini, who risks a repetitive strain injury.
City then suffered a blow when Kompany slid in to challenge Sammy Ameobi and tweaked his left adductor muscle. Newcastle continued to suffer, Nasri pouncing on more defending by Debuchy glide through and place the ball past Krul.
Navas continued to shine down the right, lifting in another pinpoint cross. Dzeko outjumped Newcastle's defence but headed over. The stats at that time showed that City had 17 efforts on goal to Newcastle's four. Pellegrini sent on Negredo for Silva with City now almost 4-2-4.
Negredo soon won a corner, whipped in by Nasri, which continued to City's new No9, who belted the ball in. Peter Banks, the assistant referee, signalled offside on Negredo, rather harshly. No matter. Negredo will not need to wait long for his first goal. City are playing that well.
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