MAN CITY 4 – 3 Wolves – PLAYER RATINGS
16 Jan
Hart - Could not have done anything to prevent the goals, although he didn’t quite command his area as he has done recently. Made one superb close-range stop from Milijas just before the first goal - 6
Zabaleta - Chosen ahead of Boateng for the right-back role but in the first half, just had one of those days. Missed all his tackles, struggled to cope with channel running of Fletcher and Doyle and failed to get forward. Improved in second half and provided assist for Tévez’s second goal - 6
K. Touré - Partially at fault for opening goal by Milijas when his weak clearance rebounded off Kompany but made amends by scoring at the other end to draw us level. Like rest of defence, found Fletcher and Doyle a real handful - 6
Kompany - Not his usual commanding and authoritative self but managed OK. Struggled to impose himself against a combative and hardworking Wolves front line but looked a threat from our attacking set-pieces - 6
Kolarov - His best game for the club. Going forward, he was as prominent as normal, providing a useful outlet down the left and linking very well with Barry. But it was his defensive improvement that pleased me the most. Couple of great blocks and better positioning - 8
De Jong - Found the going tough in the early stages as he struggled to impose himself but improved as the game went on. Kept things ticking over nicely in midfield which meant that there was no need for the crunching tackles or forward forays - 6
Y. Touré - I’ve been a huge critic of the Ivorian recently but on Saturday, he was far better than in previous games. Dangerous threat when going forward, and his bursts actually made one goal and nearly another. More of the same please, Yaya - 7.5
Barry - Played an important role in the second half as he passed the ball well and provided defensive support whenever Kolarov bombed on. Game passed him by in first period - 6
A. Johnson - Given a chance whilst Silva stayed on the bench but failed to take it. Couple of dangerous moments, but not nearly enough. With Džeko in the box, he has a target for his crosses, but too often he tried to dribble and eventually lost the ball - 5.5
Tévez - Led by example. When the going is tough, Carlos tries to do it on his own, and fortunately for us, it worked. First half was poor but improvement after the break was dramatic. Scored one sublime goal and helped to set up another before capping off his day with a well-taken header. Days like this prove just how valuable he is - 8.5
Džeko - As far as débuts go, this wasn’t quite up there with the Djamel Belmadi’s of this world, but it was impressive nonetheless. Powerful and very good at holding up the ball, Džeko brought Tévez and others into play often. Not much chance to display his goalscoring prowess but that will come in time - 7.5
Subs
Lescott - Reckless and foolish challenge on Doyle was catalyst for Wolves comeback. Looked slow and lethargic during his time on pitch. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that Boateng should be given a run at centre-back - 4
Silva - Nice to see him return, albeit briefly - No time to mark
Milner - Time wasting sub - No time to mark
Agree with you Steven, for once! Hart was poor though in my opinion, didnt command anything, took too long to get rid of the ball and his distribution was iffy.
Thought Yaya was completely average though bar a couple of good runs. He gave the ball away far too easily AGAIN.
Kolarov…..GOD
Tevez was outstanding and Barry made a big impression on the second half which was great to see after a dismal first half.
Very impressive but still need to get to the training ground and work on defending set pieces.
Pretty much spot on with the ratings, including Yaya’s of whom I know we have a slight difference of opinion on. I must also say that I have gone along with the manager in his choosing Lescott over Boateng when his favourite pairing of Toure/Kompany is unavailable, but I hope he is seriously reconsidering it now. I’m not saying Lescott is that bad at centre back, it’s his best position imo, but yesterday he looked like a week link when he come on and his decision to go through the back of somebody running away from goal belied his experience. I think it is Boateng’s age and experience which his counting against him at the minute, but I think come next season he will always be considered before Lescott, and on yesterday showing it could be even sooner.
Yaya should play only 1 game per week to be of any use and Mancini should rest him for incoming FA game this week.
Been checking your markings for a number of weeks and generally agree. Have to say though that I just cant see howyou managed to mark Yaya so high as once again he looked lazy apart from his now usual 3 or 4 sprints and even managed to loose the ball to their keeper in our half.
Just as a naive oversight like the one by Lescott almost cost us a sure winner. Those 3 or 4 sprints by Yaya in every game leads to great goal-scoring opportunities. I consider Everton as a “non-lazy” team that has working very very hard at least for the past two seasons (including this one) and look where they sit in the table! What matters is the ends not the means as the ends justify the means. No matter how you see Yaya “Lazy” or “hyper-active”, it is well within his abilities to deliver even if “the means” are no more than 3 or 4 sprints.
I agree with all of your ratings, and just responding to the comments I think that Micah Richards should actually be our third choice center back after King Kolo and Kompany. Richards is the youngest defender ever to cap for England and he is still the brightest English defender prospect. He is only 22 years old just like Boateng and Richards is known to be a leader. He has captained all the youth ranks of the England squad and has captained City the fourth-most times out of any player on the current squad (Tevez Toure and Given are ahead of him). Richards needs to be on the field for us at either right or center back due to the fact that he is miles better than Zabs and I think he is much more athletic and dynamic than Boateng going forward.
You are all missing the fundimental point.
we do not havce a commanding centre half.
Once we got rid of lard arse Dunne we should have gone
for a seven foot brick shithouse.
we got pulverised at Leicester from every corner.
Toure is fat and shit, cannot jump.
Samba ?? not cultured but can at least head the ball.
Kompany?
BOOM! Yes Steven! Haha! Silenced him there! My thoughts that Garth Crooks is mad were also confirmed when Zaba got in his team of the week! Surely someone played better than him!!