MAN CITY 1 – 0 Stoke – PLAYER RATINGS
15 May
Hart - One outstanding save to deny Kenwyne Jones when the striker was through on goal, but otherwise untested. Distribution was far too hurried and wayward - 7
Richards - Although Etherington clearly wasn’t fully fit, Micah gave him no joy at all. Bombed on as much as he could, but did his primary job, defending, very well. A mountain in the air - 8
Kompany - Jones is a tricky customer but, for the most part, Kompany handled him well. Solid under the late aerial onslaught. Should have done better with his shot in the first half - 7
Lescott - Raised his game for the big occasion. Handled threat of Jones and Walters very well, save for letting the former Sunderland man through on goal in the second half. Got his head to many of Delap’s throws and Stoke’s corners. Starting to show the form which convinced Hughes to buy him - 8
Kolarov - Pennant was Stoke’s liveliest outfield player but Aleks did fairly well to contain him. Offered us a great attacking outlet down the left, although opted to shoot from a ridiculous angle early in the second half. Sent a free-kick miles over - 6.5
De Jong - Sloppy in possession a few times but more than made up for it with countless interceptions and tackles. Best holding midfield in the world, although someone should tell him, just because he’s scored once recently doesn’t mean he must shoot more often! - 8
Barry - Very impressive against United and again at Wembley on Saturday. Rose to the challenge and it is games like this where his experience shows. Worked tirelessly, passing was good and kept the ball ticking over - 8
Y. Touré - Two huge goals in two huge games is the reason we splashed out so much on Yaya. In the big games, it’s imperative the big players step up the mark and with his goal here, Yaya did. Apart from that, and his long-range effort, he was otherwise fairly anonymous - 7
Silva - If only he could finish! His touch, movement, control and finesse are all outstanding but it’s just his shooting which he needs to work on. Total lack of confidence in front of goal, but otherwise very impressive - 8
Balotelli - When he plays like this, it’s easy to see why he is so highly rated. A fantastic, man of the match performance, full of pace, trickery, desire and heart. Tracked back superbly to help out Kolarov, tested Sorensen with a couple of shots, and it was his backheel in the box that caused the mayhem from which Yaya’s goal ensued - 9
Tévez - Mancini gambled in playing him from the start and the gamble paid off. Worked tirelessly, stretching the Stoke defence with his movement. Drifted out wide left often in the first half which created plenty of space for others. Possibly the last time we see him in a City shirt - 8
Subs
A. Johnson - Very attacking sub from Mancini and as soon as he came on, we scored. Not involved a great deal - 6
Zabaleta - Kolarov was favoured ahead of him for his extra height at set-pieces and no doubt Zaba would have been annoyed at missing out. But he’s a true squad player and would have cherished the win - No time to mark
Vieira - The last time he will appear in a major final so it was fitting for him to take a part in the game, albeit for only a minute or so. Has graced the English game so well and deserved another trophy - No time to mark
out of them all.. balo surprise me most. he has just show why Mancini bought him.. will like to see more of him.Congrats to all man city fan in whole world… i was once a laughing stuff here in Nigeria. but am happy i can laugh at them now.. he who laugh last laugh best
think that u r being very very harsh on Kolarov and defo to kind to lescott he was the 1 who wasnt good enough wen jones forced hart into a save 8 for richards he was markin an injured player and didnt do that much goin forward
Just wanted to say mate, i write for a living, and am a fervent blue, and look for your blogs ratings and thoughts after every game. I really appreciate the way you write and think your opinions (by and large
) are spot on. Thanks very much for the entertainment and your view of the blues. Long may it continue.
John, you are spot on as well!
The defence as a whole get a collective 8 from me. The competent and composed way they dealt the aerial challenge that Stoke did manage to muster showed why we have kept 27 clean sheets this year.
The midfield as a unit also get an eight from me though I feel as though your praise of Yaya is somewhat grudgingly at best. To claim he was fairly anonymous apart from ‘the goal’ and a long range effort makes me wonder that because you have critised him in the past that you cannot praise him too highly when the man actually becomes the legend he now is. His goal has just wiped out 35 years of derision and hurt, give him some credit man!
The front two of Balotelli and Tevez were outstanding yesterday and get a 8.5 of me for their general work-rate and a flash of brillance (the back heel in the build-up to the goal) from Balotelli. He has made up for the absolute pig’s ear of a night he had at home to Kiev.
No matter from which angle Yaya is looked upon, he is a game-changing player that very few players with the same physique in the world [if indeed any] posses his qualities. And Mancini’s faith in him in every game is a testament to this fact. Everyone did a great job to win FA CUP and as long as I am concerned if the “end” is delievered, each one get a 10 in my book.
Micah played amazingly once again. I am interested to see what Mancini does this summer in order to help our defense. He will, without a doubt, buy a defender, but I wonder if it will be a center back or a left back. Kolarov has done a decent job going forward, but I think we need a stronger left back, and more depth, if we are going to compete in the league, domestic cups, and the Champions League. He can solve this buy buying a defender like Aly Cissokho from Lyon, or he can buy a center back. He does have Jerome Boateng coming back from injury next season also, and he started at left back for Germany in the World Cup, although he is predominantly right -footed and prefers center back
I agree with your comments in general. I thought it was an excellent all round performance although I would like to see us be more emphatic winners when we dominate like that.
Oh Silva! You are so right that this guy has everthing EXCEPT the ability/confidence to finish in front of goal. Same for DeJong whose shooting is woeful. Surely these two could be brought in for extra shooting practice over the summer. They are world beaters in every other respect. Lets not forget Kompany who is fantastic but that shot in the 1st half was diabolical. What about bringing back Franny Lee as a coach? Now there’s a fella who knew where the goal was.
On the shooting front…
Silva (as much as I hat to say it) clearly doesn’t have the confidence in front of goal – but that CAN be worked on.
De Jong and Kompany’s respective shots weren’t that bad, the only issue was that they both side-footed when laces through the leather (or whatever material) of the ball was what was required. That is what is to be expected from those that aren’t expected to shoot. Tevez, Balo, Yaya would have put the laces through. These two maybe need to have a bit of technique training – again, CAN be worked on.
All in all, this is a project that is very much “in progress”. If we do not have anything to work on, we cannot improve.
As for the ratings, a bit low on Aleks and a bit high on Lescott (very weak against Jones), apart from that, I agree.
Was at the game Saturday and I think your assessments of the players’ performances are pretty accurate. I agree Mario was definitely MoM, the only other City player I felt came close was Joleon. I thought he had an immense game and won pretty much every high ball that came anywhere near Jones. Has definitely improved with the game time he has been given since Kolo’s ban. We played as though we wanted to win and Stoke, by and large, didn’t really get a look-in. Still, I was howling for the whistle on 88 mins to the end – loved the day. Uwe in the Green Man was brilliant!!
I had thought that Micah, Zabletta and Lescott might be on the way out when mancini took over, but they are 3 players who seem to have really benefitted defensively under his guidance. Hughes seems to turn good defenders bad.
You can’t blame de Jong. Every time he gets the ball and a bit of space, everyone is shouting “SHOOT!” at him now.
As for Balotelli, he gives me the helter skelter of brilliance / rubbishness that, as a City fan, I still secretly crave. He kept a cool head when elbowed by Huth, and he was as cool as a cucumber when Ferdinand and Anderson were getting themselves in trouble after losing to City in the semi-final. He’s criticised for not celebrating, then was attacked by red shirted baboons when he did. He walked away, looking at the floor, except for a little wink. Nice touch. Park where you like, you’ll soon have the freedom of the city.
Yaya’s agent is an idiot, which made me think he wouldn’t come to City. When he did, I thought he’d be rubbish. I get the feeling he really loves it here, and loves scoring goals rather than being a defensive midfielder. The surprise of the season.
I ahve no need to comment as everything you have said is absolutely spot on!!!
I expected to be watching the whole match through my fingers, but it turned out to be a 1-0 pasting. If such a thing exists.
‘m glad to see Vieria get another FA cup winners medal. Its good to have him to steady the ship when we are trying to hang on to a lead. I hope he stays at city to do his coaching badges.
wallpass how was jolean the only other player who came close stoke had 1 clear cut chance which was because of him we need him out hes a liability 80% of the time
Hey Josh, I agree that Lescott did allow Jones to get the wrong side of him for Stoke’s only chance. But other than that one instance I thought he had a great game, really solid – IMHO.