Aston Villa 0 – 1 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
13 Feb
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Hart - Virtually a spectator for 90 minutes until he produced a breathtaking stop to deny Darren Bent and secure the three points for City. Again, showed his immense concentration - 7
Zabaleta - Completely nullified the threat of Albrighton with a superb defensive showing, winning his tackles and proving a solid proposition down our right. Managed to get forward, too, and tested Given with one well-hit effort - 7.5
Kompany - Bent and Keane were expected to pose us problems but they were very much on the periphery of the game. Our captain was quick to the tackle, comfortable in possession and dominant in the air - 7
Lescott - Against the club he supported growing up, he produced a hugely impressive all-round display. Positionally aware, read the game well and popped up with that all important goal. Showed a striker’s instinct to be in the right place for Barry’s knock-down and did well to keep his shot from going over - 8
Kolarov - Time after time he gets into promising attacking positions but almost always fails to provide an end product. Struggles to beat a man due to his lack of pace and was troubled defensively when N’Zogbia came on - 6
De Jong - For me, his best performance of the season. Was tidy in possession, quickly into tackles and provided a superb shield to the defence. When we were pressing in the first half, he was arguably superfluous but once we had the lead, his ability to read the game and stop Keane and Bent receiving the ball was invaluable - 8
Barry - Has found it tough playing against Villa since leaving them but was outstanding yesterday. A huge presence in the centre of the park, his reading of play was first class, his passing crisp and he provided an extra body in attack. Provided the assist for Lescott’s goal and deserving on the man of the match award - 8.5
Milner - Operated from the left for much of the game and looked uncomfortable. Understandably, kept cutting back onto his right foot which meant heading towards a much busier area. Put in a tremendous shift as expected, but didn’t have the impact he often does - 6
A. Johnson - Apart from one shot which struck the post, he was completely anonymous. Carlos Cuellar was playing in an unfamiliar leftback role but was impressive in nullifying Johnson. The winger struggled to link up with Aguero or Silva and made very little impression - 5.5
Silva - Controlled the pace of the game in the first half, when his fluid movement confused the Villa backline. He looked full of creativity and although he faded a touch in the second period, he was still the most likely to make the breakthrough - 7.5
Aguero - Given the thankless task of waging a lone war against Dunne and Collins, but worked tirelessly to stretch them and create space for others. Shooting was wayward and he seemed isolated on occasions but was a thorn in Villa’s backsides throughout - 7
Subs
Nasri - Replaced Johnson with a couple of minutes to go - No time to mark
Džeko - Injury time substitution - No time to mark
Richards - See Dzeko! - No time to mark
Thought Alex was poor again Sunday. 5 at best. AJ. Well the teams moved on but he’s stayed still. Pity cos he could be quality
I just don’t understand where all this negative talk of Kolarov comes from! He is solid enough defensively, admittedly not quite as assured as clichy, but I would have him in that left back every game other than when faced with lightning fast wingers. It’s not that he is slow, because he isn’t, just clichy is quicker! I was at the spurs game and couldn’t believe how negative clichy is, making overlapping runs then always passing back, never crossing or taking on opponents. Whereas Aleks is always an option on the left, puts in lots of dangerous crosses and pops in with a few important goals! What’s more his free kicks aren’t bad either! That’s now 2 in a row he has started, think Mancini might be beginning to agree!
Secondly I have to mention GB and Lescott, the later for me this season has looked as good as if not better than Kompany even! He is dominant in the air and although not quite as good on the ball as Vinny, is less rash at times which I think Vinny is culpurable for at times in big games where he makes refs make a decision. Barry again was class, as he has been all season. For me one of the best midfielders in the league. Xavi like in his passing decent going forward and always there defending when under pressure. People say yaya is important, but Gareth is too, take him away and we become unstuck, as he allows the others like silva and Aguero to do their thing.
Kolarov was solid enough defensively name me a game he has been assured in defence he is a liability to back 4, and clichy gives us a good option down the left aswell as kolarov, but he checks back because whats the point in putting the ball in the box when theres nobody there? and mancini should start dzeko if hes playing kolarov to give us that threat the only thing hes good at is his free kicks other than that he is a really poor left back be a good left winger though and dont agree with your vinny making the refs make a decision that was one game and that was never a red
I appreciate your comments Bluemoon, but if you want security in the form of solid defending at left back why not play zabaleta? For me clichy is neither here nor there compared with our other options, not as good defensively as Pablo and far less attacking and threatening than Kolarov, don’t you agree? Also I believe in away games when opponents park the bus, we lack width, something which Kolarov provides in abundance.
On the contrary, Except the Chelsea game where Clichy was troubled by Sturridge, he has been a very solid defender unlike Kolarov who is anything but a defender. with way Kolarov is playing, he should be third choice LB behind Clichy and Zaballeta.
Couldn’t agree more Ollie! My assessment is that Kolarov is much much more productive in an attacking sense and Clichy is the better option defensively. What fustrates me is that Clichy is dubbed as an attacking full-back but the problem is that he cant cross to save himself and attacks with short, negative passes until opposition pressure gets to him. Surely Kolarov is the better option, hopefully he can recapture his form of earlier in the season and propel us to glory.
You cannot say that Barry has been playing like he did on Sunday all season. That is just wrong. Rewind 3-4 weeks against Liverpool and he couldn’t pass water. As for him being one of the best midfield players in the prem, well, that’s a very poor shout.
who cares we won and we needed that 3 points to keep united fans mouth shut.end off. blue moon is going to rise end of the season. come on city. for porto game i would select. Hart. Richard.Kompany.Kolo Toure.Clichy.Yaya.Barry.Nasri.Silva*. Aguero & Dzeko. we have to win the first leg.