MAN CITY 3 – 3 Sunderland – PLAYER RATINGS
1 Apr
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Hart - Could not have done much for any of the three goals and was otherwise completely untested. Yesterday was the first time he has conceded three in a game this season - 5.5
Richards - Looked to bomb forward as much as possible in the first half, before injury curtailed his afternoon. Allowed Sessegnon to cut inside far too easily in the build up to Sunderland’s opening goal - 5
K. Touré - After a few impressive performances, he seemed hesitant, uncertain and troubled. Lacked any assurance defensively, although he did better when bringing the ball forward - 5
Kompany - We had been waiting for his return but it seemed as if he had been rushed back a touch prematurely. Normally so authoritative, he struggled against the height of Bendtner and the pacey movement of Sessegnon - 5
Kolarov - Defensively, he was his usual poor self, failing to track Larsson’s run for the third goal and looking all at sea. Going forward, he put in a few dangerous crosses, although I still believe he needs to actually pick out a man rather than flash the ball across at pace. His delivery makes him look good but doesn’t lead to many opportunities for our strikers - 5
De Jong - One of his worst displays this season. In the side to break up play and provide cover for the defence, but failed to do either. Left vast gaps behind our midfield which Sunderland exploited superbly - 4.5
Milner - In the first half, I felt he was the only City player to actually show some desire and intent to make things happen. Always wanted to break beyond the midfield, but was then shifted to rightback and he looked uncomfortable against the pace and strength of McClean - 5.5
Y. Touré - Couldn’t control the game as usually does and strangely for Yaya, he was physically shrugged off the ball plenty of times by the likes of Cattermole and Larsson. Passing wasn’t great and lacked the guile to break Sunderland down - 4.5
Silva - Again, worryingly off form. Always looking to be involved but the final touch, as has so often been the case recently, was missing. Perhaps just needs a goal to boost his confidence, but it’s tough to imagine where that will come from at the moment - 5
Balotelli - Scored a sublime second goal late on which made the rest of his performance so frustrating. We know he is capable of such brilliance, but he produces it far too rarely and seemed disinterested throughout. Slotted home his penalty with customary composure but not his greatest day - 5
Džeko - One rasping shot which Mignolet tipped over but otherwise very little to note. Doesn’t offer enough movement and his partnership with Balotelli just hasn’t clicked - 5
Subs
A. Johnson - Brought on at half time but once again failed to impress. Received the ball in plenty of space on occasions but couldn’t get the better of Colback - 5
Tévez - Added some impetus and energy to our attacks but like many of his teammates, the end product wasn’t there. With another week’s training under his belt, he could be a contender to start against Arsenal - 6
Pizarro - My man of the match, which, considering he was only on the pitch for fifteen minutes, says everything about the performance of the team. A number of exquisite long-range passes highlighted his ability and, in hindsight, ought to have been brought on earlier - 6.5
Everyone except Pizzaro ,who should get a nod in starting 11 till Silva is back, was pathetic. What amazes me is that what the scouts saw in this piece of Junk Kolarov that warranted his fee. 3 free kicks right on the box, numerous opportunities to send a decent cross got wasted before he can score a goal. I would not fault super Mario for trying to stop him from taking the free kick.Not to mention he constantly fails defensively. I thought it was a relief to get rid of that creature JO but it seems we have now his AVATAR.
Kompany works so much better with lescott than with kolo. Thought Kolorov was better than a 5 yesterday.
Spot on again, inded I gave Pizarro M.O.M. as we were leaving the ground.
The team lacked urgency and passion and with Yaya and De Jong in the centre of midfield everything was slowed down too much and played sideways and back as per. We need to play Milner wide righ, Johnson wide left and change from trying to stroll through the centre of packed defences with little passing moves.
Put Nasri wide right and Milner in CM and now we are talking!
As usual, I agree with most of this. Thought Kolo was excellent yesterday, though. Silva’s form not good
tbh you got totally out played for 75 minutes a brilliant worked professional dive and two wounder strikes got you out of jail
No shit, hence the irritation
Pizarro excellent again. May not have the legs for 90 minutes but he’s worth the first hour or more of the next few games. Barry would have given us more control than DJ or Milner, can’t see a reason for benching him really. Nevertheless a truly depressing capitulation by 11 guys who should have beaten the Mackems out of sight. It was also the kind of performance from Mario that left me depressed about his future prospects with City despite his 2 goals. He is a huge talent but there’s too much of the dark side in there with the naughty boy humour, and I can’t help fearing that he will implode.
You worry me Siamack indeed you do.
Your comments are starting to epitomise what we can read on Rag sights whenever they lose a single game, or heaven forbid, two games even….from the kind of fans who have made them hated for decades. That ‘got to win everything, always someone to blame,’ an attitude that can’t take a set back without putting on the sackcloth and ashes and pouring fire and brimstone on the current player hate target.
Take a deep breath, think back to the play off final against Gillingham and give yourself a reality check pal.
We’ve just dropped the first home points follownig a run of 20 wins on the trot for goodness sake. I can remember a season with Bernard Carradi, Darius Vassel and Stuart Pearce when we never won a home game! Aleks Kolarov would have been a bright shining star in that side and despite his defensive frailties, he produces more going forward than anyone else has for the last 3 games he’s played in.
>>Aleks Kolarov would have been a bright shining star in >>that side and despite his defensive frailties
Firstly, To make sure that we both are on the same page, he is a defender first and foremost and should be able to defend and live up to its price tag as a defender.
>>he produces more going forward than anyone else has for the last 3 games he’s played in.
He can even camp out in the opponents box to have 100% record of pushing forward, it all means no squat if you waste golden opportunities one after the one more often than not. What matter is the end result and much like the game itself.
…pauses for breath……
I have to agree with samiak – Kolarov would have been better focussing on his defensive role rather than fighting with Balotelli to take yet another wasted free kick – after all we were down not only due to a lack lustre performance but because of very poor defending.
Pizzaro rather than silva should have been on from the beginning we needed his drive -