MAN CITY Season Ratings: Defenders
20 May
With the title-winning 2011/12 season now over, what better time than now to analyse the performances of each inidividual throughout the campaign. The reviews and ratings for the midfielders and attackers will be posted in the coming days, whilst the analysis of our goalkeepers is here.
Pablo Zabaleta: 30 games, 1 goal – Another hugely impressive season from the Argentinean, adding an increased attacking flair to his defensive solidity. Has always been strong at the back, never shirking a challenge and providing a sense of reliability down the right, but he also improved his end product in the opposition half throughout the campaign. Was a willing outlet at all times and scored the first goal against QPR in the last match to set us on our way. A leader, a battler and someone whose importance to the squad is recognised by all – Season Rating: 7.5
Micah Richards: 36 games, 1 goal – His omission from the England squad to travel to the European Championships was bizarre, coming as it did after a promising season from Richards. Full of pace and power when attacking, he has worked on his crossing and provided a number of assists over the course of the campaign. Improving at the back with regards to his positioning but if there’s one criticism, it is that he should be scoring more goals. Ought to be a major threat at corners but didn’t score one header all season – Season Rating: 7.5
Kolo Touré: 20 games, 0 goals – A disappointing campaign for Kolo, missing large periods of the season due to his drugs ban, the African Cup of Nations and injury. Still managed twenty appearances and was solid enough though nothing special. A candidate to move on in the summer – Season Rating: 5
Vincent Kompany: 42 games, 3 goals – What a leader! In truth, I felt he struggled in the early stages of the season to match his standards from the year before but after Febraury, he was a rock. In our times of trouble, he was the inspiration who provided strength, the near impenetrable force at the back. For the last month, he was incredible and it was pleasing to see him score the winner against United. Carries himself superbly off the pitch and well as on it. We are fortunate to have him – Season Rating: 9
Joleon Lescott: 41 games, 3 goals – Never receives any praise but was magnificent all season, matching Kompany every step of the way and forming a tremendous partnership in defence. Lacks a yard of pace but makes up for it with his reading of the game and positional sense. Dominant in the air, his mistake in the last game against QPR was uncharacteristic and a rare blip in an otherwise wonderful campaign – Season Rating: 9
Stefan Savic: 19 games, 1 goal – The scapegoat for many as they searched for someone to blame but although he wasn’t up to scratch, he was by no means as poor as often made out. Looked decidedly shaky on occasions, most notably away at Anfield in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final but he’s only 21 and has shown enough talent to persevere with. Would benefit from more experience so a season’s loan is an option, but he’s definitely one we should have patience with – Season Rating: 5
Gael Clichy: 37 games, 0 goals – At only £7million, he slipped under the radar slightly but he’s been outstanding all season and played his part especially towards the end of the campaign. Defensively solid, he rarely gets beaten for pace and wins more headers than imagined. Loves bombing forward and although he could do with working on his crossing, his immense fitness levels enable him to go from end to end until the final whistle. His two assists for Johnson’s goal against Norwich and Yaya’s second away to Newcastle are examples of this and he will only improve – Season Rating: 8.5
Aleks Kolarov: 26 games, 4 goals – A huge disappointment. For all the talk of his thunderous shot, you need more attributes to be a Premier League footballer than being able to kick a ball hard. Scored a couple of important freekicks but defensively he’s abysmal. Has no pace, no positional awareness and fails to stop crosses coming into the box. Will hopefully be moved on in the summer – Season Rating: 5
I love Kolarov
Bit unfair on kolarov there he got us back in to the Sunderland game
hahahahahahahaha lescott matched Kompany ha thats hilarious
City should sell Kolarov and Kolo Touré [provided this does not unsettle Yaya]. Kolarov is one of the worst players/defenders considering his price tag and I think only Joe would top that. We need a solid left back as a cover for Clichy and a world class CB. I have seen Savic playing as RB and he does a far more decent job than a CB. Captain fantastic and Chlichy have been the best of our defenders this season.
I agree on removing Kolarov from the squad, but why are so many fans keen on selling kolo toure? he’s a solid defender with great experience and he would be sorely missed if Lescott or Kompany need a rest or suffer injury. He’s still a fine player and should stay.
Unjustly scathing about Aleks Kolarov.
Just as you were at one time about Yaya until you walked the road to Damascus!
There are 2 people that need to go from this year’s squad as I feel that they are surplus to requirements.
One is Kolarov. He is not a defender. OK, he has a decent left foot on him, but he is paid to defend and that is one thing that he does not do.
The other is Yaya. He has scored 4 important goals in a city shirt which means that he will go down as a City legend (United and Stoke at Wembley, Newcastle at SJP). However, what else has he done apart from this? He makes a couple of runs a game then spends the rest of the time taking the impetus out of attacks by searching for needless one-twos. Yet, somehow, he is seen as the best player in the whole of human history!
just shows how much u know the game……..once yaya is on the ball,he very rarely loses possession-his vision is fantastic,his physical presence and pace for his stature are very rare,his strenght and brute force make him an engine in midfield.
even the author of this post always berated him initially……
he’s tht connecting link btw midfield and the forwards…tell me one attribute he does’nt possess- he defends(strenght more than makes up for his stand tackles)played as defender few ocasions 4 barcelona.
he’s the complete midfield package(look at his distribution,his long pass’s damn accurate),bursts forward attracting defenders creating space 4 others….
he even finishes better than edin dzeko….
the only thing ppl notice is he’s very lazy off the ball not showing commitment…….but not everyone is a tevez with continous aggression……. he rather shows controlled bursts of aggression.
HE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE PLAYERS RIGHT NOW……
Indeed there is no a single player in world like Yaya that can be lethal as an attacking midfielder and yet a world class defensive mid-fielder. The uncompromising faith of Mancini and his staff in Yaya, the unequivocal testimony of over 99% of soccer pundits/critics on his second-to-none abilities leave no room not to notice of his immense influence on City except the one oblivious of semantics of football.
It is interesting to know that City’s slump and loss of points happened when Yaya was gone and City’s close-call in the final game came only when Yaya had to leave due to his injury.
We won 5 out of 6 in the league when he left for africa, we lost 2 then drew 2 in feb/March when he played in all the games then he missed west brom and most of Norwich where our form returned. Hes an excellent player, but he isnt God
That is exactly the point you just made that he is an excellent player and putting him in the same class as Kolarov is outrageous. Kolarov has been nothing more than a flop so far and I do hope that if he is not sold, he can step up his game much like Lescott did.
I don’t think any of us believe Kolarov’s defensive abilities will ever stand up to the mark