MAN CITY Season Ratings: Strikers
27 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 analysis of our goalkeepers is here, the review of our defenders here and the summary of our midfielders here.
Edin Dzeko: 42 games, 18 goals – A wildly inconsistent presence up front, at times looking like a world class target man yet often resembling a more expensive version of Bernardo Corradi (without the inventive goal celebrations). When on form, as he was in the 5-1 drubbing of Spurs, he seems to be the perfect striker: strong in the air, pacy over twenty yards, a natural finisher, brings others into play, links well with those around him. But then he goes a game without scoring and loses all confidence.
At that stage, he is abysmal. His first touch is hopeless and it’s a struggle to see him toil away. He’s someone who benefits from crosses into the box which he can then attack such is his aerial prowess, but that isn’t the way we play and he suffers as a result. Scored the important equaliser against QPR to provide a glimmer of hope but there are strong rumours linking him with a move away from the Blues. Season Rating: 7
Carlos Tévez: 15 games, 4 goals – As with all of our strikers, I could dedicate a whole piece to Tévez rather than just a couple of paragraphs. Even before ‘that night in Munich’, he had made a poor start to the season. He had returned late from international duty and was struggling for match fitness, missing a penalty against Wigan and generally lacking sharpness. Then came the debacle in Germany.
He decided to solve the problem by heading off to Argentina to work on his golf swing, letting down his manager, teammates and fans in the process and leaving the other players to put in extra hard yards throughout the season to make up for his absence. He did return eventually, setting up the winning goal for Nasri against Chelsea and making an impressive impact in the final six games of the season. The quality on the pitch is still there, as it always has been, but I believe it would be best for all concerned if he were to leave in the summer. Season Rating: 5
Mario Balotelli: 31 games, 17 goals – Ah Mario. A season full of fireworks, T-Shirts, moments of madness, glimpses of talent, *the* most important assist and more. If we remove his off-field antics from the equation, it’s been a decent season for Balotelli. His goals return is excellent bearing in mind the number of games he has played and he has shown, yet again, what a big-game player he is. The opener against Everton, the strike away to Napoli, the last-minute penalty v Spurs, the first one at Chelsea, the opening couple in the 6-1 and then his impact in the final game versus QPR all spring to mind, highlighting his talent and potential, but making it all the more frustrating we don’t witness it on a more regular basis.
And then you throw in his volatile temperament, the red card v Arsenal and the stamp on Scott Parker and you realise he is such a complicated character. If, and that is a huge ‘if’, he settled down, matured and started to make the most of his undoubted ability, we would have a world class player on our books, but patience amongst many fans is wearing thin. I certainly feel he’s worth persevering with as there aren’t many players who get you on the edge of your seat and offer a genuine goal threat as such a young age but he does need to buckle down and understand what he must do. I, for now, have faith in him. Season Rating: 7
Sergio Aguero: 47 games, 30 goals – My player of the season and that was decided even before the goal against QPR! A superb campaign by anyone’s standards, it was made even impressive by the fact it was his first in the Premier League and he is only 23. To score 30 goals is an incredible achievement and the one that turned our dreams into a reality encapsulated why these top players cost so much. The composure in taking the extra touch to avoid Taiwo’s challenge was phenomenal and he has forever written his name into City’s record books.
But his overall game is about more than just goals. Added to his nine assists was his movement, constantly stretching the opposition defence, making space for himself and for others. He is the ultimate team player, working hard at closing down the defence, linking up superbly with those around him and he seems a wonderfully natured character as well. We are incredibly fortunate to have him. Season Rating: 9
Spot on with everything. Aguero is a prize asset and i’d certainly keep all of the above if possible
I agree with much of what you write, though I think that you seriously exaggerate how poor Dzeko sometimes can be.
Some information for the Premier league this season:
According to the Castrol Edge Ranking of every player in Europe’s top five leagues (based purely on “objective data on the positive or negative impact on his team of every touch by a player”), Dzeko is 8, Aguero is 27 and Balotelli is 236. (Van Persie is the only Premier League player above Dzeko.)
Excluding penalties, the Minutes per Goal were 107 for Dzeko, 133 for Balotelli and 129 for Aguero.
Up to the end of April, Dzeko had converted 50% of Clear-Cut Chances (as defined by Opta Stats), whereas Aguero had converted 48% and Balotelli 40%.
The Minutes per Assist were 301 for Dzeko, 257 for Aguero and 1329 for Balotelli.
Perhaps the most important fact is that Aguero has a MUCH higher strike rate when partnered with Dzeko than with Balotelli (i.e., LOTS of goals versus just 1 goal, albeit a crucial one!).
I believe that, with astute management, Aguero and Dzeko have the potential to become as good a strike partnership as I have seen in 60 years (and I don’t mean just for City).
VFAB – do be serious, Edin a more expensive version of Bernard Corradi indeed? Your whole piece loses credence when you make comments as unworthy and shallow as that!
Furthermore, if you can remember Bernards goal celebration good for you, I must have been admiring his missus on that occasion!
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A good response ‘Shiners’.
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Edin Dzeko can frustrate sometimes when he is having to play the kind of game that least suits his attributes. He does ‘back to goal’ and hold up play well, he is much stronger than he gets credit for and never gets bullied these days. Where he excels is in getting into the right plces at the right time to make the easy finishes. He is close to establishing himself as a great goal scorer rather than a scorer of great goals and should become an essential piece of the puzzlwe over the next few years.
memo to self:
Must remember to proof read
What does a player need to do to get a 10!!
Be named Vincent Kompany!
He only rated him a 9!!!
I guess its only the league we won
No player deserved a 10 if im honest, as no one was 100% consistent throughout the season. If Silva continued his form from before Christmas or Kompany started the season as well as he finished it, then maybe.
City should not sell Dezko. I do agree he has been inconsistent at times but we should remember he was benched when he was sizzling with goals and any player in his place would take a hit on the confidence. With all said, he is a great player. What City needs to do ,instead of selling him, is to add the alternative of wing play to our existing style. I could not notice how poor we are when it comes to crosses. God knows how many corners we had during QPR on top of crosses sent into the box till we got two of them right [balo and Dezko].
It is also about time to include a couple of promising academy players such as Guidetti into the squad and cut our losses for our drama queen tevez.
Well said Shining Blue Moon . Give me Dzeko over Ballotelli any day of the week . Ballotelli is not a team player , he shoots almost everytime he gets the ball and never brings our midfield into play . Its not only Aguero who suffers when he plays , silva and nasri are far better players when Ballotelli has done something ridiculous and got himself suspended . I cant understand why city fans seem to like him so much . The guys had 2 asissts all season for gods sake !
I think Dzeko and Aguero play really well together. It’s clear the Dzeko & Balotelli partnership doesn’t work as neither of them are willing to come and receive the ball.
What really sums it up for me is the second goal straight from the kick off away at Fulham. Long ball, Dzeko wins the knock down easily, Aguero collects, scores. Simple.
Only issue is his over reliance on his confidence. Dzeko could have had an amazing season had Mancini not taken him out the team when he was on fire. If he works on his confidence he could be outstanding.
Don’t sell Dzeko please Roberto. Ta.