Real Madrid 3 – 2 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
19 Sep
Hart - Returns to Manchester with his reputation improved after an excellent, thwarting display. Felt as if he fought a lone battle against the home side on occasions but made the saves to keep us in the game. Will be disappointed with being beaten at his near post for the second goal but helpless for the third after Kompany bizarrely ducked out of the way - 8
Maicon - A surprising selection ahead of Pablo Zabaleta but he was brought in to add European experience and so Roberto Mancini clearly had no hesitancy in giving him a go. However, he seriously struggled against the dual threat of Marcelo and Ronaldo, partly down to his own defensive frailties but also because he received little or no cover. Not helped out by his teammates but it wasn’t his finest hour - 4.5
Kompany - Continued his recent unsteady form. Similar to the beginning of last season when he seemed off the pace, he has looked uncertain during this campaign and he ought to have done far better for both Marcelo’s opener and also Ronaldo’s winner. He’ll improve soon enough but his poor form at present is a major factor as to why we are struggling defensively - 5
Nastasic - A shock debutant but he handled himself well, for the most part, on such a significant occasion. Seemed composed in possession and read the game well but tired towards the end and was punished by Benzema for not getting tight enough for the second goal – 6.5
Clichy – One of the better performers, coping well with the tactical reshuffle and looking sharp to the tackle. Has that yard of pace which is so crucial to prevent counter-attacks and covered well for those around him - 7
Garcia – A very average display from the new man, failing to offer sufficient support for Maicon out wide and not being able to stop the constant Real Madrid pressure. Couldn’t prevent countless balls being played to the feet of the home side’s strikers and needed to impose himself more on the game - 5
Barry - Still searching, understandably, for full match fitness but he did a solid job in front of the defence, covering well down City’s left and although he was unable to gain a foothold in the midfield battle, he worked hard and managed to get forward, too, in the second half - 7
Y. Touré - A midfield powerhouse when he surges forward and his bursts enabled the pressure to be relieved from our defence. Posed a threat whenever he had the ball but wasted an excellent opportunity to make the score 2-0 before Real went up the other end and equalised - 7.5
Nasri - Struggled to make any impression on the game before he was injured. Needed to hold onto the ball better to make our limited possession in the early stages count - 5
Silva - Made the most of his brief time in possession, dragging defenders towards him to create space for others. Held on to the ball well when he had it but couldn’t make any creative breakthrough. Worked hard but replaced by Edin Dzeko - 6.5
Tévez - A tireless runner all game but lacked any support in attack in the first half and remained isolated until the introduction of Dzeko. That allowed him to drop deeper and become more involved - 6
Subs
Kolarov – Scored the free-kick that put us ahead for the second time but was otherwise abysmal. Wasted a number of attacking opportunities with his poor touch and gave away possession on numerous occasions. Always offers a set-piece threat but his general play is very poor, to say the least - 5
Džeko - Made a difference when he came on, posing a threat to Real Madrid’s defenders and keeping them occupied. Took his one goal chance very well, aided by Casillas going to ground early - 6.5
Zabaleta - Skinned far too easily by Ronaldo for the third goal and seemed generally unsure of his position. Bombed forward and ought to have scored but left far too much space on the right which was eventually exploited - 5.5
Nastasic 7.5, Yaya toure 8.5, Barry 5!
Nastasic looks very impressive!
CANNOT BELIEVE YOU!???
Nastastic had an awesome debut, Garcia was absolutely quality, a far more able De Jong and deserved at least 7.5. He wasnt supposed to be supporting Maicon the whole game, Nasri was and then the formation changed. Garcia ably kept Alonso quiet which was his job? How Barry got more than garcia is an absolute travesty! And as for Kolarov….he changed the game! Remember that influential last ditch attack when Clichy was well out of position? The Telegraph even gave him an 8?! Clichy no way near a 7!
Shouldnt let your personal opinions of a player obscure how well they actually did.
I tend to agree with your final comment. VFAM does tend to allow his personal opinions of a player influence his comments. For instance,
Nasri “struggled” and was given a 5
Kompany was “off the pace” and “unsteady” but got a 5
Garcia was “very average” and was given a 5
Kolarov was “abysmal” and was given a 5.
That’s the Kolarov who certainly had a some heavy touches early and so bombed a couple of opportunities to do something useful, but who also got to grips with the game and in a match of limited opportunity was consistently the best attacking outlet along with Yaya. Oh, and he scored the goal that changed the game and put us in a position where we should have won it.
There’s none so blind……
Other than that this is one of the better blogs and the guy provides some good fodder for discussion in decent English (that rules him out from ever being a pro journo then:-) ). VFAB is also prepared to change his stance from time to time, he used to be as inherantly critical of the awesome Yaya and the unappreciated Gareth Barry and they won him over. Perhaps if Aleks K gets a winner against the Rags at OT derby day he might relent and give hi a 6 for being “having a pulse”
!
When am I going to remember to proof read before pressing send?
I never criticised Barry – always been a huge fan!
I thought you did.
Re: Barry then my apologies duly proffered.
A blog is a place where people put their personal opinions. If you have read all comments, Matthew thinks Yaya was piss poor [in match analysis]. I think Yaya was exceptional and Kolarov was a disgracefully woeful and wasteful and you think Kolarov was great and so on … . VFAB is no exception to the rule and if he perceived Garcia as poor then that is his prerogative. We are not here to air our views to please others but simply to say what we personally thought of players and the game however different it may sound from others.
I think Nastasic had a fantastic game considering the team he played against. I would give him a 7.5. I also do not think Garcia deserves a 5, I would give him a 6.5. As mentioned above, Nasir should have helped Maicon not Garcia and he failed to do so. May be Mancini should have picked Milner for this game as his work-rate and tracking/defending is a lot better.
Agree re Milner, I was surprised to see him omitted especially as he didn’t play at the weekend and has been in fine form.
I tend more to agree with the author.
I thought Garcia was particularly poor…..If NDJ had been playing – probably – neither Marcelo or Ronaldo would have scored. Garcia needs to concentrate on his work rate and not what he looks like in the mirror!
City not playing well and we will do well to come away with a point against Arsenal this weekend.
C’mon City!
Kompany was not in the way of Joe Hart for Ronadlos winner check the replays Kompanys at the side yes Kompany should of blocked it by Hart should have saved it. Nastasic looked very very impressive and was much more comfortble on the ball then Jolean would be Yaya gave it away to much and Tevez had no impact in the whole game he may have been back in argentina playin golf.
Kolarov Dzeko and Nastasic for me where are bst 3 players followed by Hart yes hart made a few great saves but he gave them 2 goals but to come to the bernebeu and almost get a result we have to credit are players
Last season penetrative attacking runs from the opposition were effectively halted by Nigel De Jong,therefore why have we allowed, a defensive midfielder of his capability and serious contributor to the success of last season,him to walk away from the club? He would have been ideal to stop Real Madrid’s attacks.
We did not let him walk away. He refused to accept club’s offer for extension. He wanted pay parity with other high earners. City originally paid over the odds to attract big players to raise the club’s profile and have a speedy success. At this moment City does not have to pay over the odds and should also keep an eye on compliance with FFP. Nigel left because he wanted at least double the money and he got it somewhere else.
Dzecko should most definitely be starting against Arsenal after coming on and doing well against Sunderland and Real. Never thought i would be saying that but it’s true.
I agree dzeko certainly deserves to be in the starting line up come Sunday