MAN CITY 1 – 1 Borussia Dortmund – PLAYER RATINGS
4 Oct
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Hart - Outstanding. Has been required far too frequently in this season’s Champions League campaign but has produced a pair of sensational performances, last night even more so than against Real Madrid. Quickly off his line, spread himself well and was a commanding, vocal figure at the back - 10
Zabaleta - A couple of crunching, necessary last-ditch blocks and a visible presence, especially in the early stages, down the right. One of the better performers of the night, he can be pleased with his attitude and workrate - 7
Kompany - Continues his uncertain start to the campaign. Has developed a habit of trying to nick the ball from in front of the striker when he would be better served standing off. Positioning was off and he lacked the authority which made him almost impregnable last year - 5
Nastasic - Better than his central defensive partner but still troubled by the movement and pace of the visitors’ front line. Comfortable on the ball although like so many of his teammates, could have injected more urgency into the play - 6
Clichy – Struggled defensively against Dortmund’s busy creative attackers, but wasn’t helped by the lack of support down his side. Failed to provide any real attacking assistance - 5
Garcia - A complete passenger whilst on the pitch. Didn’t offer any protection to the back four, couldn’t win a tackle, was slow and insipid in possession and must improve rapidly if he is not to become a liability - 4
Y. Touré - One of his quietest games for a long time. Neutralised to a large extent by Dortmund’s pressure and willingness to close him down but his passing was often negative. His ball to Rodwell just before the goal was symptomatic of his defensive, laboured mindset - 4
Nasri - Flickered occasionally into life in the first half but was largely watching swathes of visiting attacks. Couldn’t retain possession well enough or make anything of the few opportunities he was given - 5
Silva - Our brightest outfield player in the opening period and played a couple of delightful throughballs forward for Aguero, but couldn’t have a sustained impact and spent much of the second half tracking back, supporting Zabaleta - 6
Aguero - Couldn’t take advantage of a couple of excellent chances that came his way, being denied by the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller and we were made to pay. Sort of. Tried his hardest to work the channels and stretch the Dortmund defence but needs to regain that clinical touch - 6
Džeko - After impressing recently as a substitute, this was a return to the largely ineffectual Dzeko. His first touch early on was atrocious, gifting possession away cheaply and he didn’t improve too much after that. Not helped by a lack of service but he needs to be better at bringing others into play - 5
Subs
Rodwell – A costly mistake with his underhit pass to Nastasic and failed to have any great influence on the game. Bypassed at times by the pace of the Germans’ play and lacked incisiveness or intent in his passing - 4
Kolarov – One last-ditch tackle just after he was introduced was about the highlight. Another one who was slow and wasteful in possession - 5
Balotelli - Nerves of steel to rescue a point. Introduced late on and looked busy enough, and you would never bet against him on a penalty - 7
did city play alone or why are there no dortmund ratings? lack of respect!
Because club-based blogs focus on the club itself, the club the author knows more about.
Cannot agree more. But i would give a 2 to the manager for sending out a team without cover in front of the back 4 as all know Yaya doesn’t close down spaces unless he has lost the ball. He should start considering playing Barry and milner in that role. If their capable of doing it for England, why not for us. And AJ would have been usefull too had he been retained.
Mike
Can not agree more, as much as I like Yaya but playing him as DM is a huge mistake. He is slow in covering spaces as you rightfully mentioned. I prefer Milner to him as DM or even Razak.
Hmmmm….Milner is another I am not sure about. I don’t believe he is good enough for our team and is not an impact player….therefore? Get rid in my view!
Can’t really disagree except that I would downgrade both Garcia and Rodwell to a 3.
I am really very concerned about these two players….anyone can look good when they are given time and space, but the good players make that time and space when under pressure. These two are not able to do that.
I think Mancini needs to play Aguero and Tevez at all times when possible and keep Dzeko in a ‘super sub’ role.
I love Ballotelli for his entertainment value, but honestly don’t ever see him becoming a fixture in the side. I woul sell him in January, get some good money for him, the double it and get a ‘world star’ to play up front for us.
Even when we won the league last year I said that we need 5 more players to have a really good team…….and I haven’t changed my mind.
Homeboy, is this your first time reading ViewFromABlue? He only does player ratings for City players.
Tevez Dzeko Aguero and Silva can all play together. I wish Mancini would put them all on at once. Tevez can do everything Nasri can do, and also be a goal-scoring threat.
tactics tactics and tactics…..we lost because of them and poor team selection. We were outnumbered in midfield because our front four don’t defend…Yaya’s passes are too often simple and negative and take too long to get the ball up the pitch. We couldn’t find a way beyond the high defensive line as the ball over the top was always too slow.
i think tactics and coaching weer also to blame for the Madrid loss…it was no surprise to see both wingers coming in off the wings yet we rarely doubled up defensively to force them wide.
time to get the right payers in the right slots and play like we did last year…..too many changes when few were really necessary.
I think uv been really harsh on garcia until he was taken off it was an even game nastasic made a few decent challenges including 1 on lewandowski wen if it was mistimed lewandowski wudda been 1 on 1 on nastasic wud have seen red was also quick to react for a few sloppy. Passes to him except for there goal but don’t think there’s a cb in world football that could react quicker then a 5’11 striker yayas passing was exactly like against madrid only this time he didn’t make any of them galloping runs which against these wud have been effective with the likes of gotze and gundogan in midfield dzeko was caught offside way to often dortmund played it smart they packed the middle of the park wen we had the ball and wen they won it back they spread out fantastically people who said start barry should have a look at there tactics then have a look back at germanys v england in 2010 there exactly the same only difference being reus and gotze are much quicker then podolski and muller ballotelli a 7 y cause he converted a penalty? Rodwell was absolutely terrible. Just a quick question does anyone think lescott is better then nastasic? Nastasic is quicker a better tackler better in possesion and reads the game much better.
Rodwell have been the reason for three conceded goals, however he always looks to help the back four and he is always an option because of his movement, and even though he makes mistakes, I think he’s a lot better then Javi Garcia, and Barry is starting to get too old. Rodwell’s passing is good, except for the goal at Southampton and Dortmund.
Mancini has got to stop change the formations like three times a game!
Stop berrating Rodwell, he has misplaced 2 passes but when he came on against Arsenal he was awesome and will come good, he is 21!!!!!!!!!
Also, disappointed you gave Garcia a 4, he was growing in stature in this game, and he has had a good impact at city so far
I do agree, it is not that City had a great game, save Joe Hart, everyone was way below par. Had it not been for brilliance of Joe Hart, City would have conceded a lot more goals having nothing to do with Rodwell. It is a shame to use him as a scape goat.
Barry should start a lot of games we’ve really missed him was our caretaker makes sure there’s no mess and keep its nice and tidy. Nastasic is better than Lescott. But Lescott is worth keeping.