West Brom 1 – 2 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
21 Oct
Hart - Barely called into action until the final stages of the game but then produced a flying stop to deny Lukaku before the striker headed one effort straight at him. Good, quick distribution and his handling, after an error with England in midweek, was excellent - 7
Richards - Struggled to have any impact as an attacking force until the final half an hour but then he burst into life. When in his stride, West Brom couldn’t handle his pace and power - 7.5
Kompany - Hugely culpable for the sending off and his passing after that was characterised by uncertainty. Seemed to lose the confidence to pass the ball and instead resorted to hoofing it long - 5
Lescott – Uncomfortable in possession but was defensively solid. A strong presence when corners and crosses came into the box but must improve his distribution - 6
Clichy – Handled West Brom’s limited wide threat comfortably and grew into the game as he started to bomb forward. One delightful late cross for Dzeko and offered a valuable presence on the left - 7
Milner – Had started brightly, looking dynamic in possession, but was sent off after Kompany’s error. I suppose he had to make the last-ditch lunge to try to thwart Long but a red card was probably the correct decision - 5
Barry - Struggled to impose himself when we were reduced to ten men as West Brom had an extra body in the middle but he protected the back four well and was effective in possession - 6
Y. Touré - Virtually a passenger in the first half as he couldn’t gain a foothold in the game but improved after the break with a couple of surges. West Brom found it tough to dispossess him but it looked as if Yaya was playing within himself - 6
Nasri - Forced to drop deeper following Milner’s sending off and thus wasn’t able to make too much of an attacking impression. Worked hard for the team but his quality wasn’t overly evident - 6
Balotelli - In terms of what he produced when in possession, I think that’s the best we have ever seen of him. His hold-up play was exceptional, his first touch brilliant and his pace, power, skill and strength were all manifest. However, he was on the verge of being sent off with Mark Clattenburg, the referee, treating him harshly. Booked for a nothing tackle whilst others escaped punishment for far worse - 8
Tévez - Worked tirelessly and drifted a touch deeper as the game wore on to provide an extra body linking the midfield and attack. Looked lively in possession, running well at West Brom’s defence - 7
Subs
Aguero – Replaced Balotelli and continued the Italian’s good work. Seemed to be sharp and posed a constant threat. Terrifically timed and weighted pass to Dzeko for the winning goal - 7
Džeko - Gaining a reputation as a super-sub after once again making the difference. Added height to the attack and took his second goal with a clinical touch - 7.5
Kolarov - Produced the pass to Aguero in the build up to the goal - No time to mark
Dzeko must deserve more than 7.5, turning 0 points into 3 by scoring 2 goals in the 15 minutes he was given is nothing short of outstanding. Just like to point out how I mentioned seeing how it goes with Milner, before we think he is the definite answer for the central midfield role. Granted he did well for his time on the pitch, but being sent off 25 minutes into the very game after, is one example of why i would never rave about someone following one good performance.
I do agree with you on Dezko, however; Milner took one for the team that was the result of blatant gaffe by Kompany. He was brilliant up to that point and I still believe he would do an excellent job in mid-field. Just as one great game does not make him the answer to our midfield, one bad game also does not mean he is not the answer. All we can say the signs are there and he need more games to prove that he is or he is not.
Agree completely with you Siamack. One red card doesn’t change the impact I know Milner can and will continue to have on the team
With respect Milner did not have a ‘bad game’ he was having a very good game when he was forced into a split second decision which even with the benefit of hindsight the wisdom of which is debatable.
Milner is not the solution to the Yaya role, he doesn’t have Yaya’s passing game or vision. He is nevertheless a very good option when playing with a complementary player like Barry (or maybe Rodwell or Garcia in due course) allowing Yaya to play in a more advanced position or in Yaya’s absence maybe to start the extra creative player.
Dezko deserves a 9 as you do not find players out there that come out in the last dying minutes and get you out of the jail. And it is not his first, he is making quite a habit of it.
We should buy falcao n sell balotelli in the January transfer market. Good work by dzeko he deserve starting xi
if only life was that simple in the transfer market
Falcao is a bit special, but he’s 26 now and before moving to Porto at age 23 had been a good player with a 1 in 3 scoring record, but not a superstar. Like for life, at age 22, Balotelli looks way ahead in everything other than attitude, where Falcao has it hands down and to all accounts is, and always has been, a particulalrly decent and honourable guy.
If Falcao comes then it would have to be at the expense of Carlos or Edin IMHO. Carlos – will he remain committed, if so he should stay, he is pretty much irreplaceable. Edin – well daft though it seems after a weekend like this, despite his tremendous attributes he’s probably the one that Falcao would be a marked improvement upon.
It would be a nice problem to have.
Oh and on the midfield situation; maybe a stupid suggestion but I rarely let that stop me, wouldn’t it be worth trying Maicon in the box to box role with James and Gareth holding?
He’s a bit of a beast going forward, can pass well enough and probably defends with at least as much commitment as Yaya?
Just a thought?
Difficult to award Dzeko top marks for only 15 minutes.
I thought Richards was the MOTM personally. Dzeko is anonymous from the start, unplayable when he comes on. He adds a presence in the latter stages that tired defenders can’t deal with and I think Mancini is utilising him perfectly.
Shame about Milner, looked bright until that point, 1st red card in 409 appearances in the premier league. What was Kompany doing? Where was the rock we had last season? Slightly worrying.
Strange, I was not impressed by Balotelli at all to the extent you were. Obviously that one solo run down the left wing was impressive, but he just weighs City down in my opinion.. His body language is awful and he could have very easily been sent off, and he also requires the extra attention from his teammates and coach to keep him calm. Just not worth it to me. I need to watch the game again and follow Balotelli more closely perhaps.
Aside from that, I hope this stupid red card doesn’t cost James Milner games in center mid, I still believe his work rate and the speed with which he presses and moves the ball will be sorely missed.
Dzeko is great, and not just a super sub to me. The only other constant besides him scoring as a sub, is that he is always surrounded by our best attackers in these late game situations. Id like to see what he can do as a starter when he is surrounded by our best attackers(Tevez and Aguero)… I think we’d all see he’s not just a supersub, just needs the right players around him.
And finally, Tevez was excellent–man of the match for me until Dzeko vane and did what he dis obviously. Tevez just keeps the ball so incredibly it’s so easy on the eyes to watch him.
balotelli 8..dzeko 7.5…it’s a joke right ? right ?
No, I think you’ll find it’s an ‘opinion’!
I think Milner brings an energy and urgency to the midfield when he plays in that defensive midfield role.Far more mobile than Garcia.
To be a bit controversial I think Toure was more playing with himself than playing within himself.
Other than the occasional foraging runs which are exciting I think his last few games have been ordinary…I wonder whether that has to do with his agent mouthing off?