Chelsea 0 – 0 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
26 Nov
Hart - Such was Chelsea´s limited attacking threat, he was barely called into action. Tipped one Cole shot over the bar and commanded his area well at set-pieces – 6
Zabaleta - Another typically determined and battling performance from Zabaleta. Got stuck into his tackles, read the game well and tried to offer an outlet dow the right in an attacking sense. A couple of rash challenges but contained the dual threat of Hazard and Cole well – 7
Kompany - A doubt for the match but fought on through the pain and produced arguably his most authoritative showing of the campaign. Powerful in the air and quick across the ground, he made a number of interceptions to thwart the home side´s attacking endeavours – 7.5
Nastasic – As always, looked composed and unruffled. Dealt with Chelsea´s rare forays forward with ease, showing strength and pace to provide an assured air at the back – 7
Kolarov - Brought a wide presence down the left in the opening exchanges but his crossing is predictable, always firing the ball in low and hard to the front post. Struggled to make any impact after the break when Chelsea tightened up as he lacks the pace or trickery to beat a man – 6
Barry – Yet another performance which highlighted his importance to our team. Provides that nous and experience in the middle, the safety valve which allows others to bomb forward. Read the game superbly, retained possession well and was a major force in preventing Chelsea playing through the middle. My man of the match - 8
Y. Touré - As has been the case on too many occasions this season, Yaya was nowhere near his best, producing a sluggish and lethargic display devoid of any intent or purpose. His passing was poor and he was bypassed far too easily in midfield. Perhaps a touch complacent because he knows, if fit, he will start every game – 5
Milner - Brought into the side for his workrate and ability to provide protection to our fullbacks and performed his duties impressively. Decision making in the final third was poor but he took up some great positions and typified the spirit in the squad – 7
Silva – Largely nullified by Chelsea´s shackling tactics and that meant he could not have too great an impact on proceedings. Not awarded much time or space on the ball and as a result, we looked lacking in creativity. Wasted one decent opportnity by flashing his header over the bar - 6
Aguero - Not his sharpest performance by any means. Worked hard as always but struggled to retain possession and bring others into play. Had the best chance of the game but couldn´t direct his header past Cech - 5
Džeko - Surprisingly given a start after his abject showing against Real Madrid and he did not fare too much better. Again, his first touch was diabolical, allowing defenders to nip in ahead of him constantly. Improved after half-time but replaced by Tévez, the man who should have started instead of the Bosnian – 5
Subs
Tévez – I had expected him to start but by the time e was introduced, the game had already petered out into a lifeless affair and not even his harrying could produce anything of note – 6
Balotelli – Pathetically booked by a referee who judged him on reputation rather than what actually happened - No time to mark
I could not agree more!
I dont understand why Barry didnt play against Madrid, was he injured? Wea;ways eook more solid with him playing. The ref was a joke, Vinny should have had a penalty and Torres dived many times for no card.
ALways look out for your articles. Best after match analysis of the CIty games on the web.
Just a couple of points. Balotelli punts the ball past the man in front of him, and 9 times out of ten, simply chooses to fall on his face and win a free kick.
I detest this, and if you were the referee, would you give him the benefit of the doubt?
This season, I haven’t seen a player more consistently choose to go down than balotelli, and he is built like an ox. He is simply reaping what he has sown on this one.
I read a lot of people criticise Milner’s decision making, but I would say he is very, very quick to see an opportunity, and vastly underrated as an attacking outlet.
His crossing is the best in the team, and he is very good at working the ball to a teammate in tight spots.
I think at the moment he is giveing more value, including “end product” than Nasri.
He makes mistakes, but never hides. What about him appearing at left back to deny Torres? I thought Milner was star man against Chelsea.
Would love to see Milner get a proper run in the side
I like Milner but dont think he is at his best or frankly good enough as a wide player. When he had a little run in the holding role a few weeks ago there were signs of promise, with his work rate, reliability and good all round game, it makes sense that this could be his best position. He does have a pass in his locker and an occasional moment of quality when he goes forward, but as mentioned his decision making and perhaps consistancy means he doesnt cut it as an attacking outlet for me.
I could not agree with you more on this one. He does not have the pace required by a winger and he does not have the trickery footwork to get passed opponents. He is at his best if he is played in his favorite position as CM or CDM right along side Barry.
It is perplexing that after all the money spent, we have world class players in every position except in wide roles.
Agree, it is perplexing that we are so short of wide players. Mancini sees an out and out winger as a weakness.
I think we have tried for Hazard and Sanchez and failed, and so it has left us short in that position. I dont think its Mancinis attitude towards wide players
nasty a good buy
the players ar just getting back to form . city will prove why they ar the best when the players get fit
The most prejudiced commentator I have ever seen, you really only see what you want to see.
* Dzeko created one of the best scoring chances of the game with his return pass in a one-two with Zabaleta.
* Shortly before being substituted, Dzeko provided one of the best crosses of the game (brilliantly cleared by Cole).
* Dzeko’s deliberate header to Aguero provided the latter with a clear-cut chance (arguably the easiest chance of the game) but he headed directly into the goalkeeper’s hands.
* Dzeko chested the ball down to Aguero providing the latter with a shooting opportunity.
Dzeko provided at least TWICE as many passes to Aguero in the 69 minutes as the 3 passes IN TOTAL (yes, THREE) from Tevez to Aguero in the 212 minutes they played together in the three CRITICAL games (Man U., Newcastle, QPR) at the end of last season – and in Dzeko’s case they were not passes in the expectation of return passes.
I thought Zabaleta was magnificent over the course of the entire match, starring as an attacker and a defender for us.
And I thought Kompany played really well at times, but also gave away possession in dangerous areas more than once. Could definitely do better.