Wigan 0 – 2 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
29 Nov
Hart - One early shot from Koné stung his hands but he was not called on to make too many saves. Looked to distribute the ball quickly – 6
Maicon – Switched off a couple of times defensively and allowed Beausejour to avdance into promising positions but the Brazilian was an attacking threat throughout, offering width and a menacing delivery from the right. Almost scored near the end but bent his shot just wide - 6.5
Kompany - Further signs that he is reaching his imposing best. Largely contained the dual threat of Di Santo and Koné and was comfortable in possession, too – 7
Nastasic – Astonishingly calm and composed in possession for someone of his age. Read the game superbly, was positionally good and continued his terrific start to the season – 7
Zabaleta – Struggled to get to grips with the rampaging Stam, often lunging into tackles but getting done for pace. Shifted across to the right of a back three before ending the game as a holding midfelder - 6
Garcia – It is too early to make an overall judgement of him, bearing in mind just how rarely he has appeared in the Premier League, but he produced a shocking performance yesterday. His passing was atrocious, his positional play embarrassing and his tackling was cowardly - 3.5
Barry – Another impressive showing from one of our most important players. Managed to get forward often in the first half and later ought to have been awarded a penalty when his shirt was being held in the box. Won and retained possession well and just about shades it as my man of the match - 7
Y. Touré - A sluggish first half where he had no impact on the game but was a key figure in the final twenty minutes or so when the match opened up. Benefited from the open space late on to go on a number of surges – 6
Silva – Looked our brightest spark in the first half, constantly dribbling at defenders but lacking support in attacking areas. Worked tirelessly but with little end product - 7
Balotelli - A slightly frustrating evening until his goal. He had worked hard, closing down defenders and tracking back but he looked isolated. Proved his sharpness in the box by first closing down Wigan´s defenders and then prodding home at the second attempt - 6
Aguero - Shunted out to the left to allow Balotelli the responsibility of leading the line but he seemed uncomfortable despite occasionally drifting infield. Withdrawn in the second half as we looked for a goal. It seemed odd, but it worked - 6
Subs
Milner – Scored a sublime goal, making sure that all the extra time he puts in after training to work on his shooting paid off. A real shame he suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury - 7
Kolarov – Brought on to facilitate the switch to 3-5-2, but was not involved a great deal - 6
K. Touré – Slotted in to the back three without problems as we coasted through the final few minutes - No time to mark
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Nastasic is seemingly quality, liking Maicon is well but there is no chance he should be played against Everton or United due to his defensive lapses.
Barry mom? I thought this was as bad as he’s been all season totally over ran in midfield and his stupid back heel in wigans half led to the only save hart made for me one of r centre backs should be mom cause they kept us init in the first half nastasic edges it for me cause kompany switched off for a kone header but still fantastic ballotelli was awful 1st half didn’t even no he was playing until he scored
Totally over ran in midfield? Based on what? Much of Wigans best work came down the wings, Barry had a good game both on and off the ball, and 1 error from a missed back heel doesnt change that. Balotelli was better than he has been for a while and certainly worked hard, plus scoring the opener in this game was massive.
For 60 minutes of that game r midfield were chasing shadows kone and di santo both ran through are midfield unchallenged wigan dictated the pace of the game and if it wasn’t for an al habsi mistake I don’t think this is a game we would have won. As for ballotelli he chased down defenders? He made ther job so easy in the 1st half with his lack of movement. Think zabaleta only got a 6 because he’s been are best player so far this season cause if that was kolarov being skinned every 2 minutes he would have been lucky to get a 5 rating agree with the rest
I got to disagree with you on this one hands-down. Barry was fantastic, he kept us ticking.
You ahould take a step back and a long hard look at your comment regarding Javi Garcia.
Garcia hasn’t slipped effortlessly into the PL in the way that Nastasic has, few players do, but Mancini’s bad mistakes in bringing in players can be counted on the fingers of an armless man.
On the evidence of your comments VfaB, you’d have shot the ugly duckling a long time before it had a chance to become a swan!
What really incensed me is the accusation of cowardice which is nothing less than disgraceful.
It’s the throwing of this sort of accusation from behind the comfortable anonymity of a ‘Blog’ that helps to provide the next target and the ammunition for the brain dead, boo boys.
Shame on you!
Yes but it’s his blog and it’s his opinion. At least VfaB lets anyone post their thoughts without harsh censorship to create an opportunity for debate.
I don’t think potential boo boys will need to read this blog to realise how bad Garcia played on Weds, it was quite apparent to all. Who knows maybe he’ll be immense gladiator next time? Let’s hope so!
True BB, but it’s when you put your opinion in the ‘public domain’ and your opinion is a rather nasty slur on a man’s character, then expect to get it in the neck from crusty old gits like me, and that’s my opinion!
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It might be his blog and his opinion, but the ‘public domain’ brings with it some responsibiliy, and that’s from a lifelong defender of individual liberty about to be living in and somewhat uncomfortable about a post Levison environment!
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Agree with you to a degree Alphie, the author has been overly critical of Garcia since the moment he signed IMO. It’s probably the only criticism I’ve ever had of this blog.
I’m sure his play will improve, but his lack of pace is making life very hard for him right now I think..
I read this blog after every game he has his favorites in terms of ratings kolarov dzeko and garcia are 3 who no matter what they do in a game fail to get a high rating any english player and yaya toure r the ones who can under perform but still be rated highly
Josh, despite what you may believe, I have nothing against Kolarov, Dzeko, Garcia or any City player. I have my favourites – any fan does – and those who I believe are not good enough, but I rate each player on the performance only, nothing more.
If you think I have something against Garcia, feel free to take a look at what I said about him and what I mark gave to him after the Real Madrid game at the Etihad. He was impressive in that game and I hope we see more of that type of performance but he was, in my opinion, abysmal against Wigan and thus I rated him very lowly.
Re Dzeko: I have praised him hugely this season for his ability to make an impact from the bench – see the reviews of games v WBA and Spurs for just two examples – but in recent matches against Chelsea and Real Madrid he was shocking when given the opportunity to start. If you thought he did well in those matches, that is your opinion, but I have not spoken to or seen any City fan that thought he was anything but woeful in those fixtures.
The fact a player is English has nothing to do with mark I give him. In terms of those English players who have featured recently, Hart is perhaps the best goalkeeper in the league and thus gets good ratings regularly though you will find I have no hesitation in criticising him when I believe he makes an error. Gareth Barry is one of our best players and has been excellent in recent matches, as has James Milner over the past few weeks when he has been available.
Nationality plays no part and it is quite naive and childish to suggest it does.
And as for Yaya, check the ratings I have given him this season if you think I am biased towards him. You will find that is most definitely not the case.
VfaB, as you often do, you have responded with a reasonable if not compelling defence of your blog. If it were not that I think your efforts have merit I wouldn’t bother, but I do think you are thoughtful, worth reading and developng a style that is worth cultivating.
However, and this is the big one for me…you have responded to relatively mild criticism from Josn & Ryan, but have completely ignored the very pointed criticism of your personal attack on the courage and hence integrity of Javi Garcia, a relatively new and untried wearer of our beloved shirt.
I asked you to take a step back and have long hard look at your comment regarding Javi Garcia. I explained that what really incensed me is the accusation of cowardice which is nothing less than disgraceful.
Either respond to this or be prepared to be uncomfortable when you look in the mirror in the morning at the man who called another man a coward.
Alphie
Izzett, it depends on how you interpret the word. The “coward” can be used as a figure of speech, I totally understand when VfaB called Garcia’s challenges and attitude cowardly in the Wigan match esp after watching the way he bulked at challenges. This by no means implies that Garcia is coward literally. However; if you opted to interpret the word “literally”, then that is your prerogative but I opted to take it figuratively and I see nothing wrong with that usage. You need to take a step back and do not let your passion and love for the club to manifest itself as accusations and inquisition of ideas of other City loving fans.
Alphie,
Political correctness is taking over the world and you sir are a shining example of what is wrong with free speech in the Western World at the moment.
I purchased a Garcia kit as a result of his joining and my joy at his acquisition. I can tell you that his performances have been cowardly, regardless of his personal character. Unfortunately he has been somewhat gutless going into challenges and since his goal on debut, he has offered little in the way of proving that he has any significant values to offer.
It is far too early to comment on how he will suit our club long term, but the continual defense of fitting into a new league does not account for basic footballing mistakes like gutlessly avoiding tackles and misplacing passes.
I am a big Garcia fan, and I hope with all my heart he fits in and can provide us with the De Rossi element.
I also hope that you respect the author of this blog. He has put time and effort into this blog and has always been respectful and unbiased.
Gutless, cowardly and any other suggestions of Garcias PERFORMANCE is accurate. That doesnt necessarily translate to his character.
You are seemingly stuck on that topic, trying to tear down said Author. I am offended that you have such a narrow vision with respect to the word cowardly and put shame on somebody who has invested personal time in creating good reading material for blues throughout the world.
Read a book, learn the concept of an Adjective. http://www.dictionary.com is a good start.
JS
It is absolutely outrageous to accuse people on the basis of their ideas at least on this Blog where I have come to know that majority of you folks are fans that truly have the club’s best at heart. we all should be more tolerant to the each other’s views even if you find them on the opposite side of spectrum esp when they come from true City fans. We all disagree with each other one way or the other to varying degrees and that should not be a basis for accusations. So let’s stick to the first basic blog rule of “agreeing to disagree” [at least within the family of City fans],otherwise; you should not be reading or posting in the blog.
Vfab I never said u weren’t allowed favorites we all have them I just feel from reading the blog for a good part of a year that you favour english players it doesn’t mean u don’t criticise them its I genuinly do not believe u would have criticised say barry as harshly if he performed like garcia vs wigan (not that he would be that bad) I think the main reason people are shooting garcia down is because nigel de jong left and there big shoes to fill plus the fact he cost 20+ million doesn’t help I apoligise if any offense was caused