MAN CITY 1 – 0 Reading – PLAYER RATINGS
23 Dec
Hart - A few shaky moments with his kicking and decision making, selling Nastasic and Rekik short with passes out of defence. Barely had a save to make - 5
Zabaleta – Defended very well against McAnuff in the opening exchanges and was one of the few bright sparks from the game. Tried to bomb forward as much as possible, offering an outlet on the right wing and managed to get to the byline on occasions without ever producing an end result - 7
K. Touré – Beaten once on the counter-attack but was largely comfortable, reading the game well and snuffing out Reading’s limited threat. Will likely step aside when Kompany is fully fit but he’s shown himself to be an able deputy in recent matches - 6
Nastasic – Looked at ease throughout, challenging well in the air against Pogrebnyak. Helped out Rekik and showed a great turn of pace at one moment to make a necessary sliding challenge – 6
Rekik – A very mature and assured debut. He’s a centre-back playing out of position and as such, knew his attacking limits. Didn’t try to take on his man or do anything fancy, but wasn’t helped by his teammates refusing to pass to him in the first-half. Defensively looked the part. Pacy, powerful and terrific in the air - 6.5
Garcia – His passing in the first half was emblematic of the team’s problem – laboured, lethargic and insipid. A presence in the air but with Reading offering such little threat, he wasn’t needed and was replaced early in the second half - 5
Barry – One of the few in the first half who tried to keep playing ticking over at a decent tempo, but couldn’t have too much of an impact on the game. Then popped up with the last-gasp winner! Advanced more than normal and got his rewards - 6
Y. Touré - With both Garcia and Barry to provide cover behind him, it was all set up for Yaya to operate in his more advanced role, but he kept dropping deeper and deeper and ended up playing as the holding midfielder in the first half. His passing lacked any tempo, there was no incisiveness and this was yet another game he coasted by without having any impact - 5
Silva – Always wanted to get on the ball and dictate play but apart from the odd delicate touch, he wasn’t at his mercurial best. Struggled to create too many chances but produced a delightful cross for Barry’s goal - 6
Tévez - Very strong in the box, adept at holding the ball up and allowing runners to go either side of him. Looked lively, hustling Reading’s defenders but couldn’t find the breakthrough and was withdrawn in the second half - 7
Aguero - The only player in the first half to have any sort of purpose or intent about his play. Dropped deep or wide to pick the ball up and then ran at the visitors, ghosting past defenders and driving into the box. My man of the match - 7.5
Subs
Džeko – Controlled the ball well in the build-up to the goal but that was his only meaningful impact. Won a couple of headers but didn’t change the pattern of the game - 5
Sinclair – His introduction, and the addition of width, was what the game was crying out for. Didn’t make too much of an impression himself but at least had the guts to run at, and commit, defenders - 6
Milner – Won a couple of headers and played the ball up to Dzeko for the goal - No time to mark
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Dare i say it but Im almost starting to think that if Milner replaces Toure come January, that this may actually have a positive effect on the team rather than the negative one many may expect. Time will only tell though.
I love James milner, nobody else at City makes that pass to Dzeko, that was great. Glad to see he is back as he is absolutely in my best 11 for us.
Dzeko also brought it down very nicely. But it’s a long rifled ball like that that Milner offered that gets the defense on their heels and doesn’t allow them to get back so that silva can carve them open. Great winner
Fair rating. Good to see that it is not only me who thought Rekik was ignored by his teammates. He made quite some meaningful runs down the flanks on the numerous occasions only to be ignored all together.
Agree with the ratings…my concern is with the tactics.Constantly playing narrow against a packed defence. Then brings a winger on and plays him on the wrong foot so nobody gets behind the defence to cross to Edin. Funny that the goal came from Silva crossing with his left foot from the left wing!
Iv’e got to agree with blue bullet, Yaya seems to pick and choose the games he wants to perfom in. That coupled with no seemingly obvious plan B make grim viewing for us fans. Far too slow in the build up, far too narrow and congested in the midfield and not aggreesive enough. Last year pace, aggression and stealth won us the Premiership, we do not look value for money at the moment.
Marks, and everybody’s comments spot on. Roll on the African Cup when Bobby will have to do without Yaya. Everything goes through him and therefore like him our play is too slow and too deliberate, totally lacking tempo. James in central midfield will give us some much needed drive and enthusiasm.
I’m almost excited to see how the team will transform without Yaya in Jan.
Certainly need pace from back to front,and Milner will defo provide it,just hope he stays injury free. Will be glad to see if city have learnt from not having yaya this time around.