MAN CITY 2 – 0 Fulham – PLAYER RATINGS
20 Jan
Hart - Fulham didn’t have a shot on target so was a bystander for large periods of the game - 6
Zabaleta – Solid defensively, not allowing Dejagah to have any meaningful impact of proceedings, and tried to get forward to support our attacks as much as possible. Picked up an injury in the second half but it’s not thought to be anything serious - 6
Kompany - Commanding on the rare occasions the visitors threatened, reading the game well and making a number of interceptions - 6
Nastasic – Looked assured and as in control as ever. Enjoyed a very comfortable afternoon defensively, such was Fulham’s total lack of penetration – 6
Clichy – A vibrant spark down the left, harrying Fulham’s players whenever they had the ball, pressing high up and forcing errors. Cultured in possession and completely nullified the trickery of Duff - 7
Garcia – Really struggling to assert his authority on a game. His passing was wayward and lacking in tempo, he was turned on countless occasions by Fulham’s midfielders and then, lacking the pace to recover, had to foul them to thwart an attack - 5
Barry – Sluggish passing in the first half, constantly misplacing easy balls, but did recover somewhat to provide a sense of security in the middle - 6
Milner - A passenger in the first half as he couldn’t get into the game, but made more of an impression after the break. A strong presence in the final few minutes with his bursts down the right - 6
Silva – Scored two goals, both of which he took beautifully, with the deftness of touch he often lacks when going for goal. In open play, he suffered at times form the lack of movement and pace of our strikers but clearly decided to take goalscoring matters into his own hands! - 8
Tévez - Even by his standards, he worked incredibly hard, constantly harrying Fulham’s backline into mistakes. However, as he has done in recent matches, struggled to have any end product. Lacks that yard of pace to burst away from defenders so resorted to shooting from distance - 6.5
Džeko - He’s been scoring goals recently but not playing well. Yesterday was the same, but without the goals. It was an underwhelming performance, lacking in any real intent or purpose. Slowed us down in possession and wasted a great opportunity towards the end – 5
Subs
Nasri – Barely had a noteworthy touch - 6
Aguero – Provided that pace in behind, someone capable of bursting beyond defenders and that made a huge difference to our play. Went close with a couple of efforts - No time to mark
Lescott – A very late substitute - No time to mark
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As much as I like Dezko, his last miss was inexcusable, not sure why he has the tendency of smashing the ball whenever he gets a chance regardless of the context. Much like Silva’s second goal, chipping the ball is all you need to do to score in situations similar to Dezko’s
Dzeko’s miss was due to a bobble. That said, he should have Sid footed it over him.
Garcia is simply not good enough. Slow. Bad touch. Poor at passing. A very long way to go to turn it round. Milner ahead of him all the time; the crying shame is you can see Milner going to someone like Spurs or Everton and absolutely thriving. I almost wish he did as he deserves it.
I know this is disgusting, and I love Augueroooooooooooooo, however I think he isn’t that quick an dagainst the top teams he doesn’t cut it. Van Persie is the best center forward in hte world right now and I he’d stayed at Arsenal we’d win the league.
Cant agree with the Aguero comment, he is more than quick enough imo, RVP is a great striker but he isnt lightening. I think Sergio was coming into some real form before the injury and he is definitely our number 1. I personally believe we have yet to see his absolute best and there is much more to come
Can’t knock him too much, only 24 and scored 30 goals in all comps last year, not bad for a lad.
Due to his low center of gravity and short strong legs, Auguero has above average high acceleration which makes him very dangerous within the 18 yards box where short bursts are need. However, as stated above, he does not have the speed over longer distances and most defenders would catch up with him and beat him.
Had Van Persi signed for City, he would contribute no more than what Dezko does due to City style of playing. United fast style of playing with sending dangerous ball from wings into the box and Van persi’s style are a match made in heaven.
Simiak – I can see what you say re City’s style of playing but, to say RVP would contribute no morethan Dzeko is ridiculous. If City had signed him and played him (important point as Mancini would have rotated) then he would be league’s top scorer. If you’re asking whether he would have scored more for Utd then yes , he would have. by the way I like Dzeko!
The bottom line is if City had signed him and put him on bench [to be the devil's advocate], considering the critical goals he has scored for United, United ‘s position would be somewhere between 10 to 15 in the table. Except Nastastic, other City signings during the summer have been nothing short of disaster and rubbish whom Marwood is to be blamed. The combined value of Garcia, Micon, Sinclair and Rodwell could have gotten us a player that can make a real difference or at least Van persi.
Aguero not that quick? What a ridiculous comment. What do you think about the rest of our players then?
And we’re watching Milner thrive at City-would even more if he was at CM more
We didn’t really have to get out of second gear, think dzeko flatters do deceive a lot of the time, could have had three or four yesterday. He seems to me like a better version of samaras, a bit clumsy on the ball, still our top scorer though! Also anybody think we might be better without yaya for a couple of weeks? I know he has the ability to be awesome when he wants, but seems to lack a bit of the commitment of last season, maybe cause kolo will be gone at the end of the season? Just a thought anyway.
You also forgot to mention that Dezko has the highest ration for goals scored per minutes in the premier league. Not bad for a clumsy one, eh!
I meant highest ratio
I’m not sure if your a city fan or not, but as someone who has watched every game this season, either live or on tele, dzeko is at times infuriating, his first touch can sometimes be further than I can kick a ball, but then he can turn in the type of performance he did against spurs last year, culminating a that beauty of a fourth goal which he made look effortless, he is just an enigma I think.
Ps your right about summer signings nastastic excluded.
Why do you spell Dzeko , “Dezko”?
I dont
Lol siamack, not you
Listen, I’m not against Auguro, far from it; he’s one of the best forwards we’ve ever had – I just don’t think he’s that quick over 10+ yards compared to others. The last time we had real, searing pace was Bellamy, and before that Huckerby(!). Anyway, I think we good do with some raw pace as 1 of our 4 forwards. Again Balotelli isn’t that quick with the ball. Anyway, I have a feeling City will overtake Utd in March and coast it!
I think you’re crazy. Agueros gotta be one of the quickest players in the world with the ball over short distances. Reminds me of messi.
As far as booting a long ball to him and having him chase it down, there are faster options out there, but not too many. None at City that’s for sure.
I agree we need more team speed, whether it be good wingers or a quicker CM, but I think It’s really weird to bring up aguero about that problem.
For the record – iPad is shit at spelling or is it me. It’s me.
Man I have to disagree with aguero comment too, i think over the first 6 yards he’s lightning.
I wonder with Tevez looking slightly out of touch or lacking the “killer instinct” we’ve become so accustomed to is due to what he’s been saying that he’s a calmer less goal-focussed player, looking to make the pass.. thought he and dzeko had a poor touch yesterday except his assist which was great.
Definitely agree with the summer signings being a waste.. absolute panic buys. cavani falcao should be the only two strikers we consider in the summer.
Got us all talking though hasnt it
That’s why I said 10+ yards!!!!
Next week, Vincent Kompany should be removed as captain. Cant beat a controversial comment
You guys like to get your teeth into a player before they have a chance to settle don’t you.
The comments about Barry and Garcia are the stuff of numbskulls.
Even Brennan made more sense than the guy who wrote up the scores. The comment about Barry was crass, were you watching in 3D?
QUOTE – Brennan (MUEN):
Gareth Barry’s metronomic tackling and passing ran the show.
Maicon is injured, he only cost a fiver and a packet of crisps, before he was injured he made a couple of good contributions, he has the best early cross played with power at the club, better than Kolarov but you don’t like him either if I recall. When he is fit to play again he could be very important at the end of this season.
Rodwell is a highly promising mature young player who needs to overcome a health issue. He’s a long term replacement for the excellent Gareth Barry, give the boy a break heh?
Sinclair may or may not make it, a low cost gamble but don’t judge the gamble until the end of next season if he is still at the club. Maybe I’, an optimist but I have hopes and I trust Mancini.
Garcia takes a barrow load of ill informed, impatient shite from fans who ought to remember the days of Jamie Pollock, Tony Grant and Ged Brennan and get real. If he’d gone to the Arse he probably wouldn’t have had his debut yet, he’d still be settling in.
Don’t worry, I probably won’t post again, I’ve read the site a few times, gradually become less impressed and finally blew a fuse.
Borasic Blue, perhaps you should read the site more often so as not to make melodramatic statements about my views and what I’ve written which are completely wrong.
I’m Gareth Barry’s biggest fan – you only need to check the blog infrequently to realise this – but I don’t think he was anywhere near his best against Fulham. That is all.
Equally, I like Jack Rodwell and have said nothing against him. If he can get over his injury problems, then he’ll hopefully become a very good central midfielder for us. I have high hopes.
As for Maicon, I don’t think I’ve written a word against him. I’ve praised his threat out wide, the variety in his crossing and the quality he delivers into the box.
I’ve written plenty of times about Sinclair. You could consider reading what I’ve said before making ill-judged remarks.
As for Garcia, I desperately want to like him, but find it very tough based on his performances so far. It’s all well and good recalling the likes of Pollock and Brannan, but we’re not competing in Division Two any more. We’re competing at the top of the Premier League for the title. And from what we’ve seen so far from Garcia, he’s nowhere near good enough.
Based on your comment, it might be a relief if you don’t read or comment again.
Here here VFAB.
Can’t start judging players in comparison to Jamie Pollock!
Garcia has regularly played in Europe and cost a shed load of money yet we’re supposed to have waited till now to give hm his debut?! It’s not much to ask him to run around at more than a snail’s pace and pass to a blue shirt.
Nobody said Jack Rodwell is not a highly promising prospect. And he is still a very good player at the moment. The problem is that he is highly injury prone and we might have another Hargreaves in our hands but this time we coughed through our nose.
As for Garcia, the truth is except a few flashes here and there, he has not shown much there. As for Sinclair no matter how low we paid, it is a waste. I am sure in our Youth academy we could have found a replacement. One name that comes to my mind is Jememy Helan (a physically strong beast with a lightening speed that can play both as LB/LW).
At the end of the day, two shrewd signing could have made a bigger difference and the testament to it is the Mancini statement that if United wins the title, the difference between us and them would be Van persi.
Barry is one of our best players and most fans including VFAB know this. Its almost Ironic how Borasic is making sweeping statements about fans judgement on players being disgraceful and premature, when his own judgement of VFAB and other posters on here are indeed pretty disgraceful and ill informed themselves.
The comment about Pollock and Brennan is a nonesense and simply irrelevant. While i agree on a little perspective at times, you cant justify Garcias performance and place in the team by comparing him to players worthy of 3 leagues lower than where we are now. By that same thinking you saying Sinclair at 8 million is a low cost gamble doesnt make sense, as 10 years ago it would have bankrupt us, we are quite simply are a world away from that now. Although imo 8 million is still a lot of money especially with FFP, and also considering some of the other bargains we could have found, but thats for another discussion.
You missed the other half part of the news. And Carlos Tevez should be named as the new captain.