Aston Villa 0 – 1 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
5 Mar
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Hart - One shaky moment early on with a punch but he was otherwise not required to make a meaningful save. Distribution was excellent - 6
Zabaleta – Relished his tussle with Agbonlahor, matching the Villa man for strength and physicality. Went close with a left-footed effort in the first half and seemed more comfortable bombing forward when we changed formation - 7
K. Touré – In Vincent Kompany’s absence, he seems to go from strength to strength. Benteke is a powerful opponent but Kolo rose to the challenge, anticipated danger well and although he was slightly awkward with his clearances, he proved an impenetrable rock at the back - 7.5
Nastasic – Given more of a test than he often is but whilst he is not dominant in the air, he made life very difficult for Benteke. Showed a different side to his usual composed aura, enjoying the physical battle – 7
Clichy – A few nervy moments early on but soon settled down and managed to largely nullify the threat of Weimann. Tried to offer an attacking outlet down the left but his final ball was absent - 6
Garcia – Offered an aerial screen in front of Benteke but he’s so limited when the ball is on the ground. A liability when play is on the edge of our area due to his constant dillying and dallying, and he seems reluctant to pass the ball with any intensity. A few decent interceptions - 6
Rodwell – Had started promisingly, making use of his leggy stride to burst beyond our midfield and gets a couple of shots away. Then, desperately sadly, succumbed once again to a hamstring injury. Such a shame - 6
Milner - A vibrant presence after the early substitution, using his energy and tactical discipline to great effect. Lively down the left, putting in some useful crosses - 7
Y. Touré - The dominant figure in the game following Rodwell’s departure and Yaya’s subsequent deployment from deeper. Controlled the tempo, his passing was impressive and he burst forward with regularity. Still slow to track back but linked up play crucially - 7.5
Silva – At the hub of all our attacking endeavours. A couple of early through-balls were overhit but his dribbling skills and ball retention were terrific - 7
Tévez - Made one vital clearance from Benteke’s header and scored the goal to win the game. He took that chance with superb composure and supplied a willing, busy contribution throughout - 7
Subs
Dzeko – If he had any semblance of aggression, he’d be a top striker. As it as, he does a job but he’s nowhere near the menacing threat he could potentially be. Did well for the goal but there was nothing to really stake his claim for a first-team place - 6
Nasri – Held on to the ball, screening it from Aston Villa’s defenders and providing an element of control - 6
Barry – A very late substitute - No time to mark
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Edin dzeko is r best striker and if it wasn’t for him I doubt wed be 2nd place atm
You could argue we wouldn’t be 2nd due to any number of players, its notlike Dzeko has been our player of the year. In terms of talent and ability I think it would also be a stretch to call him our best striker.
To give Dzeko and Nasri the same score is ludicrous. I thought Edin was superb, showing a more hardworking side to his game.
Kolo my MOM, been solid with Kompany away, deserves a contract extension. Does the job superbly when asked, reads the game excellently.
I agree about Kolo, he has been really good the last 2 games
I’m sorry but I cannot agree about Garcia. I find the guy quite useless to be honest. I have aside before that he is decent in the air but he is slow, his first touch terrible, his tackling dangerous and his passing deplorable!
I thought overall it was a decidedly average performance last night and our inability to hold own to the ball against mediocre opposition is extremely worrying. The number of bad passes last night was the highest this season I believe.
A final question though…….What exactly does Brian Kidd do?
It is either. Mancini or Platt who are on the edge of the pitch, talking to the subs or on TV afterwards. They talk across Kidd and I feel sorry for him…..but what does he actually do?
Do not underestimate Villa due to their position. Had it not been for their young and inexperience squad, they would have beaten United and taken points away from City and Arsenal and not to mention other teams.
The hardest games are mostly against the relegation candidate teams, they not only work their socks off but play recklessly and aggressively as they have nothing to lose.
Contrary to your belief, I think City was not average and did a great job.
I am not underestimating anyone. There are no ‘bad’ teams in the Premiership…only teams that are better or worse than the others…..and I believe that last night we were poor….but Villa were worse!
Garcia needs a season to settle in? Nobody needs a full season to settle in….however, even if that is true,nis he going to get faster and improve his passing? I don’t think so. The lad will never be a good City player.
C’mon……does anyone know what Brian Kidd does???????
I cant agree that no one takes a season to settle in because there have been numerous players in the past that have taken a full year. Having said that I don’t rate Garcia or believe he has the qualities to ever be a top holding midfielder in the premiership
I cant agree that no one takes a season to settle in because there have been numerous players in the past that have taken a full year. Having said that I don’t rate Garcia or believe he has the qualities to ever be a top holding midfielder in the premiership
In terms of being worried about holding on to the ball, any team can have an off night in any department and we have the highest average possession in the league. It’s the lack of incision and inventive quality in the final 3rd we have lacked this season compared to last. Last season Aguero and Nasri had moments of individual brilliance, and there was a better quality of passing in and around the box which we have only seen flashes of this year.
I tend to work in priority. At this moment, Kolarov is ahead of Garcia due to his being overrated and not at par with the level required to play at City. I still do believe Garcia can improve. You do not have to be fast but smart. Barry and Ivanovic are two such examples that are not fast but have been great contributors.
He collects a wage packet that I’d be pleased to have and does this for doing what I’d love to do.
Next question…..
I totally disagree on your rating and assessment of Dzeko. He might not have been superb but he was great yesterday. As for Garcia, he deserves be given at least a season to settle in. He has improved and it is too early to judge him.
I was absolutely gutted to see Rodwell limp off and I am sure he can pull through. If I am not mistaken Gigs and Gerrard used to have recurring muscle injuries in their early 20s before they put it behind them.
Gerrard for sure, he revovered and has since had few issues. Let’s hope for the same with Rodwell, he has promise.
Can’t agree with Hart’s distribution being ‘excellent’ or Gracia being anything more than a 4, unless he’s rated for his likeness to a headless chicken. Other than that I agree.
As Key and Gray might have riposted, “How are you on the offside rule Alicia?”
Damn, now I’ve used up my day’s supply of gratuitously insulting and sexist comments, I’m going to have to behave for over 12 hours!
I’d be insulted. But I’m thoroughly confident in my football knowledge and enjoyment despite my gender.
Having been to the game…
I ahve to disagree with a lot here. I had a seat, roughly middle of the park…
In that 96 minutes of football, Yaya Toure was absolutely diabolic, ridiculously bad, outrageously unapologetic, carelessly lethargic, and hopelessly reluctant.
And yet you give him man of the match? Barmy? He gave the ball away a stupid amount of time, almost as many times as Clichy who also had a rare poor game. You say his tempo was good and he burst forward with regularity. Let me beg the question…did you see him not get back everytime he went forward, and then proceeded to blame others, namely Nastastic for giving the ball away when he was 50 yards away having taken one minute to get up when he wasnt even touched in the opposition’s box? Dreadful amount of effort.
Whilst I am also a big fan of Milner too, he was well short of his best.
You also give Dzeko a 6 but when Rodwell went off he changed the dynamics of our team. His workrate was phenomenal, some great touches, and something you will not have noticed as much via a stream or by sky is his ability to run and drag defenders away from the box creating more space for the other attackers.
Kolo and Nastastic were well worth a good 8.5, both handled the threat of Benteke extremely well, and they were the men of the match by far.
Garcia also had a very good 65 minutes and whilst I agree he did fade, he never really gets enough credit. He was the link between the back and Silva and co.
Hart distribution excellent you say?! Could not bring myself to agree with that! He was slow getting the ball down the pitch?
Also due to your inability to like Nasri, you just say the same old things. What you again are lacking to mention are the two great efforts he had and his regular bursts up whilst doing very well keeping the ball, and doing the right thing to protect our lead.
So disappointed by these ratings…definitely done by someone watching the game in, i dont know, an Irish Pub abroad?!
Having seen the game on tv, i can categorically say that Yaya was far from all that nonesense you just described. I’m not his biggest fan but he had a positive impact on the game, certainly going forward and while he can be lethargic when going backwards, that doesnt justify mindlessly slating a player. What almost ironic about what your comments is that you describe how VFAB says the same thing about Nasri, yet it appears to me that your very own preconcieved ideas about Yaya have clouded you being able to judge his performance on face value.
This nonesense about having seen it at the stadium or watching it in a pub holds little credence. Some people understand the game better than others and thats what people will respect. A top pundit could watch a game on tv drunk and analyse it way better than a person whos never kicked a ball that goes every week.
Have you even read VFAB’s comment on Nasri? As youve just repeated what he said. Although you’ve taken it a step further and almost raved about him, even though he was only on the pitch for 5 minutes and basically just did his job. Your own player judgements seem so biased that aiming any criticism at anyone else’s analyse is pretty ridiculous.
HA!
VFAB doesnt particularly like Nasri (seeing as though I know him personally he doesnt mind my criticism), but he just can never bring himself to say very positive things, hence why I say he says the same old things, because every rating you will see he says Nasri slows things down, keeps the ball etc, and in essence that is exactly what he says he.
He neglects, however, to mention the bursts forward into the box and the link up play, he merely focuses on the same old Nasri vibe.
And as i am sure you think too, a drunk Graeme Souness would not be better at analyzing the game than a bloke who likes football but has never played.
A lot of people I hear talk about football at and away from stadiums talk what I would consider to be nonesense. Especially those who hear something on the radio or media and then try to guess when a period of play matches that analysis in the next game, e.g. when people were saying we need to shoot more, and a player would be 45 yards from goal with 3 players in front of him and then a fan would go daft at the player not shooting. So in short, no I wouldnt necessarily take the opinion of the bloke who goes every week.
VFAB’s analysis on Nasri was right for this game, if the dislike for him is true at least wait til he plays 90 minutes and says the same thing
P.S. I said decent pundit
Ah! Now I think I do know who!!
I guess we have to agree to disagree. Yaya was brilliant!
I think silva, even though has seen a dip in form remains the vital cog of our team if it wasn’t for silva we wouldn’t even have been second and Garcia is the most useless buy I have come across Milner would be a much better central option
It’s Yaya toure who is quite lethargic at times.
Agreed!
Garcia has been nothing but a liability since he moved. We actually managed to buy someone slower than Barry, Milner and Nasri. Miracle!
Yaya is good at times, often when further forward but can also be so damned lazy!
Nastasic though, what a signing he is. To think we actually swapped Savic for him!