MAN CITY 2 – 1 Chelsea – PLAYER RATINGS
15 Apr
Pantilimon - One early flap from a cross and required Kompany’s intervention on the line to save face, but that was his only blemish. Grew in confidence, making a string of superb reaction stops and showing his authority in the air. Claimed a couple of crosses near the end to relieve pressure - 8
Zabaleta – He had been troubled on occasions by Hazard’s pace in the league but with the Belgian deployed on the other flank for much of the game, Zabaleta had an easier ride. He was solid at the back and took up some great positions when he burst forward - 7.5
Kompany - Ba was a tricky opponent, backing in the whole time and showing good strength, but our captain was at his assertive best. Commanding in the air and read the game very well - 8
Nastasic – Another impressive showing from the composed Serbian. He seemed to learn from his slight mistakes at Old Trafford, getting tighter to his man and not enabling Ba any time on the ball. Read danger tremendously and his piece of control in the first couple of minutes, killing a looping ball with his wrong foot, emphasised just what a natural footballer he is – 8
Clichy – Unusually for him, he seemed to tire dramatically near the end. There was one moment in the second half when Hazard sprinted clear and Clichy, normally so quick to recover, seemed to be treading in treacle. Excellent in the first half with his closing down and moving the ball with pace - 7
Barry – Heroic. Followed up a terrific display in the derby with an another outstanding showing in the centre of midfield. As others, notably Yaya, Aguero, Milner and Clichy, visibly tired in the second half, Barry was everywhere, intercepting attacks, setting up our own and running the game. My man of the match by a distance - 9
Y. Touré - The most dominant player on show, his repeated surges causing panic in Chelsea’s backline, but he didn’t always have the end product desired. Injected pace and power into our attacks, but he wasted a great 3-on-2 opportunity to kill the game off after Aguero’s headed goal and then should have played in Zabaleta late on but elected to take the shot on himself. Rather too fond of sitting on his backside after a burst forward and then walking back. Still, relished the wide open spaces at Wembley and should enjoy trying to take advantage of Wigan’s expansive nature - 7.5
Milner - Had been magnificent in the derby on Monday night but struggled to reach those heights. Offered a wide threat for our attacks but his crossing was poor and he wasted a glorious opportunity at the end of the first half - 6
Nasri - Fortuitous for his goal, his mystifying attempt to pass to Aguero ricocheting back to him but he kept his composure to lift the ball over Cech. Otherwise, he failed to stand out. Spent too much time on the fringes of the game, not showing enough purpose when he was on the ball - 6
Tévez - Battled well in the second half but lacked that spark in and around the box. His hold-up play was good but his final touch was lacking and he couldn’t quite impact proceedings as he would have liked - 6
Aguero - A surprising manner in which he scored but he deserved the goal for his all-round performance. Clearly wasn’t 100% fit and looked exhausted after about 60 minutes but he was lively, offering a pacy outlet in behind and stretching Chelsea’s defenders. One nasty challenge on Luiz which, if the referee didn’t see it, ought to be punished. Very out of character for him - 7
Subs
Garcia – Won a couple of challenges - 6
Lescott – Added height at the end - No time to mark
The View From A Blue app is now available for iPhone, iPad and Android users. Featuring updates from the official MCFC website, BBC, Sky Sports, the Premier League, viewfromablue.com, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, it is the must-have app for any Blue. Search for ‘viewfromablue’ or click here to download for iPhones and iPads, and here to download on the Android Market.
Barry was outstanding yet again.
I think Nasri deserves more praise, his recent performances have been much improved. Would be nice to see this continue.
Bring on Wigan.
Totally agree. I thought Nasri played really well.
Very unfair on Nasri, his interplay with Tevez and Aguero was outstanding, always offering himself for the pass, particularly in the second half when the pressure was on he offered a good out ball and retained possession very well. Integral to our attacking play. The rest, fair enough except perhaps Tevez may have got a higher mark too.
Clichy has had no rest and unfortunately, we have no backup for Clichy and the only alternative for him is Kolarov who is good for no shit esp in such important game.
Oh dear!!
That comment loses you all respect from me pal!
I’m not one for berating players but I would have been worried with Kolarov starting. Siamack is not one to mindlessly slate someone so I think you should allow this one Alph
Tegel, Nasri and Aguero were on a different planet to Chelsea during the first 45 mins. Your scores are a little harsh. 8, 8 and 8 from me.
Tevez for Tegel – iPad wouldn’t accept the Argentinia
Thanks for marking Nasty and VK as highly as you did. I saw their play myself as being in the 8 range but have run across a number of ratings with them much lower.
Ratings are always subjective, of course, but it is always nice to see some affirmation of one’s own opinion.
Granted Yaya strolled back at times in the second half, but to give him a 7.5 is a huge injustice. He bullied their midfield at times and his pace and power was a big factor in us winning the game. Not teaching a duck how to suck eggs VFAB but surely a players influence on a game should be reflected in their mark, with that in mind he was at least a 9 for me. Even 2 Chelsea fans on the way out on Wembley way were going wild for him. I know its subjective but that score is possibly one I have to disagree more than any before
HA! This makes me laugh as much as Garth Crooks suggesting he is our player of the year! Ridiculous!
its weird, more people on here seem to agree with me, along with Redknapp, Dixon, Keane, Andy Gray and just about every other pundit out there.
No doubt below you will go onto talk about Nasri and Yaya
Garth Crooks is a talentless, boring, knob.
Yaya was my MOM. As rightfully mentioned by you, his influence on game was impressive and He deserves at least a 9. He owned Chelsea and the entire game.
3 men of the match for me, Barry, Zaba and Nastastic. Considering Barry got an unfair yellow card after about half an hour, that is an even bigger testament to his display. He was phenomenal, criminally underrated.
Yaya had a very good first half but second half waster two chances to kill the game, by passing ball behind tevez and refusing to pass it to Zaba. Well pointed out VFAB that he spent too much time on his arse when they team needed him to dig deep and secure the win. Very lazy,and it is a shame because he had a very good second half.
Also, slightly harsh on Nasri, link up play was brilliant at times, and he has much improved recently.
Your comments are boring and predictable. Yaya lazy – snooze, VFAB harsh on Nasri -snooze. You make Garth Crooks seem interesting. Just copy and paste next time lad and save yourself time.
What mistake by Nastasic against United are we talking about?
yeah for the most part I agree, but yaya was immense. he does get lazy after those big bursts forward for a couple of mins, but he really is the standard for box to box midfielders. No team knows how to deal with it.
Great game to watch for the first 65.. a little too nervy towards the end. though, we only conceded on a magic goal, so we did defend well.
I think you were watching a different game. Yaya was immense….he joghs back slowly probably because he is knackered but 7.5 for a monster display is wrong. Also Zabaletta for me was immense, solid tackle after solid tackle, closing down space….nearly a perfect 10 for me…..
whats the point in him being immense if hes not defending when hes needed the most thats one of the reasons we end up losing games late on…not berating him by any means he is a great player but needs to conserve his energy cus hes a defensive midfielder not a playmaker
TOTALLY AGREE HERE. I don’t berate him, i said what a quality first half he had, but when he was needed most he did not dig in deep and wasted two fantastic opportunities to kill the game but being greedy.
>>whats the point in him being immense if hes not defending when hes needed the most thats one of the reasons we end up losing games late on
Your statement is contradictory. There are 10 more players on the pitch with Yaya. If Yaya is the reason we lost the games late on, It not only compliments Yaya as it implies he is carrying the team but also it implies the other 10 players are no more than muppets.
However; it means Yaya is partially responsible, the implication is that part of the blame also rests on others, so I am not sure what you are trying to say.
>>hes a defensive midfielder not a playmaker
You are wrong, he is both defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder, that is what he has been doing all along, you can not defend and attack 100%. He is also the player maker as the WHOLE team is built around him to the extend that he has never benched [it tells you all], not sure you have been watching games as it is darn obvious and you seem way way off your comments!
Jason you cant say ‘whats the point in being immense’, it just doesn’t make sense. I am not trying to be a dick here, but it is a bit like saying whats the point in Messi being incredible and scoring 4 goals if he is not gonna sweep up behind the centre halfs. I appreciate you go on to state he is DM but he was actually just behind the strikers in the second half, im afraid you can’t be unbelievable at both ends of the pitch its just not physically possible.
Nasri was a magician out there, he disappeared for 20 minutes of the game, only to appear out of no where 10 yards from goal with the ball on his right foot, in which he proceeds to fake pass the ball to Aguero tricking everyone in the stadium to score a goal… magical!
But in all seriousness, how many times were City passing the ball with pace and direction, only to have Nasri receive it and slow things down to a snails pace allowing for Chelsea to recover. Great talent, terrible attitude and not fit for our style of play.
I think your being harsh on Nasri his performance today was quite exceptional,he threaded some wonderful through balls and his link up play with Aguero and Tevez was exceptional this just proves that u can’t have Silva and Nasri play together cus their too similar
Nasri a clear 8 ffs, he was outstanding! U must have watched anorher game..