MAN CITY 2 – 3 Norwich – PLAYER RATINGS
20 May
Hart - Wins the Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets over the course of the season but he’ll have been disappointed to concede three yesterday. Offered no protection by the defenders in front of him - 6
Zabaleta - Milner’s tendency to offer a more direct threat on the outside, rather than Silva or Nasri drifting in from wide, meant that Zabaleta’s forward bursts were largely ignored. Solid enough at the back although he rushed in naively to try to win the ball on the edge of the box for Norwich’s opening goal and that freed up Pilkington to score - 6
Richards – He’s never truly convinced at centre-back and I’m not sure he’ll ever be a reliable performer in that position. His recovery pace and strength are great but he doesn’t read the game at all well and often relies on his physical attributes to bail him out of danger - 5
Lescott – This could possibly have been his final appearance in a City shirt. He wasn’t at his best against Norwich but he would be a loss to the squad. Interestingly, despite perceptions to the contrary, he’s featured in more games than Nastasic overall this season, but he wants to be a regular and I’m sure all City fans understand his desire to move - 5
Kolarov - Hopefully the last time he plays for the Blues. A verbal altercation was unseemly and may grab the headlines but Kolarov’s performance was the usual. Defensively shoddy, he switched off for Norwich’s second goal, and although he got forward as he loves to, the amount of times his crosses were cut out at the front post was infuriating - 5
Rodwell – Another impressive and hugely promising display. Was bound to score sooner rather than later such has been his propensity to get forward and he took his first goal with great composure and his second was sublime, showing his pace, touch and clinical nature. Barely featured this season but he’s left a very positive impression - 7
Y. Touré - Foolishly tried to dribble away from danger on the edge of the box, got dispossessed and then saw Pilkington slot home and it sort of typified his performance. The highlight was a lovely pass to assist Rodwell for the midfielder’s second but Yaya was otherwise absent. Offered no cover in front of the defence, was lethargic on the ball and he seemed to be on holiday already. A poor end to an underwhelming campaign - 4.5
Milner - A vital cog in many of our attacks, staying wide and offering variety but for all the endeavour, of which there was plenty, his final ball wasn’t quite up to scratch - 7
Nasri - Without Silva in the team, we looked to him to offer the creative inspiration but there was little. Couldn’t control the midfield and there was minimal guile in the final third - 6
Tévez - The standout performer in the first half, showing great desire and intensity whenever on the ball, but that wasn’t matched by the laboured nature of the rest of the team. Surprisingly withdrawn shortly after the interval - 7
Džeko - Like his good friend Kolarov, could - and hopefully will – be off in the summer. His contribution for Rodwell’s first goal was excellent, showing great strength and touch for once, but he’s not good enough for our level. His attitude stinks and his hold-up play is largely laughable - 6
Subs
Aguero – Struggled to find his feet, often running into trouble - 5
Silva – As with Aguero, he failed to get to grips with the game, unable to make the necessary inroads - 6
Rodwell – 7, with the same performance but a city victory he would of got a 9, both the result and performance of players around him should not effect his score. I would say 8.5 or even 9, and trust me I did not rate this guy a year ago.
The complete slating of Dzeko, which I wouldn’t go as far to say as come out of nowhere, is a little over the top and unnecessary imo.
Having said all that this is always a good read and I think like the rest of us – players and fans alike, the author needs a break from the stress and frustration. Cheers for the seasons write ups VFAB.
Rodwell would have got a 7, irrespective of the result. He scored a couple of goals but I don’t think it was his best game all-round. Some promising signs, yes, but not enough over the 90 minutes to deserve anything higher than what I gave him. All about opinions, of course..
And yes, “the author needs a break from the stress and frustration.” Most definitely! A few more articles this week as a season/player review and then a much needed break.
Marks all pretty well spot on as usual. Not at all sure why the best two players, Tevez and Rodwell were withdrawn but that doesn’t really matter. What is more worrying, especially for a new manager is Yaya, He’s been appalling this season, lethargic, disinterested, lazy, doesn’t run, head the ball or tackle AND YET in his position everything seems as though it has to go through him, making us as ponderous and laboured as he is.
whole heartedly agree with the Yaya comments
Rodewell was everything that City has been missing during the season, a box to box midfielder who can score goals [though very unlucky not to in his previous appearances] and puts up great fights and mobility in the midfield as a DM. Not sure why he is rated 7, I would rate him 9.
oh my god if the transfer rumours are true and we take lightsteiner from juventus for kolarov i’ll be the happiest man in the world. Dzeko is a world class striker but he doesn’t suit our type of play. we don’t play from the flanks from where we can exploit his aerial strength but play a passing game that points out his weaknesses like his bad first touch. with some good wingers and wing backs like baines who have very good crosses he could score many goals. if we stick to our current plan he should better leave
Can a player be considered world class if he has a poor first touch? I would suggest its too significant of an attribute for that to be possible.
He gr very strong he has a very good finishing record his headers are a nightmare for the opposition defence his shots are really good. Mancini simply didn’t know how to use him. Yes it is a serious disadvantage if you play him as a target man with the ball at his feet. Look at mario gomez last year with bayern. He scoped 30 goals at the season. But he has teammates like robben ribery and lahm all of them having really good crosses. And besides bayern had a real coach at the bench
Gomez doesn’t have a bad first touch though Greek. My main point was I don’t think Dzeko to be world class, if he was I think he would have the ability to adapt, as players like Cavani can fit either style of play
gomez has a bad first touch I think. whatever, he isn’t tallented technicaly but he is a good striker. I personally do not like strikers of his style but he is good. I think you overestimate Cavani. Many goals he scored were from the penalty spot and for two months or so he hasn’t scored a goal. In fact I believe that if milan hadn’t signed balotelli to be the focal point of their attack el shaarawy would have become top scorer at the serie A. Whatever what is more important is that I doubt cavani would be as good for us as he is for napoli. I don’t think he really suits to the premier league. Offers of 65m would be too much for him.
It’s goodnight from me and its goodnight from them – hopefully:
Nasri
Kolarov
Dzeko
Until next season!
That is all.
I only take pleasure in seeing the back of a player if they were disrespectful whilst here, no matter how shit they were. Nasri and Edin are certainly better players than, say, Paul Dikov. So by your logic we should be derogatory about him PD too? Of course not. If they came here, were good to the fans and took City to their heart we shouldn’t take pleasure from them leaving. Have you forgotten about Edin on the 90 min mark against qpr a year ago? Or how well he speaks of the club and fans? And even how he arrived by insulting the rags in his 1st press con? My auntie has met both Edin and Samir in the street and both were wonderful and charming, try adopting that characteristic a little. NVER BOO A BLUE, as we used to say before Robinho.
two games, two bad and ill timed substitutions in each. mancini hooking nasri and tevez against wigan; kiddo doing same for rodwell and tevez on sunday. the ‘malaise’ we seem to be suffering is certainly not helped by inept decision-making on the day
Well I was excited to see my first live city game and it was really special being there, unfortunately a few players didn’t show up haha. Namely yaya, but as with every peformance from kolarov I expect some terrible defence. Thought rodwell was box-to-box. And actually ran at the opposition rather than our laboured passing game that runs through yaya. Looking forward to seeing the transfer window, think this one might be highly active..
Did anyone else think tevez coming off looked pretty significant? I got the feeling that was a goodbye as he came off? As far as consistency goes Milner zabs and tevez have been our 3 best by a country mile this year.
Nasri and dzeko are very talented players and have much to give to the team. Don’t tell me you would keep kolo toure javi garcia maicon lescott and sell dzeko and nasri. Unless this is for buying messi