2012/2013 MAN CITY Season Ratings: Midfielders

Jack Rodwell: 15 games, 2 goals – An injury-hit and frustrating first season at City for Rodwell who suffered more troubles with his hamstrings. When he did play, he offered a glimpse into his enormous potential, showing a drive and intensity from midfield that we often lacked throughout the season. He has an all-energy style of play, closing down eagerly, pressing high up and bursting forward whenever possible and he left a hugely positive impression when he featured. His challenge is obviously to stay fit and string together a number of games, and should that happen, I think we have an excellent, purposeful and talented individual on our hands. Season Rating: 6

Javi Garcia: 33 games, 2 goals – At worst, he was inept. At best, remotely average. A thoroughly underwhelming addition to the squad and a mediocre symbol of our efforts in the last summer transfer window. His lack of pace isn’t a problem in itself, but it is combined with a total inability to read the game, no positional awareness or anticipation of danger and a passing style that oozed lethargy. Constantly caught out and unable to provide cover for the defence, he was a largely shambolic acquisition. Throw in his overwhelming insipid nature in possession and it’s clear we bought a dud. There is a justifiable argument that foreign signings need time to settle but Garcia hasn’t displayed even a hint of the necessary qualities to feature in this City side and the sooner he departs the better. Season Rating: 4

Gareth Barry: 41 games, 2 goals – Following on from his outstanding campaign last year when we won the title, this was another consistently impressive season from Barry. He escapes many headlines because he goes about his job unnoticed, popping up everywhere in the middle but never attracting attention. He shields the defence superbly, always finding himself in the right position, never needing to slide in at the last moment to block a shot. Despite not having a great deal of guile, he tries to play at a quick tempo, receiving the ball and moving it along with just a couple of touches. He has never relied on pace, rather his terrific reading of proceedings, and as such, I’d be strongly in favour of extending his contract. It has one year to run but he has proved over the past couple of seasons what an integral member of the side he is and even if we strengthen in central areas over the summer, he will still remain a key figure in the squad. Season Rating: 7.5

Yaya Touré: 42 games, 10 goals – His performances over the season could be an apt metaphor for City’s campaign: a hugely talented player who, on his day, can be world-class, but was all too often very average. He was desperately laboured, painfully predictable and ever so disappointing. We know how destructive Yaya can be but his displays throughout the season have been abject. For a player blessed with such power and enthralling qualities, he is, for the majority of the time, a huge let-down, ambling around without purpose or drive. As we looked to break sides down, Yaya would stroll around casually, seemingly doing his best to slow the tempo or withdraw any sense of hunger. Defensively, he’s very poor and gets passed around far too easily, but his strength is going forward and his touch on the ball, yet he exuded laziness and disinterest. All of his appearances were starts and perhaps Roberto Mancini allowed him to coast, but if City are to improve upon this season’s faults, then Yaya will have to do the same. Season Rating: 5

James Milner: 36 games, 4 goals – One of bright sparks over the course of the season. Not a flashy performer, but he provides the side with balance, a direct approach and we look a far more cohesive unit with him involved. His workrate is famed but he’s got far more quality than often given credit for and his link-up play, movement and constant desire to be involved seem to bring out the best in others. In terms of talent, he wouldn’t be in the starting eleven, but while so many of our squad approached the season with a carefree abandon, Milner had the right attitude and was one of the few to come out of the campaign with his reputation improved. Season Rating: 8

Samir Nasri: 37 games, 5 goals – Another highly skilled individual who was so frustratingly average for large parts of the season. Nasri has an envious amount of natural talent yet barely, if ever, produced anywhere near his best over the course of the campaign. He improved in the final couple of months when he displayed courage in possession, showing the willingness to run at defenders and commit them in dangerous areas, but that came far too late. For the majority of games, he was a total passenger on the fringes of the action, content to shirk creative responsibility and do nothing more than pass the ball without any urgency. He’s all too frequently passive, unwilling to be the centre of ingenuity and he seemingly lacks the character to be a prominent member of the team. Season Rating: 5

David Silva: 41 games, 5 goals – By his majestic standards, this would have counted as a disappointing season. He failed to hit the sublime heights of our title-winning year and he couldn’t provide the creative spark often enough when sides sat back and we relied on his genius to break them down. Still, worked like a Trojan – an aspect which is often overlooked – and always wanted to be involved but he seemed to be lacking that freshness. Indeed, after a number of summers without a break thanks to various international tournaments, that was only to be expected and the great shame is he shall be featuring for Spain again over the next couple of months. Needs to work on his finishing which, for a player of his indubitable ability, is oddly woeful, but he’s a top class performer and an integral cog in City’s play. Season Rating: 6.5 

Scott Sinclair: 15 games, 0 goals – Only started three matches in all competitions and was a spectator for much of the campaign. Clearly not the first choice winger to be added last summer, but questions have to be asked of whoever is in charge of transfers when there is nothing between £38m for Eden Hazard and £6m for Sinclair. At times, our performances were crying out for pace, width and variety – all elements Sinclair would have offered – but Mancini was reluctant in the extreme to turn to the former Swansea man and it became more of a surprise to actually see him on the pitch. Whether it was down to the manager’s petulance or Sinclair’s displays in training or another factor, he was never given a chance and ended the season in hospital. It sort of summed everything up. Season Rating: N/A

Note: Abdul Razak made four appearances over the season, three of them as substitute, while Denis Suarez featured in the Capital One Cup and desperately needs a season-long loan next year. Rony Lopes was introduced as a substitute against Watford in the FA Cup and scored after just a couple of minutes on his debut. 

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