2012/2013 MAN CITY Season Ratings: Strikers
30 May
Sergio Aguero: 40 games, 17 goals – After the incredible heights of his debut season at City, this was a slightly disappointing campaign, punctuated by injuries and some profligate patches. Carried off within the opening few minutes of the season, he just started to find his devastasting form again before picking up another injury midway through the year and it took him a while to be back and fighting fit.
On his day, he’s breathtaking, his pace in behind offering a penetrative threat, his ability to drop deep and run at defenders, as he did to score the winner at Old Trafford, is remarkable and his touch and awareness are sublime, but he was as guilty as anyone of lacking a clinical touch. He’s recently stated how happy he is in Manchester and he looks like staying for the foreseeable future, which is fantastic news, and he could well benefit from the rumoured arrival of Edinson Cavani, a taller striker with whom he could dovetail to great effect. Season Rating: 6
Carlos Tévez: 47 games, 17 goals – A blistering start to the season and a lively end to it, but a prolonged blip in the middle where his general play struggled to be effective. His workrate was exceptional throughout and when he was on form, some of his vision and link-up play was scintillating, complete with dynamic movement, the freedom to be the bond between midfield and attack, and he posed a constant threat.
However, he did suffer a rougher time during the winter months as he struggled to impact proceedings but he bounced back well towards the latter stages of the season. With only one year left on his contract, it will be fascinating to see what happens to him over the summer. Plenty of clubs will be interested in him and City may look to cash in on Tévez, but there is also the option for him to sign a longer deal. We shall have to wait and see. Season Rating: 7.5
Edin Dzeko: 45 games, 15 goals – A complete mystery. There are times when he looks like a top quality, dangerous, powerful and clinical striker who has everything at his disposal to be just what we need. Then there are other, far more frequent, occasions when he resembles someone playing football for the first time. My suspicion is that if you don’t ask him to get involved in the build-up play and give him no time to think in front of goal, he could be very effective.
Alas, that’s not feasible these days and as such, when he’s outside the box, it’s fairly embarrassing. His touch is woeful, his workrate is largely absent and although stats can be overbearing these days in football analysis, it’s telling that his 69% pass completion rate is, by a hefty 10%, the lowest in the squad. In addition, his attitude towards the end of the season, and most notably in the defeat away to Spurs, was abysmal. A poor performance will be tolerated. A lack of effort won’t. He’s not the consistent striker we require nor does he have the mentality, I don’t think, to battle for his place and he will hopefully move on over the summer. Season Rating: 5.5
Note: Mario Balotelli featured in 20 games and scored 3 goals before making his move to AC Milan in January and he has started to show his more consistently talented side in Italy, notching 12 times in 13 appearances.
Taking account of time actually on the field, Edin Dzeko was by far the most effective City striker in the 2012-13 premier league:
Dzeko 14 goals @ 130 minutes per goal
Aguero 12 goals @ 162 minutes per goal
Tevez 11 goals @ 218 minutes per goal
It is worth pointing out that the ranking is the same if one takes the minutes / goals for each player solely in those games in which he started (countering the superficial but common claim that Dzeko is not effective when he starts). Furthermore, bearing in mind Andy Gray’s celebrated hypothesis about the likely effectiveness of Messi on a cold wet night at the Britannia Stadium, it is worth noting that the AWAY goals tallies were Dzeko 8; Aguero 4; and Tevez 2.
For this season’s premier league, defining a “key” goal as one scored when City were drawing or losing at the time of the goal:
Dzeko 10 key goals @ 182 mins per goal
Aguero 7 key goals @ 277 mins per goal
Tevez 7 key goals @ 342 mins per goal
Indeed, had it not been for Dzeko’s match-winning goals against Fulham, West Brom and Spurs, City’s pursuit of the premier league would have effectively been over by mid-November. After one of those games, David Platt highlighted the critical goals Dzeko has scored for City:
“If you look at Edin’s career for Manchester City, the goals he has scored, he has got a lot of heavy goals, goals that are very important. I remember goals at Blackburn the season before last which more or less gave us Champions League qualification. You look back at last season as well and he got some vital goals. To win the league, Aguero’s goal will always be the one but remember Edin equalised.”
Great comment
Fantastic comment. I am the firm believer that the end justifies the means. As long as the end product is there and it tops everyone, I am perfectly fine with the fact that he is a bit clumsy with footwork. Anyways, he is not that sort of player for footwork. Dzeko’s footwork is as good as Aguero’s aerial prowess. Two different players with two different capabilities
Well said Martin, Dzeko was our best strikers last two season
Nice stats Martin but strikers shouldn’t be just judged on goals alone, their contribution in general play is just as important, while I think Dzeko is a good footballer he doesn’t quite meet the standards set by Tevez and Aguero in his all round game. Having said all that I do think 5.5 for the season is harsh.
there is just one moment in history of humanity, just one place on the world, and just one striker who wasn’t rated for the goals he scored – yeah, you are right – it’s 30/May/2013, England (View from the Blue), Edin Dzeko !
I am simply astonished – it’s boggles my mind, and only reason I can imagine is simply too serious, too woeful, and almost certainly has little to do with sport and football, that I dare not to speak it aloud !!!
However, I am not the only one, as I noticed Martin feels the same and claims: “In sixty years of supporting City, I have never read or listened to so much drivel from pundits and commentators about an individual player as I have about Edin Dzeko.”
To some relief, I read similar comments of similarly astonished and baffled people on other websites too.
As to what Edin Dzeko offers beyond scoring goals, consider some Opta data for the premier league from the EPL Index Stats Centre.
1) Defensive Clearances: Dzeko 17; Aguero 1; Tevez 1.
2) Blocked Shots: Dzeko 6; Aguero 0; Tevez 3.
3) Defensive Tackles made / won: Dzeko 10/10; Aguero 26/20; Tevez 28/19.
4) Duels Won: Dzeko 126; Aguero 113; Tevez 123.
5) Aerial Duels Won: Dzeko 87; Aguero 5; Tevez 13.
6) Passing Accuracy: Dzeko 69.2%; Aguero 82.4%; Tevez 83.9%.
7) Long Balls total/accurate: Dzeko 25/15 Aguero 17/12 Tevez 41/29.
8) Total Shots / On Target: Dzeko 94/40; Aguero 86/36; Tevez 105/40.
9) Unsuccessful touches: Dzeko 45; Aguero 44; Tevez 50.
10) Overran Ball: Dzeko 1; Aguero 4; Tevez 7.
11) Offsides: Dzeko 7; Aguero 14; Tevez 18.
12) Goal Assists in Open Play: Dzeko 3; Aguero 2; Tevez 5.
13) Using the Opta definition of assists, the MINUTES PER GOAL INVOLVEMENT (i.e., goals + assists) were: Dzeko 107; Aguero 139; Tevez 127.
In interpreting 1) to 12) above, one should remember the disparities in total minutes played (Dzeko 1815; Aguero 1941; Tevez 2408).
In sixty years of supporting City, I have never read or listened to so much drivel from pundits and commentators about an individual player as I have about Edin Dzeko. It is a classic case of people seeing what they want to see and then processing what they think they have seen on the basis of their own preconceptions. Fortunately the Opta sports data are collected by people who follow guidelines / rules and who (presumably) do not judge events on the basis of the media portrayals of players or their height or their nationality (and who are not impressed by a player running around like a headless chicken).
I understand what you say about people seeing what they want based on preconceived ideas. People in the stands shout out nonsense which doesn’t even relate to what has just happened on the pitch, when they they think it did, just because its something they’ve heard. However, I think the above stats actually back up the fact that stats don’t tell you everything in sport. If you just looked at the above you would think Dzeko was a world beater. It was clearly evident in the second half of the season especially that Dzeko’s all round game is not good enough in a team like ours. Overall he has done a good job for us but there are better more technically gifted players than Edin, who are also good in the air, a player like that will add a lot to our title challenge next year imo.
I have personally read so much none-sense about Dzeko that is unbelievable even with the presence of objective bang-on statistics that speaks for itself. Dzeko is technically gifted but definitely not in Aguero’s or Tevez’s way, but in his own way the fits his characteristics. It is one thing to say “A person does not fit the system” but it is another when he is labelled as a liability and not up-to par despite the fact all evidence says otherwise. The amazing thing is that Dzeko has been playing in a system that is most hostile to his attributes and has come up with those numbers. Does anyone here thinks if Aguero is placed in team playing Stoke way with all those long balls, he would be still considered technically gifted!
im sorry siamack but he is not technically gifted in any type of football, I would like to mention that I have defended Dzeko many times in the past. However, his first touch and general technique in terms of skill and passing ability are not at a level which is good enough to be a top player. City should not adopt a style to fit him, it should be the other way round, he is a good player but far from special
And that is exactly what I was trying to say that he is not the passing type and that is not his characteristics and strengths. He is a poacher and a target man that you put him in the box and put decent balls in the box [which we obviously lack] and he does the job. That is how he has scored his goals.
statistics is the best way to lie. Yes Dzeko was really good at the first matches when he played as a substitute. But when he started he was not good enough. I believe that we all agree that when you are on as a substitute (and especially at the last minutes) it is far easier to make a telling contribution. That is so because opponents are exhausted both physically and mentally while you are fresh and have a “clean mind”. Also, from and christmas until now it seems to me that dzeko is not happy about the situation at the team and his interest is minimum. His workrate has been abysmal and even at the games he played and scored like with liverpool he has all the way absent. His position in the team should be at the bench and if he don’t want to play this role he better go. And about the comparisons between him and tevez and aguero, come on aguero especially is two classes above him. This is also indicated by the fact that the best teams in the world are diying to sign him like barca real and bayern
>> statistics is the best way to lie.
The statement is pure rubbish. Almost everything is run based on statistics from golden glove award to top scorer, etc. Statistics are benchmarks used in almost every aspect of social, governmental, corporate, sports, … to make decisions and set directions. And that is the reality even if your perception of it is nothing but a lie. And that is the reality and not seeing puts you “out-of-touch with the reality”.
I hear you!
@siamack
this statement is the pure rubbish yeah? ok let me give you an example to see why it is gold and not rubbish. I take one shot in one of my games and i score. what do the statistics say? that i have a 100% (!!) success ratio when shooting. Nevertheless i may be lucky or it was a routine save for the keeper that didn’t turn to be so. before critisice think.
@Greek
Every person has the option either to make a complete Jerk of himself or otherwise. Most of folks , that I know in this blog, invest their time and effort to exchange sensible ideas/information related to City and are sensible folks. At least that is my opinion, and you may think otherwise [as your childish example insinuates that]. What you have up there is not something that even an imbecile would resort to further his argument in some sensible exchanges among decent folks. I am sure it would be to insulting to his intellect.
If you intend to make comments much like other folks such as Martin, People tend to think that you have some common sense and are not bananas!
siamack i stop losing my time with you. football is not stats, is passion and heart. Dzeko does not have either. end of story
Edin – get rid – simples!
I totally agree with the ratings but i want to see a COACH SEASON RATING.
hahahahaha 3 at best
I have a funny feeling that you are a Greek ?
If thats the truth, than I have a terribly funny feeling that your infantile rant has all to do with your deeply offended little persona, and also deep feeling of hate, based on ethnicity and origin, against the man who demolished your national team in Bosnia this spring. Ring the bells ?
Greek
1) I am a huge fan of Kun Aguero and I am delighted that he has signed a contract extension.
2) In my first post, I explicitly pointed out that the ranking is the same if, for each striker, we take the minutes and the goals in just those games in which he started, i.e., Dzeko > Aguero > Tevez.
3) The easiest time for a striker to score is when his (her) team is already winning – for example, the two goals each by Aguero and Tevez (including a penalty each) in the 5:0 home win over Aston Villa, who fell apart after David Silva opened the scoring late in the first half.
4) For last season’s premier league, the MINUTES PER POSSESSION WON were: Dzeko 29; Aguero 32 ; and Tevez 31. Not much support there for those who claim that Tevez always fights to win the ball from opponents whereas Dzeko does not.
5) It has been embarrassing how often ‘experts’ have extolled the virtues of the Aguero-Tevez ‘dream partnership’ (with Dzeko to be relegated to the bench). From Newcastle away in May 2012 to the end of this February, in the 11 premier league games in which Aguero and Tevez started, we were winning in just 3 (THREE) of them when the partnership was broken by substitution. I haven’t bothered to check since the latter date. [For completeness, I should say that in the Southampton game, Aguero was taken off injured at a relatively early stage, so that should not count against the partnership. On the other hand, against Swansea (one of the three 'successes'), Balotelli had been added to the attack at half time because of a failure to score.]
6) Having spent 40 + years working in a University, I have no experience in dealing with the sort of mentality that responds with “statistics is the best way to lie”. So I will not try. I have noticed that the people who make such a claim often employ statistics themselves when it suits them and even more frequently make what amount to (unsubstantiated) empirical assertions based on what their eyes allegedly tell them.
I hear you again Martin. The bad things about prejudice and mass-intoxication are facts/truth/lies ,whatever you name, have no bearing to your judgement regardless if they support your argument or not.
Martin
2) the striker is not only for scoring goals. when dzeko started (and after very crucial and magnificent perfomances indeed) he was sluggish and seemed that the play passed him by. sometimes his quality spoke and he scored but even when that happened (not quite frequently though in my opinion) then he was again lost. I could point out games against Ajax away, liverpool home chelsea away.
3)when tevez and aguero scored against villa, the scoreline was just 1-0. the game seemed to be there to take it surely, as the game against spurs home despite the scoreline being at 1-1 cause in the second half we were top class. As for the penalty comment, why do we consider balotelli’s penalties high and underestimate the others penalties?
4)honestly, excuse me but you must be much stubborn to look in the last season and watch the minutes per possesion. aguero scored 30 goals was the best striker in the league while on his debut season too and tevez return gave us the title when dzeko could not do the same. that simple
5)Of course aguero-tevez is the best partnership in our team. Mancini should have figured it out quicklier even from the friendlies at the summer it was evident. You just present stats without examining the circumstances under the events took place. that’s why i say statistics frequenty lie. so, you say that with tevez aguero on we won 3 games out of 11. between these games i think were games against swansea, manchester united, the cup final, the cup semi final against chelsea. dzeko played in games like against norwich, west brom, newcastle, barnsley. no more comment
6)read the example refered by me above to siamack and tell me your opinion.
Greek
I do not know what you mean by last season’s “minutes per possession”. But I do know that, in the premier league, the minutes per goal were Dzeko 107; Aguero 113; and van Persie (Golden Boot winner) 111. Dzeko also had a better clear-cut chance conversion rate than either of them. Dzeko’s performance was remarkable given the way he was messed about by Mancini. Van Persie was on the field for the full 90 minutes in 34 of his 38 premier league appearances. In contrast, Dzeko was on the field for the full 90 minutes in only 10 of his 30 premier league appearances. Indeed, in 10 of the other appearances, he was on the field for a TOTAL of 82 minutes (less than the time Balotelli spent on the field before that infamous red card versus Arsenal). Yet incompetent journalists still cited goals viz-a-viz appearances as their performance measure.
In my view, with proper management, Dzeko and Aguero could have been the best strike partnership the premier league has ever seen. One of the legacies of Mancini’s appalling man-management is that Dzeko may well leave this summer.
Where we do agree, Greek, is that we both rate Aguero very highly. My advice is that you keep your fingers crossed (if you are religious, please pray) that Tevez leaves this summer. Around last September, I predicted that Tevez would effectively freeze out Aguero – not blatantly but subtly – and that journalists and fans would be bewildered as to how Aguero could score fewer goals in his second season in the premier league.
The problem is that Tevez sees other City strikers as rivals and typically only passes to them either as a last resort or in the expectation of a return pass. This goes way beyond the ‘selfishness’ exhibited by many strikers.
Based on TV recordings, I counted Tevez passes to Aguero in City’s critical last three games of 2011-12 against Man U, Newcastle and QPR. Ignoring kick-offs, the numbers of ‘completed’ passes from Tevez to Aguero were:
Man U: 1 [in 67 minutes]
Newcastle: 0 (zero) [in 70 minutes]
QPR: 2 [in 75 minutes]
It was not much different in games I studied this season.
As background, I am a one-time “Tevez addict” (2009-10) who became increasingly disenchanted with his extreme selfishness during the 2010-11 season. This prompted me to use the Guardian Chalkboard to count Tevez passes to Dzeko following the latter’s arrival in January 2011. Tevez completed just 6 passes to Dzeko IN TOTAL in the premier league games against Wolves, Birmingham, Manchester United, West Brom, Fulham and Liverpool (whereas Dzeko completed 6 passes to Tevez just in the Fulham game).
the minutes per goal are so because dzeko played 5 times as a substitute and scored. that’s all. Do you tell me you don’t prefer van persie who scored 15 goals more but dzeko who has a better minutes/goal ratio? and our youngster lopez has 1 goal in 10 minutes with his last minute goal at the cup. What does this mean?
Mancini was quite good to Dzeko. Do you tell me that Dzeko deserved to play in front of aguero tevez or even balotelli? every time he was given a chance with a start he simply did not exist in the pitch. Dzeko is a very good player but not for us. If he goes to Bayern for example with robben ribery and miller at the wings he would score 30 goals. But in our style he simply doesn’t fit. He reminds me imbra when he played for barca. Dzeko’s first touch is abysmal, his hold up play too, he is not quick enough to run into space and not willing to run at defenders because he can’t dribble them. At these skills tevez is by far better. No talk about aguero. Remember that even last year when the whole team was 10 levels up, Mancini was forced to take tevez back. That shows something.
I don’t think that Tevez is responsible for the fact that aguero was not that effective this year. First of all he had injuries every time he started to play a few matches. Furthermore, mancini in every match changed his striker partrenship and did not let them find pace. Also , the creative forces of the team (silva toure even nasri) were not at the top best quality of last year.
Anyway, Martin I thank you for your effort and above all for sharing your insight with us (or at least with me).
Every point you made stands unshakably, and at this point in time I can say with much certainty that Edin is finally appreciated and rewarded with role he deserved.
Many journalist, writers and bloggers still don’t wish to halt their relentless expression of disdain and unappreciation toward Dzeko, so they say that Pellegrin decided to “present Edin with second chance”, as if Edin actually never deserved his role by himself, and faith publicly expressed by his new manager !
Cheers!
Some good points here peeps. I really don’t know what to think of Dzeko now!! : D
Putting stats to the side for a minute he was infuriating to watch at times last season – mainly his first touch and lack of sprint – and i think the majority will agree. I think he could still be a formidable 20 a season target man for us but only if the incoming coach adopts tactics to suit him.
There are relationships that are not working as it would be expected by quality of sides involved. That is story of Dzeko-Manchester city. The question is: who will lose more? Edin or Man City? Edin will score many more goals in future-that is sure thing, I think we lose if he goes.
By the way here’s interesting rating of best 10 strikers by “EPL Index” using “Opta”, and Aguero isn’t there:
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/130408/top-10-players-premier-league-season-surprising-no1-195234?p=1