Southampton 1 – 1 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
8 Dec
Pantilimon - Did everything that was asked of him. Hesitant on one cross that Shaw whipped into the box but otherwise commanding in his area and out quickly to deny Rodriguez when through. Helpless for Osvaldo’s wonderstrike - 6
Zabaleta - Given a couple of problems by Rodriguez’s trickery and quick feet but at least he showed a willingness to fight. Tried to get forward as much as possible but was restrained by Southampton’s domination - 6
Kompany - He had been so assured on his comeback in midweek but faced with the constant movement and effervescence of the home side, he lacked a touch of composure. Produced the odd last-ditch saving tackle but the authority he usually injects was missing - 6
Demichelis - Off the pace. In possession he was positive but he really struggled to cope with the interchange of positions and dancing control of Southampton’s attackers. Dived in too readily and didn’t read the game as he usually does - 5
Kolarov - Provided the assist for Aguero’s goal with a driven cross but then couldn’t offer a meaningful threat down the left for the rest of the game. Wasted one great opportunity in the second half by electing to shoot instead of passing - 6
Y. Touré - As has become the norm against sides who press high up and show mobility in midfield, Yaya was a total passenger. He would stroll upfield and then casually saunter back, leaving Fernandinho with double the work. We know Yaya has immense quality on his day, but there are plenty of occasions, like yesterday, when he looks as if he’d rather be anywhere else - 5
Fernandinho - On a day when City struggled to exert any control on proceedings, he was about as lively as anyone in trying to wrest the initiative back from our hosts. He won a few challenges, intercepted a couple of attacks and tried to get us playing but he lacked support from his lethargic teammates - 6.5
Milner - I felt before the game it was the right decision to bring him into the side but he found it difficult to contain the willing overlaps of Shaw and struggled to support Zabaleta defensively. Had minimal impact in an attacking sense - 6
Nasri - His least effective game in a while, as he failed to create chances or offer some guile. Attempted to do too much in possession and ended up withdrawing the sting from our rare forward forays - 6
Aguero - Took his goal clinically but then missed an easier chance later in the first half. Tried his hardest to bring others into play but it didn’t quite seem to click for him - 6
Negredo - Arguably his poorest showing in a City shirt. He showed aggression and physicality but his touch, usually so sublime, was missing and he wasted a great opportunity early on after his control let him down - 5
Subs
Navas – Offered very little as he was unable to isolate Shaw - 6
Garcia - Unable to halt Southampton’s slick swarms forward – 6
Dzeko – A brief cameo and he had no time to make an impact - No time to mark
Spot on with YaYa.
Hope Negredo being dropped hasn’t knocked his confidence/interrupted his momentum.
Hmmmmmmm
A poor performance against a good free flowing Saints side.
That is all
Considering the difficulty of the game, how below par we were and the results around us, a good point gained especially if we win next week
I don’t recall Negredo being dropped. Yes Dzeko started against WBA but I would wager that was because Pellegrini wanted to rest Negredo for yesterday. Pellegrini has stated in several press conferences that he would be rotating all 4 forwards most of the season. Negredo does not strike me as me as a player struggling for confidence. He cut a frustrated figure yesterday but so did Milner and Nasri. Possibly a combination accombination of the Saints high pressure and Toure’s diva (I can’t be bothered to help my teammates out defensively) attitude.
He was dropped for West Brom. You can call it rotating/resting but he was dropped. He was dropped purely to keep others (i.e Dzeko) from throwing toys out I’d the pram.
Unless, unless he was played as he scored against West Brom last season, just like he scored away at Munich.
Auguero and Negredo up top every week.
Sorry, meant ‘played’ against Munich.
We played below par. We’d just have to fix this away form dilema or else saunter into more retrogressions
Went to the match and maybe i don’t understand the game but can’t see what Milner brings to the party. You certainly can’t play him in a team with no pace: we become too easy to contain.
Silva needs to come back quickly and we certainly do not play the same style away from home as we do at the Etihad, unlike the manager claims
Swings and roundabouts. We deserved a point at Sunderland and didn’t get it but got one here when we didn’t deserve it! Yaya had a shocker, Lallana ran him ragged in the 2nd half and Yaya was nana to be seen. Nasri – worst game of the season and reverted to his last season form and should have been sent off. I wouldn’t play him in away games as he can’t tackle and buckles under pressure (is it a French thing? their rugby team is the same!). Demich. not up to it – running around like a headless chicken in the second half. Fernad. was doing all the work for the midfield with Milner helping out at times.
@ crispy. Negredo is a good player no doubt about it. Hey we got 4 strikers.dzeko nd aguero started a against Wb nd wht was the score? Dzeko is good and i hate when some people consider him has useless. I’m a man city fan for life but I’ll be happy to see dzeko going somewhere where he can player most of the time.when he scored 4 goals spurs what was your reaction? Play him every 2 weeks.
Too generous for Yaya….another game where he can’t be bothered…..and no comments about him going straight down the tunnel.
Yes,mike, good point about Yaya heading straight down the tunnel. Not a good sign! Was it that he had been outplayed in the second half by a bunch of kids or is there another reason? Anyone got any ideas? Why can’t he be bothered in away games?