Swansea 2 – 3 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
2 Jan
Hart - A couple of simple stops, but wasn’t called into action a great deal considering Swansea’s pretty possession. Helpless for both goals - 6
Zabaleta - A powerful figure at the back, whether in stopping attacks down his side or covering for the man inside him. Tried to venture forward as much as possible but there are occasions when he could sit back and allow Navas to take on the fullback without galloping into the Spaniard’s space - 7
Kompany - When crosses came into our box and the home side applied pressure, he was a mountain at the back. Cleared everything, dominant in the air and stayed tight to Swansea’s attackers, denying them space and time. From a bunch of good performances, he was my pick for man of the match - 8.5
Nastasic - There were times outside the box when he struggled with Bony’s strength, as he couldn’t impose himself in the air or get close enough to the man, but similarly to Kompany, when Swansea’s wide players put deliveries into our area, he was colossal - 7.5
Kolarov - His best performance for City. Going forward, he was a constant threat and provided dangerous width, capping off his display with a well-taken, right-footed (!) strike. He matched that attacking power with a solid defensive showing, something which hasn’t exactly always been the case - 8
Y. Touré - Scored the crucial second goal, albeit with the help of a deflection, but this was hardly an impressive display. Improved when he was moved forward in the second half, but before the break, the ease with which Swansea’s midfielders ran off him was embarrassing. Has a blind spot when it comes to tracking runners and that means an overload of unmarked opposition players around the edge of our box - 6
Fernandinho - He really is the engine of the team. Not given much help in the centre of midfield from a defensive point of view but it doesn’t make much difference to him as he moves around, making tackles and interceptions, and then springing forward with intent. He has been a tremendous acquisition - 8
Navas - His pace is such an outlet for us when we’re defending and he was a livewire in the final third, putting over a stream of crosses and adding rich variety to our play. Creates chances with his ability to find space from a standing start and he was heavily involved in our second goal - 8
Nasri - In Silva’s absence, there was the opportunity for him to thrive creatively but he couldn’t quite influence matters as he would have liked. On the fringes in an attacking sense and left Kolarov exposed down the left by not tracking back - 6
Džeko - A much improved attitude from his past few showings and he was a more menacing presence. Worked hard and tried to offer himself but his touch wasn’t great and some attacks broke down through his poor control - 6
Negredo - Arguably his least effective appearance of the season. His touch, normally sublime, was strangely off and he couldn’t intimidate Swansea’s backline with his physicality - 5
Subs
Garcia - His introduction enabled Yaya to operate from a more advanced role but he couldn’t control the tempo in the middle as he struggled to stop Swansea’s flow - 6
Milner - Shored things up down City’s left and added a more direct threat to our attack without much of an end product - 6
Rodwell - A very late appearance - No time to mark
Spot on ratings. All city summer recruits were brilliant acquisitions. Would really love to see jovetic back to full fitness. Huge fan of jo jo. Can smell a treble this year
Dzeko much improved? He was awful. In all honesty in my opinion had we been playing without him at all it would have made no difference. I really cannot understand the blind spot that some City fans have for him. I think he reduces Negredos contribution too so we lose both ways. Just hope we get Jovetic over his problems as for me he is the right fit when Kun isn’t available.
As for Nasri I thought his contribution was better than a 6.
I thought Dzeko looked more committed (thanks!) and showed himself very well; however his touch was simply atrocious!! Classic Dzeko was his half volley which was deflected narrowly wide – it was a half volley as his first touch lifted the ball up!! Best coming off the bench and Negredo being the focal point of the attack with YaYa behind; Nasri and Navas either side and Fernandinho and Milner holding. Obv changing when Silva/Aguero back.
PS Why Fernandinho isn’t one of the first players on the Brazil team sheet I will never know. Top, top player and you are quite right in calling him the engine of our team.
I am neither a big fan of Dzeko nor am I supporter who mindlessly berates players, against palace Dzeko was rightly slated for his performance but he was much improved yesterday, I actually think 6 is harsh.
I thought Nasri played well and some agree and some don’t, either way he is undoubtedly having more influence this year.
It pains me every time I come on here that I cant remember who wrote Fernandinho off; stating that he ‘didn’t have it’ after 3 games. Not only was it clear he had talent but more significant is that this was another example of a football fan making a negative snap judgement without giving a player a chance. On this subject don’t even get me started on Kolarov now looking an excellent full back and changing opinions after 3 years at the club, im even hearing the odd positive about Garcia as well in the last week.
I do agree Dezko was much improved yesterday at least to my eyes. My man of the match was Kolarov, his one 2 one defending was impressive yesterday as well as his attacking prowess.
Dzeko did play better, but it is clear to see, and indeed it was obvious in the Fulham game that Dzeko and Negrado cannot, as yet, play together. It was interesting also to hear on Match of the Day the very first ‘professional pundit’, namely Didi Hamann, criticise Yaya, calling him a liability because of the way he is so easily bypassed in midfield. Perhaps the myth that he is a world class midfielder is at last being exposed. Maybe we should revert to using him as a striker off the front man again as we did when we had Tevez.
Think you have got it spot on with YAYA.
Yes Yaya has his moments of weakness but I am certain every other side in the Premier League would want him in their team.
Having feasted on Kolarov, Garcia, Nasri, Fernandinho the locusts looks for their next target and settle on Yaya.
Before it was apparently all down to Mancini that Dzeko was unable to show his true worth because City didn’t play with width. Now that we have Navas and the way Pellegrini sets his team up we are seeing that width but Dzeko is the liability others would claim Yaya is.
Yaya would always be in my team. Dzeko can reprise his super sub role as I don’t see him contributing enough to warrant a starting position.
Sorry “in for the long term” but Yaya has been my ‘target’ for 18th months, but mainly because with his undoubted ability and physical stature I feel he should dominate every game for 90 minutes not just join in occasionally when the mood takes him
Hear hear.
Although In for the Long Term makes an interesting point about Dzeko – I was one of those saying he needs wingers. However, I still think he does (see his goal that Navas set up v Palace). It’s his link up play that is poor.