Everton 2 – 3 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
4 May
Hart - A pair of absolutely vital saves in the second half, the first from Naismith just after the break before we went up the other end to establish a clear lead, and then again from Deulofeu towards the end. After an early-season blip, he has bounced back superbly - 8
Zabaleta - Used his experience to great effect at the back, refusing to get drawn out too close to Baines and therefore leaving space inside him. Stayed tight and compact as we saw out the game. Supported Milner as best he could and arguably could have done better when through on goal late on - 7
Kompany - Handled the physicality and awareness of Lukaku with relative ease, matching him in the air and on the ground. As crosses came in to our box, he was commanding and the authoritative presence we required - 7
Demichelis - Unusually for him, he was outjumped on a couple of occasions in the first half but recovered quickly and displayed his nous and fighting attitude as we looked to close out the victory. Deft at nipping in to make a series of interceptions - 7
Clichy - Coleman’s enthusiastic raids down the right and Lukaku’s initial tendency to drift towards the wing made life tough for Clichy but he was stubborn in his defensive duties and even managed to deliver a peach of a cross into the area in the first half - 7
Garcia – The frequency and ease with which he was bypassed in midfield, most notably by Barkley, was staggering. Time after time after time, Garcia was left stranded and flailing as bodies whirled past him, the Spaniard having to resort to cynical shirt-tugging in a vain attempt to limit the damage. If it hadn’t been for injuries to other players, he surely would have been substituted - 4
Y. Touré - When he was involved he was a major threat, tormenting Everton at times with his pace and speed breaking forward. There were spells, however, when he drifted out of proceedings and found it tough to inject urgency into a lifeless affair - 7
Milner - His usual bundle of energy, negating the considerable threat of Baines down the left with his intelligent tracking and non-stop pressing. Created the second goal with a piece of neat footwork on the wing and then a perfectly flighted ball into the middle - 7
Nasri - In challenging circumstances, he was a bright light, always wanting to be on the ball and create something in the final third. Eager to get stuck in, too, and played an important role in shuttling back to help deny Coleman space and time to raid forward - 7
Aguero - This game, an all too brief appearance, typified his season: bright, breezy, sparky and in the goals only to suffer an injury which curtailed his work. Every time he has starting firing during the campaign, he has been forced off the pitch and we can only hope this latest setback is nothing too serious - 7
Džeko - It’s near-impossible trying to figure out what mark to award him. Yesterday was absolutely classic Dzeko: he had a shambolic touch, miscontrolled and then lost the ball every time it was played towards him and yet he scored a brace of crucial goals to drive us to the three points. He continues to be an enigma – a mediocre footballer but a decent goalscorer - 7
Subs
Fernandinho – It was a surprise to see him start on the bench and in the opening exchanges we missed his energy and closing down in the middle. Following his introduction, he took a little while to adapt to the pace of the game but settled down in the second half and was a powerful force after the break - 7
Kolarov - One crunching tackle in injury time but no discernible impact - 6
Silva – Not fit enough to start but he’ll be needed to break down Aston Villa and West Ham - 6
Dzeko’s touch was not shambolic. Ok, twice on the far side he miscontrolled the ball but his touch was much, much better than usual and had a few neat flicks here and there and worked his socks off not to mention the two crucial goals. He deserved an 8 at least.
I’d give Dzecko 3/10. If he could be bothered moving just a little then we’d have won this league weeks ago. He continually bottles out of 50/50 balls, which I’d accept from a diminutive flair player but he’s a 6’4″ lad who should do far better and he rarely make any kind of effort to win the ball back when he regularly looses it. But far worse is his blatant cheating which I find embarrassing. Yes, he scores goals, that’s what he’s paid to do but he must contribute more to the game in general.
I give him an 8. Your rating has no basis whatsoever. Did you even watch the game?
Firstly, I think you are a bit harsh on Garcia. I would give him a 6. He is by no means a player I fancy in City shirt not to mention the heart attack I almost had with the way he was wrestling and climbing over Barkley but do keep in mind anyone in his place would have struggled as Barkley is almost impossible to control.
As for Dzeko, for God’s sake once give some credit without ruining it. His goals has been very crucial and stepping stone toward our title ambition. Everyone knows his touch is not great, this is not something new, you need him to score and we win matches and he has been doing it,what is the issue?
Dzeko has been one of the players who has risen to the challenge these last few games. He has certainly put in more effort than I’m always used to seeing. His passing and defensive headers shouldn’t be overlooked either – he is superb defending deadballs into our area – one of the best CF’s around in that regard.
From Fernandinho’s lack of pace, he can’t be fully fit. Silva wasn’t challenging for the ball either, and Toure and Aguero obviously are carrying knocks.
The next 2 games will be a strain as the ’3 games in a week’ especially at this time of the season, often end up with players being slower of mind and body. So West Ham couldbe interesting in a way I don’t want.
And a point about Aguero. Its a known that certain players from South America habitually save themselves during World Cup seasons. It seems apparent that Aquero is one of those players and it really doesn’t sit well with me when so many in the team are flogging themselves to help the club succeed. I’m not impressed.
Great game, if Kun can’t return I’d just start Yaya at center forward.
Hopefully Dzeko keeps it up, we need his goals to win the league
I can’t understand everyone’s attitude towards the author on two counts. Firstly, if it annoys you that much then chose another blog. It’s not the BBC; you are not paying a licence fee for this.
Secondly, Dzeko is scoring important, crucial goals and for that he is to be lauded, as the author notes. Dzeko is also poor in terms of general attacking play and work rate, as the author notes. I think the author is sometimes is a little harsh but not much; get over it.
It occurred to me yesterday that MD is starting to look like the dominant centre half out of the two. After my initial concerns I’m glad he’s on a two year contract. Still think we need to splash out on another centre back (if we’re allowed!).
*choose
You’re quite right about one thing, there’s no one forcing me to read this blog….so I’m done
Suggest the authors time would be better spent as a pundit on match of the day, they’re just as clueless.
Ok. But I bet you’ll be back reading.
Very well said Crispy, completely agree. See you later Rob
What a header from dzeko, billant ball from j.m & a super finish from the big lad, up there with any you’ll see, maybe drogba against Munich no.1, anyway great win boys hope we do it now’ calm head’s not big ones & for them who like he got 6 he got 7 I’d give him 7.852134567, who gives a sh*t we won….. Come on city ✌
Great last point but ill give you three better city headers
1. Hichy v Utd 5-1. The header for its power and finding the top corner; the celebration for raising 5 fingers at the rag fans and for the fact it was the fifth in a 5-1.
2. Quinn last minute v champions Liverppol away (at the away end) circa 1991.
3. Rosler v Newcastle in league cup at Maine road. Threw the kitchen sink at it – whilst at shin height. Lovely.
Dzekos header away at Tottenham when he scored 4 is up there for me as well
And John Mackens in the 4-3 comeback at Spurs
I agree with Deb. Dzekos touch is shocking although yesterday for a change he did have the odd couple of touches. At the moment we’re feeling grateful to Dzeko because he scored two very important goals yesterday. This season I’ve cringed at some of his dreadful displays. I believe if we renew his contract that we will be very much making a statement that we will settle for top 4 in the domestic league. With players of Dzekos calibre we’ve no hope of going head to head with Europes finest. I like Pellegrini but I do feel he should have given Negredo some minutes to get his confidence back again and get match fit. He’s so much more talented than Dzeko and much more capable of immersing himself in the passing game with the likes of Silva et al.
44 goals in 106 appearances at a rate of one goal every 136 minutes on the pitch. Apart from Kun Aguero point out another striker who has done better than this in a City shirt in the last 50 years?
Some people forget too easily where we have come from.
If we have secured the services of Falcao then maybe we let Edin go, if he wants to go, but otherwise give him the credit and respect he has earned please and sign him up for a two year extension.
For once I agree that the criticism of Garcia was justified, if rather more scathing than necessary. Was he really worth but 4 when several others who were under par scored 7? Barklay is a bit special and would have given better players than Garcia a hard time; it wasn’t being schooled by Barklay that annoyed me though, it was the risk he took of being second yellowed, something that would have made life very difficult.
Ah well, that’s what opinions are all about and we’re all entitled to them.
Alph
You will miss Dzeko when he is gone. If he was english, you’d be rating him 9-10 every game.
DZEKO MY MOTM!
Garcia was not so solid against the light-feet Everton midfielders. He was also booked and couldn’t foul them too. Especially against Barkley and Naismith he had problems. Not that this was a bad performance by him but is was a less-assured than his recent excellent performances. Another player that Mancini did not exploit and Pelegrini shows us that he can contribute to this team.
Liverpool fans’ complaints about Everton’s style of play are ridiculous. Everton fought like lions to get a result against us. I do not want to think what would have happened if Hart didn’t make that fantastic inch-perfect save.
But even such a great save is not enough to name him MOTM, an honour that Dzeko deserves all the way. That guy showed us how great he can be when his work-rate and hunger for goals are so high. Great performance! He is in form and although I prefered the good-Negredo we have seen at the first round, he deserves to be in the starting lineup for the rest two games. When he plays like that, he is a world-class striker. Reminded me of how he played at the start of the season.
I have to say I am a little worried about the game against West Ham. They are for sure going to park the bus and if Aguero doesn’t play (I hope he does) we would lack the pace to break their defence. It is going to be a tough match. The game against Villa is easier I think.
Aguero has stated that he was substituted in fear of an injury. But I can’t find anything about Yaya. What’s up with him?
Dzeko again!!!
You guys need to give credit to that guy. Is the only CF in good form
8.5 for him.
Great article and some great comments. People complaining about the author astonish me.
Right now Dzeko and Garcia are what we have and we need to win the title with them.
You cannot win the war with the army you want, but the army you have.
Get behind them!
Dzeko was dreadful for 40 minutes and then scored a quality header, I agree with the author in that I have no idea how you mark that. If some of you on here believe that is worthy of a 9 then you are entitled to your opinion, but to label the author clueless for giving 7 is a nonsense
Dzeko 7…author is clueless
There are other options to reading & commenting on this if you don’t like it!
1. Start your own blog – it’s easy till you start writing & trying to get anyone to read it!
2. Read MEN – they gave Garcia 6 and Dzeko 9!
3. Just read – leave the comments to those with something constructive to say.
>> Just read – leave the comments to those with something constructive to say
And what exactly constitutes for the open-ended term you use “constructive”.
For example what is constructive about your comment up there, are you implying that you should comment only if you intend to suck up to AVFB (no offense AVFB, I am just trying to make a point here and I am personally thankful for your posts and I enjoy reading them very much regardless of my agreeing or disagreeing with your points).
Obviously, you are yourself guilty of the same crime you are complaining about. you did not like some posts and you are blogging your thoughts.
I have been reading/commenting on this blog for the last few years and I do not see why I should not be able to comment on a point I do not like much the same way on the point I like.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but calling someone clueless for giving a performance 7 is just called being a prick
It’s the daily mail/keyboard warrior/stuff you wouldn’t say to their face rants I don’t get.
Seems a bit vitriolic/personal?
I used to get really annoyed by David White getting offside constantly and having a shit touch but you look back and he did a great job. I can only imagine the slating he’d get in this social media age!!
Hey Blue Bullet…you are right, I honestly triggered my comment way to fast ,wrong to say clueless as it is not true.Nice post actualy , with some nice observations…so my apologies to author if that can make it right.
I do have different opinion on Players ratting however as often players are rated by effort and craftsmanship which in most of the cases is proportional to results. In Dzeko’s case is often different ….he is perfect example that one should not confuse effort ,first touch , beauty of the movement with results.
Guys what I would like to point out is that we must not sell Milner for any fee less than 20m! This guy shows passion, has an ultra high work rate and is a very gifted footballer. I believe that he is the current best player England possess to hope for a good World Cup. I believe that he would also be fantastic as a wing back in a 3-5-2 (no Mancini,we do not want you back)