Newcastle 0 – 2 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
18 Aug
Hart - Given the nod ahead of Caballero, he was presented with little opportunity to impress. Rushed off his line from one set-piece and missed his punch before seeing one deflected effort drift just wide of the post, but he largely coasted through the game as Newcastle didn’t have a shot on target - 6
Clichy - With Zabaleta and Sagna deemed unfit, and with Richards on his way out, he started on the right of the back four and coped fairly well. Unsurprisingly, he struggled to offer much attacking threat down the wing, but he was full of energy, snapping into tackles and providing solid enough defensive cover - 7
Kompany - He looked pleasantly sharp, bearing in mind his total lack of pre-season minutes. Newcastle were pretty without posing much of a threat and that meant he could gradually ease himself back in to Premier League action - 7
Demichelis - As with his central defensive partner, he coped admirably having been thrown straight back into the domestic cauldron. There were flashes of his composure in possession along with his aerial power - 7
Kolarov - Raided forward throughout the game, especially in the first half, as we looked to create space out wide for his delivery into the box. He found himself in some promising positions but couldn’t quite produce the final ball - 7
Fernando - It would be wrong to form too strong an opinion on the basis of just one game, but should he continue in this vein he could very quickly turn himself into a fan favourite. Crunching tackles aplenty, he was just the enforcer we have been looking for at the base of midfield. With his gangly style, he protected the defence eagerly, filling in when fullbacks burst forward, and galloping back when he was caught too high up the pitch. In a good team performance, he just about shaded man of the match - 8
Y. Touré - Didn’t exert himself too much, but produced a match-changing pass in the build up to City’s opening goal. That he was able to conjure up one moment of excellence in an otherwise background display is a sign of his enduring quality - 6
Nasri - On the periphery of proceedings for too long. He showed the occasional bright dribble or inventive pass but couldn’t quite work his way into a prominent role and was replaced in the second half - 6
Silva - He wasn’t at his best yet there were still comforting reminders of just what a naturally talented footballer he is. He’s always drifting into space and fooling the opposition, and he combined that yesterday with a tireless work ethic, tracking back and putting his body on the line. Took his goal well - 7
Jovetic - He was the standout player in pre-season and he looked sharp again on Sunday without having the end product. At times it felt as if he was trying too hard, but he’ll relax when he scores a goal and on the evidence of this game, that won’t take long - 6
Džeko - A dominant showing as a target man, team player and focal point of our attacks. His back flick to Silva was delicate and uncharacteristic, but his willingness to push himself across the defender and give Yaya an option for the pass was just as admirable. His first touch and hold-up play were generally excellent - 8
Subs
Fernandinho - Played the pass to release Aguero for the clincher - 5
Milner - Did his usual selfless job in shutting down one wing - 6
Aguero - Showed a nice bit of pace and perseverance to open his account for the season - 7
You have done a great cover up job for Toure, he was terrible apart from one pass, Demichelis can’t be a 7 if Kolarov was in my opinion, he looked shaky on occasions and made a few mistakes.
Agree with done of Jovetic, I think he was better than a 6 and I had earlier wrote the same thing in my post match about him trying too hard.
Once again the Toure cover up you have done has to be applauded, the words used are unbelievable. Pleasure to read as always.
Correction *most of Jovetic*
I felt jovetic was much better than you made him out to be…he’s immensely talented and he definitely requires a bit more time…however agueros goal scoring return might see jovetic relegated to the bench and it might not be the breakthrough season from jovetic that we all are expecting out of him…add to that the fact pelligrini likes to have the attack centred around a talismanic tall striker(we are lucky to have two)…I strongly jovetic might come in handy against stubborn opposition he’s full of flair creativity and guile…I badly want to see jovetic in the line up…let’s lobby for the inclusion of Jovetic…
Negredo is out until December and then needs to regain match fitness and to be eased back into contention. Aguero has suffered from recurring muscle injuries and is too important to risk being over played. That means Edin Džeko will become more important and that Jove will get plenty of opportunities, especially as he is more the classic No 10 than an out an out striker, and can play the creative role that Merlin plays, and do it well which makes him a very valuable player.
Yaya seems to be a magnet for criticism, he often seems a bit lackadaisical, but he always delivers; it’s just that sometimes he delivers a lot more than other times!
His innate ability to orchestrate a game,is such that we expect more than we sometimes get. Ask any manager in the PL which three players from the City squad they would like to have and he’d be on every list – he is that important.
Good to have you back VfaB – your blog is as good as any on the web and is much better than most!
What did yaya deliver in this game? One decent pass? People are to scared to ccriticise him.
You have contradicted yourself by saying he’s a magnet for critiscism then saying sometimes he delivers a lot more than other times, thats why he gets criticised no consistency one pass is not a contribution in 90 minutes either, everything else I agree.
If that one pass delivers the all important goal, which it was in this case, its an extremely important contribution.
Yes Toure can be frustrating and the latest episode with his laughable agent hasn’t helped but he is capable of being the difference.
‘One moment of excellence……a sign of his enduring quality” A sign of Yaya’s none idleness more like!!! And even that, but for Dzeko’s superb lay off, would have been an ordinary ball into a channel. He’ll never play for 90 minutes, Ive given up on that, but perhaps if Yaya could do 60 from time to time and Pellegrini could find the balls to sub him now and then.
Correct!