Roma 0 – 2 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
11 Dec
Hart - In big games, at big moments, you need your big players to step up and Hart did just that with a trio of magnificent stops in a captain’s performance. His tip onto the post from a second-half header was the pick of his saves and he exuded an authoritative air at the back as we closed out the game - 9
Zabaleta - 85 minutes gone and your side are sitting on a tight, hard-fought lead. Everyone is thinking of shutting down the game, sitting back and restricting the opposition. Not our Pablo! Bursting forward with the energy of long-distance runner, he was there to seal the victory, kiss the badge and head towards the City supporters. A dream moment - 8
Demichelis – No Kompany, no problem. Demichelis more than made up for the absence of our skipper last night. Clever in dealing with Totti, dogged at the back and powerful in the air, he made everything look typically effortless. Even his clearance off the line was elegant - 9
Mangala - Solid. And that is just what we wanted to see from him. He clearly relishes a physical battle and enjoyed getting tight to both Totti and Gervinho when he could, and mopped up well at the back for the most part - 7
Clichy - What a turnaround in his form over the past month. Yet again, he was dynamic on the left, marauding into tackles, making interceptions galore and injecting pace and energy into the side - 8
Fernando - Shielded the defence with his rangy style of play, yet also seemed happy to press high and gallop into the box. Won the ball back repeatedly in midfield and combined perfectly with Fernandinho alongside him - 8
Fernandinho - In an outstanding team display, littered with impressive individual displays, he was my man of the match. This was the Fernandinho of last season, drifting everywhere, making a tackle on the edge of our box and then sprinting forward to arrive in the opposition area. It was a demonstration of how to be a world-class box-to-box midfielder - 9
Navas - As ever, he attracted some criticism for his end product, but as ever, he was our main attacking outlet for lengthy periods. He’ll always be a threat with his pace and width and while he could be more incisive in the final third, he was a potent threat last night - 7
Milner - As is so often the case when Milner plays, the balance of the side, both in attack and defence, seemed better. He made life much easier for Clichy with his dilligent defensive work and then linked up neatly with our more creative stars, offering angles other players don’t. His diverting run to take away a couple of Roma defenders as Nasri lined up the first goal was understated but vital - 8
Nasri - Again, the question was asked as to whether he would assume more responsibility with all the high-profile absentees. The answer was an emphatic yes. More than his thumping goal, however, most pleasing was his team ethic, his willingness to scamper and press and make life tough for the home side. On a night when we needed him to demonstrate the uglier side to his game, he rose to the challenge - 9
Džeko - The mark I’ve given him is lower than the rest of the starting XI, but Dzeko wasn’t poor by any means and it’s not a slight on him. Much of what he did was good, especially his first touch which is so often a disappointment. He worked hard and led the line well, but his impact on the game was relatively limited and he was replaced as he tired - 6
Subs
Silva - Great to see him back - 6
Jovetic - Good work in the build up to Zabaleta’s goal - No time to mark
Kolarov - Barely had time to touch the ball - No time to mark
Jovetic did more in the small amount of time he was on than dzeko did all game, don’t think dzeko has one quality other than his height In which I can honestly say he is better than jovetic.
He couldn’t dp anything because the midfield was trash. Missing players like Silva and Toure and playing poor players like Navas didn’t help at all. You fans are so ungrateful.
Most pudits said that in the absence of our best players the others needed to step up and take responsibility.
They did it so well that we didn’t miss Aguero, Kompany, Toure or Silva (till he came on)!
Very well done. Hope it gives them all a lift for the busy few weeks ahead.
Nasri was man of the match by a country mile. Plus a great goal and setting up the second. Doesn’t get better than that plus a non stop performance all through the match.
Dzeko contributes nothing and destroys the rhythm of attacks.
That was some performance from Fernandinho last night. Found it a bit strange that everyone talked of Harts 2 saves in the first half (which were quality), yet the one on the second which was even more unbelievable was largely looked over
That is how you win games, a midfield that attacks, backtracks and covers every inch. They play this way, they win the title. Attack as one unit and defend as one unit while run your socks off. Credits to Pellers who has turned things around despite wide-spread criticisms a few weeks ago [including myself]. That is how you know you have world class coach
Great to see the summer signings Mangala & Fernando stepping up in our hour of need. Clichy’s return to form has been massive too. Only concern from last night is that the changes that improved the team were forced upon us & I hope Pellegrini has the conviction to stick with this formation for the remainder of the Champions League. Work ethic in midfield was immense.
Glad you rated Fernandinho so highly because i thought his performance was pretty flawless! His anticipation and reading of the game was unbelievable…
For what we needed out of the game the performance was close to perfect for me (barring the first 10 mins).
Ooh arrh missus!!!
That’ll do for me!
The two Fernie’s are a quality pairing who complement each other’s play and provide the energy to controlin possession and press when we lose it. When Yaya plays it has to be as the third and attacking midfield option in a 433 or as the central player in a 4231. Both of these options mean playing with one striker and that will not always be the answer, but against the best it surely has to be so?
Yaya has great control and a range of passing second to none to go with a good eye for goal. He doesn’t have the engine to play box to box any more (if he ever really did). He can’t be expected to make a major impact in attack and be 50% of the midfield defensive unit.
I’d like Real Madrid in the next round. Best to get them out early doors, we don’t want to meet them in the final
Alph
Alph
Although not pretty to watch it was a very solid performance and we got the job done. Nasri was excellent and they all worked hard. Credit to Pellegrini but it’s still a big worry that he favours Dzeko if Aguero isn’t available. I honestly think playing with Dzeko is worse than playing with 10 men. Yet another booking for him when he was moaning to the ref.
You City fans are embarrassing. Dzeko always gives 100% and plays his arse off but you ungrateful armchair pundits just gloss ever everything positive he’s done for the club. He is a much better goalscorer than Jovetic and is one of your best players. What a joke. I hope he leaves you then you’ll see what a great player you had in your ranks.
You City fans are embarrassing. Dzeko always gives 100% and plays his arse off but you ungrateful armchair pundits just gloss ever everything positive he’s done for the club. He is a much better goalscorer than Jovetic and is one of your best players. What a joke. I hope he leaves you then you’ll see what a great player you had in your ranks.