MAN CITY 3 – 2 Sunderland – PLAYER RATINGS
2 Jan
Caballero - A couple of decent saves, one in each half, but not overworked. Helpless for both goals - 6
Zabaleta - Couldn’t have quite as much impact as he often does when we look to break sides down. Enjoyed the challenge of getting forward and providing width, but there are times when he needs to think more and not just wildly join attacks. When we were leading by one goal with five minutes to go, it would have been far more reassuring to see him maintain his defensive position than sprint forward and leave us vulnerable - 6
Demichelis - Got the better of Wickham whenever the ball ran free and was as positive in possession as usual - 6
Mangala - Powerful in the tackle, he was a commanding figure at the back in the second half - 7
Clichy - Another sprightly and influential display on the left. His second assist for Lampard, a whipped cross at pace, was a standout moment, and he was a clever outlet for the side throughout the game - 8
Fernandinho - It is no surprise that much of the post-match focus centred on Lampard, but Fernandinho was my man of the match. After an uncertain, hesitant start to the season, he is now back to his dynamic best. Links play, moves the ball with purpose and his energy is remarkable - 8
Y. Touré - Had seen plenty of the ball in the first half, but was unable to conjure that defence-splitting pass to create an opportunity. Then took matters into his own hands! His thunderbolt opened up the game and allowed City that touch more space in which to operate - 7
Navas - Needed to stay wide and stretch Sunderland’s backline as we looked for an opening, but tended to drift infield and thus had a reduced impact. A danger later on, however, when the visitors pushed more men forward - 6
Nasri - Prodded and probed as he looked to find some space through which to play a killer pass. Sunderland were compact and organised, though, and he wasn’t quite as his creative best - 6
Silva - The one man we turn to ahead of all others to fashion chances and he was lively, if lacking a cutting edge. At the hub of all our attacking moves and his pass to release Fernandinho late on was sublime - 7
Jovetic - Eager to have a shot and try something different, which is pleasing when much of play is pass, pass, pass, pass and pass. His flick for the second goal was delightful, but his general impact was fairly quiet - 6
Subs
Lampard – An inch-perfect header to secure the points - 7
Kolarov - Slotted in to a more advanced role - No time to mark
Milner - Could have had a hat-trick! - No time to mark
Caballero is deserving of more than a 6. Couple of very good saves, nothing he could do for their goals, and his distribution, well it’s just superb, shame he hasn’t been able teach hart how to keep the ball on the pitch and give it to a blue shirt.
Jovetic assisted yaya and scored a superb goal, better than a 6, also assisted navas for what should have been our third just before he was taken off with another excellent flick. (which I’m sensing you have a problem with….)
I wish we had someone capable of taking corners too, navas wins so many, yet I feel we are more likely to concede from an attacking corner than we are score from one!
Much like much comment with regard to Burnley game, my point is not about the result but the manner we let a two goal lead slip away. Folks seem to brush it under the carpet by silly comments such as a bad day in office, etc. This is an issue that Pellers has to address. This is the third game we shoot ourselves in the foot (CSKA, Burnley, Sunderland) by letting two goal lead slip away. A team like City should be able to see the game through.
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Folks seem to brush it under the carpet by silly comments such as a bad day in office, etc.
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Yes I did say that, and you are entitled to your opinion, but I don’t think it silly, it happens.
Of course it has to be addressed, that is what the coaches and players do, every day of the week, in between games – it’s a never ending search for “perfection over 95 minutes.”
It also has to be accepted by fans that whilst perfection is sought it is not attainable except for a few moments of bliss from time to time, and thank the good Lord for that! If one side was ever to achieve perfection for 95 minutes football wouldn’t be football, it would be a predictable bore. As it is we sit on the edge of our seats, get entertained, are sometimes dismayed and yes, sometimes we have a bad day at the office and have to live with disappointment.
This has nothing to do with perfection/bad day in the office, it is a serious flaw that is totally unacceptable. You can not find a team a competing for titles and honors in any Europe major leagues like Spain, Germany, EPL [Save City] with world class players that gives up a two goal lead in 3 games within a span of 3 months in major domestic/Europe competion against bottom/relegation candidate teams. I can be wrong, it is unheard of.
That’s a good point about our corner taking we do often look exposed from them, fair point about zaba bombing forward a bit much when we have a lead, our defensive record over the month prior to the Burnley game has been excellent, our first goal conseeded this season from a set play…navas, fern & Clichy were excellent – only for the keeper we would have scored six, the pitch is a big worry it looks very cut up, jovetic showed some lovely touches – his goal was cool as was yayas. Let’s hope Stefan can stay fit, we showed that we have the balls to keep going as we did against chelsea with ten men. Frank the master finisher. 176 whow!!
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Zabaleta deserves a 5. He needs some rest, i think sagna is better defensively but no match for zaba offensively. Jovetic was sublime. How can silva grab assists when our finishing is so poor he creates so many chances but conversion rate is terrible . Fernandinho not a man of the match for that terrible late miss. Milner needs shooting practice i wouldn’t renew his contract
Pass pass pass pass pass is what creates the openings for us to score so many goals. Its how we are able to dominate play, win so many games, why we scored the record number of goals last year, and ultimately why we are the most successful team in the league the past 4 years. Dont knock it.
Jovetic’s run and finish was brilliant. Zola-esk. Its what we have been missing. A goal and assist coming back from injury. What more could you ask for. We would rather the goal predator that is Milner come back in because he puts in a good shift? lol
Oh yeah and MEN gave Yaya a 9 and the the 40000+ fans gave him Man of the match. Tell me what else he could have done or something he did wrong…
Siamack is correct in that the defence is very suspect whenever anyone decides to attack. Ok Demiic and Managala looked fine when they had only Wickam to think about but went missing when Sunderland eventually tried to make it a game. We desperately need Vinnie and a Mats Hummels alongside him. Mangala is young enough and can improve.
I thought Jovetic was superb, running his socks off across the Sunderland back four but never getting that incisive pass that we needed. He laid Yaya’s goal on and his was brilliant. Yaya was not MoM in fact I wondered who was the holding midfielder as Fernandinho played ahead of him for most of the game. Typical Yaya game, a sensational goal and mimimal effort just pushing the ball sideways in front of the Sunderland defence.
Yaya “just pushing the ball sideways in front of the Sunderland defence” I’m tired of trying to explain our European style football to fans who only value Tottenham style pace and running football. Just look at the difference in how we played the 1 game without him in the last 11 and try work it out.
I concur.
I don’t “only value Tottenham’s style of pace and running football” I DO like a little bit of a mixture including SOME pace SOME times. That first half was boring boring boring just waiting/expecting something to happen…..not that it was all City’s fault, but an injection of pace and a bit of running at them may just have helped.
Fair enough but yayas head is constantly up ready to capitLise on any space or opportunities and if there is nothing on he will not waste possession, will keep the ball work it around, bring players into the game and try work the space for an opening. Thats our game. Suggesting that he does nothing and then on a whim decides to do something like an ibrahimovic totally overlooks 99% of his game and only notices the icing on the cake.