West Brom 2 – 3 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
5 Dec
Pantilimon - Unfortunate with the goal that rebounded off him as he lay on the floor and the second West Brom strike was hit with such power from close range it would have been an exceptional stop had he prevented it - 6
Zabaleta - Very comfortable in possession, whether simply giving it to Navas or using his boundless energy to bomb forward and set up chances. Berahino was a tricky opponent but Zabaleta handled him well, staying tight and winning challenges - 7
Kompany - An excellent, dominant and authoritative comeback. He was a powerful presence at the back, both in the air and on the ground and it was a great sight to him so in control of defensive situations - 7.5
Demichelis - For the most part, he impressed again with his reading of the game, composure and positivity in possession. Covered intelligently for Kolarov a few times but he was far too weak in allowing Anichebe to turn him so easily in the final minute - 6.5
Kolarov - A couple of driven, pinpoint crosses early on, one of which led to Yaya’s first goal but the space he left when bursting forward was exploited on a number of occasions in the first half - 7
Y. Touré - Took his first strike in an understated manner when he made a tricky finish look very simple. He wasn’t as influential as often but still an important figure in our play. Scored a penalty but then, unsurprisingly, failed to track his runner late on and that led to the home side’s opener - 7
Fernandinho - He’s had an impressive past few weeks and this performance was as good as anything he’s produced in a City shirt. Energetic and dynamic, he was everywhere, linking play, starting attacks and surging forward to offer another body. If only his finishing matched his general play! - 8
Navas - Provides another dimension to our attacks but he wasn’t able to get to the byline as he would have liked. Crowded out on occasions and forced to drift infield to find some space - 6
Nasri - Dropped deeper than usual in an attempt to dictate the tempo, but that meant he struggled to have a great influence in the final third. Still, there was plenty of pretty passing and he linked up well with the likes of Yaya and Fernandinho - 7
Aguero - Emphatically opened the scoring and his tireless running stretched the West Brom defenders and created space for others. His touch under pressure was excellent and he was afforded a rest in the second half ahead of the fixture away to Southampton - 7
Džeko - For the first half hour, he was exceptional. And then came the transformation into the Dzeko we know: lazy, woeful in possession and on a different wavelength to the rest of the team. It all started so well, with a great workrate, eager pressing and some lovely touches, but it quickly deteriorated and he wasted an opportunity to impress the manager - 6
Subs
Milner - Introduced in the second half and popped in as various places as he looked to make an impression - 6
Garcia - A brief cameo - No time to mark
Rodwell - An even briefer cameo - No time to mark
I think if a player performances as Dzeko did in the first 30 minutes, then you deserve more than a 6 irrespective of how mediocre you are after. It was a large reason behind us winning the game and I think when you read the description you’ve given him for that opening then it must be considered a little harsh.
Dzeko was excellent, even in the second half. As usual, your player rating article really functions as a means for you to pursue your vendettas against your usual targets. Also very nice of you to blame Kolarov for getting forward. Central defenders must cover when fullbacks go forward. Last season, when AK went forward, Nastasic often didn’t slide over to provide cover, even when the latter played on the left of the back three in Mancio’s 3-5-2. AK always took the blame, but I guess that is mostly because most fans do not understand that formation and how it is supposed to function properly.
Dzeko has been quite poor overall, but against WBA, he consistently demonstrated the all-round game that he is capable of. He hustled and harried defenders and even their keeper in key situations in both halves, not just the first. How often have we seen that before from him? Give credit where credit is due, unless, of course, you’re incapable of doing that…
AK had a very decent game doing what he is tasked to do by a manager who has always favoured FB’s who can play this way.
If you play with two strikers you can’t play with two wingers unless you want to be shredded in midfield. In playing AK in this role Pellegrini gets the team the width needed to stretch the opponents and provide service for the strikers from that LHS. This then frees up Nasri (or Silva) to roam the spaces in behind the strikers and fall back to make a three man CHF when not in possession.
Pellegrini values having 2 strikers and a roaming playmaker more than always having 4 at the back. That’s a gamble, occasionally his team gets caught out, but not any where near as often as his plan produces extra goals for City.
It isn’t genius to work out that a player can’t be at both ends of the pitch at the same time and much as some might wish it, ‘beam me back Vinnie’ is still a concept confined to Star Trek fantasy.
One of the keys to success in playing with overlapping FB/s or wing back/s (plural or singular) is to have very mobile CH’s and a DMF tasked to form a sliding defence when the FB presses fwd. The CH drifts wide to cover the FB, the DMF falls back into the space left behind as a counter builds. I actually thought that, for a young and relatively inexperienced CH, Nastasic has done well covering AK’s fwd runs, but whether he did or didn’t the fact remains that there will always be spaces on a football pitch and if you seek an advantage in numbers in one area you will provide a chink of opportunity to your opponents in another.
It also does to remember that players tend to do what they are told to do or they don’t get picked to play. If you think about this in relation to how AK plays there is a bit of a clue there!!!!
Wow. Have I stumbled across the Dail Mail comments section?! If you don’t like the blog then find one you do. If nothing else, reread your last sentence and think if you’d say that face to face with the author. I doubt it…
I would be far from outraged at the last sentence, I think that’s a comment aimed at most AK knockers as opposed to just the author. Alph has said many times how he likes this blog, and like the rest of us is entitled to an opinion which sparks a bit of debate
Now, now, Crispy, don’t spit your dummy out unnecessarity; I was responding to rather a good post from Blue Forever not throwing sticks at VfaB.
Where did you get the idea I didn’t like this blog? I have often said quite the opposite. I don’t expect to agree with everyone and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, when you go public you should expect that.
There was nothing abusive or offensive in my final comment of the previous post. It was intended to be a light hearted comment and anyone with a shred of nouse, over the age of around 14, would have taken it as such.
Now that was a wee bit offensive – can you spot the difference?
My mistake, it was meant in response to ‘Blue Forever’s’ post not yours. I must have pressed wrong reply tab.
I’m all for a debate and of course people are entitled to their own opinion. I just don’t get the sarcastic, catty remarks that these people type yet probably wouldn’t say it face to face. The age of the keyboard warrior. Such examples from above being:-
“As usual……persuing vendettas….usual targets”. Winge.
“Very nice of you to blame…” Oooooo, claws away!
“Unless of course, you’re incapable of king that”. My favourite that one. This guy, I assume, doesn’t know the author yet makes these remarks.
As I say, all for debate but not vitriol or sarcastic abuse.
Not a soccer pundit, but I think Kolarov and Dezko both had decent games and they both played a large part in winning the game. Kolarov has definitely shown consistent improvement. Though Dezko has been off and on, he had a solid game against West Brom
They are not my favourite players but I agree with you that both Kolarov and Dzeko had decent games and played an important part in securing a win. It was great to see Kompany back but I feel Demich. is a weak link at the back. In the 2nd half he was beaten repeatedly in the air and was poor in their second goal. I know that he has played for M.P before and he rates him but I would put both Nasty and Lescott before him (and possibly Boyata if we ever see him). We can’t afford defending like that if we don’t score 3 goals! I think M.P needs to be realistic here and not dwell on the sentimental.If he can replace a current England goalkeeper he can also replace an ex-international now that Kompany is back.
No problem Crispy – I guess my take on these things is that if we go public, whether it’s our blog or not, we’re all fair game.
I’ll say if I like a comment or thing something has been particularly well expressed and I will let my irritation show at the regular publishers of lists of players we should, “get without.” I have been known to slap poor old Vfabbers about a bit in the past on the very few occasions when I have thought his criticism to have fallen below acceptable levels and become personal abuse.He takes criticism in good part and on occasion has been known to defend his position if misconstrued.
I am fortunate that in being infallible I don’t have to worry about things like ‘being wrong’ although I think I was once, not sure, my memory’s going a bit
Crispy, I want you to know that I would have absolutely NO problem making these statements to the author in a face-to-face encounter. Look, I give him (Siamack?) credit for having the stones to create and man this blog – agree or disagree, he’s doing the sub-cosmos of City fans worldwide a service. However, I strongly feel that his ratings are frequently (and distressingly) based on his subjective liking or disliking of certain players. If you think I’m unduly snarky with him, read these rating pages after each match and maybe you will come to believe that I’m not the only very sarcastic one here.
Alphie Izzett: big respect to you, man! Your understanding of that formation and how it is played is terrific. Great point about the use of a defensive CM to cover fullback runs in the 3-5-2. My fear is that a relative plodder like Javi Garcia might be employed that way, but I think Pellers will see fit to utilize the more mobile (lateral quickness) Fernandinho in such situations. I think we should appreciate the Clichy/Kolarov duo at LB. Totally different players who complement each other well and provide the manager with real options.