MAN CITY 2 – 1 Villarreal – PLAYER RATINGS
19 Oct
Hart - Could possibly have done better for the goal but made a couple of good stops in the second half. Opted to punch on one occasion when I thought he could have caught it, but wasn’t tested too often - 6.5
Zabaleta - Supplied the perfect cross for the winning goal, but had otherwise not had his best evening. Worked tirelessly to get forward but until 93rd minute, the end product was lacking. Left the right side open as well defensively - 6.5
Kompany - Rossi’s movement caused him a few problems, but Villarreal didn’t exactly attack in numbers so he wasn’t called upon frequently - 6
Lescott - Very similar to his central defensive partner really, in the sense that he wasn’t tested too often, but looked OK when needed - 6
Kolarov - A mixed performance. Given man of the match at the ground and I can understand why, given how he advanced so often and was our attacking outlet. However, I think his crossing is massively overrated. Yes, he puts the ball in at pace, but he needs to realise that’s too quick for strikers to get on the end of it. It makes Kolarov look good, but does the team no favours. His best cross of the night was for the own goal but he must improve. And the less said about his atrocious defending, the better - 6.5
De Jong - Went off early with a slight injury and wasn’t at his destructive best. Villarreal got far too much space in front of our defence, the area which NDJ usually patrols so effectively. Contributed to our slow tempo, too. Must move the ball quicker and not try to assume the role of playmaker - 6
Y. Touré - Another one whose performance is hard to judge. Started the game in a deep role and, as usual, struggled to impact the game. Moved the ball too slowly and had no desire or drive. Then, with Barry on for Johnson, he moved further forward and was magnificent. Full of pace and power and he tormented Villarreal. Then, when Aguero came on, he moved further back again and was awful. Looked shattered - 6.5
A. Johnson - His substitution, Mancini claims, was tactical and not because of a poor display. As it happens, AJ hadn’t done anything in his half an hour, barely touching the ball and having no impact. Can’t have any qualms about being taken off, as the team improved - 5
Nasri - Yet again, I’m left feeling a touch disappointed with him. He’s played at this level before and should take the game by the scruff of the neck, but he doesn’t. Coasts by, playing pretty passes but there was nothing menacing - 6
Silva - Looked bright as the first half wore on but found space and time limited. Couldn’t influence the game as much as he normally does and needs to find a way round this, as he’s been ineffective in Europe so far - 6
Džeko - Worryingly poor. Looks totally bereft of confidence, which is odd considering his start to the season and his superb recent goal for Bosnia. His first touch was appalling and he couldn’t bring those around him into the game. The Dzeko of last season - 4
Subs
Barry - We were a far better side after his introduction. Added a bit of bite and willing to the midfield, always looking to move the ball quickly and push us forward - 6.5
Aguero - Scored a crucial goal but was otherwise lost. Looked totally unfit and couldn’t get into the game. Unless he has a productive week’s training, there’s no way he should start the derby - 6
Milner - Would have been rightly disappointed to have missed out from the start, but showed his ability when he came on late. His reverse pass to set up the winning goal was a sign of his composure and he, in my opinion, should start next Sunday - 6.5
How Aleks got the same mark as Yaya is beyond me.
He was far better than usual at the back (admittedly that’s not a great base to work on, but improvement is improvement).
As for the crosses, I think that the important thing is that he is getting the crosses in and into the right places.
His attempts on goal were quite good, in my opinion. All of them had the keeper worried, which is what we want from him.
However, I can see how your mark for him is possibly on the low side, given your usual thoughts about him. Then again, on that, Yaya would be constantly in negative scores for me!!
Aleks 6.5 what a joke
Dzeko wasn’t that bad he deserve beather grade than 4
Comments absolutely spot on. The one I have trouble with as well is Yaya. With his obvious ability and magnificent physique he should totally dominate midfield every game but so often he looks bone idle, unable to tackle or compete in the air and completely disinterested.
6.5 for Kolarov… laughable.
What a lot of folks are missing with regard to Kolarov is that he is a defender first. It is true that he pushed forward on some occasions but he totally failed to track back and live up to his defensive responsibility which left us open to counter-attacks and that stretched Barry and Lescott to cover him. His crosses are awful. The one positive point is his thunder-bolt left kicks. I believe 6.5 is a high rating for him. I have already started to miss Clichy!
Kolarov is a big-game player, Clichy is not… That is the difference, he did defend and defended… He showed heart, something we will never see from Clichy…
aleks crosses wer poor he played a cross perfectly on to the head of Dzeko he very nearly found zabaleta at the far post wiv a cross he set up the own goal defensively he wasnt needed at all wud like to c him start the derby but not at left back more as a midfielder in place of nasri cos he is more effective at trackin back and his long shots cud prove a problem for david de gea team i want in the derby hart richards kompany lescott clichy de jong milner kolarov silva ballotelli aguero i think aguero is similar to torres wen on top form only a better dribbler and we all no wot vidic is like against players like torres
Kolarovs crosses were too fast? what a joke.. They were perfectly placed, appraised by the players after every cross.. He could have had 3 or 4 assists if the fowards were on song in the air.. Your just trying to make ridiciously false statements to detract from his whole-hearted, commanding performance. Clichy could never have a such dominant, complete distructive performance over another side, yeah he can play a pretty little one-two and sprint the lines but is he really the guy you want to fight for your side when going gets tough? Kolarov proved all the doubters wrong and was good defensively, except for when he lost his man wide and allowed them to put in a cross, otherwise faultless.. Plus at least 3 or 4 shots which, on another day, would have sailed in.. at least 9 out of 10..
Kolarov was bombing forward every chance he got because no one else had any desire. He put in good cross after good cross, finding his man almost every time to only see it missed. He puts his crosses in too fast? I don’t think I have ever heard that one. His defending was actually very good, every time he did get back he put in decisive tackles. He also didn’t get caught mout as much because he didn’t lose the ball all evening. Against teams we need to attack against, Kolarov is the much better option over Clichy. Clichy barely gets a cross in, usually its blocked and I’ve seen a few of his just sail over the goal. He doesn’t have much skill on the ball other than his ability to to pass it 3 yards. Yes he is a solid defender, but Kolarov is also solid when he’s able to get back, plus he’s one of our best attacking outlets.