MAN CITY 3 – 1 Sunderland – PLAYER RATINGS
3 Mar
Pantilimon - Sunderland pinched an early goal – one that Pantilimon was helpless to prevent – and then sat back to resolutely defend their gains. As such, they offered very little in attack and even when they were pushing for an equaliser in the second half, they barely tested the giant Romanian - 6
Zabaleta - With Sunderland content to defend narrowly in the first half, he became a valuable wide option on the right and managed to get forward eagerly and repeatedly. Declined to cross, though, instead moving the ball back infield and thus making our endeavours even more congested. After the break, with Navas located ahead of him, he was a sturdy presence in defence and he helped to deflect any building pressure - 7
Kompany - His defending for Borini’s goal was a touch weak and he wasn’t as authoritative as we have come to expect, but then produced a sublime last-ditch challenge to deny Sunderland’s goalscorer later in the half. Grew into proceedings and will be delighted to have captained the team to another success but this wasn’t his finest individual display - 6
Demichelis – As expected, he received plenty of criticism before, during and after the match, but once again he was far better than his critics will admit. Perhaps a little hesitant in the early exchanges as Borini put him under pressure but he was excellent in the second half, using all his experience to position himself where danger lurked and that enabled him to make tackles, clearances and interceptions - 7
Kolarov - Supplied the delivery from which Nasri delightfully thumped us into the lead and he won his personal battle with Adam Johnson relatively comfortably. There was the odd shaky moment in defence – with Kolarov, that will always be the case – but as the game wore on, he contributed width and directness to our attacks - 7
Y. Touré - His performance in the first half indicated that this would be another half-hearted, laboured Yaya day. One wonder-strike later and the game turned in an instant! Devoid of energy and ideas for almost an hour, he decided to join the encounter with one arching swish of his right boot and from then on, we never looked like relinquishing our grip on the trophy. As is so often the case, he grew in meaningful influence when pushed into a more advanced role in the latter stages and his surge forward created the clincher - 7
Fernandinho - By his pulsating standards, this was a fairly quiet affair. Caught in possession as Sunderland opened their account and he didn’t quite seem to have the relentless buzz in the central areas he so often displays. Gradually gained a foothold on the play and was efficient, without ever standing out, as the match developed - 6
Nasri - His performance typified that of the team. Before the interval, he had seen plenty of possession but it was all harmless. He was far too content to move the ball sideways and neglected the responsibility of running at, and committing, Sunderland’s backline. After the break, however, he showed the purpose and drive on the ball we so relish. His goal was a technically delicious scorcher that knocked our opponents’ spirits and he was a vibrant figure as we glided towards the trophy - 7
Silva – Prodded and probed without much initial success. The movement ahead of him wasn’t always as dynamic as it should have been, which denied him the off-the-ball runners he is so adept at finding, but never shied away from the challenge and always brought an element of control to our play - 7
Aguero - Sharper than expected after his layoff, working the channels eagerly and showing his usual delicate balance and pace to drift away from defenders. Replaced in the second half as he tired but this was a promising return to action - 7
Džeko - We have become accustomed to his rather disjointed, lackadaisical approach but even by his standards, his display for the first seventy minutes was garbage. The lack of effort, the absence of desire to close down and harry, the inability to pass with any substance to a teammate, it was all faintly pathetic. Improved marginally late on but it’s all relative. He’s simply not good enough for the level at which we operate - 4
Subs
Navas - His introduction generated width and pace to our sometimes predictable attacks but he couldn’t quite have an influence until Sunderland pushed forward towards the final whistle. Showed composure to finish off the scoring - 6
Garcia - Once again, did his job with a minimum of fuss. Sat deep, won a couple of tackles and headers and freed up Yaya to rampage at the other end - 6
Negredo - It was a surprise he was introduced so late, such was Dzeko’s inept showing - No time to mark
Yaya may have his critics but he wins us trophies and that’s what it’s all about. Think Fa cup semi and final 3 years ago, think how good he was for the run in when we won the premier league such as at Newcastle, and finally that absolute worldy yesterday – nothing short of incredible
I too am officially ready to write Dzeko off as not good enough for us which probably means he will go on a goal scoring run in the next few games
Dimi was a 6 AT best. You’re almost trying to upgrade his marking as a counterpoint to his critics. Him and Lescott are both as bad as each other when push comes to shove but i think Lescott should have got the nod as a reward for getting us there in the first place.
Yaya won the game even if he didn’t have the best first half, that alone merits a higher mark. You let personal bias cloud your opinions of each player despite how they perform on the day.
Totally agree with you Frah. Dimi was dreadful in the first half, wouldn’t make any other team in the Premiership. Not to play Lescott was an absolute disgrace by Mr P, didn’t even give him 5 mins at the end. Disgraceful! Is this an example of the caring manager? Lescott was a major factor in getting us to the final and didn’t give him even a few mins. To see Lescott looking so fed up at the end for me took the gloss of the winning.
The 3 subs made were all tactical, we were hardly 4 up with 10 to play and able to make little gestures like that, blatant agenda against our manager there.
I agree BB. A batant agenda against MP and a rather daft one one too.
“Disgraceful?” How many sane City fans, who have been around more than a couple of years, would describe a manager who has brought so many City fans so much pleasure and a decent trophy with this brand of football and gentle good manners, “disgraceful?”
Would you prefer Fat Sam’s brand of football, Alan Pardews manners and Stoke City’s trophy cabinet?
Doggie 123, you are a sad clown; you are not even a funny clown.
FRAH, at least your point of view is an opinion, and we’re all entitled to those, but I beg to disagree on two strands of your post. First, Demichelis would certainly get a start in the majority of PL sides. He is a footballer with a footbaling brain. He has vision, awareness of what is happening around him and nearly always displays sound decision making. He is not the player he was in his prime, he isn’t another Vinny but that doesn’t make him a poor player and it doesn’t make the better than average ‘English Style’ centre half, Joleon Lescott, a better choice.
My second diagreement is with your assessment of VfaB as ‘marking up’ players he likes to offset criticism these players receive elsewhere.
Au contraire Rodney; he simply doesn’t do that. Like all of us he has his hang ups and my occasional differences with the admirable blogger has tended to be about the opposite stance; that of having a bit of a down on a player from time to time, especially in their early months at the club, and displaying a reluctance to see the good qualities in those players.
At varying times, (and IMO), most certainly AK and JG have suffered as have SN and YYT.
Some of the posters on here (and other blogs/forums) have been nothing short of ridiculous in their rancid railings against whole legions of players in their ‘get rid’ lists.
Trust this manager please. If he thinks Javi Garcia is a sound player able to do a job for him and the team it doesn’t mean that he things the lad is another Colin Bell, it means he thinks the lad reliable and able to do the job he wants done and (again IMO) he has been proved right consistently in recent times. Javi Garcia (like Aleks Kolarov),has become an important asset.
If he sees Demichelis as a more suitable player to fit into his team ethic alongside Vinny that doesn’t mean he thinks Demi is the future or that he disrespects Les. It is his judgement call, the one he is paid to make. His judgement calls hhave been remarkably sound and he’s made tough ones when necessary. He has rarely been tactically trumped once by an opponent and so far never twice by the same one.
Oh, and just a reminder Dogs old chap.
We won the cup.
OK?
Alph
Mancini is long gone…get over it!!
The goals the goals, there’s just something about that na navas chap it must be the name that’s it the game lord have mercy feel my temperature rising…
Yaya has taken the whole team above his shoulders in the last month. Such a leader, such a player!
Well said Alphie, we are lucky to have Pellegrini, I don’t understand some people..
And we are also very lucky to have Yaya- so clutch!
Great win, and very happy Agueros back
Alphie-Izzett, as you don’t give me the courtesy of correctly spelling my name perhaps you would allow me to call you ‘Alphie Idiot’ in future. Many of the comments on this site are interesting and often informative. But your recent comments are inane and puerile, although you are quite correct that I don’t like the current manager.
I was pointing out that Lescott and Milner player every minute of every Capital One cup game up to the final. Demich played not one second in any of the matches, although he was on the bench at times. If you put yourself in Lescott’s place just ask yourself how would you feel? Remember also that Demich had just lost us the Barca game with his hopeless tackle. Ok we won the cup but I am accusing the manager of gross favouritism and cronyism. It is favouritism that has already lost us games and will lose us more in the future. I like his approach and his style of football but there is no room for such favouritism in Premiership football.Players should be selected and play on their ability and form and on that alone Demich should not have played! If you don’t agree with me that is fine, only time will tell, but don’t please resort to vacuous insults and respect other people’s opinions. I don’t expect many City fans to support my point of view but it happens to be a view that I hold, as favouritism without justification is something that I strongly disagree with.
I may have gone over the top in suggesting Demich wasn’t good enough to play in other PL teams. But if he was on a free transfer do you think they would be queuing up to sign him? I don’t think so. With his lack of pace he will be outpaced by most forwards in the PL.
In the main I don’t think your opinion of Demi is the issue with what you’ve said, though it was a little over the top.
Its this part:
‘Not to play Lescott was an absolute disgrace by Mr P, didn’t even give him 5 mins at the end. Disgraceful! Is this an example of the caring manager? Lescott was a major factor in getting us to the final and didn’t give him even a few mins’
Firstly playing Lescott for this reason would probably be a sign of favouritism, so I find your comments a tad contradictory. Secondly to call it disgraceful not to bring on a player for sentimental value in such a tight game is utter nonsense, youre clearly looking to slate the manager for any little excuse you can find and I personally find that a little pathetic.
Don’t like the currant manager ?????????
are you insane ? this is CITY we are talking about ?
we just won a trophy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You don’t deserve any courtesies, troll…
Its all sounding like Henry winter or such in here, nobody happy???? Millionaire footballers who live a dream of a life & fair play to them…. Feel sorry for a footballer??? Its football its fun its meant to be fun after you’ve just won a trophy, it kept me smiling cycling to work in the rain & all the “happy people” in there nice cars going no were in a hurry, ah the goals eh??? What I wouldn’t give to score one of those badboys- till the weekend bluemooners….. Still very smiley.. Beep beep.