August Awards

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: JOE HART

I can't look much further than Joe Hart for the Player of the Month. He immediately vindicated Mancini's faith in him with that outstanding display against Tottenham and, just as it seemed he would have a quiet night against Liverpool, he pulled off a wonderful double save that had the crowd leaping up and down as if City had just scored a goal. Solid and imposing, Hart has given the defence more confidence and has been the key man in a month when we have only conceded one goal - and that from the penalty spot.

Other contenders for the award include the midfield duo of Gareth Barry and Nigel de Jong - who have dominated midfield battles - and Vincent Kompany, who's partnership with Kolo Toure seems to be blossoming again this campaign.


GOAL OF THE MONTH: GARETH BARRY (vs Liverpool)

A sweeping end to an eighteen-pass move from Barry as he collected Milner's low cut-back. Our new possession football at its incisive best.


PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH: 3-0 vs Liverpool

In front of Sheikh Mansour, City dominated Roy Hodgson's team and the flowing football defied all the worries about 'team-ethic' and 'gelling' that the press were lapping up after the draw at White Hart Lane.


DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE MONTH: Sunderland

City fell apart in the second half and were the complete antithesis of the patient, flowing side that appeared twice at Eastlands that week.


TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF: STEPHEN IRELAND

I wish him well at Villa, and I am sure he is bitter about leaving City, but his confused rant did more to satisfy City fans that his departure was the right move than anything we've seen in recent months. All the complaints about the young players who were obsessed with money were blatantly hypocritical, as well as his swipes at Michael Johnson's and Micah Richards' pay, but it was his arrogance that summed up the Ireland-conundrum. The 'I'm better than the new signings' and the 'I was always one of the best in training' comments. Everytime Ireland appeared on the pitch (where it matters afterall!), he showed nothing at all to support his supposed training performances. I was worried after his Player of the Season year that it would all go to his already fragile head, and the tippy-tappy performances that followed showed a return to an Ireland that undoubtedly has the ability, but doesn't have the head to use it. With regards to the mentality, Milner is the perfect juxtaposition. To see Ireland have an uncomfortable 6-0 drubbing of a debut just a day or two after his comments was good enough comeuppance for me. Now he can get on with rebuilding his career.


POINTS TOTAL (Premier League): 4 from 9

0-0 Tottenham (A)
1-0 Timisoara (A)
3-0 Liverpool (H)
2-0 Timisoara (H)
0-1 Sunderland (A)