March has been a pivotal month for SWP in his second stint at City. Revered by the fans for what he has done for the club, the grumbles don't often reach the stadium (at least audibly) but a growing number must now be questioning what future Shauny has at the club.
With the financial backing available and the ambition to support it, any player who doesn't seem to be a vital part of the squad must be living in fear of the summer. Since Mancini's arrival Shaun has, injuries permitting, seen himself fall behind Johnson, Bellamy and a fit Petrov in the pecking order, and with regular transfer rumours in the papers about City's interest in wide players, SWP would be forgiven for thinking his days are numbered as a force at City. Hence, in my opinion, his contract demands.
The month started in explosive form for him as an England substitute against Egypt, where he came on for his lacklustre competitor, Theo Walcott, and both scored and assisted in a strong second half display - a display which, people said at the time, would as good as guarantee him a spot on the plane to South Africa. Perhaps on the strength of this cameo, both Ian Wright and Shaun came out to talk about wage demands in the same week. A move which, I believe, rather than being greedy, sought to test the club's belief in him at a time when he was beginning to doubt his importance to the City team. Ill-advised, as he has appeared to be in his career, Shaun would always have been better off proving his worth on the pitch.
So what better managing than to send him out for a start in the next game against Sunderland. Mancini persevered with a lacklustre display from him until the 73rd minute, when Adam Johnson replaced him with a match-saving display - which dislodged him for the rest of the month. He managed six minutes against Fulham, struggled to influence the game after coming on after 41mins against Everton, and then was taken off at half-time, despite some promise, against Wigan. Unlucky perhaps, but hardly the type of involvement of a certain starter like Bridge with whom he wants pay parity.
One of the problems may be the Italian philosophy of football - where technique rules over rush and commitment. Shaun is at his breath-taking best when he is flying at players and has little time to think - give him time to think about a pass, or a shot, and he is often found lacking. I do not know the workings of Mancini's mind, but I think it is fair to say an Italian footballing education would be looking for more technical ability from its wide players.
I love Shaun for all he has done for the club, but I fear he doesn't fit into the plans anymore, and furthermore, I don't think he is showing the attitude to be able to fight for it. He has always been a confidence player and the general uncertainty he has in part created around himself is probably affecting his performances, but then it is only down to him to be able to change that.
A number of comments surrounding this subject have revealed Shaun's frustration since the arrival of Mancini - why, when the rumour mongerers started putting it about that Mancini would only last til Mourinho's arrival in the summer, announce to the press that Mourinho is the best manager you have ever worked with? And even with this story his comments seem to run against the popular belief that Cook and Marwood are solely in charge of these sort of matters: "At one stage I was very confident that would happen. It looked like everything would be sorted when Mark Hughes was in charge. He was keen to agree a new deal. But since he left, there has been nothing."
There is no doubt he is frustrated with things at the moment, especially as he faces slipping out of the World Cup squad in the same tantalising fashion that he did last time, but he has to take some responsibility himself. If he believes strongly enough in himself, then the only way to do the talking is on the pitch - and the quicker he realises it, the greater chance he has of saving his City and international career. With only seven games remaining, his time is running out.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Wigan player ratings
Given 7.
Good save from Scharner and looked assured on crosses. May be glad Moreno and Rodallega put their chances wide, but looked comfortable.
Zabaleta 6.
Rodallega proved to be a test that he was not always on top of and the booking puts him out of the trip to Burnley and the home game against Birmingham.
Toure 6.
Doesn't always inspire confidence but defended pretty soundly.
Kompany 7.
His reading of the game is excellent and he used to limit the lively Moreno on a number of occasions.
Garrido 7.
Thought he did well. Is good to have someone at the back who can play a bit of football as well. Fairly comfortable defensively and supported the attack well, including an assist for Tevez's second.
Wright-Phillips 6.
Unlucky to be withdrawn at half-time. His runs caused some problems and he set up the best chance of the half for Tevez.
De Jong 6.
A bit overrun due to an off-the-pace Vieira, but coped well and was thankful that the red card lightened his load.
Vieira 5.
Would've been a four if it weren't for some quite incisive passes in the second half - including the one that confused Stojkovic into the first goal. Looked a long way behind the game though for large periods and the red card gave him the extra space he needed.
Johnson 7.
Had the beating of Figueroa in the second half and his running caused Wigan a lot of problems. The final ball was not always on for him but he kept asking questions of Wigan's defence.
Tevez 9.
Superb. Brimming with confidence, he ran at defenders, he opened up play, he was both the most creative player as well as the greatest goal threat (his through-ball that put Adebayor one-on-one with the keeper was exquisite), and he won the three points with his second hat-trick under Mancini.
Adebayor 7.
Worked very hard. Spread and linked up play well. Perhaps the lack of games recently accounted for him fading a bit towards the end.
Substitutes:
Bellamy (on for Wright-Phillips, 45mins) 7.
Made a big difference. Ran at Wigan on every opportunity. Came inside looking to influence the game and always wanted the ball. May even have scored at the end.
Sylvinho (on for Tevez, 88mins) N/A.
Main role was to give Tevez a standing ovation.
Onuoha (on for Garrido, 88mins) N/A.
At least he is becoming more involved now, but he will want more game-time to prove his worth to Mancini.
My man of the match: Carlos Tevez.
Good save from Scharner and looked assured on crosses. May be glad Moreno and Rodallega put their chances wide, but looked comfortable.
Zabaleta 6.
Rodallega proved to be a test that he was not always on top of and the booking puts him out of the trip to Burnley and the home game against Birmingham.
Toure 6.
Doesn't always inspire confidence but defended pretty soundly.
Kompany 7.
His reading of the game is excellent and he used to limit the lively Moreno on a number of occasions.
Garrido 7.
Thought he did well. Is good to have someone at the back who can play a bit of football as well. Fairly comfortable defensively and supported the attack well, including an assist for Tevez's second.
Wright-Phillips 6.
Unlucky to be withdrawn at half-time. His runs caused some problems and he set up the best chance of the half for Tevez.
De Jong 6.
A bit overrun due to an off-the-pace Vieira, but coped well and was thankful that the red card lightened his load.
Vieira 5.
Would've been a four if it weren't for some quite incisive passes in the second half - including the one that confused Stojkovic into the first goal. Looked a long way behind the game though for large periods and the red card gave him the extra space he needed.
Johnson 7.
Had the beating of Figueroa in the second half and his running caused Wigan a lot of problems. The final ball was not always on for him but he kept asking questions of Wigan's defence.
Tevez 9.
Superb. Brimming with confidence, he ran at defenders, he opened up play, he was both the most creative player as well as the greatest goal threat (his through-ball that put Adebayor one-on-one with the keeper was exquisite), and he won the three points with his second hat-trick under Mancini.
Adebayor 7.
Worked very hard. Spread and linked up play well. Perhaps the lack of games recently accounted for him fading a bit towards the end.
Substitutes:
Bellamy (on for Wright-Phillips, 45mins) 7.
Made a big difference. Ran at Wigan on every opportunity. Came inside looking to influence the game and always wanted the ball. May even have scored at the end.
Sylvinho (on for Tevez, 88mins) N/A.
Main role was to give Tevez a standing ovation.
Onuoha (on for Garrido, 88mins) N/A.
At least he is becoming more involved now, but he will want more game-time to prove his worth to Mancini.
My man of the match: Carlos Tevez.
City 3 - 0 Wigan
Not an entirely convincing three-nil win, but a three-nil win nonetheless. City were a little out of sorts first half, but you would be excused from thinking we had lost the game reading some reports across the internet. Yes, Wigan put up a spirited display, and the game was much closer than the scoreline perhaps suggests, but I was still confident City would score before Caldwell's red card - which, from where I was sitting, I couldn't make head or tail of through a wall of players.
Wigan set up like Everton, but with a deeper-lying Cahill figure. Which, mostly owing to the off-the-pace Vieira, meant City really struggled to control the midfield in the first-half. And this led to most of the frustration. Wigan looked assured and comfortable - which is testament to Martinez's style - and they certainly weren't without threat, but City still had the best chances of the half - the block on Adebayor, the close ranger from Tevez, and the Torres-esque curler from Tevez. Scharner forced a good save from Given, but it wasn't close enough to the corner to really worry him.
The red card certainly made things easier. Scharner was pulled out of midfield and suddenly Vieira had the time he needed and De Jong was able to cover better. The increased freedom wasn't without the odd scare from Wigan though and the impressive Moreno fired narrowly wide and Rodallega perhaps should have done better with another close miss.
Ludicrous goalkeeping gave City the break they needed and sparked the 12 minute hat-trick from the outstanding Carlos Tevez. The only worry about these games lately is the gulf between Tevez's performances and some of his teammates. Would City be winning these games without him? His influence in everything City did last night suggests we'd struggle. He is quickly establishing himself as a City legend!
The need for a creative midfielder was there again. When forced, there aren't many options to come from our midfield pairings and with Ireland seemingly unable to play in an ordinary midfield role, that position has to be the priority for the summer. Mancini knows Ireland cannot play in the deeper role and has always adapted the team to suit his position when he has been picked, but the side needs someone who can dictate the game in an attacking sense from midfield, not just in a battling sense. You feel this is part of the legacy of Mark Hughes - attacking in formations earlier this season, but not in personnel.
Not entirely convincing from City, but three points were always going to be the main thing. Keeping within touching distance of Tottenham was important considering their next three games should see them dropping points.
Wigan set up like Everton, but with a deeper-lying Cahill figure. Which, mostly owing to the off-the-pace Vieira, meant City really struggled to control the midfield in the first-half. And this led to most of the frustration. Wigan looked assured and comfortable - which is testament to Martinez's style - and they certainly weren't without threat, but City still had the best chances of the half - the block on Adebayor, the close ranger from Tevez, and the Torres-esque curler from Tevez. Scharner forced a good save from Given, but it wasn't close enough to the corner to really worry him.
The red card certainly made things easier. Scharner was pulled out of midfield and suddenly Vieira had the time he needed and De Jong was able to cover better. The increased freedom wasn't without the odd scare from Wigan though and the impressive Moreno fired narrowly wide and Rodallega perhaps should have done better with another close miss.
Ludicrous goalkeeping gave City the break they needed and sparked the 12 minute hat-trick from the outstanding Carlos Tevez. The only worry about these games lately is the gulf between Tevez's performances and some of his teammates. Would City be winning these games without him? His influence in everything City did last night suggests we'd struggle. He is quickly establishing himself as a City legend!
The need for a creative midfielder was there again. When forced, there aren't many options to come from our midfield pairings and with Ireland seemingly unable to play in an ordinary midfield role, that position has to be the priority for the summer. Mancini knows Ireland cannot play in the deeper role and has always adapted the team to suit his position when he has been picked, but the side needs someone who can dictate the game in an attacking sense from midfield, not just in a battling sense. You feel this is part of the legacy of Mark Hughes - attacking in formations earlier this season, but not in personnel.
Not entirely convincing from City, but three points were always going to be the main thing. Keeping within touching distance of Tottenham was important considering their next three games should see them dropping points.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Wigan preview
The Wigan game is the perfect chance for City to test their 'bouncebackability'. Statistics are pointless on the whole, but it is reassuring to know that City have won every game following their previous four losses of this season. This will be more important than ever if City aren't to lose touch with Tottenham - who are sitting five points above us now - not insurmountable considering the final home clash of the season, but still not favourable psychologically. Micah sees this as the pressure being passed to Tottenham, but surely this is only the case if we resign ourselves to losing the battle with them.
Wigan themselves are an unpredictable opponent. Traditionally we have struggled against them in the Premier League, but this was before Roberto Martinez came along and opened up their style a bit. I watched their victory over Liverpool, when even Liverpool's mediocrity couldn't mask a very good performance from Wigan - where players like N'Zogbia, Diame, McCarthy and Figueroa looked top-class, but then the following game they crashed to a 4-0 defeat against Bolton. The star performer from that Liverpool game, N'Zogbia is out of tomorrow night's encounter - which could allow for the more attacking option of Garrido at left-back.
Martinez has been vocal in his support for Mancini and his success since joining City - "He is an extremely experienced and talented manager and he has given that extra spice to the Premier League." Martinez's teams like to play football and this should hopefully play to City's strengths.
Adebayor makes a welcome return upfront for City and hopefully he can continue the improving form he was showing before his suspension. Tevez could benefit from having a partner to play off - as he did successfully against Fulham with Santa Cruz. After resting De Jong at Fulham, I think it could be Barry's turn against Wigan, as he is still looking a little leaden at the moment and as Vieira only played a small part against Everton, he should be ready to start again.
Mancini is beginning to be known for his Tinkerman-esque changes, so it is hard to pick a probable team, but I think he will opt for an attacking eleven. Possible team:
Given; Zabaleta, Kompany, Toure, Garrido; Johnson, De Jong, Vieira, Bellamy; Tevez, Adebayor.
I think this could be a must win game if we are to stay in the battle for fourth and it will be important for City to react in the right way to the Everton result.
Wigan themselves are an unpredictable opponent. Traditionally we have struggled against them in the Premier League, but this was before Roberto Martinez came along and opened up their style a bit. I watched their victory over Liverpool, when even Liverpool's mediocrity couldn't mask a very good performance from Wigan - where players like N'Zogbia, Diame, McCarthy and Figueroa looked top-class, but then the following game they crashed to a 4-0 defeat against Bolton. The star performer from that Liverpool game, N'Zogbia is out of tomorrow night's encounter - which could allow for the more attacking option of Garrido at left-back.
Martinez has been vocal in his support for Mancini and his success since joining City - "He is an extremely experienced and talented manager and he has given that extra spice to the Premier League." Martinez's teams like to play football and this should hopefully play to City's strengths.
Adebayor makes a welcome return upfront for City and hopefully he can continue the improving form he was showing before his suspension. Tevez could benefit from having a partner to play off - as he did successfully against Fulham with Santa Cruz. After resting De Jong at Fulham, I think it could be Barry's turn against Wigan, as he is still looking a little leaden at the moment and as Vieira only played a small part against Everton, he should be ready to start again.
Mancini is beginning to be known for his Tinkerman-esque changes, so it is hard to pick a probable team, but I think he will opt for an attacking eleven. Possible team:
Given; Zabaleta, Kompany, Toure, Garrido; Johnson, De Jong, Vieira, Bellamy; Tevez, Adebayor.
I think this could be a must win game if we are to stay in the battle for fourth and it will be important for City to react in the right way to the Everton result.
Kolo urges Mancini stay - Managerial stability is key
It is reassuring to hear Kolo supporting Mancini today and ridiculing suggestions of a new manager in the summer. He says "It's really difficult to beat us and what he brings is that everytime we play, we feel really strong. He's bringing experience and he knows what he wants to do for this club and he needs time."
He goes on to one of my favourite arguments: "You can't keep changing managers. Every time the players have to adapt to a new strategy and the thinking of the new manager, which is really difficult and takes time." The last two sackings, Sven and Hughes, have created friction amongst the players and a change of regime always puts the squad back at square one. There is always the initial-impact factor, but for true success a manager needs time to instil his beliefs on a team.
Kolo goes on to say "With Roberto we're starting to know what he really wants and he's working well." Which suggests that Mancini's communication, and understanding of the English game, is improving and, despite the blip against Everton, I think that is beginning to show on the pitch.
I wrote in more detail on the merits of managerial stability a couple of weeks ago after Real Madrid's exit from the Champions league:
Paul Wilson, in the Observer this morning, has written about the managerial instability at Real Madrid and how it is hindering their chances of success:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/mar/14/real-madrid-champions-league
He uses the European success of United and Arsenal this week to contrast with Real. The answer, he says, comes down to managerial stability. After their exit to Lyon at the first-knockout phase of the Champions league - the sixth year running they have fallen out at this stage of the competition - the Spanish papers were screaming for Pellegrini's head. Real have had 24 managers in the last 24 seasons and as such resemble a group of the world's most gifted players but by no means a team. Never has one manager in their recent history been allowed to develop his vision for the team. Nor really have a set of players been able to develop partnerships and relationships with each other. And this shows. With the talent available at that team, you'd imagine a settled year would produce a more competitive team next season. But it is highly unlikely that will happen, even though they look on course to win La Liga.
The same goes for QPR, as mentioned in a previous post. Despite being the richest club in the Championship, they have been struggling for the past few seasons precisely because of this instability. Neil Warnock is their fifth manager of this season. Newcastle too have suffered through this type of mismanagement.
Even if City finish a very disappointing seventh this season, Mancini should be allowed to stay and develop what he started, just as Hughes argued he should have been allowed time to see through his plan for his burgeoning 'project'.
Just as Real Madrid have proved this week, money is incredibly important in football nowadays, but people (fans and media) should differentiate between money and what makes a winning team. Money is never enough on its own and a manager, with very few exceptions, can never be expected to produce the pinnacle of his work in his first view months in charge - in any profession. Although money breeds an impatience for success, that success won't be attained without a little patience.
-
If anything, the defeat to Everton should act as further evidence to the owners that to build a true team long-term stability is needed.
He goes on to one of my favourite arguments: "You can't keep changing managers. Every time the players have to adapt to a new strategy and the thinking of the new manager, which is really difficult and takes time." The last two sackings, Sven and Hughes, have created friction amongst the players and a change of regime always puts the squad back at square one. There is always the initial-impact factor, but for true success a manager needs time to instil his beliefs on a team.
Kolo goes on to say "With Roberto we're starting to know what he really wants and he's working well." Which suggests that Mancini's communication, and understanding of the English game, is improving and, despite the blip against Everton, I think that is beginning to show on the pitch.
I wrote in more detail on the merits of managerial stability a couple of weeks ago after Real Madrid's exit from the Champions league:
Paul Wilson, in the Observer this morning, has written about the managerial instability at Real Madrid and how it is hindering their chances of success:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/mar/14/real-madrid-champions-league
He uses the European success of United and Arsenal this week to contrast with Real. The answer, he says, comes down to managerial stability. After their exit to Lyon at the first-knockout phase of the Champions league - the sixth year running they have fallen out at this stage of the competition - the Spanish papers were screaming for Pellegrini's head. Real have had 24 managers in the last 24 seasons and as such resemble a group of the world's most gifted players but by no means a team. Never has one manager in their recent history been allowed to develop his vision for the team. Nor really have a set of players been able to develop partnerships and relationships with each other. And this shows. With the talent available at that team, you'd imagine a settled year would produce a more competitive team next season. But it is highly unlikely that will happen, even though they look on course to win La Liga.
The same goes for QPR, as mentioned in a previous post. Despite being the richest club in the Championship, they have been struggling for the past few seasons precisely because of this instability. Neil Warnock is their fifth manager of this season. Newcastle too have suffered through this type of mismanagement.
Even if City finish a very disappointing seventh this season, Mancini should be allowed to stay and develop what he started, just as Hughes argued he should have been allowed time to see through his plan for his burgeoning 'project'.
Just as Real Madrid have proved this week, money is incredibly important in football nowadays, but people (fans and media) should differentiate between money and what makes a winning team. Money is never enough on its own and a manager, with very few exceptions, can never be expected to produce the pinnacle of his work in his first view months in charge - in any profession. Although money breeds an impatience for success, that success won't be attained without a little patience.
-
If anything, the defeat to Everton should act as further evidence to the owners that to build a true team long-term stability is needed.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Transfer rumours: The New Zidane
What was strikingly obvious in last night's game against Everton is that City lack a player who can unpick a defence, like Ali Bernabia once did. Stephen Ireland is that man in the squad, but if he is unfit or misfiring as has been the case in a frustrating season for him, then there aren't many creative options left to choose from.
Pretending for one moment that all the rumours we hear are true, which of course they aren't, City would appear to be in the market for creative flair players: Martinez, Cavani, Krasnic, and new Zidane - Sofiane Feghouli. I have to say, I know nothing about him that I haven't just read on wikipedia, but the introductory passage on there describes him as a player who "is more noted for creating goals than scoring them". From what they describe, he sounds like a poorly advised player, who has let a bright reputation persuade him to let his contract run out this summer. At twenty, he fits in with the "transfer acquisition strategy" (Cook 2009) of sourcing the world's best young talent.
City rely too much on the pace of the likes of Bellamy for attacking on the break. When a team sits deep and soaks us up, like Everton last night, City cry out for a creative influence in the centre of midfield. If Ireland cannot slot into the deeper position as part of a central two, then Mancini will probably look to bolster the squad with a player who is more rounded - like Gago for instance.
The player who would be perfect for that role, of course, is Michael Johnson - but it will take some time for him to recover his full level of ability after so long on the treatment table.
Acquiring a creative central midfielder in the summer, who can play alongside a Barry, De Jong or Vieira, would give City an extra dimension, and could be enough to transform a few of the points dropped this season.
Pretending for one moment that all the rumours we hear are true, which of course they aren't, City would appear to be in the market for creative flair players: Martinez, Cavani, Krasnic, and new Zidane - Sofiane Feghouli. I have to say, I know nothing about him that I haven't just read on wikipedia, but the introductory passage on there describes him as a player who "is more noted for creating goals than scoring them". From what they describe, he sounds like a poorly advised player, who has let a bright reputation persuade him to let his contract run out this summer. At twenty, he fits in with the "transfer acquisition strategy" (Cook 2009) of sourcing the world's best young talent.
City rely too much on the pace of the likes of Bellamy for attacking on the break. When a team sits deep and soaks us up, like Everton last night, City cry out for a creative influence in the centre of midfield. If Ireland cannot slot into the deeper position as part of a central two, then Mancini will probably look to bolster the squad with a player who is more rounded - like Gago for instance.
The player who would be perfect for that role, of course, is Michael Johnson - but it will take some time for him to recover his full level of ability after so long on the treatment table.
Acquiring a creative central midfielder in the summer, who can play alongside a Barry, De Jong or Vieira, would give City an extra dimension, and could be enough to transform a few of the points dropped this season.
Everton player ratings
Given 6.
Not to blame for either goal and wasn't tested much besides. Looked more assured on crosses but slightly wobbly on distribution.
Richards 6.
Enthusiastic enough going forward and some crunching tackles early on, and actually kept Pienaar quite quiet. Positional awareness still liable to leave us exposed on the right though. Short, flat passes to player in right-wing position often put City on the back foot.
Toure 6.
Looked quite nervous at times and won only a few of the aerial tussles with Saha. Was actually quite an asset going forward with his runs, would be interesting to see if he could cut it in midfield - was signed by Wenger as a right-winger apparently.
Kompany 6.
Not as good as recent performances but, bar a couple of wobbles and some slightly shaky distribution, stood up to the test.
Zabaleta 7.
The only player along the back line who looked forward with conviction - Everton did limit City's options for a pass from defence, but it was only really Zab who worked at it.
De Jong 6.
Harried well til the end but as Eveton managed to place the creative burden on him and Barry, he struggled to influence the game in that way as it is not really what he is there for.
Barry 6.
Had a good first half, but he, like De Jong, struggled to break Everton down in the second.
Ireland 5.
A bit mixed during his time on, but was the man capable of unlocking a strong Everton resistance - and his injury cost City.
Johnson 6.
Unable to influence the game too much and withdrawn shortly after half-time.
Bellamy 5.
A deep lying Everton defence cut off the threat of his pace and, as much as I hate to say it, was played well by Neville.
Tevez 7.
Tried many times to make it happen on his own. Excellent workrate as ever, and managed to carve out some opportunities for himself. Struggled with the sheer size of the Everton defence though.
Substitutes:
Wright-Phillips (on for Ireland, 41mins) 5.
Struggled to influence the game. Touch was fairly poor and lack of targets meant his crossing was mainly in vain.
Santa Cruz (on for Johnson, 57mins) 5.
Increasingly used as a target as City ran out of ideas and patience, but was well-matched by Distin and Jagielka in aerial battles.
Vieira (on for Richards, 75mins) 6.
A fairly uneventful fifteen minutes for him.
My man of the match: Tevez.
Not to blame for either goal and wasn't tested much besides. Looked more assured on crosses but slightly wobbly on distribution.
Richards 6.
Enthusiastic enough going forward and some crunching tackles early on, and actually kept Pienaar quite quiet. Positional awareness still liable to leave us exposed on the right though. Short, flat passes to player in right-wing position often put City on the back foot.
Toure 6.
Looked quite nervous at times and won only a few of the aerial tussles with Saha. Was actually quite an asset going forward with his runs, would be interesting to see if he could cut it in midfield - was signed by Wenger as a right-winger apparently.
Kompany 6.
Not as good as recent performances but, bar a couple of wobbles and some slightly shaky distribution, stood up to the test.
Zabaleta 7.
The only player along the back line who looked forward with conviction - Everton did limit City's options for a pass from defence, but it was only really Zab who worked at it.
De Jong 6.
Harried well til the end but as Eveton managed to place the creative burden on him and Barry, he struggled to influence the game in that way as it is not really what he is there for.
Barry 6.
Had a good first half, but he, like De Jong, struggled to break Everton down in the second.
Ireland 5.
A bit mixed during his time on, but was the man capable of unlocking a strong Everton resistance - and his injury cost City.
Johnson 6.
Unable to influence the game too much and withdrawn shortly after half-time.
Bellamy 5.
A deep lying Everton defence cut off the threat of his pace and, as much as I hate to say it, was played well by Neville.
Tevez 7.
Tried many times to make it happen on his own. Excellent workrate as ever, and managed to carve out some opportunities for himself. Struggled with the sheer size of the Everton defence though.
Substitutes:
Wright-Phillips (on for Ireland, 41mins) 5.
Struggled to influence the game. Touch was fairly poor and lack of targets meant his crossing was mainly in vain.
Santa Cruz (on for Johnson, 57mins) 5.
Increasingly used as a target as City ran out of ideas and patience, but was well-matched by Distin and Jagielka in aerial battles.
Vieira (on for Richards, 75mins) 6.
A fairly uneventful fifteen minutes for him.
My man of the match: Tevez.
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