Mancini's machinations

Plenty of newspapers previewed this week's game with a discussion of City's (relative lack of) business in the transfer market this summer. Mention was made of the players we've apparently tried and failed to sign since winning the league in the final minute of last season - Hazard, De Rossi, Van Persie, Agger, Luiz(?!), Martinez - with justification ranging from players not wanting to sit out matches to City's hands being tied by FFP. Of course, City being City, it's never 'Club makes decision not to sign ageing and/or injury-prone player in late 20s' or 'Club with vast array of attacking talent decides not to spend £20-30m+ on another attacker' but instead it's 'City find life at the top is harder than they thought' or 'City in chaos as manager wants to sign a player but board won't give him the money'. We are in a situation where we're damned if we do and damned if we don't: spend and we are castigated for our vulgarity; don't spend and suffer implications of complacency/lack of ambition/not being a true 'big club' and therefore unworthy of signing good players.

Eden Hazard has admittedly looked class in the opening games, but Chelsea haven't really been tested yet (even Torres has been scoring!); Van Persie obviously banged them in last season; apart from them, I don't see those other players making much of a difference, and given the choice between not overspending and having either of aforementioned two, I'd go for the former. Frankly, I think the club have been wise not to pay over the odds for anyone - Rodwell has shown that he is going to be a big player for us, and if you weigh up the costs and benefits of paying silly money for an attacker who doesn't really improve our squad that much then we've done the right thing in refusing to get dragged into a bidding war with our nearest rivals for the league (Chelsea and United, in that order). What Rodwell has done is addressed one of the only major weaknesses in our first team squad - Nigel De Jong as our main cover at centre mid - and the other main problems are centre half (Kompany is outstanding, Lescott is pretty good, Toure and Savic are awful) and sub keeper. Therefore, I would say that the only player I'd really consider paying an inflated price for, that is, the only player whose improvement to the side would outweigh the potential issues with FFP, would be Thomas Vermaelen. He's a good age, he's a fantastic defender, he can play football, he scores goals, he's left-sided (and Belgian!) so he would fit well with Kompany - signing him would be perfect for us.

I have actually been wondering if Mancini's public grumbling over transfer policy isn't just a bit more Mancini mind games - trying to trick his competitors into thinking they can press home an advantage by splurging on overpriced, unproven gambles. Perhaps I'm being overgenerous by suggesting he is capable of being so Machiavellian, but he is ruthless, and he has a habit of claiming to believe something that is clearly at odds with his real opinion. However, this ruthless, contrary streak also led me to consider whether his team selection at Liverpool wasn't a message to Marwood - in selecting De Jong, Kolarov and Kolo Toure, he picked the three worst players in our first team squad to start at Anfield. I can't imagine that he can actually believe these are players capable or worthy of defending a league title, and can only conclude that he is making a point - either buy me some players, or I'll have to use this garbage on a regular basis. The only way our starting XI could have been weaker would have been to include Savic instead of Kompany (and Pants instead of Hart), a prospect that simply does not bear thinking about.

So, overall, the ideal situation would be De Jong sold (maybe back to Holland or Germany, or maybe Italy) and Kolo sold (someone Turkish perhaps?), with an experienced backup keeper brought in and the bulk of the budget spent on Vermaelen, with another Rodwell-style signing or two to keep the squad healthy. I don't think we need to panic, but to be serious about defending the title we could do with a few new faces. I'm sure Mancini knows what he wants, and I'm also pretty sure he knows how to get it.

City 3-2 Southampton

Of course, the scoreline and sequence of scoring was very similar to the last game of last season, but really I think the performance yesterday was very encouraging. I was naturally extremely worried when Aguero went down (not least because I had him as my captain in my fantasy team!), and with knee injuries you fear the worst, but he's apparently played it down on Twitter so hopefully he won't be out for too long.

As for the rest of the match, Tevez looked lean and bright, and it was only wayward finishing that prevented us from taking a considerable lead. Silva's pathetic penalty was frustrating, as you feel that Sergio would have buried it (as would Tevez), but when Tevez put us in front I felt that it would just be a case of how many we'd score. We missed several chances at 1-0, and played some great football - one interchange up the right was a joy to behold.

The major criticism was obviously the failure to make the chances count - Lambert's finish was great, and Davis did well, but when those goals went in we'd had 80% possession in the second half. Even after we'd scored the third goal Southampton were playing tidy football, and had us worried at times, and they look like Swansea's successors as a good footballing side up from the Championship. We showed good character though, and seemed to step up a gear when we needed to, something United and other recent winners of the league have been doing for years, so I'm not too worried with the performance overall. It's perhaps a bit tricky to play a promoted side - they are an unknown quantity to an extent, and have the adrenaline and so on from being back in the Prem (neither Reading nor West Ham lost) - but just like last year, we rode out the difficult parts of the match to come through and win.

My only slight concern is our defending - we conceded the fewest in the league last season, but the goals we've let in this season have been sloppy. Both Chelsea goals in the Community Shield came from poor clearances from our defenders (even before Pantimilon spilt it) which were then recycled and ended up in the net, and yesterday we had a couple of chances to clear the first, and the second came from Rodwell's poor pass (that aside, he actually looked quite assured). Hopefully this will just be early season rustiness, because we can't afford to give goals away - Mancini claims it's because all of the defenders were away with national sides so he's not had chance to work with them.

Overall though, I don't think there's any cause to panic - we still look confident and dangerous going forward, and are developing the knack of winning games from a losing position. Final word on Kompany - there aren't many centre-backs in the division who have the confidence to lash in a left foot shot first time from the edge of the box, and his quick reactions meant Saints didn't have time to regroup before Yaya squirmed it out to Dzeko. Class.

Midfielders

Gareth Barry
Apps: 47 (34 PL)
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
For a long time, I was convinced Barry was a duck egg - another classic example of a player who's supposedly in the team to win the ball back and ends up giving it away instead. His lack of pace was ruthlessly exposed by Mesut Ozil at the World Cup and he was even worse for City in the seasons before and after the tournament. Another overpriced Hughes signing! However, this season he was much improved - perhaps he had more of a rest or worked on his fitness, because although he is still quite bulky and sometimes has the turning circle of an articulated lorry he turned in some excellent performances and provides an important base for the more attack-minded players in our midfield. At 31 though he's not going to get any quicker and I'm not sure how long he'll be good enough. He should have another season or two in his legs, but he's one we need to think about replacing I feel.
Moment that defined his season:
Any of his blocks, tackles and interceptions in the Arsenal game at home - Nasri was given MOTM in a blatant attempt to rile the Arsenal fans, but it was Barry who was dominant that day.
Keep hold/get rid?
We need to hang on to him for another season or two, but I can't see him lasting longer than that - too slow and cumbersome.


De Jong
Apps: 36 (21 PL)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
A player who was brought in to do a very specific job at that point in time and chosen once Diarra chose to go to Madrid, the Lawnmower quickly gained a cult status among fans for his tackling and all-round energy (and fouling). He played a key role when he first arrived - Hughes (!) choosing to pay £16m at Christmas for a player we could have got on a free at the end of the season - but his star has waned. I'm afraid he's too negative for our team - there are times when the ball is loose on the edge of the box and you wish it had fallen to anyone else in the team apart from him. His passing is always sideways, and his tackling is not as effective as it should be if that's his only job in the team. Almost half of his appearances last season were as a sub and frankly I can't see that changing in the future. A shame because he's a warrior and prepared to sweat blood for the cause but our style of play has moved on and he just slows the play down too much.
Moment that defined his season:
When he was brought on for Nasri against Newcastle - it showed that his only real role in the team is to free up Yaya to play a more attacking role. Of course, this tactic worked but not really thanks to De Jong - he's another player who I really feel we can improve on.
Keep hold/get rid?
As I said, I think we can do better - he doesn't offer enough going forward, and we are too good to have a player only in the team to do one thing. I'd much rather see a Colin Bell/Steven Gerrard-type player, who can tackle and defend but also go forward. If only Michael Johnson hadn't drunk away his talent. I think we could probably get decent money for Nige so I say get rid and use the transfer fee to balance out the FFP.


Adam Johnson
Apps: 41 (23 PL)
Goals: 7
Assists: 4
A bit of a funny season for Johnson - he was mainly restricted to sub appearances and cup games (he only started 10 times in the league) but scored some excellent goals, set up a few and won the odd penalty by 'anticipating contact'. Publicly chastised by Mancini for his effort, the season ended on disappointment after he missed out on the Euro squad, which was largely put down to his lack of competitive football. It is a pity that he doesn't get to play more, as he is skilful and can be a joy to watch - it's a bit of a shame for the neutral (and the England fan) that we don't get to see a bit more of an exciting young English talent. I have to agree with Mancini though - he can go missing, and you do need every player to put a shift in at all times. Perhaps he also suffers from the style of play that Mancini uses, as we don't really play with wingers so the team can look unbalanced when he's playing. He's a good player to have in the squad, but is he going to be happy playing a bit part forever?
Moment that defined his season:
His public dressing-down by Mancini after the Wolves game. It must be a bit dispiriting for AJ to hear that after scoring or setting up a goal but Roberto knows what he's doing, and if he's underachieving then the manager is obliged to do it if it's necessary.
Keep hold/get rid?
I like him, even though he's a bit lightweight and can drift in and out of games. I feel like he's actually more effective when he starts matches, as he hasn't got the pace to make the impact of someone like Craig Bellamy coming off the bench. It might be better for him to go somewhere else but I would like him to stay - he gives us something a bit different, and his trademark goal curled into the top left corner from the right-hand side (like against Sunderland a couple of seasons ago or Blackburn the season just gone) is always a pleasure to see.


James Milner
Apps: 37 (26 PL)
Goals: 3
Assists: 6
Yet another player who was overpriced, Milner was not a signing to get pulses racing. The fact that he was picked at the Euro mainly because he was the most trustworthy defensively of our midfield options says a lot about him - he works hard and does a job for the team without having the flair or the pace to really give defenders problems. That said, I am a big fan - despite what we paid for him, I think he's been excellent. He's best playing more centrally, where his positional awareness and work rate are most effective, and it gives him the chance to make runs into the corners which are more likely to unsettle the defence than if it was him trying to go round a defender one on one. Did a good job when required, and his versatility and general commitment make him a valuable member of the squad.
Moment that defined his season:
Probably his assist for Balotelli's first against United at OT - it was a dominant display by Milner and this capped it.
Keep hold/get rid?
Definitely keep - he's not quite in the first choice XI but it's a squad game these days as they say.


Samir Nasri

Apps: 45 (30 PL)

Goals: 6

Assists: 9

His transfer was fractious to say the least, with City pulling off a bit of a coup by signing a player that United were after. Perhaps for that reason alone you could say that it was important - United showed they needed midfield playmaker and Nasri might have been the player to do it. He was inconsistent though - he had a bit of a tendency to go missing at times, and his attitude can be poor. When he's on form, though, he is a delight to watch, especially when combining with the likes of Silva and Aguero to bamboozle opposition defenders with their mesmerising, intricate passing and subtle movement. He started his City career with three assists in one game - more than he'd managed in the previous season for Arsenal - and he scored some very important goals, notably at home to Spurs and Chelsea and a nerve-settling second away at Wolves. He was involved in the goal at home to Arsenal, but the choice of him as MOTM was more to rile the Gooners than a true reflection of his performance. When he's good, he's very very good, but he needs to work on his consistency and application - I could have throttled him in the last game of the season when he let the ball go out of play when it was a QPR throw. We did win the ball back through Lescott and then go down the other end and score though, so I can't be too cross. 

Moment that defined his season:

Because his season involved a generous amount of antagonising Arsenal fans, and looked like it was going to be a disappointment but then delivered in the end, I'm going to go for his Twitter bet with Piers Morgan that he would win silverware before Arsenal did. It showed his confidence in City's 'project' as well as his confrontational personality.

Keep hold/get rid?

While he's not in the top echelon of players (Hart, Kompany, Yaya, Silva, Aguero) he is a great talent. Perhaps we should sign another attacking midfielder to keep him on his toes and stop him going missing quite so often. Mesut Ozil?

David Silva

Apps: 49 (36 PL)

Goals: 8

Assists: 19

At the start of the season, I felt that if we were going to win any sympathy from the neutral we would have to play attractive football, and City duly delivered thanks in no small part to Silva's artistry. His first season in English football was very good, but his performances last season, especially in the first half of the year, were masterful. A return of 19 assists is simply phenomenal, and the goals he was involved in were not only plentiful but crucial in many matches. His interplay with the other midfielders is hypnotic, and his touch and vision and his assuredness on the ball make him a frightening prospect for opposition defenders. His influence on the early form that led us to dominate the majority of our matches in the first half of the season cannot be understated, and although there was a part of the season, maybe the third quarter, where his performances dipped slightly and there were reports he was carrying an injury, he battled through, and provided assists from corners for two of the most important goals of the season in the last few games - Kompany at home to United and the Dzeko's on the last game of the season. He's the type of player that fans of other clubs love to watch, and is rightly idolised at the Blues. Scoring a goal in the final of the Euros must be satisfying as well. 

Moment that defined his season:

There were so many moments of skill, flair, imagination and invention that it is hard to choose just one, but his pass, volleyed 30 yards over his shoulder from the halfway line, that set up Dzeko for the sixth goal at Old Trafford takes some beating. It was a sumptuous, breathtaking piece of technique that helped to underline our superiority over our nearest rivals for the title, and Silva makes a significant contribution to that superiority. 

Keep hold/get rid?

Silva is in the group of players who are virtually irreplaceable - if, say, Barca or Real came in for him I couldn't imagine the starting bid being less than £50m, and City would probably view that as insultingly low. He is one of the players that I will be boring the grandchildren about in years to come, and it is a privilege to see him play for the team I support. 

Yaya Toure

Apps: 44 (32 PL)

Goals: 9

Assists: 9

In terms of both physique and influence, Yaya is a colossus. He had already earned his place in the City pantheon of greats with his exploits in the 2011 FA Cup semi and final, but he did not rest on his laurels - the way he dominates the centre of the park is exhilarating, and his desire and athleticism must terrify both defenders and attackers when he lopes towards them. He is the perfect foil to our other attacking players, his physicality and energy perfectly complementing the wizardry of Silva and the industry of Aguero, and it was no coincidence that our least convincing period of the season came when he was away at the African Cup of Nations. It is a slight concern that there is another one this season, but even with the possibility that he will miss a month of next season I wouldn't swap him for any other midfielder in the world. He can always be relied upon to step up when the team most need him, and his goals secured vital points in key games - the winner away at QPR, the equaliser against Stoke, and of course the two goals away at Newcastle. His role in our Plan B has been well-documented, with De Jong being brought on the free him up to rampage forward in typical lungbursting style, and this is priceless for City when we need a goal. What a player.
Moment that defined his season:
As I said, he always seems to score important goals, and few were more important last season than the two away at Newcastle. We needed him and he delivered.
Keep hold/get rid?
I wouldn't swap him for anyone. Right foot, left foot, inside the box, outside the box, he can strike it from anywhere; no there player can dominate a game the way he does. Deserves to be considered alongside Vieira and Gerrard as the best ever midfielders in the Prem. 

Defenders

Gael Clichy
Apps: 37 (28 PL)
Goals: 0
Assists: 4
Of all the players we've bought from Arsenal in recent years, the cheapest and arrived with probably the least fanfare but has been the most successful in my view. Perhaps not the greatest start, as it was his misunderstanding with Kompany that allowed Nani to score an injury-time winner in the Community Shield, but consistently excellent since then. I find it hard to believe that in some quarters the France left-back position is considered a problem - Clichy's pace will always mean he is effective in defence, while his overlapping runs and crossing is important for our style of play because of our narrow midfield. The difference when he is playing and when he isn't is stark - it's no surprise that some of our worst performances last season, like Napoli at home, came when Clichy was rested for Kolarov. Probably the only left-back in the country who gets close to Ashley Cole, and perhaps the only blot on his copybook in the season proper was getting sent off against Chelsea.
Moment that defined his season:
As I said, one of our most consistent and effective performers, and the way he kept Nani quiet in the home derby was superb, but I'd probably go for his assists towards the end of the season - he provided a great pass for Aguero to score the first against Wolves in a nervy win straight after United's draw against Everton.
Keep hold/get rid?
Class, and young - hopefully he'll be a stalwart for years to come. Delighted he's ended our run of slow, dirty, hopeless left backs (Kolarov, Bridge, Ball, Thatcher...).


Aleksandar Kolarov
Apps: 30 (12 PL)
Goals: 4
Assists: 6
Probably my least favourite of the players that regularly played for the first team last season, Kolarov is just so frustrating to watch. The difference in City's style and overall effectiveness is so obvious when he is playing instead of Clichy - there's no width and much less movement. Kolarov also commits the unforgivable sin of giving the ball away and not tracking back to make up for it. The problem is, having him on the pitch means our team loses its shape, but often it's difficult to change it if we go behind because we have so many attacking options on the bench that swapping the left-back seems a waste. He is the type of player that people who don't really watch City very often think is decent because they see him hitting shots from distance, and on several occasions last season he disguised a poor performance with a goal from a free kick. He did actually get more assists than Clichy (and more goals obviously) but stats don't always tell the full story and anyway I'm certain that he was at fault for many more goals conceded.
Moment that defined his season:
I'm going to go for the goal he scored in the Champions League against Napoli - there's no denying he's got a hammer of a left foot, and it was a crucial goal, but I'm convinced we wouldn't have needed to score it if Clichy had started instead.
Keep hold/get rid?
I'm not a fan. We paid £16m for him, and it's unlikely we'd get anything near that if we sold him so perhaps we have to keep him for FFP reasons, but if we were offered anything even close to £10m I'd snap their hand off.

Vincent Kompany
Apps: 40 (31 PL)
Goals: 3
Assists: 1
What an absolute hero. Up there with Hart, Aguero and Yaya as our most important players, the spine of the team and the leaders. He is just an unbelievable performer, week in week out- solid, composed, quick, skilful, intelligent, reads the game well, great communicator, great in the air, and that's just a few of his attributes. He was a Champ Man legend a few years ago, so when we bought him I was excited (although slightly wary - they aren't always as good in real life!), but I could not have imagined how well he was going to do. There can't be a better signing in terms of value for money currently playing in the league (apart from Hart!). That Chelsea banner for Terry ('Captain, leader, legend') is so much more apt for our captain than for theirs. It was clear that our worst periods of the season coincided with the times when Kompany was out injured or suspended (that decision by Chris Foy to send him off against United in the FA Cup was nearly so costly).
Moment that defined his season:
It is very difficult to look past his goal in the home derby - although his defending has been exceptional all season, he stepped up when he was most needed at the other end, in the highest-pressure match of the season. His celebration showed how much it mattered as well. Special mention though goes to his assist for Johnson's goal at home to Norwich - he popped up on the left-hand side of their box, did a stepover and chipped it to the other corner of the box for Johnson to finish. A delight to watch, and a centre-back! Amazing.
Keep hold/get rid?
Absolutely, definitely, unequivocally keep hold. He is so important to the team, and he seems to have a genuine love for the club (he was recently quoted as saying he wants to stay at the club for beyond the duration of his contract). I want him as captain for the rest of his career, then as manager, then chairman.

Joleon Lescott
Apps: 42 (31 PL)
Goals: 3
Assists: 1
One of Mark Hughes' obsessions, I liked Lescott at Everton but struggled when he first arrived, and is still the only member of our team who doesn't really look comfortable with the ball at his feet. That said, he has improved dramatically this season, and has formed a great partnership with Kompany at the back. He is great in the air, and although he is a bit slow and cumbersome he makes some important blocks and tackles and scored some key goals. I do wonder if he might be a bit of a liability against the very best opposition, although of course he is an international, and managed to help prevent the likes of Balotelli, Benzema and Shevchenko from scoring in the Euro (although not Olaf Mellberg!). He would be the weak link in our first choice XI though.
Moment that defined his season:
It was so nearly his misjudgement against QPR that gifted Cisse his goal, but thankfully it didn't matter in the end so I'll go for his goal against Villa - in a tense, tricky away tie he scored the winner and of course every point in the end was crucial. His goal against Tottenham was funny too, as was his reaction ('I think I'll get Goal of the Month!').
Keep hold/get rid?
I'd definitely keep him, but I think a centre-back has to be top of our shopping list, even if it's just as cover for Lescott and Kompany. Long term, I'm afraid I think we can do better but he's not exactly a terrible player to have in the squad.

Micah Richards
Apps: 39 (29 PL)
Goals: 1
Assists: 6
Richards is a very important player for me being the only remaining Academy player who gets near the first team. While I would not complain about the oil money buying the likes of Yaya and Aguero, I do think it's important to remember the roots of the club as well and Richards is key in this regard. At the start of the season especially he had recovered his form of a few years ago, strong and athletic when defending and dangerous with his forward runs down the right. Like Clichy, his support going forward was crucial to how the team played due to our narrow midfield. Towards the end of the season, though, Mancini seemed to prefer Zabaleta, and of course he did not make the squad for the Euro. Some feel that although he makes some great blocks and uses his athleticism to get City out of trouble, it is his lack of concentration and positional awareness that caused the problem in the first place! I don't think he's as bad as he was a couple of seasons ago (when there was the rumour that he was more interested in doing weights than in training for matches) but there is still a sense that he hasn't quite yet heeded Vieira's advice ('How do you expect to improve when you're the last on the training pitch and the first off it?') and that Zab is more trustworthy in the biggest games. He stepped up at centre-back though when Kompany was suspended and Lescott injured, and I hope he will continue to improve to the extent that he is definitely our first choice right back. He still manages to go flying in with his arms above his head in the box and give away penalties though - another thing he needs to work on in training (if he ever turns up).
Moment that defined his season:
Made a trademark last ditch tackle away at Fulham to deny Dempsey, and a great block towards the end of the season to save a goal against Newcastle, but as it's his attacking that is really his forte, I'll go for his assist for Aguero's goal at Old Trafford - capping an amazing move with passes in all directions and angles with a penetrating run (Evra was nowhere) to set up a goal and put the game beyond United. Significant as well that this was in the first part of the season when he was in fantastic form.
Keep hold/get rid?
Definitely keep hold, there aren't many players who are as part of the club as him and his physique and pace are so useful going back and forwards. We just need to keep him improving and working on parts of his game, and hopefully see him reach the potential he's shown since scoring that header against Villa in the cup.

Stefan Savic
Apps: 23 (11 PL)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Probably the only player who you can really say had a bad season for City last year, and when Kompany and then Lescott were out through injury and suspension the lack of depth in our squad was horribly exposed, almost having fatal consequences for our title challenge. For a player so tall he looks nervous when defending high balls and his distribution is erratic. Not good enough.
Moment that defined his season:
Frequently gave the ball away in dangerous positions, and the most damaging time was Swansea away - he gave it away in the middle and then didn't get back in time to prevent the goal that seemed to have put paid to our chances of winning the league.
Keep hold/get rid?
Definitely get rid - he's just not good enough. Although we didn't pay loads for him (£5-6m) we will be lucky to find anyone to take him off us! I just can't help but think that Onuoha can do everything he can and better. I was very disappointed when Nedum left the club - Mancini didn't seem to rate him, which makes it all the more inexplicable that Savic is there instead. Definitely need a new centre back (or two).

Kolo Toure
Apps: 20 (14 PL)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Another of Hughes' overpriced under-performers, Kolo has never looked good enough for City. When we bought him an Arsenal fan said to me 'Now you'll see why Arsenal let in so many from set pieces', and his positioning and reading of the game mean that he never plays well enough to justify a place in the first XI. Although I was glad of him when Kompany and Lescott were out, and he did ok in a makeshift pairing with Richards, his price tag and wages are too high for a player who is likely to be on the bench for most of next season. He's also the only player not to chip in at the other end.
Moment that defined his season:
Not really a moment, but his performances with Richards just about meant that his season was a success.
Keep hold/get rid?
I feel that he is too expensive to have on the bench - with FFP, we run the risk of not being able to sign other players while Toure is just backup. Again, I would rather have Onuoha - he's cheaper and (in my opinion) better. A moot point I know, but a shame. Get rid of Kolo, although he's yet another example of players in our squad (mostly signed by Hughes) who were signed for far too much and we've got no chance of getting anywhere near what we paid. The only reason I can really think of for keeping hold of him is if it influences Yaya to stay.

Pablo Zabaleta
Apps: 31 (21 PL)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
At the beginning of the season Zab was used with Kolarov as what was really the second-choice full-back pairing with the problems for the style of play that I've already described. However, towards the end of the season he had displaced Richards, playing in all the crucial games at the end. I'm a bit of a late convert to Zab to be honest, although his effort and commitment will always win over fans, he's a bit workmanlike and I'm always worried that he's got a mistake or two in him, or perhaps more likely a red card when he goes flying in to challenges. His attacking game improved though in the second half of the season, he gave Evra a torrid time in the home derby and was involved in winning the corner that led to the goal, and he clearly loves the club, so he's won me round to an extent.
Moment that defined his season:
I know I've mainly gone for goals, but it's hard to look past his only goal of the season on the final day - demonstrating his desire by continuing his run, taking the pass from a half-fit Yaya and smashing it, even if it did get a bit of help from Kenny (had Silva injured him with his shot at the near post a bit earlier?).
Keep hold/get rid?
Definitely keep hold, he's valuable as a squad member although I'd prefer to see Micah at right back.

Kit

The new kit is officially launched, and it turns out the leaked photos were genuine. Not a lot more to add to what I said last time, I really like both especially the maroon away kit. Two City heroes modelling as well, I like how in the picture below Noel is clearly standing on a box. I can see us lifting the trophy again next season wearing this.

Fixtures

Next season's fixtures came out a couple of days ago. Not a lot to comment on really - at home for the first and last game of the season which is nice, and against a newly-promoted team to start with. Norwich on the last day so hopefully they shouldn't have anything to play for by then. There don't seem to be many real tricky patches - we seem to alternate between the matches that could go either way, and ones that we should win. In January and February we play Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the space of 6 matches, but play QPR, Fulham and Southampton in between≥ The home derby is on 8th December, while we're at Old Trafford with 4 games to go, in what looks like it could well be another title decider.

England 1-0 Ukraine

Another match, another assist for Gerrard. No question who England's player of the tournament is - he's been consistently excellent with his delivery, disciplined in his positioning and has even managed to tone down the 'Hollywood ball' he's been so derided for in the past. With Lampard also having taken a more withdrawn role for Chelsea this season, perhaps this could have been the tournament when they finally learnt to play together - a bit of maturity perhaps is what they needed!

Not that this was the best performance of the tournament, at times it looked like England under Capello - disjointed and turgid, rather than the neat and efficient team they've been so far. The chief culprit had to be Rooney, who had missed two headers even before his simple chance from Young's cross. One of them just brushed the top of his lovely new hair, and I bet Carroll was looking at it thinking he'd have buried it. Rooney gave the ball away, ran off without the ball, passed it to the Ukrainians; it shows how finely tuned the players are, and how high a level international football actually is, if a player of his undoubted technique and experience takes that long to adjust to a game.

I'm loth to give him any credit for the goal - to be fair, he was in the right position, but the real work clearly came from Stevie G, and a couple of slightly fortuitous touches from various defenders. We'd weathered the storm a little in the first half, but I'm inclined to agree with Hodgson in that none of the shots were really too threatening, most of them coming from outside the box and not ever being in danger of hitting the target. It was noticeable that the team is well-drilled, and they kept their shape all match, clearly a major factor in the defensive solidity. Although the possession stats weren't great, it can be just as pleasurable watching a well-organised defence as watching a good attacking side, and there was always someone blocking the shots - Lescott, Terry, Parker's face.

The main talking point for some though is the shot that crossed the line. Who knows if Ukraine would have managed to get another goal? They never really threatened, Hart's save aside, and I think it was a good save from Hart, it's just that Terry is forever running through treacle. Is it retribution for Lampard's at the World Cup? The cliche goes that decisions work out over time, but I actually think that this was a much tougher call - yes, the 5th official is only there to check that the ball goes over the line, but it was only fractionally over for a very brief period of time, much less clear than Lampard's and the post was in the way. Even if the goal had been allowed to stand, assuming Ukraine didn't score again, England would still have topped the group, so I think we can take heart from a very successful and satisfying group stage.

Just the small matter of Italy, then Germany in the semis and Spain in the final then. No worries. Come on England!