City v Sunderland: Player ratings

March 05, 2006

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James - Fairly quiet afternoon, but kept his cool under some second-half pressure 6

Jordan - Another solid performance and made one timely intervention to prevent an equaliser 7

Dunne - Largely untroubled by the Sunderland attack 6

Distin - His pace snuffed out most of the Black Cats' threat 7

Richards - Had a good shout for a penalty turned down and tackled well 7

Reyna - A bit careless in possession at first but played his part in the second goal 6

Musampa - Put in a few good tackles but could have used the ball better 6

Riera - Started brightly and fizzed one shot over, but faded and was taken off 6

Sinclair - Along with Samaras, City's main threat and set up the Greek for his second goal 7

Vassell - His hernia problem didn't seem to affect his pace, but he took too long when presented with his chances and most of his shots were blocked 6

Samaras - Took his goals excellently, and although he was partly at fault for Sunderland's goal, he was the pick of the Blues players 8

Subs

Sun - Didn't make much impact 5

Wright-Phillips - Added a bit of urgency but didn't have much time 6

Ireland - Into his crisp passing game immediately, but only had 10 minutes 6

Agree with the ratings? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (64) |

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The Passenger, Iggy Pop (05/03/2006 at 16:48)

Reyna made his usual telling contribution - can't pass, can't tackle, no pace, repeatedly loses possession.... made Sun look almost good though, I'll give him that. A win's a win though. but could have been a whole lot easier if we'd had 11 players instead of 10 + captain injured.

Bertie Blue Nose, Eastlands (05/03/2006 at 17:06)

How refreshing to note that SP recalled Richards to the starting XI ahead of the clearly past-it Mills, and that Jordan kept his place ahead of Thatcher. It wasn't a classic match by any means, but both these home-grown products were amongst our more impressive performers today.

mike cooke, a-u-l (05/03/2006 at 17:28)

why bring on jihai for riera ,surely it should have been croft. why do the management think jihai & sibierski can play anywhere when the truth is they are not good enough to play at all !

Jonathan Bullio, Bullio (05/03/2006 at 17:36)

My agony is how we go about not wasting Samaras...Its there i feel it the boy has as much talent as i have seen in recent years but can we bring it out???

Gary, Dudley (05/03/2006 at 17:45)

I thought we played well in bursts, and I do rate George as a top talent in the making, but it is all very ordinary stuff at the moment. For a team meant to be aiming for the top six, we don't compare well with the match that followed, with both Tottenham and Blackburn clearly better technically, with more of a plan, and more talented players in some positions. That's what we are up against, and it hasn't cost that much more than City have paid out.
Let's be content with a top ten finish, and not have a go if we don't do better. The rival teams are slightly ahead, but once Coley's back he might pull things back the way the Season started. And there's always Mighty Micah...

Rick, Glos (05/03/2006 at 17:57)

Typical, first poster on here is having a pop at one of his own players after a win, lets switch from Samaras to Reyna this week then...when will some of our so called fans ever learn?

charlie, handforth (05/03/2006 at 18:09)

what are you on about. reyna is class, and was today. i cant fault sun ji hai; brilliant squad player; always does a job when called upon. City didnt play great but a win is a win. come on the blues. role on aston villa.

ste leigh, dukinfield (05/03/2006 at 18:15)

would have give reyna a 4 maybe he needs a couple of games looked tired all game to me

Joe, Sandbach (05/03/2006 at 18:20)

Sorry Passenger but you are a bit off beam there. Yes, Captain America started slowly (hardly surprising since he hasn't played since Xmas), but he made the second goal with a beaut of a ball to tricky and looked controlled with his passing. A couple more games to sharpen up and he will be back to his old (end of last season) self again. Solid show from Dunny and Jordan but I though Distin gave the ball away carelessly in dangerous places a couple of times.

Skooba Taylor, Manada, Washington (05/03/2006 at 18:25)

Seriously, MEN has something against Sun. I didnt even see Ireland touch the ball and he gets a 6. Sun made a few decent clearences and put in a good cross and he gets 5...
Anyway, an alright effort from our team. Reyna was better than i expected, but i am concerned with Musampa. Although his distribution is excellent, im not sure his strength and ability to hold the ball is prem standard.

Peter, Ancoats (05/03/2006 at 18:37)

I think Claudio Reyna did really well after his injury layoff. He is not a spectacular player, but neat and tidy in all he does - and his link up play between defence and attack today, compensated for the absence of Joey Barton. Well done on your comback CR.

adger the blue badger, staffs (05/03/2006 at 18:53)

thought vass not 100% fit,great start,chance to improve goal diff, typical city gave soft goal away ,they were better team 2nd half.must improve next week !

Edski Vega, Nottingham (05/03/2006 at 19:26)

Vassell again taking too long dithering! hit the ball ....hit it! can i make it any simpler!

zb, the beach (05/03/2006 at 19:28)

can`t pass????....Reyna`s pass released Sinclair to set up the second goal.

Sean(bredbury), Blue City (05/03/2006 at 19:38)

To be quite honest i thought Reyna should have had a 7 because he did make a good a contribution to the match.Georgie,
ABSOLUTELY BRILL!
Laters,UP THE BLUE!

Geoff, Middlewich (05/03/2006 at 19:53)

Fully agree about Reyna, he is awful why will SP not play Ireland he is far far better and I thought SP was joking when he put Sun on he was absolutely awful. Samaras is good and will get better, good three points but oh it could have been so much better.

Barlow, On a chair (05/03/2006 at 20:33)

what r u on about (Passenger)Reyna is a good player. what can i say samaras has done it again 3 goals in 5 games wevee got a top striker on our hands

Blue Tiger, Virginia (05/03/2006 at 21:34)

Great to see Reyna back but still needs to be 100% match fit.
Samaras took his goals well, and was also a very good team player.
After the 2 goals CITY cruised and might have slipped up, made it look like hard work towards the end.

Scooting Renfrew, On the Blue Beach (05/03/2006 at 21:34)

It was perhaps too soon after his injury for Reyna to start a game, but he can hardly be blamed for that, perhaps Joey should be blamed for having to sit the game out, or SP for picking Reyna ahead of Ireland. For all that Reyna didn't have too bad a game, and when he is fit he gives our midfield some composure and intelligence, and too often that's missing from our play. Vassell seems short of confidence at the moment, but he's still working hard and putting himself in the right places. Sun for Riera was an unusual switch.

Wayne Lomas, Whitefield (05/03/2006 at 21:40)

Welcome back Captain America. We have missed you. Joey and Reyna to start. Kiki might have the edge over Riera for me. Riera looks like he may flatter to deceive!
Unlike Sam the man!!

Cardiff here we come.....

The Driver, Poppy Ig (05/03/2006 at 21:56)

Passenger - way to harsh on our Sceptic Tank (Yank). Admit Reyna wasn't always in it but he picked out a few class passes. Always looking to move the ball forwards and was it not he who played a peach of a ball into space for Sinclair to hare onto and supply Samaras for Goal 2?!?

Don Harper, Openshaw (05/03/2006 at 22:04)

Riera, a liability and it gives me no
pleisure to say it.
Rating 1.

Neil, Chicago (05/03/2006 at 22:17)

Sorry mate, but Reyna is different class than most of the City midfield. WHile he plays more with his head than most, he still overs the ground, paces the team and can get forward with a goal every now and then. Musampa has had a good run in midfield and gives us a little depth in there, but Reyna is a QUALITY player and it is plain for all who have actually played the game to see. If anyone in midfield needs a bit of work, it is Reira. Also, Tricky is playing better now than he was for the LAST World Cup and I would take him to Germany ahead of SWP at this point. And that is NOT sour grapes!

C'mon you Blues!

jerry jones, dallas (05/03/2006 at 22:36)

the passenger...maybe cricket is your game because you obviously know nothing about football.

Chris Gee, Vancouver (05/03/2006 at 23:00)

Passenger, how can you call Reina when he has been out of action for 3 months and wouldn't have even been in the squad if it hadn't been for Barton's red card!
However, city were terrible.....it does make you wonder why, once a week, a professional footballer struggles to perfom.
Just like last week against L/Pool City made S/Land look good!

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