Player ratings and Player of the year

Joe Hart 7
If ever a players season summed up the clubs Joe's does.  Golden Glove again for 18 clean sheets in the league but some uncharacteristic mistakes have marred this season.  That said anyone who saw his display against Dortmund in the champions league will have been amazed at the brilliance Hart showed that night he earned City the draw as much as Mario Balotelli's late penalty.

Costel Pantilimon 7
Did very well in the few games he played certainly harshly dropped for the FA Cup Final.

Pablo Zabaleta 9
Has been a revelation this season lion hearted brave never say die attitude means Pablo will always be a fans favourite.

Micah Richards 6
Hard to judge Micah injuries have really restricted him so never really been match fit.

Vincent Kompany 7
A few early season wobbles but slowly but surely the confidence came back.  Always respectful in the media he is the ideal character for his role as club captain.

Matija Nastasic 8
Simply the buy of the season been a key part in helping Kompany find his confidence maturity and calmness beyond his young years.

Kolo Toure 5
Always seemed to take two or 3 games to find his feet before showing his form.

Joleon Lescott 5.5
Exactly the same as Kolo struggled for first few games before showing his best.

Gael Clichy 6
Solid left back who does seem to have a phobia of crossing the ball when further up Field.

Aleksander Kolarov 5
Not a natural left back and does struggle with defending but always a goal threat from free kicks.

Gareth Barry 6
Consistent and always noticeably missed when not in action.

James Milner 6.5
Always gives it his all but probably not had enough of a run to really show his best.

Javi Garcia 3
Started well then went backwards seemed to struggle with the pace of the league and not helped by being in and out of the team.

David Silva 5.5
By his own high standards not the best season.  There were definite glimpses of his best but not enough.

Scott Sinclair unable to score
Almost zero point in his signing I do feel sorry for the man too few starts to be fair to him.

Jack Rodwell 6
Again hard to judge due to injuries but as he gained match fitness there were good signs Jack will prove to be a great signing.

Samir Nasri 4
Slowed play down way to often and at times just didn't seem bothered.

Yaya Toure 5.5
At times brilliant at times lazy much like Silva not his best season.

Edin Dzeko 5
Always seems to score important goals but so frustrating to watch in and out of the team didn't help but even with a run of games he looked yards off the pace sometimes.

Carlos Tevez 7.5
Started off the season all guns blazing perhaps didn't hit the heights of his previous two full seasons but always put a shift in for the team.

Sergio Aguero 6.5
Injury hit season still capable of match winning performances and scoring spectacular goals.

Mario Balotelli 5
Never really got a long enough run to find his form before his transfer to AC Milan.

M11 3FF PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Has to be Pablo Zabaleta genuinely outstanding for most of the season never say die attitude fully committed to the cause.

One Month on

One month and one day on from that dramatic finish to the Premier League we are less than a week off finding out whom City will face in the first game of next season in August.  There is a noticeable sense of excitement amongst any blues I've had the pleasure of talking to since.

One thing I have noticed is a changed in United fan friends attitudes.  Originally full of well dones it's slowly got more bitter with digs about buying the league.  Well of course we did unlike their squad of free transfers......Ignoring the fact squad for squad there isn't really all that huge difference in fees paid.

Whilst awaiting those fixtures the transfer rumour mill is in over drive and this is an area the club does well not to get involved.  Some managers seem to thrive on linking themselves with all the rumours where as Roberto Mancini and the club will usually keep quiet.  The flip side is this means the press do seem to go OTT linking many big names with the Etihad whilst also linking players at the club with moves out.

One rumour was Sergio Aguero was apparently off to Real Madrid.  Now this rumour did tickle me the player himself seems happy and settled in Manchester indeed no vibes either from him or his agent that he might well be off.  Added to the fact in Spain he is a legend at Athletico Madrid wearing the white of Real would be taking a huge risk to his reputation.

The likes of Emmanuel Adebayor Wayne Bridge etc.. will also return from their loan spells.  In Adebayor's case there were strong links that Spurs wanted him on a permanent deal however with Harry Redknapp's departure it does look like only a matter of time before Adebayor announces he wants to try and win his place back In City's Starting 11. 

The key area that does need strengthening is the back up Centre Halves when ever Kompany or Lescott were out City didn't look the same side.  Perhaps the answer maybe already at the club with Dedryk Boyata but I'd be tempted to loan him out again to get more experience he does show signs of promise and could indeed become a regular along side Kompany for both club and Country. 

Edin Dzeko is strongly linked with a return to Germany and Bayern Munich I wouldn't have an issue with this if Mario Gomez was part of the deal as he has what Edin lacks good close control.  Don't get me wrong I like Dzeko but he blows way to hot and cold for me to be a regular in the team though his vital goal with us 2-1 down to QPR to make it 2-2 will ensure him a fond place in the hearts of City fans.

What has been refreshing is hearing players happy to announce they want to stay at the club indeed the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero have already let that be known.  Most of the squad is tied to long term deals and something City don't really get much credit for is the age of the squad there aren't that many over 28 years old which is bad news for the rest of the league a young squad has won the league and they will be hungry for more.

And there does appear to be proof that City are "ruining football" as the tv rights for 2013 onwards were auctioned off for over £1.25 billion more than the current deal.  And that's just for UK audiences with Sky and BT sharing coverage.  

Whatever 2012-2013 brings I'm sure the main aim of the club will be to have a bigger impact on the champions league and of course defend the title we snatched at the last possible second.  I just hope we do it a bit easier on the old heart!