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.

Tevez reborn and "Honest Kia" appears AWOL

It would seem the fit goal hungry Carlos that has returned to City this summer and is playing without a care in the world and that could be very bad news for the rest of the Premier League.

It has been reported Tevez returned to City the lightest he has been since his days at Corinthians which is surely an indication he intends to play and judging by his performances pre season he is back to his deadly best linking up well with fellow Argentinian  Sergio Aguero.  Tevez was sensational in the Community Shield causing the Chelsea defence all sorts of problems and scoring a great goal. 

or

Through out all this one thing has been missing and that has been rent a quote player advisor Kia Joorabchian. I've not minced my words with my opinions on "Honest" Kia in previous posts but his absense from the media regarding Tevez appears to be a good thing.  The very fact he calls himself an "advisor" to dodge FIFA agents rules says a lot,  It would also seem to back up that Tevez being unsettled for the last year or so was down to Joorabchian trying to get him back to Brazil or somewhere that allowed him to own a share of his registration again as was the case until Tevez joined City in the summer of 2009.

It was widely reported Joorabchian was also the advisor to former City manager Mark Hughes and helping him at QPR whilst feeling sorry for QPR this has to be a good thing for City as it means Joorabchian is busy down in London allowing Tevez hassle free to return to the sort of form that had him win the golden boot in 2010-11 and that could indeed be better than any new signing as the squad know Tevez there is no need for a bedding in period.

Time will tell if Tevez will stay long term at The Etihad but whilst he is in a good strong place mentally looking his best for 6 years it also means the other strikers at the club have to step up and equal the form of Tevez and last seasons top scorer Aguero, whom on the basis of their pre season play deserve to be starters for Roberto Mancini as the defence begins of the Premier League. Long may Kia be AWOL it can only benefit Manchester City.

International break nice and quiet...then guess what

Players jetting off during an international break isn't uncommon.  However over the last 24 hours it's become clear that a certain player on the books of Manchester City has done something he shouldn't have.  Yes step forward Carlos Tevez.  It was reported last night he had boarded a flight to Argentina he was of course mobbed as he arrived back there judging by TV Images.

Now many might not see that as a problem though that's indeed where the issue lies it turns out he had done it without the permission of the club and was expected at Carrington today for training.  Press reports indicate that City have passed the matter to club lawyers as they investigate yet another clear breach of contract by Tevez.  The PFA got his original fine reduced over him refusing to warm up at Bayern Munich.  It looks like this could be another matter they get involved in as it's highly likely Tevez will be suspended again.  However with these constant disregard of his contract it does make you wonder if Tevez actually cares is he that wealthy that it won't matter if he gets sacked and possibly banned by FIFA?

Jim Boyce the vice president of FIFA was certainly the most high profile person to speak out over the incident at Munich it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days and weeks but one thing that is clear in my opinion we've seen the last of Carlos Tevez in Manchester City colours.  Indeed if anything the incident in Munich galvanised the team who since that game have been scoring freely with 30 goals coming in the 8 competitive games since.  There is little doubt Tevez signing for Manchester City was a huge coup at the time and he did play a huge part in the run to Wembley for the FA Cup and his goals ensured 3rd place in the League.  But a look at this years table sees City top 5 points clear with 3 players in the top 10 scorers and 3 in the top 5 assists.  City are in a position to cope without Tevez and that makes me wonder was he happier being the big fish in a small pond?  Certainly these issues have come more and more to the fore as the pond got bigger so is this simply a ploy to keep his name in the headlines?

"Honest Kia" strikes again

Well without speaking to Carlos his "advisor" not agent Kia Joorabchian has in an interview denied Carlos Tevez refused to take to the field when Manchester City were away at Bayern Munich.  Yes apparently not only was it a misunderstanding on the bench between Tevez and Mancini, the interpreter who Carlos used in his after match interview to sky also got it wrong when Tevez appeared to admit he did indeed refuse to come. 

Now lets look at the man I like to call "Honest Kia" a man banned by Manchester City from the Etihad Stadium a man who gets round FIFA's agent licencing laws by calling himself an advisor.  A man who claimed Manchester United tried to angle for a reduced fee when his loan ended despite David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson claiming the total opposite was the case.

Sky Sports looked at the tape and got two spanish speakers to re-translate and yes Tevez does indeed say he wasn't mentally prepared.  Sorry "Honest Kia" despite your very best efforts Tevez's own words do seem to confirm the guilt  and if FIFA do act as Vice President Boyce indicated your meal ticket could be heading for a ban.

Despite Tevez issuing a statement the next day claiming it was all a mix up and he enjoyed a good relationship with the Manchester City faithful,  the 7,000 fans at Blackburn Rovers last Saturday singing in support of Roberto Mancini for me sum up the feelings of most blues sorry Carlos we've forgiven and forgotten once too often you refused to play you can face the music.

Me commenting on You're On Sky Sports

Tevez a misunderstanding?

So the day after the night before Carlos Tevez's representative "Honest" Kia Joorachian releases a statement claiming it was all a big misunderstanding and Tevez did not refuse to come on when asked.  Ok perhaps given his lack of clear English there might be a chance of everyone jumping to the wrong conclusion there might be a case for the defence.....Or is there?

Pablo Zabaleta a fellow Argentinian seemed to react in a negative way to Carlos the TV pictures clearly show Tevez talking to a very angry looking Zab who was looking straight ahead as if to ignore what was being said. Simply go onto youtube and search Carlos Tevez speaks English and you will find videos proving whilst not being fluent Tevez does indeed have a good understanding indeed far more than he makes out. Another annoying fact Zabaleta has played in England 2 years less yet speaks almost fluent English with a slight Mancunian accent no less!

The evening of the match Tevez said in an interview to Sky Sports "I wasn't physically or mentally ready to go in".  The next morning his statement mentioned so such mental or physical problems indeed it had all just been a misunderstanding and he was ready to come on.  Sorry Carlos why say one thing to a national television channel then something else in your statement? slept on it and realised you'd messed up I would suggest. 

Then bring "Honest Kia" into the mix a man banned from the Etihad Stadium whom despite not being a FIFA registered agent manages to get around that issue by being a "personal advisor".  Something hasn't sat right with me over last summers proposed moved to Corinthians and it's simply this, in 2006 stories broke of 2 players refusing to play for Corinthians and in the end  they were loaned to West Ham.  Bet you can't guess who they were?  Yes Javier Mascherano and the very same Carlos Tevez who suddenly they wanted back!  City seemed to smell a rat and put some conditions in the way including some money up front and no return to Europe within the first 2 years and low and behold the deal fell through. Amongst football fans Joorabchian has little credibility there have been too many yarns yet he still tries to portray himself as being up front and honest like he did in interviews for Sky over the Corinthians move.

Tevez has undoubtedly been a huge player for City he was the joint golden boot winner last season and no one had scored more in 09-10 10-11 seasons combined in the Premier League, he is one the the key reasons why City ended their 35 year wait for a major honour and the reason Champions League football is being played at the Etihad.  That said his actions if it's proven cannot be defended .  Even Gordon Taylor of the PFA has said there appears to be little case for the defence.

Roberto Mancini is reportedly heading for talks with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak over last nights incident we await the verdict.   The majority of City fans seem to think if he has refused the door is that way I must admit it's a view that sadly I have to agree with Tevez when he joined was a big fish in a small yet growing pond the club bent over backwards to accommodate him and his difficult position due to his family being in Argentina by numerous times off to visit them (despite the fact it was his affair that made them leave)  Now the pond is much larger the club have players who can it appears fill the void. City fans have welcomed him back when he wanted to leave then change his mind only then to want to leave again, so it looks like a case of Adios Carlos enough is enough.

Bluemoon Rising was it too soon?

We have all heard the arguments from fellow blues and rivals that the film Blue Moon Rising was released perhaps a season too early.  I've seen others write that only City could release a film where the end result was disappointment.

I did touch upon this a little on my "R.I.P Typical City" article earlier this month.  But after reading a thread on Bluemoon titled "Blue Moon Rising II"  I noticed the same arguments once again have surfaced.

I have always said for me the film was released at the perfect time as it was about the hopes and dreams being a Manchester City fan, as we could see the good times on the horizon though perhaps dare not dream just how quickly after 09-10's so near yet so far ending that season 10-11 delivered the dream and then some. 

Had we indeed won something that year I don't think the films ending would have worked as well.  It showed the lads and Helios heading to West Ham and the song hit "34 years and we're still here" they were singing it loudly and proudly.  And that's why for me the film was indeed released at the right time it didn't matter we hadn't won anything we love Manchester City there had indeed been progress so as the film title puts it the Blue Moon was indeed rising.

Now for a slight confession. See the man and lad behind the pie in the screen shot from the film?  Yes that's me and my son Connor we were extras in the film's flashback scene "It's the pie!"  We had an absolute blast filming took place at the Etihad Stadium.  It was an experience I will never forget.  I was so excited to see the film and like a big kid made up to see my name in the closing titles.  Though one slightly annoying point I was on screen longer celebrating Carlos Tevez's free kick V Chelsea than the bit I got paid for!   That said I don't think my views are biased towards the film....OK perhaps a little but still it is a great film one which as the Times put it in their review "Entertaining, funny and at times, poignant" and as I put it a fitting tribute as we lay to rest "typical city"

Thank god for ZABMAN!

Robinho, Jo, Santa Cruz, Elano, Giovanni  and probably sooner than later Carlos Tevez are all from the latino continent of South America all despite very good efforts by some have failed to settle at Manchester City for various reasons.  Be it rumoured partying by Jo home sickness by Carlos or just the season ticket for the treatment room of Santa Cruz.

True there have been fair efforts Robinho's now legendary bus ride to the Trafford Centre and his keenness to use his new language whenever he could.  But all in all things just don't seem to go well for South Americans at M11 3FF.....Or do they??  Step forward everyone's favourite accident prone player Pablo Zabaleta.

He probably is as familiar as Roque with the way to the treatment room at both Carrington and the Etihad Stadium.  That said season 2010-2011 was quite possibly Pablo's best in the blue of City.  It was only right he got to be on the pitch as the full time whistle blew signaling the end of City's 35 year wait for a major honour as the Fa Cup was lifted.  Pablo's committment to the club is something that doesn't need to be questioned.  Even with his father seriously ill you really got the impression Pablo felt guilty that he was there at his bedside, despite the fact everyone knew this was exactly what Pablo should be doing at a time like that.

Certainly his fathers illness showed Pablo just how popular he is.  He admitted to be taken aback by the amout of goodwill messages he received.  His tweets in both Spanish and English keeping people updated were always packed with messages of thanks.

On the pitch he has matured.  And this is where I pay him credit effort and determination aside I always had him down as being a red card waiting to happen.  He seems to have calmed that side down, he is still the tough tenacious never say die player we all knew.  The standard of his performances has also increased.  Added to this his mastery of english (note to Mr Tevez done in 2 years less than you've been in England) shows a happy and content player..if a little accident prone as the Zabman Video proved! but take that away and you would be taking part of the man who is widely liked and respected.

Well as we sing "DO DO DO PABLO ZABALETA!"

Tevez the puppet?

So Manchester City have received a large bid from Corinthians for the services of want away Carlos Tevez.  If that is indeed the case as "Sky Sources" would have us believe despite being below market value it would remove the chances of in the short term facing him in the Champions League and therefore is certainly worth considering.

But wait why would Corinthians want him back? He went on strike to engineer his move to the UK back in 2006.  Why would they want to risk a heck of a lot of money by Brazilian football standards on a player that has done the dirty on them in the past?

Step forward his agent Kia Joorabchian.  The man who owned Tevez's registration whilst he was in Brazil and whilst he played for both West Ham and Man Utd, and the man who got a substantial cut of the fee when City signed him.

I am utterly convinced this whole saga is down to "Honest Kia" he seems to have the power to manipulate Tevez to do his bidding and Carlos in a misguided sense of loyalty is trying to help his friend.  A move to Brazil would open it up so "Honest Kia" could once again hold a share of his registration so his biggest cash cow will once again be earning him a nice little income.

What basis is there for my feelings?  I honestly question if Tevez is the brightest academically in 5 years he has failed to master English when you compare that to fellow Argentina international and Blue Pablo Zabaleta who is fluent despite being in the Country a full 2 years less.

Tevez always appears a little awkward when interviewed not fully comfortable.  I started thinking something wasn't quite right when I took Connor to a fans forum and Tevez was there with Kolo Toure.  Kolo walked in on his own Tevez turned up with a large group in tow tow admittedly two were his brothers, but who were the others?   Why did he need so many when he was meeting fans who were fast falling in love with him.

Something just doesn't sit right with this whole saga yes Tevez may well be unsettled with life in England and because of this want to move.  But my gut feeling honestly is there is much more to it than an unsettled player whom just a few weeks ago it was announced was happy to stay with City.  "Honest Kia" can say what he likes but for me he is like a puppeteer controlling Tevez and getting him to do and say exactly what benefits Joorachian the most instead of what is best for Carlos.