Manchester City: Rating Every Player for the Premier League Champions

The Blues have done it, in only a manner which Manchester City could: snatching victory from the jaws of defeat from the jaws of victory from the jaws of defeat from the jaws of victory.

It has been a remarkable season in which the club scored the most goals in the league, conceded the least and completed a double over their rivals with a aggregate score of 7-1.

Here are the ratings for each player to receive a winner's medal for the 2011-12 season.

The blue moon isn't rising; it has risen.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Joe Hart

The only ever-present for the Blues through the entire season. Kept 17 clean sheets in his 38 appearances, winning the Golden Glove for the second year running. The future of both Manchester City and England is in extremely safe hands. 9

Aleksandar Kolarov

Only made nine league starts, with a further three substitute appearances, but still managed to contribute two goals and four assists. Also scored the equaliser versus Napoli in the Champions League. 7

Gael Clichy

A low key signing, but an extremely effective one. Improved his concentration and overall defensive contribution as he settled into the division's leading defence. Averaged 2.3 tackles per game and had the highest average interception rate at the club, with 2.7. 9

Vincent Kompany

The captain. The colossus. Further added gravitas to the argument that he is not only the best centre-half in the country, but in Europe. Scored the only goal of the game as City completed what turned out to be a vital derby double over United. 10

Joleon Lescott

Bizarrely maligned, the former Everton man has yet again been a rock in the heart of the City defence. It would have been a shame if his uncharacteristic error in the QPR game had cost his club the title after a considerable contribution this season. 9

Stefan Savic

A shaky first season for the young Montenegrin. A possible loan spell beckons for the 2012-13 season. 4

Micah Richards

Provided much-needed width in what is essentially a narrow attacking setup. Few opposition full-backs were coped well against his powerful bursts forward. 8

Pablo Zabaleta

Mr. Dependable. Scored his first goal of the season in the final game. Happy to play anywhere and a fan favourite due to his uncompromising attitude. 8

Kolo Toure

Restricted to eight league starts and six substitute appearances. Squad cover for the first choice pairing of Lescott and Kompany. 6

Midfield

Gareth Barry

His best season in blue, possibly in his career. With 31 starts in the City engine room, the England man was a vital cog in the title-winning machine as he completed 1,890 passes from 2,188 attempted. If you don't rate Gareth Barry, you simply don't understand football. 9

Nigel de Jong

Struggled with injury early in the season but returned to the imperious form of 2010-11 as the season progressed. The best pure defensive midfielder in the league? 7

Yaya Toure

The loss of Yaya Toure during the Africa Cup of Nations should not be underestimated as the Blues crashed out of both domestic cup competitions in his absence and began their league blip.

The Ivorian powerhouse had 31 starts, six goals and six assists. Came into his own during the title run-in, scoring highly important goals away at Newcastle United. Completed 2,189 passes from 2,419, an average of 75.6 per game. 10

James Milner

Every title-winning side needs hard workers who give their all whenever and wherever they are called upon. The versatile England international gave his most impressive City performance at Old Trafford. 7

Samir Nasri

Five goals, nine assists and 1,446 passes completed from 1,587—a success rate of 91.1 percent. His decision to leave Arsenal in search of trophies was vindicated in his first season in Manchester. 8

David Silva

Finished the season with 15 assists, the most in the Premier League. Completed 1,759 passes from 2,020 attempted.

Struggled with an ankle injury during the middle of the season, but was unplayable before Christmas and regained form as the Blues narrowed the gap on Manchester United. Euro 2012 awaits for the European, World Cup and Premier League champion playmaker. 10

Adam Johnson

Restricted to just 10 starts but made a further 11 appearances from the bench. Contributed six goals, although he struggled to impose himself on games at times. 6

Strikers

Sergio Aguero

Twenty-three league goals (30 in all competitions) and eight assists is a stunning return considering it was the Argentine's first season in a new country, a new club, with new teammates.

Won the league with a cool-as-ice finish in the dying seconds of the season. An instant hero in Manchester and undoubtedly one of the world's leading strikers. 10

Mario Balotelli

Why always him? A truly mixed season from the enigmatic Italian. Scored 13 goals and provided the league-winning assist—his first of the season. And what a time to get it. 7

Edin Dzeko

A four-goal haul at White Hart Lane and the vital equaliser versus Queens Park Rangers were the highlights of the Bosnian target man's season. Fourteen goals is a more than reasonable return for a player in and out of the team on a regular basis. 8

Carlos Tevez

Where to start? Striker (in every sense of the word), golfer, champion. Returned to play a key role in the run-in, including a hat-trick at Carrow Road. Sergio Aguero spared the fans a summer of wondering 'what if?' ?