Manchester City: Full Report Card for Every Position for January
January was a poor month for Manchester City. A home defeat to Arsenal, where City were outclassed for much of the game, and a shock FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough were the low points, and performances were poor throughout until the draw against Chelsea at the end of the month.
Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping the display at Stamford Bridge will kick-start their form. City controlled the match and were unfortunate to leave with just a point.
They remain five points adrift of the leaders, though, and their home form, in particular, must improve to see them reach the 90-point mark that seems necessary for them to win the title.
Here we look back on the month of January, rating each player who appeared for City out of 10 based on the quality of their performances.
Joe Hart: C+
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It was a mixed month for Joe Hart.
Rested for the win over Sunderland and the subsequent FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday, he returned for the 1-1 draw at Everton. He made two wonderful stops at Goodison Park but then failed to deal with Leighton Baines' delivery into the box which led the Everton's equaliser.
He missed the FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough and then didn't have much to do at Stamford Bridge as City dominated the game.
Willy Caballero: C+
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Signed in the summer to put pressure on Hart, Willy Caballero has so far failed to convince Pellegrini that he could take the reins as City's No. 1.
He played three matches this month—the win over Sunderland and City's two FA Cup matches—and he made some smart stops.
His distribution is excellent—far better than Hart's—but, overall, he is inferior to the England man.
Bacary Sagna: C
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Poor against Sheffield Wednesday, where he was culpable for ceding possession too easily, but excellent in City's 1-1 draw against Chelsea, Bacary Sagna managed only two appearances in January.
That display at Stamford Bridge is his best in a City shirt so far, and he will be hoping it leads to a more active role in the coming weeks.
Pablo Zabaleta: C
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Pablo Zabaleta's form this season may not be quite at the same level it has been in recent seasons, but he remains firmly City's first-choice right-back. January, though, has been mixed.
He began with a decent performance against Sunderland in City's 3-2 win, but it was his poor challenge that gave away a penalty.
A solid defensive display away at Everton was followed by a difficult afternoon in the defeat to Arsenal, where he struggled to get forward with the same regularity as he usually does, before a poor performance against Middlesbrough, where City's general malaise affected everybody on the pitch.
Dedryck Boyata: B-
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Boyata played against Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough in city’s FA Cup tie and enhanced his reputation.
He was generally composed against Wednesday, although not completely blameless for the visitor’s goal, before an impressive display against Middlesbrough, where he was one of the few City players to leave the field with his head held high.
Eliaquim Mangala: C
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Eliaquim Mangala played the first few games in January before Pellegrini’s decision to take him out of the firing line and give him time to refocus.
He did well against Connor Wickham in the 3-2 win over Sunderland, but shaky displays against Wednesday and Everton saw him removed from the starting XI.
His passage into the side hasn’t been smooth, and he needs to improve if he wants to become a regular and justify the big fee City paid for him.
Vincent Kompany: C
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Vincent Kompany returned from injury this month when he was an unused sub at Goodison Park. He has started the three games since, but it’s clear his fitness and form are a concern.
He was poor against Arsenal, dragged out of position far too often and conceded a penalty that gave Arsenal the lead.
It was a similar story in the defeat to Middlesbrough, before a much-improved 90 minutes in the draw at Chelsea.
Martin Demichelis: B+
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It’s fair to say Martin Demichelis has been City’s best and most consistent defender this season, and January was further evidence of that claim.
He was solid against Sunderland and Everton, even if his distribution let him down somewhat at Goodison Park, before a shaky performance against Arsenal where he was given a tough time by the Gunners’ nimble attacking midfield players.
He was rested against Middlesbrough and returned to give another impressive performance, this time in the draw at Chelsea.
Gael Clichy: B+
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After a somewhat disappointing start to the season, Gael Clichy has turned his form around and is once again the main man at left-back in this City squad.
January started well for the Frenchman, as he gave a solid, if unspectacular, display against Sunderland before being rested for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup.
Against Everton, he kept Seamus Coleman quiet by joining in with City attacks down the left and was excellent defensively, and then against Arsenal he was arguably the only City player to leave the field with his reputation enhanced.
He was once again rested in the cup before a brilliant performance at Stamford Bridge brought his month to an end.
Aleksandar Kolarov: C-
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Clichy’s improvement has left Aleksandar Kolarov out of the first-team picture, and in January he started just two games—both in the FA Cup.
He was poor in both games, doing little to convince Pellegrini he is worthy of a return to the first XI, with his crossing ineffective and his ability to keep possession poor.
He needs a big improvement in the coming weeks.
Fernando: C+
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The jury remains out on Fernando, the £12 million summer signing from Porto.
He appears to be growing into his role as an out-and-out defensive midfielder, often in the right place at the right time in terms of making tackles and interceptions in the middle of the park. Technically, though, he appears limited.
A mediocre display against Sheffield Wednesday started the month, before a much-improved game at Everton, where, in the first half in particular, he continually stifled The Toffees’ attacks.
However, it followed that up with a poor showing against Arsenal, way off the pace and caught out too many times by the visitor’s more nimble midfield.
Then came his worst display in a City shirt against Middlesbrough, where his error led to the opening goal. He improved at Stamford Bridge, though, and he must now find some consistency in his game.
Fernandinho: C+
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Like most of his teammates, Fernandinho had a patchy month.
Decent displays against Sunderland and Everton were followed up by a shocking performance and early substitution against Arsenal.
He was excellent on Saturday against Chelsea, though, as he has been for the majority of the season, but the blips in January cannot be repeated.
Yaya Toure: No Mark for January
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Before he left for AFCON duty, Yaya Toure was back to his best.
A 25-yard drive gave City the lead against Sunderland, but that was his last game before flying off for international duty with the Ivory Coast.
Frank Lampard: C-
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Frank Lampard continues to be managed with care by Pellegrini, used often but sparingly, usually in an attempt to see out a game from a winning position or to find some passing quality in a game where City need a spark.
He started against Sunderland but, in truth, offered little, before a late substitute appearance at Goodison Park.
He came on with half-an-hour left against Arsenal and improved City somewhat, and again came on against Middlesbrough and nearly found a goal. His cameo against Chelsea, though, didn’t go to plan.
Jesus Navas: C
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Jesus Navas continues to frustrate sections of City supporters, but he gives constant reminders of his quality.
He gave City an outlet against both Sunderland and Wednesday—his pace causing them real problems—but his delivery wasn’t quite good enough.
Against Everton he caused all sorts of problems, but his finishing let him down when put through by David Silva in the first half, before a dreadful display against Arsenal, where he failed to find a blue shirt with 18 attempted crosses.
He was ineffective against Middlesbrough in what was an embarrassing defeat, before his best performance of the season at Stamford Bridge, where he tormented Cesar Azpilicueta.
James Milner: B-
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One of City's most pressing concerns is making sure James Milner signs an extension to his current deal before the summer.
A poor showing against Arsenal aside, Milner was excellent when called upon in January, particularly at Stamford Bridge, where he was Man of the Match in a performance full of tenacity and willingness to fight for possession.
David Silva: B
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City’s best player in what was a poor month overall. Silva remains the creative hub of the team.
He was impressive against Sunderland and dominated the first half at Everton, laying on chance after chance that his teammates failed to take.
He tried to get on the ball against Arsenal, but City’s overall showing was so poor he didn’t see enough of it. By his standards, he was fairly nondescript against Boro, before his crucial goal and excellent performance against Chelsea brought his month to an end.
Samir Nasri: C+
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Samir Nasri has had a superb season once again, but January was a difficult month for the Frenchman, and it was ended early by injury.
He played against Sunderland and did well before coming on and changing the game against Sheffield Wednesday, helping spare City’s blushes and move them into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
He was on the periphery against Everton and failed to really impact the game, and he hasn’t played since after picking up an injury in training.
Stevan Jovetic: C-
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Given responsibility in January and a chance to prove himself, Stevan Jovetic failed to take it.
A goal and an assist against Sunderland started the month off well, but frustrating games against Wednesday and Everton followed. His introduction against Arsenal made no difference to City’s attack, and another poor display against Middlesbrough saw him dropped for the big one away to Chelsea.
Edin Dzeko: C
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Edin Dzeko has struggled after injury and had no real impact in January.
He came on against Arsenal but offered little, and it was a similar story after his late introduction against Middlesbrough. He got seven minutes against Chelsea to prove himself but, again, struggled.
Sergio Aguero: C
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Sergio Aguero returned from injury to take his place on the bench for the Everton game and has played every match since in a bid to regain full match sharpness.
As yet, he hasn’t reached the level he was at prior to his latest setback, but there are signs of him gradually returning to his best. It was shot against Chelsea which was turned in by Silva, and he showed momentary flashes of speed and skill throughout the game.
He hasn’t managed a goal since his return, but it’s surely only a matter of time before wee see the familiar sight of him celebrating again.
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