Also for being the one that kept Dawson on- side for his goal. When I last played serious football 3 City players would have been off-side! From a full live TV replay. 1. Aluko by a mile. 2. Quinn. 3. Dawson.
Aluko Livermore Brady But Harper was class as was Dawson. They all worked their socks off. I watched Livermore blowing out of his ar*e, really struggling and then belt it across the pitch for a final tackle, work rate was phenomenal! So happy with the performance.
Without voting for 3, Brady has really impressed me the last two games. Not only his attacking but his defense has also been very good. Has created a great partnership with Quinn. Good display though by all team members no one let City down.
1. Aluko - imagine if he could score 2. Dawson - great leadership, great goal 3. Huddlestone - controlled the midfield Like everyone else, found it difficult to separate three from the pack, but one in particular that deserves mention and I don't think has attracted too many comments this time around is N'Doye. I think he's a wonderful player. This was a great team performance and one really got the impression the lads were playing for each other - terrific spirit!
Not going to choose as it would be unfair on the others. Some terrific performances, and a great team performance above all. What a night!
He needs to do something to be superb. What did he achieve? He was entertaining and much better than usual, but still messed it up when it came to beating the man or getting a shot off every time. The early cross to N'Doye was as good as it got apart from winning a few free kicks. It's brilliant to beat Liverpool of course, but we scored with one of our only real chances, and we messed up all the 2 on 1 with their defence like we always do. It's daft to pretend we were brilliant in attack because we won, if we lose to Arsenal everyone will go the other way again...
The second half was really a much better performance even if the goal was scored in the first half. Bruce or maybe Phelan got their minds in it and we controlled the game brilliantly. The first half was very edgy even after the goal, we gave the ball away a lot even near our penalty area, thankfully Arsenal weren't good enough to take advantage. Definitely a game of two halves for me.
If you don't think taking three Liverpool defenders out of the game is achieving anything then there's little point in me trying to change your mind. The amount of space freed up by one player occupying multiple opposition players is crucial. He was a constant outlet, even winning aerial battles against Skrtel and Lovren. That cross to N'Doye was sublime, he really couldn't have placed it any better. 'Winning a few free kicks', which you try and diminish, allowed us to regroup and get players up the pitch, preventing any rhythm Liverpool might have been gathering. I haven't said we were brilliant in attack, I've said Aluko was brilliant, I though N'Doye tired quite early.
I'm not playing down the importance of free kicks, the point is Aluko is in everyone's top 3 because he looked impressive, I'm challenging that by saying what did he actually achieve? I don't remember him actually getting past a player once, though I acknowledge that he would have been at one point in the first half if it wasn't for that weird advantage the ref played. As for him winning headers? No. He didn't even jump for one, it's one of the things that drives me mental about him and Hernandez. They stand next to the defender who heads it away unchallenged. Every time. In Alukos case that's sort of forgivable because his strength is more running at people, which is why I'm going on about chances created and how many times he actually beat a man. For example in the second half when we had a break on and it was played left to him, one on one with Skrtel, his first touch went straight into Skrtels feet. He couldn't have made that touch any worse if he tried. It's those situations that usually cost us points, and he's not the only one, they all do it.
Well you knew what I meant so I guess it doesn't matter. I'm half asleep all the time anyway so I'm surprised I don't make more errors like that.
