Do we under appreciate our players?

[daztrueblue91]

I was talking to a few mates the other day one was a fellow City fan and the other two were Liverpool and Arsenal fans. I was shocked to see that some of our players were rated a lot higher by the Arsenal and Liverpool fan than my mate who's a City fan.

Now I understand that us Blues will watch City a lot more than fans of other clubs and that they will be influenced by MOTD and pundits. After all there were people thinking that Sunderland had pulled of the coup of the century after signing Johnson. However, I can't help but feel that there are a lot of players who we currently have or have been sold who we haven't fully appreciated.

Here is a list of players who I feel we don't fully appreciate:

Hart - Joe is a fantastic keeper and without doubt one of the top 6 keepers in the world. The guy is rightly City and England's number one and has won a shit load of golden gloves. Yet some people wait on every mistake he makes to slate him.

Zabaleta - Now I don't know a single City fan who doesn't love the guy, he is a full on legend. However, I think people love him more for putting his body on the line and playing like a fan more than appreciating his ability. Two seasons ago he was one of the best right backs in the world and starring in a World Cup final. He consistently played nearly every game for us for 2 years and never put in a performance below 7 out of 10. After a hefty injury some people have already said he should be replaced.

Kolarov - The guy gets some shit on here and by some numpty who sits near me in the ground. He is nowhere near as bad as some people would believe and is a very good left back. He can defend and attack. I think some people have not got over his lack of pace.

Yaya - The guy is a legend and IMO the most complete player to ever grace the PL. He has been the cornerstone to our success and is slagged rotten because he is often badly exposed by his manager. Yaya isn't finished at the top level, he has another 3 or 4 years left in him easy. The Palace game summed it up. Before he came on we was hard working but the minute he entered the pitch he gave us control. He just brushes players off him and is a technically brilliant player.

Nasri - Is another technically brilliant player who puts a huge shift in every match which often gets unnoticed. He is a key member of this team and we are hugely missing him.

Dzeko - Has any player ever divided a fan base more than Edin? Time and time again he would bang the goals in and in a system that was never based around his strengths. Just look how difficult Bony has found it. He fired us to two league titles, more so the 2nd and still divided opinion.

I just think at times, and I include myself in this, we are too quick to slate a player and sometimes don't fully appreciate their talent.

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

Totally agree, some either dont remember or are too young to remember some of the shit we've had playing for us over the last 40 years. On the whole the fan base is becoming everything they claim to hate ie self entitlement and arrogance that is all to common in rags and Scousers.

Its truly a great time to be a City fan, its a shame some cant enjoy it or dont have the mental strength to cope with the expectation that comes with being favourites for trophies.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Players get slated in the short term when they aren't playing well, I can't believe that isn't the same at most clubs. I think most City fans very much appreciate how good most of our players are, it is exactly why people have been so frustrated by our performances. You get the odd supporter who thinks our squad is overrated and thinks Arsenal's is better or some such shit but I think most blues know the score. I'm convinced that in 12 months time it won't even be a debate, we will be caning all and sundry domestically.

 

[BlueTG]

I like to think I can judge players current form objectively from their contribution to City during their whole time here.

It depends where and when I am discussing a player as to what answer you will get.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Think if you're a City supporter, you watch the players week in week out, for 90 minutes.
The Arsenal and Liverpool fans watch the odd sky/bt game and the rest is highlights and
we know how they can distort things. The reason there is more criticism this season is,
we are nowhere near playing as good as we know we can. I'm sure if you were saying the
same about Arsenal and Liverpool players, you'd be saying so and so's not that bad and
they'd be saying, he's fucking useless recently.

 

[stony]

Totally agree, some either dont remember or are too young to remember some of the shit we've had playing for us over the last 40 years. On the whole the fan base is becoming everything they claim to hate ie self entitlement and arrogance that is all to common in rags and Scousers.

Its truly a great time to be a City fan, its a shame some cant enjoy it or dont have the mental strength to cope with the expectation that comes with being favourites for trophies.

I have to disagree somewhat here mate. I can only remember meeting one City fan who shared the same sense of entitlement that we see with gooners/scousers/rags, and that was directly after the takeover and he was slagging the club off to fuck for not signing the worlds best players in the first available transfer window. Regardless of being a blue he was an utter prick.
We have the best squad and we have the best individual players in the Prem, so we should be winning the league and doing well in Europe and the cups. It isn't a sense of entitlement that makes me think we are underachieving, it's just the cold hard facts.

 

[kaz7]

I think it's frustration that we know they can do better and not under appreciation
Some players get a lot of stick like Aleks and Bony,i wish people would accept them for the player they are and not wish they could turn them into something else.Edin used to cop it but he scored important goals which was his job after all

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

I think it's frustration that we know they can do better and not under appreciation
Some players get a lot of stick like Aleks and Bony,i wish people would accept them for the player they are and not wish they could turn them into something else.Edin used to cop it but he scored important goals which was his job after all

Is that a note to self ;-)

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

I have to disagree somewhat here mate. I can only remember meeting one City fan who shared the same sense of entitlement that we see with gooners/scousers/rags, and that was directly after the takeover and he was slagging the club off to fuck for not signing the worlds best players in the first available transfer window. Regardless of being a blue he was an utter prick.
We have the best squad and we have the best individual players in the Prem, so we should be winning the league and doing well in Europe and the cups. It isn't a sense of entitlement that makes me think we are underachieving, it's just the cold hard facts.

Some of the comments you read on here are very raggish mate, especially after a loss. I understand some comments come after matches when people are upset, but they are all too common days after matches afterwards as well. Its amusing that we have fans constantly saying we should be walking the league (a stick to beat the manager with) however when the press voice such an opinion they are scum. Its not just on here, songs like we'll buy you club and burn it down, are just another example of entitlement and arrogance. Whilst I totally prefer us to be winners, I dont want us to lose our sense of humour and ability to laugh at ourselves, this is disappearing over the horizon with much of the fanbase mate.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Gordon Davies had the same problem.

 

[kaz7]

Is that a note to self ;-)

I stick up for those 3 players all the time,i don't believe in slagging individual players i always say win as a team and lose as a team including mp so my moans are at the team as a whole and crappy performances

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I agree in part with the gist of the OP but my sense is that Joe and Zabba get overwhelming support.

A further exception is Jimmy Milner. A good, tenacious player who was overrated by many Blues!

I think there was hypocrisy with the home crowd's treatment of Dzeko. Many Blues say there is a disconnect with players and the Club but slate a guy who has had the same haircut since he was ten.

 

[daztrueblue91]

I agree in part with the gist of the OP but my sense is that Joe and Zabba get overwhelming support.

A further exception is Jimmy Milner. A good, tenacious player who was overrated by many Blues!

I think there was hypocrisy with the home crowd's treatment of Dzeko. Many Blues say there is a disconnect with players and the Club but slate a guy who has had the same haircut since he was ten.

Totally agree about Jimmy.

It also isn't a question of supporting players. Every week Yaya, Joe and Zabba get their names chanted without fail.

It is more of a fact of realising just how good Joe and Zabba are. You would be hard pressed to find 4 keepers in world football who have been more consistent than Joe over the past 5 seasons. Likewise 4 better RBs than Zab. They are both easily in the top 5 players in the world in their respected positions which makes them world class footballers.

 

[We're not really here]

Absolutely correct OP. We are incredibly lucky to watch this team week in week out. Even when we play shit it is still a billion times better than the past.

 

[Ban-jani]

Totally agree, some either dont remember or are too young to remember some of the shit we've had playing for us over the last 40 years. On the whole the fan base is becoming everything they claim to hate ie self entitlement and arrogance that is all to common in rags and Scousers.

Its truly a great time to be a City fan, its a shame some cant enjoy it or dont have the mental strength to cope with the expectation that comes with being favourites for trophies.

I don't think it's arrogance or self-entitlement mate.

I genuinely believe it's your last paragraph.

A lot of City fans have spent so long watching shite and putting up with it, to finally having the chance to reach the club's full potential, they're just really nervy about it all going to shit again and can't enjoy watching us anymore due to the pressure.

It doesn't help people's nerves that every dropped point now is a lot more costly to our expectations than it used to be.

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

I don't think it's arrogance or self-entitlement mate.

I genuinely believe it's your last paragraph.

A lot of City fans have spent so long watching shite and putting up with it, to finally having the chance to reach the club's full potential, they're just really nervy about it all going to shit again and can't enjoy watching us anymore due to the pressure.

It doesn't help people's nerves that every dropped point now is a lot more costly to our expectations than it used to be.

We'll agree to disagree about our fanbase, I think its changing, JCLs and out of towners are all the more common, the club is encouraging them it seems as they are likely to spend more on 'the match day experience', also some of our long term fans are changing their attitude and dont have the ability to laugh at themselves or the team anymore, which is something we could always do in the dark times.

My sister is a rag, I used to say to her I enjoyed watching City far more than she did Utd, despite us going up and down and them winning everything (she hated Derby days, it really was a no win situation for her). She said to me winning was a relief and losing was terrible. Whilst I have come to understand that a little, I really never will get that way, I love the fact we are in the mix for 4 trophies, rather than staring down the barrel or even worse ensconced in midtable with nothing to play for and I am enjoying things. I dont understand the mentality of worrying about it going to shit, surely if that is the case (I dont think we are going anywhere any time soon), then surely the mentality should be we should enjoy it while its good all the more. I enjoy rollercoasters and what has happened to City is a great ride, I feel sorry for those that cant or wont enjoy it.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

We'll agree to disagree about our fanbase, I think its changing, JCLs and out of towners are all the more common, the club is encouraging them it seems as they are likely to spend more on 'the match day experience', also some of our long term fans are changing their attitude and dont have the ability to laugh at themselves or the team anymore, which is something we could always do in the dark times.

My sister is a rag, I used to say to her I enjoyed watching City far more than she did Utd, despite us going up and down and them winning everything (she hated Derby days, it really was a no win situation for her). She said to me winning was a relief and losing was terrible. Whilst I have come to understand that a little, I really never will get that way, I love the fact we are in the mix for 4 trophies, rather than staring down the barrel or even worse ensconced in midtable with nothing to play for and I am enjoying things. I dont understand the mentality of worrying about it going to shit, surely if that is the case (I dont think we are going anywhere any time soon), then surely the mentality should be we should enjoy it while its good all the more. I enjoy rollercoasters and what has happened to City is a great ride, I feel sorry for those that cant or wont enjoy it.

If everything was a given, it wouldn't be nowhere near as much fun. For all the fans wanting us to win the league
with 4/5 games to go, i'd bet they'd be the first moaning about the pointless fixtures with nothing to play for, at the end.

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

If everything was a given, it wouldn't be nowhere near as much fun. For all the fans wanting us to win the league
with 4/5 games to go, i'd bet they'd be the first moaning about the pointless fixtures with nothing to play for, at the end.

Some arent happy unless they are moaning!! Also we'd get pelters from the press for ruining the competition for the league, which would send the media bias thread into over load.

 

[Credo]

Too many ungrateful people always moaning.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

The under appreciated players, both past and present seem to have the same double barrelled Christian names according to the guy who sits two seats away.
Fucking Hell Dzeko, Fucking Hell Barry and Fucking Hell Milner have left, but Fucking Hell Kolarov is still here. Fucking Hell Delph is waiting to be baptised.