Bluemoon's Official Top 100 Favourite Manchester City Players

[Out on blue 6]

4. Pablo Zabaleta 101/1387

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Pablo Javier Zabaleta Girod is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a right back. Zabaleta could operate on both sides of the pitch as a full-back and was known for his tenacious style of play, and has captained his club on numerous occasions.

With Manchester City, Zabaleta won all of English football's major honours: the FA Cup (2011), the Premier League (2012 and 2014), the League Cup (2014 and 2016) and the Community Shield (2012). Before joining Manchester City, Zabaleta played for La Liga club RCD Espanyol, where he won the 2005–06 Copa del Rey. He made 333 appearances over nine seasons for Manchester City before signing for London-based club West Ham United in the summer of 2017.

A full international since 2005, Zabaleta represented Argentina at the 2011 and 2015 Copa América, and was part of their team which finished as runners-up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was also in their team which won gold at the 2008 Olympics.

In the summer of 2008, Zabaleta transferred to Premier League club Manchester City after rejecting an offer from Juventus. He stated upon joining that "The offer is impossible to reject and not just because of the money ... Juventus also wanted me but I wanted to come to England, and to Manchester."

Zabaleta was voted Manchester City's Player of the Month for both December 2012 and January 2013, and was stand-in captain for the club during Vincent Kompany's injury absence between January and March 2013. He was the only City player to be named in the 2012–13 Premier League PFA Team of the Year. After a superb season, Zabaleta was voted 2012–13 Manchester City Player of the Year.

Zabaleta made 32 appearances in all competitions in the 2016–17 season scoring two goals; against Watford in the Premier League and against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup. His final appearance for Manchester City came on 16 May 2017, a 3–1 home win against West Bromwich Albion. After the game he was praised by the City manager, Pep Guardiola, as a "legend". Zabaleta was given a lifetime season ticket for Manchester City and a shirt that read "Zabaleta 333", to mark the number of City appearances he made.

Now that's more like a Right back and absolute Top man.

 

[Double R]

Ha ha. Carry on camping, now Danny Mills. Not falling for it this time. Zab, thats more like it.

 

[Nelinho]

Should have lasted a bit more, lol

 

[Gray]

Top 3 is now obvious, just the order needs sorting out.

 

[Gray]

Shows you how good this fans forum is when we have so many regular contributors like Bluehammer, who actually support other teams. As a group of supporters we are the friendliest most welcoming group there is.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I think it might be a shrewd move to put Alfie Haaland in the top 3. Tell Sergio the plan.
We can call a recount when Erling arrives and claim it was all fake news and reinstate Sergio.

 

[Protein Junkie]

Nice SOH blue hammer :-) and Zabba get in there - never in doubt. Top three very interesting.

 

[mccity]

Mills robbed

 

[DTKOAG]

Just noted that Andy Hinchcliffe didn’t make the list..
His co-commentary on sky to blame ?

 

[urban genie]

Unfortunately Colin Bell and his team-mates now are increasingly distant in memory for more recent generations of City fans. Their names are still revered but we now have more recent heroes who have also achieved greatness - just the way of the world unfortunately.

Sam Cowan - one of City's great captains who played in three FA cups for the club - has not been mentioned in this poll. My parents moved back to Doncaster in the 1980's and got to know his sister who, when she found out I was a City fan,showed me some great memorabilia about his time at the club.

I would not imagine any living City fans can remember watching Sam play - in thirty years time there will not be many that will have watched Colin but plenty with fond memories of Dave, Kun etc. - time marches on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Cowan

I think the passion some posters have about the older players is great though.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

To be honest your favourite player doesn't have to be ones you have seen.

The fact players like Billy meredith, Roy Paul, and as you say Sam Cowan haven't made the list yet the likes of Nasri, Elano and Robinho have, players is a great shame in my opinion.

But it's a favourites list not a citys best players/important in it's history.

Though I did have Vink at 20 ;-)

Yaya above Bell though "shakes napper"