Used horribly vs Madrid.
felt sorry for him, he had to come deep 5-10 times, take the ball, keep it, turn away from vs faster defenders, run with ball. He tried to make some Messi run in his style with little success.
Sometimes he is being played completely not like he should but the other way around no matter how much it is not helping him or the team.
All the crosses for short for him, Maicon made all the cross but to the short side most of it went closer to Agüero but Real players headed it out many times.
Wont take much time until the strikers will start goals from Maicons crosses (maybe his crosses are little too strong sometimes not very good if you want to head it...) but still think Dzeko is the best if we have to score from crosses.
But Dzeko coming deep with one defender on his neck and can only pass it back to defenders maybe Silva if he is there then he has to run back or if he beats his man he has to beat another 2-3 defenders because he is that deep and that far from goal...
Madness.
Put him in a team where he gets crosses not only when Maicon playes but every 5 minutes in a match and you have a striker with at least 25 goal striker. Once he gets used to this main crosser/assistmaker he can be prolific.
What Mancini says them , to come deep, play ala Messi, beat defenders without pace as high striker.
How many goals could be scored with putting the ball up to Dzeko than he heads it down for Agüero and bang. (Not with our slow passing build ups tho.)
His main skills are his heading, finishing, his body, strength, getting into good position.
His weaknesses are keeping the ball, technique, great ricks, pace.
Mancini uses him sometimes (many times) where he has to solve many situations with skills which he doesnt really have.
The skills he has is used so rarely.
So to say look he started and was still shit why start him then couldnt be more wrong. If we are not ready to change the tactics for him, like that was the case at Wolfsburg we shouldnt expect that many goals and great performances from him.
Two of his most important City goals also coming from his strengths.
vs QPr last match in the league , corner, getting into good position and good header
vs Notts in FA-cup to reach a replay: Richards going down the right good cross Dzeko coming for the cross perfect finish...
Turned out to be important goals.
Most of his goals inside the box, and between the penalty point and goal line. That is where Dzeko could be class/world class.
Outside the box, coming deeper. That is not his world. Can score from long shot sometimes, but he should be in the box waiting for the passes to finish them. If it is not good for Mancini sell him and buy a different type of payer who is good coming deep and in the box too.