I always stated that I'm Bosnian, surely Dzeko-biased but trying to be objective as much as I can, but I also never slag off any other player. Even when everybody was crazy about Tevez last year, I was not. I also accept that Aguero and Tevez, taken everything into account, are better players than Dzeko. I just now and then have to argue when someone states Balo is better than him, but that's another story.
Nevertheless, in the current form, Dzeko simply deserves a run of games. When this guy starts firing, he does not stop very soon. I mentioned it in one of my first posts. This was so in Wolfsburg and actually this is also true at City. But he isn't given a real chance, here.
No one who watched the game can say Dzeko was poor against Ajax. He was one of our best, imo. together with Milner and Clichy. He played overall very well, and had two chances to score, but those were no sitters.
The first one he made a good run, took the ball down perfectly with his chest. It could have gone beyond the keeper, Edin tried to put it through keeper's legs, it did not. But for sure this was not because of lack of skill. The other one he created on his own, as he is often said not being able to. That didn't look so fancy like Silva, Kun, but it was effective. He was closed down, tried to pass the keeper, and was unlucky again.
Yes, he was offside twice, Kun was once. And what? Strikers are supposed to be offside now and then. Sometimes they start to run too early, sometimes the pass comes too late, or the defense just made a good job (Many try to ignore stats, but "being twice offside in a game" is just some kind of stats, too). Nasri also missed a shot badly, Aguero hit it over the bar from outside the box. Everyone misses.
But at the end it is Dzeko who is the one who has to be benched because he did not take his chance well.
C'mon guys, this is ridiculous. With his contribution so far this season, top scorer in the team, top scorer in the current WC-quali... BL-top-scorer 2009/10, 48 goals in two BL-seasons. That means this guy is a top player, mature, in his best ages, maybe also getting into best form....
No, I don't think a sensible football mind could explain Mancini's unwillingness to play him. If you say Roberto just does not like him, maybe he just likes the fancy looking players more. If it's for his bad behavior in Munich, than what's with Tevez.
But if you are with City and want City to become better, than there is no logical explanation to me.
Trying to statistically explain the superiority of Kun-Tevez partnership, because all games started with them were won, is just ignoring how the games were one and goes in hand with the super-sub tag. If you go on with statistics, than you also have to argue against Dzeko's goals/minute stats, and the number of goals he scored in total to other strikers.
And if it is that Dzeko is better from the bench, than it's just a myth. There is just no evidence for it. Before he came to City, Dzeko was not a sub for years. And here, he has not been a starter. A game every few months is not enough to prove it. Dzeko should be given a chance. Now, when he is on form. And I'm talking about a real chance, at least 5 starts or more. One still can play Kun/Tevez, and sometimes Balo. But Dzeko should be given his chance. And it would be best for the team if he would take it. But if Roberto gives him a few starts now and then, it's is unfair to expect him to deliver. It can happen, but who knows. It doesn't generally depend only on a player himself.
PS: Damn, I did not want this post to go so long. But tnx if you read it ;)