2012/2013 Season Review (Players)

Drama.

Drama is the one word I would use to describe this past season. Injuries, disputes, arrests, good form, bad form. The squad which MCFC boasted this year took all of those things, jumbled them together, and crapped out a season.

Injuries:
The season started off on a low note with the championship campaigns most valuable player, Sergio Aguero, going down with a knee injury before the new season could even reach the hour mark. I'm not one to suggest that if he hadn't gone out we would have won the treble or anything, since he did come back after only 30 days time, but I do believe that the tone that this game set for Aguero significantly affected his form during the rest of the season. Second to go down with a major injury was our skipper, Vinnie Kompany. His sidelining was much more extended though, and the team clearly suffered from his absence. During his twelve games in the stands, the defensive line let in more goals in any 10 match span than it did for the whole season. Luckily for City, the opposition during this time period was of relatively weak nature. Even though the attacking play also lacked the luster it had exhibited in the previous season, the forwards were able to score just enough to keep decent results coming in. Finally, an injury which spanned nearly the whole year was the leg revamping of Micah Richards. Richards is high up on my list of favorite players, and his versatility was something which I often found myself wishing for throughout the season. Although, his injury was probably the least significant in terms of affect on the team since Pablo Zabaleta stepped up brilliantly to become the best performing right back in the premiership this season.

Balotelli:
Although we all loved his showmanship, and rare yet fantastic moments of pure footballing class, he had to go. Having started training ground disputes with, as I remember, more players than I can count on one hand, including the most publicized one with Roberto Mancini, it was clear that Balotelli would not be staying in England much longer. I'm glad for him that he has succeeded once again in Milan, and I am sad to see him leave but at the same time, I am relieved that his poor media reputation won't be hovering around the locker room anymore.

Tevez:
Infamously going AWOL to Argentina last year, Carlos Tevez redeemed himself in the last 3 months of the championship season. He played the whole season this time and performed well for most of it. Easily the largest storyline surrounding Tevez this year is his driving ban. Seriously Carlos, you are great on the pitch, but how frustrating can you get off it.

Form:
As a whole, I would categorize this season by saying that generally, the team was in poor form. Most notably, David Silva. Having been an integral part of the Spanish side which captured the European crown over the summer, Silva looked exhausted. His creativity lacked, his work rate diminished, and even his face just looked as though he hadn't slept in weeks. As well, nobody made me more angry this season than Samir Nasri. First of all, I will never forgive him for hiding behind Dzeko and sticking a leg out to deflect van Persie's free kick into the net during the first Manchester derby. Second, half the time it just seemed as though he didn't care or wasn't trying. Lastly, and perhaps most disappointingly: Joe Hart. After a fantastic campaign that included 17 clean sheets in 2011/12, Hart's form took a significant dip. Although the numbers are similar, any person who saw games both this year and last could tell you that Hart was not at the same level he had been. Maybe he ought to return to the 25 shirt instead of being 1, or something, but let's all hope he gets back to his old, acrobatic ways.

Despite all of this negativity, there were some shining stars for the club this year. As mentioned already, Pablo Zabaleta had a breakout year, torturing attackers and providing excellent crosses for the forwards to connect with. One of those forwards was leading goalscorer Edin Dzeko. Playing the role of fourth choice striker in campaigns past, Dzeko emerged as the man in form this year. Whether he stays at the club or not remains to be seen, but I don't think anyone would have difficulties keeping him at the Etihad. Finally, James Milner. No, he is not the most talented footballer nor the fastest nor the strongest, but his work rate and love for the game are what consistently place him in the first XI for Manchester City and even England.


Overall, it was a rough season. BUT, I am optimistic that a couple of new signings this summer, coupled with the continued success of Dzeko, Zaba, and Milner, will be just what the club needs to inject the quality from 2011/12 back into the squad, returning it to domestic glory and taking it to new heights in Europe.