PLAYER RATINGS: Manchester City Beats West Ham in London
In the battle of two Spanish managers, one with hair and one without, the bald manager came on top as expected. The Citizens have beaten West Ham in London to start stamping their authority on the Premier League table. This type of performance without Rodri is scary for the competition.
On another note, can someone please tell Manchester City to change their away kit? I don’t know who designed this shirt and who approved it but they should get a long look at themselves in the mirror.
Let’s get into the ratings then.
West Ham United
Alphonse Areola (6): Could not do anything to City goals. Made some good saves but nothing exceptional. One of the few players in the Hammers squad that could hold their head hugh after that performance.
Aaron Wan Bissaka (3.5): Could not deal with whatever combinations City threw at him. Had difficulty dealing with Grealish all game. Better in the second half though.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (2): He used to play for Arsenal and now I know why they were such a bad team before Arteta.
Max Killman (4): Was the best player in otherwise a bad day for Westham defense. His rating shows what type of defensive performance was putting if he was their best player.
Emerson (1.5): Why is this guy still playing in the Premier League? His bad pass put Paqueta under pressure. He could not deal with Doku and Lewis all game. Substituted out at the 71st minute which was 71 minutes too late.
Guido Rodriguez (1.5): Was he even playing? This is how much City easily bypassed him in the midfield.
Edson Alvarez (1.5): Same comment as his midfield partner. Substituted out at the 77th minute which was 77 minutes too late.
Jarrod Bowen (7.5): The best West Ham player on the pitch by far. He forced a save from Ederson and created West Ham goal. Created a chance for Kudus on the counter and tormented Gvardiol all game. Unfortunately for him, his teammates were not at his level.
Lucas Paqueta (1): No comment on his performance.
Muhammad Kudus (5.5): Tried some things but was far away from his exhilarating best. Was livelier in the second half and hit the post.
Michael Antonio (1.5): Did not know he was playing except when looking at the lineups to write these ratings. Substituted out at the 71st minute which was 71 minutes too late.
Subs
Lukasz Fabianski (5.5): Dealt with whatever was thrown at him. Not responsible for the goal he conceded.
Vladimír Coufal (4): Nothing bad, nothing spectacular. Was better than Emerson and he gets a rating for that.
Niclas Füllkrug (3): Did not add anything but was more visible than Antonio.
Tomáš Souček (4): Him coming on the pitch took Edson Alvarez off it. This is why he gets a rating. No time to impact the game though.
Crysencio Summerville (N/A): Not enough time to do anything.
Manchester City
Ederson (5.5): As most City games, he did not have much to do. Not at fault for West Ham goal. Gets a rating for putting on his shirt and getting onto the pitch.
Rico Lewis (9): What did Guardiola do with this kid? Helped in city build up, dealt well with Kudus, assisted a goal and had a chance to score. Another great performance from the young right back.
Ruben Dias (4): Did not have anything to do most of the game but scored an own goal.
Manuel Akanji (6): Did not have much to do. Backed city press well and as always did his job competently.
Joško Gvardiol (5): Not the best performance of the Croatian. Did not add much in attack and failed to deal with Bowen all game.
Matteo Kovacic (8): Guardiola is turning Kovacic into Rodri. The Croatian helped City build up, recycled the ball, read the play well. Did not feel like Rodri is missing which is the best compliment to another very competent performance from Kovacic.
Jeremy Doku (6): As always with Doku, some good plays followed by some frustrating decision making. As expected was the first City player to be hooked off.
Bernardo Silva (8.5): Was everywhere. Helped City progress whenever West Ham had the courage to play high. His pressing led to Paqueta turnover. Assisted city first goal.
Kevin De Bruyne (9): A vintage KDB performance. Hit the post with a great shot, kept everything ticking and was at his sublime best. Helped with City interplay in tight spaces and had some line breaking passes. If he plays at this level all season, good luck to everyone.
Jack Grealish (7): A lively performance from the English winger. Tired Bissaka all game and had some very good combinations with Bernando Silva and De Bruyne on the left side. This wasthe best performance from Grealish from a long time.
Erlind Haaland (9.5): A goalscoring robot. He missed one easy chance though, hence the 9.5 and not a 10.
Subs
Ilkay Gundogan (5): Added some needed bite and control to City midfield. Did not do anything spectacular but nothing bad.
Matheus Nunes (6.5): Like Gundogan, added control to City midfield. He assisted Haaland though, hence the higher rating.
Kyle Walker (N/A): Not enough time to have any impact..
Nathan Ake (N/A): Not enough time to have any impact.