Player Grading Housekeeping:

• Individual player ratings are based on their progression from last season, performances compared to their standards set and the impact on the team’s results.

• Team Grading is based on expectations of previous seasons, what we have seen this team do before and factoring in issues such as transfers and injuries.

• Grades: A* - A - B - C - D - E

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0. Manchester City 23/24 Mid-Season: B

• Notable Achievements: Second in the Premier League, two point behind Liverpool. Through to the CL knockout stages (FC Copenhagen). Won the Super Cup. Won the Club World Cup.

• Notable Arrivals: Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), Jeremy Doku (Stade Rennais) and Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).

• Notable Departures: Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona) and Joao Cancelo (Barcelona on loan).

• No other team in the premier league has scored as many as Manchester City (48).

• Man City have the highest goal creating action per 90 (4.15) and second highest shot creating action per 90 (30.90) in the Premier League.

• This is the first time the club has won all six group stage CL games.

• Only Chelsea (12), Burnley (12), Tottenham (13) and Sheffield Utd (13) have had more errors leading to a shot than Manchester City (11).

The contrast in the stats highlight how mixed the feeling is on our season so far, with such high expectations and completing a treble last season, it can be tough to make a balanced review mid-season.

Individual mistakes, lack of concentration in duels and moments of frustration from players have had a significant impact on the perception of performances and stopped us getting three points at crucial points. That includes Chelsea away (Dias Penalty), Palace at home (Foden Penalty) and Spurs at home. Struggling to find the right set up without Rodri in the team saw points dropped at Wolves and Arsenal, City unlucky to concede in the later.

In the Champions League we got the job done with ease. The two trophies on offer were picked up. Through to the next round of the FA Cup. Our new signings have progressed well overall and we are only now starting to see them bed into the side comfortably. Dealing with huge injuries to KDB and Stones, still controlling most games and finding a way to create enough chances.

It also cannot be stressed enough how many players have been in and out of the team through injuries, little knocks, illness and personal issues. Many have minutes but not all have had those minutes come consistently. Heading into the second half that looks to be changing.

There is much to be positive about in the first half of the season but also a clear message to be heard. City must tighten up and focus defensively, City must take their chances to kill games. In the business end of the season, our errors will become all the more painful.

1. Kyle Walker (RB/RW/CB): D

• Games Played: 26 (2,249 minutes)

• GA: 0 goals & 0 assists

• Kyle Walker has played the most minutes this season of any squad members. He has the lowest percentage of shots on target (13.3%) in the team, with only Rodri and Ederson that have completed more long passes than Walker.

Walker has taken up the role of club captain this season, with a group that saw key senior players leave and work to bed in new transfers, he has struggled to look as impressive defensively as he had last season. The lack of clean sheets this season causes many fans concern.

Two points off the top, through the CL stages, winning the Super Cup and Club World Cup. Given the injuries issues, the team has performed well but individually we cannot ignore the levels Walker is expected to reach. Expected because of the standards he has set during his career at City. Setting the bar at the top last season by defending with such composure and ease. His role playing more as a RW with the changes in midfield is a factor.

Still, he has to be looking to improve in the remaining games. As a captain you set the standards to be met by all.

2. Ruben Dias (CB): D

• Games Played: 24 (1,966 minutes)

• GA: 0 goals & 0 assists

• No City player has completed more medium passes (901), blocks (25) and clearances (64) than Dias this season.

This first half of the season Dias has always looked off from the impressive defensive displays we saw in the treble run in. He was focused, marshaling the back line and never caught out of position. This season has seen him struggle in duels to get his timing right, play a part in poor goals and caught making very rash challenges.

December has seen that focus slowly return in a time when the team needed it, although they kept four clean sheets in five games, their will be questions until he maintains a consistent performance through to March.

Becoming a threat on set pieces is something he needs to add to his game, frequently in the right position and gets more than enough chances to score headers.

In the same boat at Walker, they both set incredible standards last season and as of right now have not lived up to anywhere near them this time. Heading into the second half, we need them to step up.

3. Kalvin Phillips (DM): D

• Games Played: 9 (312 minutes)

• GA: 1 goal & 0 assists

• Phillips has only started one more game for City this season than Cole Palmer, who left to Chelsea in the summer.

• Phillips has only played 45 more minutes than Kevin De Bruyne this season.

A transfer that will sit at the bottom of a success list, promising at the time but with hindsight the wrong type of move for the club to go for. You don’t buy back ups, you buy players to push for starting spots. Never has he looked comfortable as a lone six in our system. Always caught rushing a challenge or forcing a pass.

Talk throughout the January window with Phillips linked to several clubs, he will need to secure minutes this season to have any hopes of making the England Euro squad.

Besides that, it is hard to warrant a lower grade given he should have left in the summer and there were no expectations for him to start games. No doubt he is capable of playing very well as where but the fit is not at Manchester City.

4. John Stones (CB/DM/RB): C

• Games Played: 11 (632 minutes)

• GA: 0 goals & 0 assists

A hip injury delayed his return to October before another injury against Everton away has pushed him out the line up to the new year. Given the injuries, Stones has done exactly what we can expect of him so far.

When he has played the impact is clear on our build up, we become confident in possession and organised at the back. Overall our best defender at the club, he has been a big loss this season and the second half we can only hope for something close to the treble run in form he showed. The talk of a return these next couple games is welcomed!

5. Nathan Ake (CB/LB): B

• Games Played: 26 (1,714 minutes)

• GA: 2 goals & 1 assists

As a pure defender, Ake has a case to be our best this season. Whenever there is a duel you have complete faith he comes out the other-side with the ball. Coming on against Leipzig at halftime, his impact to calm the game down and snuff out any dangers was quite staggering. But by now we should not be surprised. Perhaps the best LB in the league last season, he has continued to build on that in 23/24.

Wolves game away was a low point for him this season and was unlucky to be on the wrong end of Arsenals winner at the Emirates. That aside, the question is why he has not gotten more minutes given the poor performances of Dias and Walker. Maybe injuries to defenders and finding the right combination for build up played into that.

Still he remains a player all fans are glad to see in the line up with how reliable he is at defending in the middle or out wide.

6. Mateo Kovacic (CM/DM): B

• Games Played: 24 (1,517 minutes)

• GA: 1 goals & 1 assists

His strengths have been lost on many this season, being exceptional for us off the ball, as a partner for Rodri in a double pivot and composure when being pressed. Kovacic at that price with the experience he brings is a very smart signing.

He had his struggles with Rodri out and expected to act as a lone six, exposed his weaknesses. He won’t give the team the goal threat Gundogan did but when breaking a press or sitting in a double pivot, Kovacic is slightly an upgrade in that area.

This second half of the season we can expect him to get a consistent run in the team either starting or coming on to sure us up now he has better understood the timing and position for our system.

7. Erling Haaland (ST/CF): B

• Games Played: 22 (1,870 minutes)

• GA: 19 goals & 5 assists

• Haaland has scored 71 goals in 75 games for Manchester City since his arrival. He has scored the game winning goal 20 times.

• In the 43 matches Haaland has scored for City, the team have won 37 games, drawn 6 and lost 0. Averaging 2.72 points.

The only thing in Erling Haalands way is the standards he sets from previous seasons. He will continue to break goal scoring records yearly, this is no different but it has been hampered by injury. Keeping him out for 12 games so far.

There has been plenty of big chances missed this season, although being top scorer in the premier league with 14, it would not be crazy to say he could be on 20.

But, as we saw a Haaland shine early on in the 22/23 season, this time it looks like he going to return fresh and hungry to kick on in the second half. That and being excited to play football with Kevin De Bruyne again…

8. Jack Grealish (LW/LM/CAM): C

• Games Played: 23 (1,512 minutes)

• GA: 3 goals & 2 assists

Along with a few other players in the team, Jack has faced injury and illness issues outside of personal matters that stopped him getting regular rhythm in the team.

He has had moments like Old Trafford away where he looked fantastic, his impact away at Spurs and then other games where he struggled to contribute. Similar to Foden has had in different seasons, something has always come up to stop playing consistent games.

This season will be one he needs to step up as a creator and scorer, admitting himself he can do more and adding the competition in the squad now we can look forward to seeing the best of Grealish in the second half of 23/24.

9. Jeremy Doku (LW/RW): B

• Games Played: 19 (1,017 minutes)

• GA: 4 goals & 6 assists

• No player has completed more successful dribbles per 90 in the Premier League than Jeremy Doku (5.68) this season. Dynamic.

Similar situation to Gvardiol, moving from another country at such a young age and have the demand on your shoulders to perform right away is tough. With tactical demands, high expectations and a brutal pace of games, Doku turned up from the beginning.

He adds a completely different option to this team not only with his pace but to dribble and not lose the ball like he does when out wide. A humble and hungry to learn attitude, a set back of injury and still he has persisted with good performances throughout this first half of the season.

Plenty more to come as Doku gets better with his final third decisions and passing, but as with a few players in this team patience is needed. He has more than exceeded expectations in 23/24.

10. Rodri (DM/CM): A

• Games Played: 25 (2,137 minutes)

• GA: 5 goals & 7 assists

• In 2023, for club and country Rodri has won more trophies (6) than he has lost games (4).

Perhaps the replacement for Gundogan all along was Rodri, this season has seen him becoming much more of a box-to-box midfielder making driving runs from deep with the ball, running into the box for chances and adding more of a shooting threat at the edge of the box.

The only thing that holds him back from the same group as Foden and Bernardo this season would be suspensions. Of his own making with the red card (Nott Forrest) and racking up as many yellow cards so early on.

To call him a six is a disservice to his ability, he has an argument to be the best midfielder in the world during 2023 and right now he is on pace to get ten goals and ten assists during 23/24. Remarkable.

11. Kevin De Bruyne (CAM/CM): C

• Games Played: 4 (105 minutes)

• GA: 1 goals & 3 assists

• This Premier League Season, Kevin De Bruyne has played 2% of the total squad minutes and provide 4% of the goal contributions.

The Return of the King, Kevin De Bruyne decided to win us a football match in twenty minutes despite saying he would struggle to play any longer than that. With over 30 games missed due to injury this season, he has still managed to assist a game winning goal.

Little to say beyond how ominous that performance looked heading into a title race run in. Has all the makings of an all timer season for the Belgium, even with the games missed.

12. Stefan Ortega (GK): C

• Games Played: 7 (623 minutes)

• Clean Sheets: 1 (14%)

• Goals Against: 9

It is night and day the difference of having Ortega in net compared to our other previous back up keepers. He is more than capable of starting for most other premier league teams. Composed on the ball and can make some vital saves.

This seasons so far he has continued as normal, being a dependable option for rotation and injury that we know are lucky to have. No doubt will be a topic come the summer unless he signs a new contract.