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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13. Julian Alvarez (ST/CF/CAM): B

• Games Played: 28 (2,182 minutes)

• GA: 13 goals & 10 assists

To have barely had time to rest between a River Plate season, a World Cup and a treble run in, Julian Alavrez has done so well. Next, he needs to cover for KDBs creative output in midfield and fly to South America in between. For a tough task like that, he has stepped up to the plate with 23 goal contributions.

When you look at the striker options at other top clubs, you would struggle to find any that could replicate that.

That being said, as we got to the end of 2023 we saw the limitations come through more and more. The first touch to play in midfield is not at the level needed, struggling with chances and poorly timing his runs. It isn’t crazy to say he should have 20 goals by now. He has had great chances.

As players return from injury and he can take a welcomed winter break, it will be interesting to see if his form in front of goal picks ups to where it was early in the season.

14. Bernardo Silva (RW/CAM/CM): A*

• Games Played: 25 (1,919 minutes)

• GA: 7 goals & 4 assists

• In the Premier League this season, only Son Heung-Min (+4.40) and Mohammed Kudus (+4.05) have outperformed their xG more than Bernardo Silva (+3.67).

Bernardo Silva can not only contribute to City during each phase of play but is of the highest quality in each. That’s not normal, that is elite.

He has had his share of injury and illness concerns early on but just as another Silva has done before him, he was the shining light at Old Trafford against Man Utd. A performance that encapsulates his all around ability to score goals, dictate the tempo and control our build up.

This season has seen him add more to his game with goal contributions, something we can expect more in coming games. Alongside Phil Foden as our two best players in 23/24.

15. Sergio Gomez (LW/LB): C

• Games Played: 9 (355 minutes)

• GA: 1 assist

Gomez has filled the role as expected this season, being an emergency option at full back and struggled to really get meaningful first team minutes. Despite a successful U21s tournament with Spain at LW, he has not become a consistent option at LB or LW.

He has done well in his short cameos, showing his crossing ability, but that can only be expected for a player coming on to do the last ten minutes of a game.

Next season he will have to be looking at loan to a club like Girona or to be moved on to get regular playing time elsewhere.

16. Josko Gvardiol (LB/CB): B

• Games Played: 24 (1,874 minutes)

• GA: 1 assist

• Excluding Academy Players, only Rico Lewis (19) and Oscar Bobb (20) are younger than Gvardiol.

The age is a key point to remember when you look at his performances, to come from another country to arguably the best team in the world and play out of position is tough. Now add on the tactical demands of another system and the pressure to perform not just well but be flawless. He played at CB for 82% of his total games at RB Leipzig and all of the games in 22/23.

Huge demand on his shoulders and he has quietly gone under the radar as one of the best defenders in the league. Playing CB against Huddersfield and at Home vs Newcastle (Akanji in MF) we saw the talent in that position. But at fullback he has provided a lot in ball carrying and progression down the left-hand side.

Lacking at times to provide better crossing out wide, his passing range is still excellent and we have seen him continue making improvements when playing against talented wingers. No easy task as seen away against Chelsea and Aston Villa where he struggled.

A huge jump to make but it is clear just how talented he is, can be our leading defender for a decade and could step into a Stones role down the line.

17. Manuel Akanji (LB/CB/DM/RB): B

• Games Played: 26 (2,003 minutes)

• GA: 3 goals

I am struggling to find where criticism comes for Akanji this season, a player that took on learning the stones role and in these past few months has done a more than good enough job. Whose passing range has improved massively during his time at City, from the build up to the final third. He is quickly becoming a favorite of Pep and solid defender in a back line that has not been as organised as last season.

His struggles have come from duels, namely Leipzig against Openda but last season it was his strength playing at RB or LB. The strength, speed and focus required, we all saw last season and this second half is where that is needed most.

18. Matheus Nunes (CM/CAM): C

• Games Played: 17 (823 minutes)

• GA: 4 assists

A new arrival that followed with City missing many different targets in the window, he has struggled to get into the team regularly but that is to be expected. Clearly promising, talented and excited to be part of the team. Only in a few games of late, such as the Club World Cup, has his talent really shone through.

Despite how difficult it is for many to get a regular spot in the team, midfield one of the toughest, you would still expect to see a bit more from him. Still, has the makings of a player that will prove everyone wrong in the following season.

This second half and into next season, he needs to push his way into the team but right now he needs time and patience.

19. Ederson (GK): B

• Games Played: 26 (2,258 minutes)

• Clean Sheets: 9 (35%)

• Goals Against: 24

• No premier league keeper has a higher pass completion rate (45.6%) than Ederson.

Ederson may only get his flowers when he retires, despite displacing Alison as the national team keeper and making crucial saves in the treble run in for City, he always struggles to get the recognition he deserves. Last season saw a significant increase in shot stopping ability, at crucial moments the team knows who was there.

This first half of the season saw him largely continue that form but behind a defense that looked unorganized, weak in duels and struggling on the ball. Ederson on the ball, continues to be flawless and key to our play.

Clean sheet percentage down from his standards of over 50% in the premier league, he has to be a factor in that with the struggles that group has had at the back. If they can tighten up on conceding from weak challenges, rash decisions and the first shot of the game (which has become a running joke at this stage) then the team has all the chance to retain the premier league again.

20. Phil Foden (LW/CAM/CM/RW): A*

• Games Played: 31 (2,355 minutes)

• GA: 11 goals & 8 assists

• Only Kyle Walker (2,433) has played more minutes than Foden this season.

• Phil Foden is in the top ten for the most progressive passes received (139) in the Premier League this season. Half-Turn Phil.

This season Phil Foden has the freedom to do what he does best, with no player in the world is better than him on the half-turn, running the show in the center of midfield. You’ll see him providing through balls to Haaland one end and working hard to intercept and recover possession the other.

Is has not been without his struggles along the way, some will highlight the penalty against Palace given away and being part of a poor team performance against Villa. The truth is he is now judged on a single mistake made because the rest of his performances are generally impeccable.

Newcastle at home (19th August), a team without many due to the injuries saw Foden put on a show early in the season. Those performances are not rare, they are the norm for Phil now. Just as we see KDB as a king returning, Phil Foden is lightning in a bottle for this City side.

Now all that is ahead of him is to maintain this consistently in the years ahead, injuries have come at awkward times in other years that stopped him doing that as well as fighting for his spot in the team with new transfers.

Foden has always had argument to be the most gifted English player in history, lauded for his technical brilliance weekly but now he is shining as the match winner or catalyst behind the teams performance. When many will fear the shadow KDB leaves, Phil Foden will thrive.

21. Oscar Bobb (LW/CAM/RW): B

• Games Played: 14 (453 minutes)

• GA: 2 goals & 2 assists

Just as we saw last season with Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb is now becoming a reality for this City side. He has been given opportunities throughout and taken them every time. Whether it is a goal contribution or not, fans are always impressed with his ability on the pitch. There is a balance between taking risk and making the safe play, Bobb strikes that balance with any minutes he gets on the pitch.

Next season will be his turn to cermet a more regular spot. For now, it’s to maintain the same quality when he gets more minutes. From his starting spot in the summer as a squad member, he has many wondering if he is our future right winger for years to come. That statement alone is testament to his impact.

Looking like a combination between David Silva and Leroy Sane, Bobb has the skill set to land as a winger or even an eight in this city side. It will exciting for fans to see which path he takes.

22. Rico Lewis (CM/DM/RB): B

• Games Played: 18 (1,061 minutes) M

• GA: 1 goals & 4 assists

• Rico Lewis has started 5 out of 6 champions league group games for City this season, last year he started 1.

This season has been his step from squad player to first team. During pre-season, it was clear his impact going forward was going to be as a midfielder, able to make smart runs, put balls in behind and turn on ball so well. Always aware of his surroundings and making the right decision. He looks at home in the side and we will only see more of him as his physicality develops.

The physical side is his limitation, something that will only reduce with age and development. Given the level of quality he needs to push out the team to start, he has taken another step forward this season. Rico has already reached over 70% of his last season minutes in the team, looking to get close to 2,000 total come the end.

Other: On-loan & Academy

Academy Players:
No grading, only thoughts on their progress this season so far.

• Jacob Wright (DM): Made his first appearance for the senior team in the FA Cup game against Huddersfield. Looked calm and composed for the final minutes of the game. Will be tough to get another opportunity this season but with the excitement around him from academy performances, could be one to see in the group that goes on pre-season tour 2024.

• Mahamadou Susoho (DM): Another midfielder that made an appearance towards the end of the last CL game against Belgrade. Plenty of promise around his ability, made the bench a lot this season mainly due to our injury struggles but will look to push for a spot in the 2024 pre-season tour.

• Micah Hamilton (RW/ST): Despite injury struggles that kept him from pushing into a first team game, he has made an impact this season in the CL game away at Belgrade. Continuing to make bench spots for the first team and will be pushing for loan this summer or a spot similar to Bobb has season.

Players on Loan:

• Callum Doyle, Leicester City, (LB/CB): B
  12 games played, 956 minutes and 2 goal contributions.
  
  Made a great start for the team top of the league before getting an injury that kept him out for a couple months. Returned now and back into the starting line up. Certainly one to watch for the first team given he is a CB that can play at LB, defending well out wide and plenty of passing ability.

• Maximo Perrone, Las Palmas, (CM/DM): C
  19 games played, 905 minutes and no goal contributions.
  4.4 balls recovered per game, zero errors leading to a shot or goal and 89% passing accuracy.
  
  Perrone has slowly managed to work himself into the regular starting line up since starting the season mainly on the bench. A Las Palmas side that has impressed in La Liga, currently 9th, after being promoted. Can expect to see even better performances going into the second half.

• James McAtee, Sheffield United, (RW/CAM): C
  16 games played, 1,094 minutes, 3 goals and 3 assists.
  
  With a slow start to the season for goal contributions, McAtee has continued with consistent minutes and now finds himself with five GA in the last five games played. Tough ask to shine in a relation battling team, it will be interesting to see how he fairs in the second half.

• Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Stade Reims, (LB): C
  11 games played, 432 minutes and 2 goal contributions.
  
  Hit with injury issues, he has struggled to lay down a consistent starting spot in the team. Now back and with an assist in his last game, will look to push on.

• Liam Delap, Hull City, (CF/RW): A
  27 games played, 2,023 minutes and 9 goal contributions.
  
  Delap has struggled to find the right fit whilst on loan in the championship from Stoke to Preston. Yet, with a new role on the RW it seems he has found his scoring boots. Significant player in the teams push for promotion this season. Now out with a knee injury for three months, it cannot be lost how successful he has been in the first half of the season.

• Yan Couto, Girona, (RB/RW): A
  23 games played, 1,349 minutes and 7 goal contributions.
  
  Girona are flying this season and sitting at the top of La Liga, Yan Couto has been key to their performances. Adding a tactical versatility to the side playing RW and RB, he is a constant threat down the right hand side and will have plenty at MCFC considering his potential for the first team.

• Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Southampton, (CB): A
  21 games played, 1,865 minutes and 3 goal contributions.
  
  Taylor has come into a Southampton side that struggled in early championship games and been a key defender in them moving up to third in the league. Pushing for promotion. Consistently playing ninety minutes and picking up seven clean sheets in twenty one starts.

• Luke Mbete, Den Bosch, (LB): C
  11 games played, 859 minutes and 1 goal contribution.
  
  Despite getting a red card in one game, Mbete has consistently started each game this season for Den Bosch side sitting in mid-table. Look to keep that spot heading into the remaining games.

• Alex Robertson, Portsmouth, (CAM): B
  26 games played, 1,872 minutes and 5 goal contributions.
  
  Robertson found his starting spot much more regularly as the season went on and was beginning to contribute regularly before his injury setback. For a Portsmouth side that sits top of league one it will be a huge miss but similar to Delap, both made significant progress this season on loan.

• Finley Burns, Stevenage, (LB/LCB): C
  22 games played, 1,760 minutes and 1 goal contribution.
  
  Burns has maintained a consistent spot in the starting eleven for a mid-table side in league one looking to move into the playoff spots. Keeping 6 clean sheets and recovering the ball 4.6 times per game. No errors leading to a shot or goal. No penalties given away.

• Tommy Doyle, Wolves, (CM): C
  15 games played, 693 minutes and 1 goal contribution.
  
  Doyle has shown in glimpses the ability to play as a premier league midfielders, working his way into the team with substitute minutes and cup game starts. He will be looking to get regular premier league starts in the rest of the games in 2024.