The Blues’ record goal-scorer has been doing what he does for more than eight seasons for City, and it’s time his achievements were recognised outside of the Club where has been revered for so long – so says an excellent feature on Kun that kicks off today’s Media Watch.
READ: Silva’s milestone for City
Opinion
Irish Independent: Exceptional Aguero the Master of Unexceptional Goals
Michael Walker writes: ”“So, despite City winning four Premier League titles in his eight seasons in Manchester and accumulating 172 league goals in 247 appearances – not all of which were starts – Agüero has famously never been named Footballer of the Year in England, nor Players’ Player of the Year.
“Robin van Persie (Arsenal 2012), then Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Mo Salah (Liverpool) and Sterling (City) have all been deemed to have been ahead of Agüero in any given season.
“The players’ award differed only twice – Riyad Mahrez being chosen ahead of team-mate Vardy and Virgil van Dijk named ahead of Sterling last season. So there is some consistency in selection. It could be argued that cumulatively Agüero surely merits an award, but then all the above were and are consistent.
“Another piece of the reasoning is that the City players mentioned, plus many others, have made Agüero’s goal-scoring task different to a striker in a weaker team. All those tap-ins, so-called.
“On top of that, this is the modern Manchester City – richer than many countries and not afraid to prove it. Agüero cost £35 million, which sounds routine, but it was a City – and Manchester – record. Economic logic says City should be winning the Champions League and they have not, and Agüero missed that penalty away at Tottenham last season.
“But to argue Agüero has been anything other than value would be pretence. His goals per season at City total 30, 17, 28, 32, 29, 33, 30, 32 and 10 so far this season, and it’s October.
“He scored eight times in his first six games this season, and when Guardiola was asked to comment on Agüero’s ability following his brace at Bournemouth in August – Agüero got the first again – the manager struggled to find something new to say.
‘Yeah, as always,’ Guardiola replied, ‘it’s not the first time he has scored goals, honestly.’
“The remark was in keeping with the general perception that Agüero’s brilliance is somehow ordinary brilliance.”
Daily Star: City right back in the mix says Merson
Former Gunner says Blues right back in the title race....
“Writing in his column for the Daily Star, Paul Merson thinks Liverpool have now brought Manchester City back into the title race with that performance against the Red Devils.
‘Complacency is the biggest threat for them,’ said Merson.
‘They got a good result under the circumstances at Manchester United – but they have put the title race back in City’s hands.
‘If City beat them twice and match what they do the rest of the way, they are winning the league, so it’s game on again.
‘There are plenty of points still up for grabs but if Liverpool beat City at home next month, it suddenly all changes again. That will be a huge game.
‘So is this one really, especially because these are the two teams that played in the last Champions League final.
‘They were equals then, and Spurs could easily have won it. But things have completely changed now. I don’t see Liverpool going on a run like Tottenham did.”
Stats
Premier League: Sterling’s incredible run goes on
Raheem’s unbeaten run goes on..
With his goal in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa, Raheem Sterling extended a remarkable unbeaten run of Premier League matches whenever he scores.
The winger has now played in 47 successive matches where he has grabbed a goal and not tasted defeat in the competition.
The run extends back to Sterling‘s time at Liverpool and he is now up to fourth in the all-time rankings for this statistic.
The 24-year-old is only one away from catching Didier Drogba’s mark of 48 fixtures in a row.
Heading the list is another Chelsea player, Frank Lampard, who went 67 successive matches unbeaten when scoring.
And finally, to clear up yesterday’s ‘mystery’ scorer…
Daily Mail: It was El Mago’s say pundits
Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves agreed that it was the Spaniard’s goal....
“Joe Cole said on BT Sport after the game: ‘He definitely touches it. It’s marginal but he’s touched it.’
“Owen Hargreaves echoed Cole’s comments: ‘David Silva’s said it’s touched his studs, ever, ever so slightly. David’s not that type [of player] by the way. He would never claim something that didn’t touch him.
‘I don’t think he’s trying to get headlines; I’ve never seen him like that. So if he’s said he’s touched it, then he’s touched it. Even if it’s fractional.’
That settles it! More gossip and opinion tomorrow....
