The VMC Man Of The Match Versus Sunderland

As the ship on the City badge steers once again into unchartered waters, it's ironic that one of Mark Hughes' staunchest supporters should win the VMC MOTM in the gaffers last match...

Hughes pursued Craig Bellamy's signature relentlessly as he did Roque Santa Cruz's much to the chagrin of many Blues. Yet Bellamy, despite the long standing knee problems he shares with RSC, has been an absolute revelation this season, whom without, The Citizens would be established in mid table.

But Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Shay Given and numerous other devout Sparky loyalists stance upon his dismissal is lending cause for concern across Planet Blue.

How they will react to his brutal dismissal and how will they take to Roberto Mancini who arrives at Carrington on Monday morning following 18 months out of Italian football and with no backroom staff save for the recently arrived former Youth team assistant Brian Kidd?

Bellamy is our MOTM in a game which was as notable for the abysmal performances of Kolo Toure, Sylvinho and Gareth Barry as it was for the brilliance of Stephen Ireland and Carlos Tevez. Vincent Kompany looks to be shaking off the injury cobwebs and improving steadily.

39. Craig Bellamy 54%
14. Roque Santa Cruz 22%
32. Carlos Tevez 6%
1. Shay Given 3%
2. Micah Richards 2%
16. Silvio Sylvinho 2%
7. Stephen Ireland 2%
18. Gareth Barry 2%
5. Pablo Zabaleta 2%
17. Martin Petrov 1%
33. Vincent Kompany 1%
8. Shaun Wright-Phillips 1%
4. Nedum Onuoha 1%
28. Kolo Toure 1%

The Story So Far:
FA Premier League unless stated

Nigel de Jong, 5 (Fulham H LC R3, West Ham H, Wigan Athletic A, Liverpool A, Chelsea H)
Craig Bellamy, 4 (Arsenal H, the rags A, Villa A, Sunderland H)
Shaun Wright-Phillips, 3 (C. Palace A LC R2, Burnley H, Arsenal H LC QF)
Carlos Tevez, 2 (Bolton A, Spurs A)
Gareth Barry, 2 (Blackburn A, Portsmouth A)
Shay Given, 1 (Birmingham A)
Roque Santa Cruz, 1 (Scunthorpe H LC R4)
Wayne Bridge, 1 (Fulham H)
Emmanuel Adebayor, 1 (Wolves H)

City's 1-1 throwaway against Hull City registered no winner.

VMC's Previous Man Of The Season:

2007-2008 Elano Blumer
2008-2009 Stephen Ireland

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