Season Review: Forwards

Vassell ( 21 (5), 6 ; 4 (1), 0)

One of our top scorers, but still, I think, a disappointing season. Played a few games up front but had most of his starts in right midfield. He's just not a winger; certainly not one for a UEFA Cup qualifying team. And it's not like he's a lazy goal-getter who doesn't want to track back - his work rate is fantastic, it's merely an issue of quality. Those five misses in the 1-1 at Derby County were the nadir, but that one chance in the 0-0 at Fratton Park wasn't great either. I fear his work rate and selflesness will endear him to Hughes. C

Benjani (13, 3; 0, 0)

Signed out of desperation in the dying hours of the January transfer window, as bids for Anelka, Podolski, Milito or whoever else failed. And at just over £1million for each league goal, he's doing better than Bianchi. Always worked hard, and in the last few games looked to be slowly settling into the lone striker role. Never seemed likely to tear teams apart, but maybe just a good buy in the circumstances - for the goal at OT if not much else. B

Bianchi (7 (12) 4; 3 (2), 1)

5 goals for £8.8 million tells a story, but not the whole one. It didn't take very long (two games) for Eriksson to go for Bozhinov up front instead of the Italian; his next preference was clearly Mpenza. Over time Mpenza and Vassell proved themselves even less equipped for the role than Bianchi, and a relatively successful spell in December suggested that he might turn into a good buy. But non-footballing factors seemingly played too strong a role and he went back to Lazio in January. He looked like a good footballer in difficult conditions: not adjusting to life on or off the pitch. But if his first six months were such a bad experience, I'm not sure how worthwhile it would be to bring him back to City. All we need now is that €11million back... C

Mpenza (8 (7), 2 ; 2 (1) , 1)

Bought in similar circumstances to Benjani not quite twelve months previously - the team in freefall, foreign strikers misfiring, urgently needed someone to lead the line. Both scored a few goals but couldn't save the manager. Mpenza started this season far down the pecking order, but injuries and poor form saw him get his fair share of appearances. In fact, our very best football this season - Fulham A, Newcastle H, Middlesboro H (nine goals in three games seems impossible looking at the second half of the season!) was with Mpenza up front. Will always be a hero for those goals in spring 2007 - if he goes to Bolton and comes back next year he'll get the reception he deserves. B

None of the others played enough to deserve a whole paragraph. But, in order of ascending optimism: Samaras' time is over as a City player - he admits this and is desperate to stay at Celtic (a few successful years will hopefully see him brought to England, where he will inevitably fail again...). £6million not very smartly spent. Hopefully not following him out of the door is Bozhinov. Recent media (ok then, goal.com) reports say he's thinking of going back to Italy. I still have good memories of those twenty minutes at the Boleyn Ground ten months ago, when he looked world class. I hope Hughes knows enough about him to keep hold of him. It's unlikely that Hughes knows much about Nery Castillo, given his four starts in four months at the club. He probably looked best on the right wing, but the nasty injuries make me reluctant to judge too firmly at this stage. Daniel Sturridge will hopefully play some role in Hughes' plans - if he stays fit I'm sure he will benefit from the UEFA Cup adding (if we do well) twenty more games to the calendar, like Anichebe has done at Everton. The other youngsters, Etuhu and Caicedo, may not be so lucky.