Season ratings: Defenders

Michael Ball (13 starts, 0 goals)

One of the last relics of the Stuart Pearce era, he looked out of place in a side that is trying to leave the dismal memories of 2005-2007 behind. Spent the first few months of the season resurrecting last year's game of competing with Garrido for title of 'Premier League's slowest left-back.' His effort is there for all to see, and he was quite an effective performer when he was quicker, but he just doesn't have it anymore. One of four players to play their last game for the club in the cathartic nadir of the 3-0 FA Cup loss to Forest in January. C

Tal Ben Haim (14 starts, 0 goals)

Not Mark Hughes' best bit of business. I thought that he represented a good deal at £5m but his spell at the club represented a real failure. He forged an unconvincing partnership with Richards - whom he knocked out against West Ham. Individual errors cost goals against Aston Villa, Brighton and Hull. And to top it off he went to Garry Cook to complain about Mark Hughes. Will not be seen in a City shirt again, I imagine. D

Wayne Bridge (22 starts, 0 goals)

The first buy of the January window, and signalled Hughes' policy of pursuing experienced Premier League campaigners rather than any sort of galactico or wunderkind strategy. At first he did not look much an improvement on Ball and Garrido - making errors that led to goals against Newcastle, Stoke and Portsmouth. He settled into the team as time went on, cutting out most of the errors and showing a quality in attacking play that we haven't seen in a City left-back for some time. There were some fitness problems later on in the season which saw Zabaleta moved across to fill in a few times. A good pre-season, though, and he should be able to justify his fee next year. B-

Richard Dunne (47 starts, 1 goals)

The big question is whether it was an anomalous off-year, or the start of a decline. Because this was not the Richard Dunne we've known and loved for the past nine years. He was slower and clumsier than he's been before, and failed to produce for Hughes the reliability on which Eriksson, Pearce, Keegan and Royle all depended. The dismissal for kicking Amr Zaki was the low point, and he did improve after his four match ban, but there were too many errors to ignore. By the spring, he was consistently overshadowed by Nedum Onuoha, who finally blossomed into the defender some (not me, to my shame) said he would become. And with Hughes said to be on the lookout for a new centre half - and with a ready made captain's replacement in Barry - Dunne may well be at the end of his long journey with City. B-

Javi Garrido (17 starts, 1 goal)

Better than last season, but still not good enough. A clear beneficiary of the Hughes fitness regime, looking quicker and stronger than he did under Eriksson and putting in some pretty good performances in the autumn. Scored a brilliant freekick against Liverpool in October. But, like Joe Hart, he could not do enough to dissuade Hughes from buying a top of the range Premier League experienced model in January. And when Garrido came on away against Aalborg we were reminded exactly why we pay Bridge £90,000 per week. C+

Nedum Onuoha (27 starts, 2 goals)

One of the season's success stories. Finally fulfilled his potential and became a very good, very consistent centre half. Spent the first few months on the bench, filling in at right or centre back when required. But our defensive frailty in 2008 saw Hughes adopt a new approach for 2009: moving Zabaleta into midfield, Richards at right-back and Onuoha alongside Dunne or Kompany in front of Given. It was one of Hughes' best decisions this season, transforming our defence from one of the league's weakest to an acceptably solid one. And at the centre of it was a finally injury free Onuoha. He no longer looks like a promising athlete and occassional footballer but a genuinely composed and commanding defender, with credible international prospects, and was rewarded with the March and May Player of the Month awards. Like Stephen Ireland, he gave a lesson to some of his fellow Academy graduates as to how patience and commitment are the only real means to fulfilling potential. A-

Micah Richards (49 starts, 1 goal)

One of the season's disappointments. So much was expected after last season's heroics, but after a bad knee injury in the spring of 2008 he never seemed to recover his form or confidence. The early suspension to Richard Dunne forced Richards to form with Tal Ben Haim one of the worst centre-back pairings in recent memory. They were mauled by Gabriel Agbonlahor on opening day at Villa Park, and the next weekend they went for the same ball and Richards was knocked out. He struggled on at centre half until Christmas, when he was moved to his preferred right-back position. He was better there, able to impress with his galloping runs down the right, if not always with his defensive positioning. A good performance and his first goal for years against Sunderland in March was a certain highlight. But there was always a sense that when Zabaleta was no longer needed in midfield he would return, and a training-ground spat with Hughes rounded off a rather unsatisfactory year. If he wants to make the 2010 World Cup he needs a big improvement next season. B-

Pablo Zabaleta (39 starts, 1 goal)

I was distraught when we sold Corluka to Spurs, but I should have known not to doubt Hughes - because his replacement is even better. Given that he arrived from La Liga in the last week of August and was thrown straight in to a Premier League game with Chelsea, he settled in quickly and had a very good season, peaking with the December Player of the Month gong. Split his time between playing right back and holding midfield with equal competence and commitment and even did a job at left back when asked; and became a crowd favourite very quickly. For his work-rate, his versatility and 'robust' tackles, he's already immensely popular; he's like Danny Tiatto but he can play. Another good season next year and we may well see him lining up alongside Messi at next year's World Cup. A-

Let's not forget three other defenders: Corluka made six pretty impressive starts before Hughes replaced him with Zabaleta, making a profit in the process. Shaleum Logan filled in at Fratton Park in the absence of Micah Richards, reminding us all how quick he is, and of course the legendary Glauber Berti who got ten minutes against Bolton to rapturous applause.