Season ratings: forwards

Craig Bellamy (10 starts, 4 goals)

One of Hughes' 'instant impact' January signings - the first time the manager could pursue his own targets with the new money that came to the club in September. Knowing Bellamy from both Wales and Blackburn Rovers, he took him from cash-strapped West Ham hoping that he would immediately improve the team. And he was right: Bellamy scored on his debut against Newcastle, and then had a fantastic February: scoring the only goal against Middlesbrough, both in the 2-1 win over København, and our one goal in the draw at Anfield - which was ludicrously awarded as an Arbeloa own goal. For this, he won the February Player of the Month award, the only forward to do so. His pace and finishing ability made him, for those weeks, the most potent striker we've had since Nicolas Anelka. But his frail knees soon caught up with him, and he made only two appearances in March, two in April, and none in May. He has spoken of trying to come back fit for next season, but with rumoured moves for Tévez, Santa Cruz, and Eto'o, his contribution may be limited. B+

Benjani (8 starts, 3 goals)

Not one of Eriksson's best buys, his stint in the lone striker role through November and December came only when Jô, Evans, Sturridge and Vassell had failed to prove to Hughes that they were up to the task. He scored on his first appearance of the season - the 3-2 defeat of Twente, but managed goals against only Schalke and Fulham in his remaining games. The old frailties remained - no real movement, no pace, and a very poor record in front of goal. Had he not ruptured his thigh in December (an injury he never fully shook off) he would still surely have been replaced by whichever strikers we were to sign in January. Managed to make two substitute appearances in April and May, but cannot have done enough to save himself from the chop in the summer. C

Valeri Bozhinov (2 starts, 1 goal)

For the second consecutive year, became one of the stories of the season by virtue of his absence. As with 2007/08 an exciting pre-season led to high expectations but a very serious injury in August put him out for the majority of the season. Unlike last year, though, he did manage to make a return within time, coming off the bench at the Boleyn Ground - appropriately enough, where his City career started nineteen months before - and made two more substitute appearances before starting against Sunderland and Fulham. He never looked match fit though, and continued to play reserve games while returning to the bench for the first team. In the season's penultimate game, at White Hart Lane, he came off the bench to score his first competitive goal for City; one of the year's happiest moments. While this is a year in which we did not see anywhere near the best of Boji, his movement, aggression and dynamism did stand him apart from most of the City frontline. Unfortunately for him those attributes are all to be found in a certain Argentine whom we are pursuing this summer. n/a

Felipe Caicedo (13 starts, 7 goals)

One of this season's surprise success stories. Did not get a chance until Racing Santander in December - once Jô, Evans, Sturridge, Vassell and Benjani had all proved themselves unfit for the lone striker's role. But he came off the bench to score in Spain, and did the same at the Hawthorns (via Scott Carson, admittedly) three days later. Two goals in the demolition of Hull followed and Caicedo was showing a better eye for goal than any other centre forward thus far that year. The arrival of Bellamy limited his chances, but he continued to work hard whenever asked. His limitations were always clear: there isn't much to his movement, he struggles to keep hold of the ball, and his footballing brain still needs some work (against Hamburg at home he was offside something like eleven times.) But for all that, he managed another four goals in the season's final months, including two impressive and important strikes at home against Aalborg and HSV. He may not be Denis Bergkamp, but for hard work and an eye for tap ins, he's got more than Benjani and Vassell. Could well have done enough to save his City future. B+

Ched Evans (5 starts, 1 goal)

Had a few first-team opportunities - including a start on opening day at Villa Park after Bozhinov's breakdown minutes before kick-off - but could never quite convince that he could succeed at a level higher than Norwich City. Like other City forwards, his work rate and commitment could not be matched with sufficient technical ability to really make it. Took his goal well against Portsmouth, and could have scored in the return game at Fratton Park were it not for a quality save from David James. But I'm not sure that our rejecting a £1.5m bid from Sheffield United points to a long term career at City for Evans. C+

Jô (12 starts, 3 goals)

Up until September 1, he was the big name attraction, the glamorous big money Brazilian signing who was going to take us to the next level. While the arrival of Robinho did take some of this pressure of Jô, it could not obscure the fact that it was £19m very poorly spent. Having spent much of pre-season representing Brazil in the Olympic games, he never looked fully settled in the Premier League; for a centre-forward he was striking in his sloth around the penalty area, never managing to pop up in the right places or to hold up the ball successfully. In his gangly legs, surprising physical weakness and apparently lazy approach he reminded more of Georgios Samaras than we would have liked. Two goals in Cyprus and one against Portsmouth could not obscure this, and he was soon out of the side, and off to Everton where he did quite well. Surely does not have a future at City. C-

Robinho (40 starts, 15 goals)

The trophy-signing of the new board, he was both the immediate result and the key symbol of City's exciting future. Even on the morning of 1 September 2008 the prospect of our buying a Brazil regular from Real Madrid from under the noses of Chelsea would have been ludicrous, but Abramovich wouldn't pay £32.5m and the rest is history. Having arrived in such dramatic circumstances, it's hard to focus dispassionately on the football. I think it's fair to say that he did well, but not exceptionally. An early spurt of goals was certainly impressive, and his quality lit up games in a way many City fans have not seen before. The chip against Arsenal, the volley against West Brom - we had not seen the like of this before. But he was infuriatingly inconsistent, almost never playing well away from home. His performance at Fratton Park was a disgrace. And when he's not playing well, we'd be better off with Vassell out on the left, for the tracking back if nothing else. I don't know whether a strong pre-season and his year of experience will significantly improve him next season, or whether his inconsistency is instead due to insufficient commitment. If he plays like this next season, we could probably push for sixth. But if he turns into the player he has the potential to become, and gets new forwards to play with, he could spearhead our charge for the Champions League. A-

Danny Sturridge (8 starts, 4 goals)

Another player for whom off the field issues have predominated this year. He did manage to have his best ever season for the first team, scoring more goals than ever before. He has a capacity to produce the unexpected matched only by the Brazilians and Stephen Ireland, and natural gifts beyond those bestowed on any of our centre forwards. His goals against Blackburn and West Ham, and his assists against Blackburn and Stoke show us this. But he could not free himself from the injuries which have held back his development so far, and as the season progressed his contract situation loomed larger and larger. He will probably leave, and may well turn out to be a very good player for another team. Which is a shame. B-

Darius Vassell (12 starts, 1 goal)

Started the season well in the EB/Streymur games before sustaining a serious knee injury which put him out for months. Like Benjani, played almost all of his games in November and December, stationed on the right wing - with SWP moved into central midfield. So dependant on his pace in his pomp, he is half the player he was having lost a yard or two. Persistent running could never make up for a lack of quality or incisiveness and he never looked like regaining his form from the Pearce era. One of the four players to make his final appearance in the catharsis of the 3-0 Forest defeat. Will never play for City again. C