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Manchester City 2-0 Southampton Talking Points – Aguero Signs off in Style

By Kevin Kelly

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In the final Big Match Talking Points column of the 2014/15 Premier League campaign our final game to specifically look was Manchester City vs. Southampton. Sergio Aguero ended his personal record breaking season with a goal while James Milner likely played his last game for the club. Co-editor Kevin Kelly discusses all that and more below.

Aguero Finishes Up With Goal:

Since joining Manchester City in the summer of 2011 for a fee of £35m from Ateltico Madrid he has been a force of nature in the Premier League. While often plagued by injuries, when fit, Aguero has been unstoppable in front of goal, with Sunday’s Premier League curtain closer at The Etihad proving no different, as he headed home the 2nd goal of the game from close range.

The header was the icing on a personally brilliant season for Aguero, who has struck the back of the net 33 times this season in all competitions, while in the league alone he scored 26 goals, with eight assists too. On average the Argentine made a direct contribution to a goal in the league every 74 minutes. This clearly is an elite record; only really bettered by Lionel Messi (55 minutes) and Cristiano Ronaldo (48 minutes). Agüero has the highest goals per minute ratio in the history of the Premier League averaging a around goal every 115 minutes.

Having signed a five year contract extension last August which could keep him at the club until 2019. Amidst interest from Real Madrid in recent months Manchester City fans will all be grateful of him seeming happiness to stay in Manchester for the foreseeable future.

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Koeman Happy Despite Loss:

Despite losing to the now former champions Manchester City on Sunday Saints boss Ronald Koeman was happy to put some immediate perspective on the season. Southampton ended the season in 7th on 60 points – better than the previous season’s 6th place finish with 56 points.

Last summer when Liverpool raided Southampton for the likes of Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert, while they also lost Luke Shaw to Manchester United, many tipped the Saints for relegation. How wrong they were.

“In our opinion if we reach European football it’s the same as Chelsea winning the championship” – Ronald Koeman

“In our opinion if we reach European football it’s the same as Chelsea winning the championship.

“It’s a great achievement for the club, with all the changes that happened in the summer, really to fight until the last game to reach Europe is amazing.

“Normally big teams have maybe a bad month, but not a bad season because they have too much quality in their squads.

“It is about growing and reaching objectives and reaching European football and that means more interest to players, to bring players in,” said Koeman.

Milner Plays Final City Game?

It seems that James Milner’s career at Manchester City has really kicked on in the past 18 months. Now a regular in the team he may have just played his last game for the club, with his current deal set to expire this summer. Signed in 2010 Milner is one of the first crop of stars to succeed at the club – Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, David Silva etc. Yet it seems that despite City wanting to keep Milner, he has made his mind up and is seeking pastures new, if not exactly greener.

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Milner played in 32 Premier League games this season and is clearly a valued member of the team, playing in all the major games of the season. He has found the back of the net five times in the Premier League, while he managed seven assists too. This haul averages as a direct contribution to a goal every 146 minutes.

Liverpool are notably interested and the favourites to sign Milner, though Arsenal are another interested party. Nevertheless The Manchester City midfielder has made his mind up, according to the Daily Star, and will choose Liverpool red over Arsenal red next season.

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