A disappointment, but not a disaster

[Chippy_boy]

We are in a position where if we win all of our remaining games we will finish at least 4th.

Of course it's irrelevant because we aren't going to.

But what you say is not even correct. If we win all our games and spuds win theirs, we finish 5th.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

We are in a position where if we win all of our remaining games we will finish at least 4th.

Of course it's irrelevant because we aren't going to.

But what you say is not even correct. If we win all our games and spuds win theirs, we finish 5th.

Spot the mistake...

 

[Rammy Blue]

Of course it's irrelevant because we aren't going to.

But what you say is not even correct. If we win all our games and spuds win theirs, we finish 5th.

Spot the mistake...

it's not too tricky is it....

 

[m27]

Correct but it's to be expected because Mancini's been here for just 3 months and most of our team last night have been here less than 15 months. moyes has been building his for years

That's what i'm saying. It's plain wrong to say we haven't got the players. We haven't got the players to win the league yet, but we've got a good enough group of players to finish 3rd or 4th right now.

I don't believe that point can be argued. Every Blue knows that we should not have drawn all those games against poor opposition earlier in the season. It happened because of poor organisation, not poor players.

WE could easily be 6 or 8 points better off now, pushing for 3rd.

As I said, it's been a season of turmoil and change.

Firstly, I still think we'll finish fourth, and I actually think we may have it sewn up before the Spurs game. Just a gut feeling.

However, all things being equal in the league we may well be out of the running of the Top 4 and this is why I'm just not convinced by our players yet.

As we know, Everton have struggled with injuries to key players (I know we have as well) but you could go through all their positions and make a case for them having equal or superior players. All arguable but I'd have Cahill, Baines is certainly not light years behind Bridge,Arteta, Pieenar, Fellaini (when fit obviously) and Jagieka. Saha is no mug either and I don't think there's a massive difference between him and Ade apart from the fact that Saha is made of biscuit but he'll probably play more games than Ade this season.

Next season, United, Chelsea and Arsenal are obviously going to be up there, Liverpool surely can't be shit forever, Spurs will buy well no doubt, Villa will probably be there again but if Everton keep hold of Moyes and the above players and add wisely they will be a big threat to the Top 4.

I'm afraid we need big signings through the spine of the team and full backs. Right being the priority. We need more than tweaking even to finish in the Top 4 next season.

It's been a season of turmoil for us I agree, but the season of turmoil at Liverpool and Everton's injuries have helped us enormoulsy and we can't keep banking on that.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I wouldn't worry m27.

I think there are as yet undiscovered tribes in the depths of the Amazonian jungle who know we're going to spend big in the summer.

The question is, of course, who's going to spend it.

Oops, I'll have my stalker Johnny Crossan crying holy fuck about that comment.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

We did look quite good for the first half-hour and controlled the game really well I thought. But it was a foul by Barry - I watched the game on a big screen with replays and he caught Cahill first. e only have oursleves to blame about that first goal as, yet again, we had all ten players in the six yard box, which is pointless in my opinion. Then, despite Cahill's record against us, no one picked him up.

The one thing that stood out last night (and a few of us in the pub said it) was inability to do basic things well. Passes going astray, poor crosses, failure to get the ball on target from shots. Also we pass the ball backwards far too easily instead of being patient and holding on to it waiting for an opening.

IIRC that was the problem for their second, where we had theball in a decent forward position with SWP who then passed back when there were good options on and a couple of passes later, the ball ends up with Given who booted it downfield where Everton regained posession and went on to score.

 

[Soulboy]

We are in a position where if we win all of our remaining games we will finish at least 4th.

Of course it's irrelevant because we aren't going to.

But what you say is not even correct. If we win all our games and spuds win theirs, we finish 5th.

Nice wind-up mate.

I'm sure no one is that stupid otherwise.

 

[BooksReject]

Spot the mistake...

it's not too tricky is it....

...Pictures Chippy_boy frantically doing his maths...

 

[m27]

I wouldn't worry m27.

I think there are as yet undiscovered tribes in the depths of the Amazonian jungle who know we're going to spend big in the summer.

The question is, of course, who's going to spend it.

Oops, I'll have my stalker Johnny Crossan crying holy fuck about that comment.

The daft thing is, having defended Mancini to the hilt recently I just did not undertand THAT selection last night.

I was convinced Mancini had realised Richards can't play a passing game and Tevez and Ireland want to occupy the same space on the pitch.

I know you're a big Ireland fan Dave but that just seemed like a charity selection last night and I thought Mancini was more ruthless than that.

 

[robbieh]

Reina, Mascherano, Torres, Gerrard, Benayoun and Carragher. That is 6.

Bearing in mind there are a few players of equal merit, crapness ,I would say only Tevez, Bellamy, Kompany would be definite starters in the Liverpool team.

We have some players whose best days are behind them despite their relative youth. Toure and SWP.

We bought some players who would not be regulars in Arsenal or Chelsea´s sides. Barry and Bridge and Zabaleta.

Throw into the mix players that are good but have bad injury historys, step forward (gingerly), Lescott, RSC and Bellamy.

And that leaves us with our academy players who by in large are good squad players. And I include SI in that.

Basically I am saying that we have top quality in Tevez, Bellamy, Kompany, de Jong (in a balanced midfield) and Adebayor when available!

So I don´t buy the idea we have a fantastic squad that should be definite top four. Villa have a settled side that is probably less talented, Spurs squad is at least as good as ours. Liverpool have a good team being managed badly.

In fact I think we are doing OK given the injuries, off field dramas etc And I think although I was never a Hughes fan both managers have done quite well.

However next year will be a complete different ball game. RM knows where the problems lie as do we. A couple of fullbacks, and a couple of midfielders with pace and skill, we'll be a completely different proposition.

Fourth place still up for grabs.

 

[Soulboy]

That's what i'm saying. It's plain wrong to say we haven't got the players. We haven't got the players to win the league yet, but we've got a good enough group of players to finish 3rd or 4th right now.

I don't believe that point can be argued. Every Blue knows that we should not have drawn all those games against poor opposition earlier in the season. It happened because of poor organisation, not poor players.

WE could easily be 6 or 8 points better off now, pushing for 3rd.

As I said, it's been a season of turmoil and change.

Firstly, I still think we'll finish fourth, and I actually think we may have it sewn up before the Spurs game. Just a gut feeling.

However, all things being equal in the league we may well be out of the running of the Top 4 and this is why I'm just not convinced by our players yet.

As we know, Everton have struggled with injuries to key players (I know we have as well) but you could go through all their positions and make a case for them having equal or superior players. All arguable but I'd have Cahill, Baines is certainly not light years behind Bridge,Arteta, Pieenar, Fellaini (when fit obviously) and Jagieka. Saha is no mug either and I don't think there's a massive difference between him and Ade apart from the fact that Saha is made of biscuit but he'll probably play more games than Ade this season.

Next season, United, Chelsea and Arsenal are obviously going to be up there, Liverpool surely can't be shit forever, Spurs will buy well no doubt, Villa will probably be there again but if Everton keep hold of Moyes and the above players and add wisely they will be a big threat to the Top 4.

I'm afraid we need big signings through the spine of the team and full backs. Right being the priority. We need more than tweaking even to finish in the Top 4 next season.

It's been a season of turmoil for us I agree, but the season of turmoil at Liverpool and Everton's injuries have helped us enormoulsy and we can't keep banking on that.

Totally agree with you M27.

All this unambitious talk of "tweaking" the team for next season is, in my humble opinion, utter tosh.

We need at least 5 new first team players and maybe another 3 squad players.

The team we have at the moment is okay, but they were purchased by a different manager with a different vision.

A new right back, a quality centre half, at least two top notch midfielders and a replacement for Robinho... maybe even a new 'keeper if the opportunity arises.

It's clear to all now that SWP, Ireland, Richards, Toure and RSC are not the future.

And if you've got the money... flaunt it!

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Reina, Mascherano, Torres, Gerrard, Benayoun and Carragher. That is 6.

Bearing in mind there are a few players of equal merit, crapness ,I would say only Tevez, Bellamy, Kompany would be definite starters in the Liverpool team.

We have some players whose best days are behind them despite their relative youth. Toure and SWP.

We bought some players who would not be regulars in Arsenal or Chelsea´s sides. Barry and Bridge and Zabaleta.

Throw into the mix players that are good but have bad injury historys, step forward (gingerly), Lescott, RSC and Bellamy.

And that leaves us with our academy players who by in large are good squad players. And I include SI in that.

Basically I am saying that we have top quality in Tevez, Bellamy, Kompany, de Jong (in a balanced midfield) and Adebayor when available!

So I don´t buy the idea we have a fantastic squad that should be definite top four. Villa have a settled side that is probably less talented, Spurs squad is at least as good as ours. Liverpool have a good team being managed badly.

In fact I think we are doing OK given the injuries, off field dramas etc And I think although I was never a Hughes fan both managers have done quite well.

However next year will be a complete different ball game. RM knows where the problems lie as do we. A couple of fullbacks, and a couple of midfielders with pace and skill, we'll be a completely different proposition.

Fourth place still up for grabs.

Agree with most of what you say but would you rather have Kuyt, Adam Johnson or SWP playing on the right? I don't think SWP is playing particularly well but I'd still make Kuyt 3rd choice of 3.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

We need at least 5 new first team players and maybe another 3 squad players.

To get us to what level?

 

[Failsworth_Blue]

We need at least 5 new first team players and maybe another 3 squad players.

To get us to what level?

To challenge for the title i reckon we need at least 3 new first team players

 

[Soulboy]

We need at least 5 new first team players and maybe another 3 squad players.

To get us to what level?

Top 2.. or world domination.

Whatever comes first.<br /><br />-- Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:25 am --<br /><br />

We need at least 5 new first team players and maybe another 3 squad players.

To get us to what level?

PS How many players do you think we need to improve upon?

Less than 5?

 

[BurnCK]

Of course it wasn't a disaster. A disaster would be an earthquake, a plane crashing, a volcano erupting, or Stevie Ireland leaving. This was none of the above, so we take it on the chin and move on.

That wouldn't be a disaster. He's had one good season. I like Stevie, but there's no room for sentiment. We need better if we wanna take that next step. The same goes for quite a few other players we've got in the squad.

 

[m27]

We need to replace Richards, SWP and RSC just to stand still!!

If you then throw in Ireland, Vieira, and Adebayor who there is a strong possibility will all be on there way as well, we could be looking at 6 new players just to cover our losses.

It could be a busy summer.

 

[Cambridgeblue]

Agree with sentiments, saw a few things differently to yourself though as I thought we were thoroughly outplayed, we had a 10/15 minute spell after about 15 mins and same again early in second half but overall I thought Everton were simply the better side.

Distin looked class, shame we faced him when he appears to be 100% fit and in form.

Personally I feel Bob got it wrong tonight, I have been a big advocate of his tactics but we needed Rocky on from the start, regardless of his fitness we needed to get amongst them from the onset and tonight we couldn't.

Making the SWP sub when Stevie came off was an opportunity to put that right but he made imo the wrong call as he should have at least got Rocky on then - when he then got Rocky on he took off the wrong man in AJ but Bob took the easy option, why take off the man who gives the best delivery when you bring on the target man?

Overall though it is not the end of the world, Villa are wank and Spurs are riddled with injuries - they will get spanked when they play the top3.

Still fancy us for 4th, 3 points tonight would have been fantastic but now we just need to win our next 3 which is very achievable.

Wouldn't mind Arteta in a City shirt next year.....

RSC did nothing imho... I struggle to see how he would have helped.

I though up until that crunching tackle from behind on Ireland we looked dominant... after that we struggled. Barry seemed poor to me today - fair few his passing and delivery were poor.

Could have done with the likes of Petrov or Adebayor in that game, still chin up for Wigan - a win there will put us right back in the mix.

Tottenham have Sunderland (away) and Arsenal, Chelsea and United (away) coming up.

Villa have Chelsea (away), Bolton (away), Everton and Birmingham.

Both teams also have to come to Eastlands.

 

[mancity1]

You cannot tinker with the side too much over summer ( unless we buy Barca or Real of course ) because you have too many players that need time to "gel" once again.

Two perhaps 3 key signings and you hope someone or two from the academy can take the next step.

It will not be a disaster if we do not finish fourth either although that is clearly the target as is achievable.

We looked very lack lustre last night but credit to Everton they know how to shut us down in the final third and we need to find better ways of dealing with them in the future.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

To get us to what level?

Top 2.. or world domination.

Whatever comes first.

-- Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:25 am --

To get us to what level?

PS How many players do you think we need to improve upon?

Less than 5?

I think the current squad are the 3rd or 4th strongest in the league, overall. That's factoring depth and quality in there.

The aim next year is surely going to be to push for the title. The "outs" will of course depend on the "ins", but I'd say we are a right back and two midfielders away.

Possibly a striker too.

3-4 top quality players, good management and a fair wind and I think we could win the league and go a long way in the champions league.

That's how close I think we are to glory.