Can We Keep Everyone Happy?

[Anonymous]

Honest question based on the way in which Mancini rotates his squad.

My fear is that come the summer AJ, Dzeko, and NDJ will be asking for transfers. I know it sounds like a "negative" thread, but it isn't. More a case of wondering who's going to handle Mancini's ways best. Dzeko and NDJ in particular are players who are possibly in danger of becoming nothing more than back up players who're more likely to see game time from the bench than from the start - but conversely I think they're both ineffective from the bench and need to be starting week in and week out so as to get the best out of them.

Personally I think the untouchables in our squad are exactly that - untouchable - so I wouldn't particularly cry over the departures of our "squad" players, but it'll be interesting to see who's dummy gets spat first.

My money is on Nigel's...

 

[Andouble]

even when we have 2 games in quick succession Mancini hasn't made as many changes as I thought he would made, aside from Carling Cup matches. Hard to complain with our results this season, but I'm not Bosnian and think Dzeko should start more.

 

[Pembrokeshire Blue]

Agreed about NDJ, I think he is a top class player but is maybe not suited to our attacking play anymore as is a bit one dimensional and too good a player to bit sat on the bench.

AJ will be staying I would like to think as long he starts getting a bit more game time, yesterday was crying out for some width and feel he came on too late.

I also think Dzeko is going nowhere as he has a point to prove at City and I think he will come good although not been bad this season at all IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

even when we have 2 games in quick succession Mancini hasn't made as many changes as I thought he would made, aside from Carling Cup matches. Hard to complain with our results this season, but I'm not Bosnian and think Dzeko should start more.

He's obviously a confidence player, because since he's been dropped whenever we've seen sight of him he's been gash. However, as I said in the Dzeko thread, ultimately he got dropped because he's not as clinical in front of goal as Mario and Aguero and we need to be clinical due to the nature of our play. As people used of say of Arsenal of old, we try and pass the ball into the back of the net. So we're not having dozens of shots on goals unless we're working the ball into pretty much clear goal scoring chances. When those chances arrive, we need to take them.

As crazy as it is to say, has been supremely wasteful in recent weeks, and has still bagged a handful of goals. I don't think we'd have seen that from Edin to be honest.

 

[Balti]

even when we have 2 games in quick succession Mancini hasn't made as many changes as I thought he would made, aside from Carling Cup matches. Hard to complain with our results this season, but I'm not Bosnian and think Dzeko should start more.

Agreed. Balo hasn't done quite enough for me to be an automatic starter the way Aguero is. Earlier substitutions would help too.

With the squad we have I'd expect a little more rotation tbh. A couple of key players look like a rest would do them no harm at all.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed about NDJ, I think he is a top class player but is maybe not suited to our attacking play anymore as is a bit one dimensional and too good a player to bit sat on the bench.

AJ will be staying I would like to think as long he starts getting a bit more game time, yesterday was crying out for some width and feel he came on too late.

I also think Dzeko is going nowhere as he has a point to prove at City and I think he will come good although not been bad this season at all IMO.

I think AJ will stay because he's English and it's unlikely the club we will ever get an offer which they think meets his valuation. I also think that Mancini doesn't have any other options for pure wingers and the cheque book is no longer blank for him so he will fight to get the best out of him rather than just moving him on and bringing someone else in.

 

[cleavers]

Earlier in the season, it was Balotelli, Zabaletta, and Nasri that weren't playing, now they are, its just all part of the rotation.

AJ has just signed a new contract, this hardly suggests he wants away (though frankly his contribution since he signed has been pretty woeful).

Anyone who has signed for Mancini's City knew that they would not play every week, if they didn't understand that, then they shouldn't have signed. (Of course NDJ didn't sign for Mancini, so I can excuse him.)

Potentially we have 20 more league games, 3 more Carling Cup games, 7 more FA Cup games (could be 11 with replays), and 9 more Europa League games, that is a possible 43 more games to play, this is why we need these players, each and every season.

I'm not worried if some of them can't cope with it, they can go, and we'll replace with better (see Tevez).

 

[Akira]

Anyone who isn't happy should man up and step towards Mancini's desk and talk to him about it.

Don't be douche like Wayne Bridge & co. who sits there earning fat paycheck complaining Mancini doesn't talk to them.


Then again, it's Mancini's way or the high way. TBH, Nigel seems most likely to leave.

 

[Marvin]

It's not just a question of keeping players happy but getting the most out of our squad.

But sticking on topic - I think Dzeko will still get plenty of games

Possibly he has suffered a little as teams stick loads of players behind the ball to combat City. if teams do that, Aguero and Balotelli are more suited to working in tight spaces.

As long as City do well, players like AJ and Dzeko will be happy to be in contention, and play their part when they are called upon

 

[brian the blue]

To be honest, its impossible for everyone in a 25 man squad to play as much as they want, as they want to play every game. So no, you can't keep everyone happy.

I can see Nige leaving us in the summer to be honest, and its probably best for both him and us. The way we play now means a player like Nige isn't needed in our team when Barry can do what he does but also play forward and attack well. So if it was up to me, i'd let Nige go and bring in someone who is more of an all round midfielder, so then we don't have to rely on Yaya to play every game and allow us to rest Barry more as he is getting older.

The only problem with Nige is isn't his contract up soon? So if he goes in the summer we won't be getting a lot of money for him.