Player Responsibility
After all the talk of player fall outs, Mancini alienating players the first game has highlighted the same failings from last season with the common denominator being the contrast in performances between players at home and away.
Once again the team away from home plays passively. Too many players refuse to take responsibility,to commit the opposition and create, prefering to play square passes and stroke the ball around in areas where the opposition will not be hurt.
Unfortunately this is no different to last season and was the reason for us scoring a similar amount of goals to Aston Villa last year away from home.
The challenge now for Pellegrini, like Mancini, is to change the mentality of the players and reinforce they require a fast tempo even if it means they will lose possession, on occasions, by moving the ball quickly and in more threatening areas of the pitch.
Like Mancini, Pellegrini would not tactically ask them to play slower and more methodical as it comes down to the mindset of the players. Hopefully over the coming weeks this will not be used as a stick to beat the manager with as the responsibility lies solely with the players.