Complaining. Let's hear some ideas then.

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

With Jack as his number 2. Who needs the Spanish Alan Ball??

Ha, throw fatbloke into the mix as the new dietitian, full house!!!

 

[cleavers]

Yours isn't the only one going along the lines of "unless you're a professional manager you know shit" and although to a point it's correct, we certainly shouldn't refrain from offering our own views.

The issue isn't people offering their views, its how people are offering their views, if its done in a respectful (to both other posters, and the club in general) then there won't be any objections to peoples views. That's how a forum should work, but some can't help themselves, and the constant harping back to a manager sacked 3 years ago doesn't help, that boat sailed, and this one is sailing very shortly too.

 

[cleavers]

Do what we did in the run ins of the last two seasons. Defend a bit deeper, be a bit more pragmatic generally in terms of selection and hope that we have enough individual quality going forward to grind out wins. It worked in the last six matches last season (with Kompany missing) and in the title season. I worry that as he's going anyway, Pellegrini might just take the "fuck it" attitude and just go for it. I don't think we are functioning well enough in any area of the pitch currently to get away with that.

Can't really argue with any of that, and hopefully now Vinny is out again, he'll do exactly that.

 

[WRicko]

Sagna > Zaba

Fernando shouldn't start any game

Manu Garcia > Navas

Sterling should start because usually he is not a good sub.

Navas played well

Fernando has been playing well recently certainly better than Yaya though both where good last night. Who would you play with forward midfielders injured and Delph injured ? Fernando makes us solid unlike when yaya and Fernandinho play together

 

[City_Sean]

My bigger issue is people continually claiming the manager is shite, he's this and that etc. What people cannot deny as facts show is he's won three trophies in three years. He's played some of the best football I've ever seen a City side play, and he'll go off into the sunset as one of our greatest managers.

Maybe we should be doing better, but every club has the same mindset.

 

[blueinsa]

Underachievement for three of the last four years, the boring and football for two years running (other than the cups this season where we've actually been decent) and strange squad assemblance when you consider the style we play [and will continue to play] under Guardiola.

Short term pain for long term gain.

We have had incredible success since the takeover and yes, it could have been better but it could have also been worse.

Football has always seen sides do well for periods before tapering off and our next revolution starts come this summer.

So much to look forward to and id rather do that now that the decision has been made than look back but that said, we will never always play well or win everything and im fine with that, its sport, its football.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Can't really argue with any of that, and hopefully now Vinny is out again, he'll do exactly that.

I'd like us to play with a genuine three in midfield if Yaya is going to start most matches of Yaya, Fernando and one of either Delph or Fernandinho. With Sterling and Navas on the wings. Just go for a bit of pace and balance, be prepared to let the opposition have the ball a bit more, be solid and try to hit on the break rather than constantly trying to "thread needles" through packed defences who know exactly what is coming. I think Silva probably needs to sit things out when Yaya starts just at the moment, he looks out of sorts and credit to Yaya he has looked more his old self in the last few weeks and is currently offering us more than Silva. I don't expect any of that though, if I'm being honest.

 

[prof-taf]

I don

Do what we did in the run ins of the last two seasons. Defend a bit deeper, be a bit more pragmatic generally in terms of selection and hope that we have enough individual quality going forward to grind out wins. It worked in the last six matches last season (with Kompany missing) and in the title season. I worry that as he's going anyway, Pellegrini might just take the "fuck it" attitude and just go for it. I don't think we are functioning well enough in any area of the pitch currently to get away with that.

I dont think MP would take that attitude, some of the players might. MP has flaws but his integrity is not one of them.

 

[cleavers]

I'd like us to play with a genuine three in midfield if Yaya is going to start most matches of Yaya, Fernando and one of either Delph or Fernandinho. With Sterling and Navas on the wings. Just go for a bit of pace and balance, be prepared to let the opposition have the ball a bit more, be solid and try to hit on the break rather than constantly trying to "thread needles" through packed defences who know exactly what is coming. I think Silva probably needs to sit things out when Yaya starts just at the moment, he looks out of sorts and credit to Yaya he has looked more his old self in the last few weeks and is currently offering us more than Silva. I don't expect any of that though, if I'm being honest.

I thought Silva was OK last night, he had a poor start but improved greatly second half, I just don't think we can leave him out in games like this, he's too capable of winning a game for us, that said he does need to have some break from playing weekend/midweek/weekend.

Our best games recently have featured all 4 of Fernando, Fernandhino, Toure, and Silva, with Fernandhino on the right, but not playing as a winger.

What we really need are the players closer together to link defence and attack better, and the team Billy selected does that for me, and Sterling offers us pace which we lack (if he turns up).

 

[CC1]

I was laughing my hole off kid, not getting worked up.

Such a lovely way with words

 

[Neville Kneville]

My bigger issue is people continually claiming the manager is shite, he's this and that etc. What people cannot deny as facts show is he's won three trophies in three years. He's played some of the best football I've ever seen a City side play, and he'll go off into the sunset as one of our greatest managers.

Maybe we should be doing better, but every club has the same mindset.

Depends if you rate the players or not.

I think we've had the best squad ever assembled in the Premier League backed by one of the best groups of young players ever & I even include 'failures' like Devante Cole, George Evans etc in that. I think there are a huge bunch of them who proper managers would have used in order to fill holes & keep the best players fit. I think one or two would have had a chance of playing regularly.

I think the formation we have used has been wrong in most games & has contributed to the general fatigue of people such as Yaya & Silva who are overworked, & some of the injuries.

I think the offside trap with no pressure on the ball is childish, lazy fucking shit because the manager can't coach a defence.

In short I think he's one of the worst managers we've ever had, who has been lucky enough to be in charge of some of the best players we have ever had. I think Brendan Rogers, who I took the piss out of, has achieved a miracle compared to Pellegrini.

If I could change anything, I would go back in time & kidnap him & put him in a fucking cellar when he was due to meet Txiki.

Right now, I'd put him on gardening leave and put one of the senior players as player manager. Just in case Leicester slip up.

 

[Omnia Vincit Riot]

Instil some urgency into the team, have them press the opposition, get into the box more and argue for penalties more vociferously.

Play Iheanacho more often, instead of Bony.
Play Sterling instead of Navas.
Play anyone instead of Fernando.

And in summer, buy some world class stars that will actually improve the starting XI, rather than pad out the squad or fill quotas. Spend some serious money on players that everyone knows are absolute quality. Pogba, Alaba, Lewandowski or Aubameyang, Bale, etc ... That kind of quality.