Discuss Pellegrini (Pt 2)

[Anonymous]

If the whole squad has bought into his philosophies then I believe we could do something special this year.

It's early days which is both cause for optimism and cause for caution. We battered Newcastle then were off the pace against Cardiff. Consistency of performance is what we need to bring to our game - starting with Villa on Saturday. I realise we play a cup game tomorrow but I suspect there'll be a lot of big players rested ... and it's those big players who need to show consistency in playing like world beaters not just against the rags or in the CL, but against the likes of Villa.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Yesterday was a far more convincing win than the 6-1. Well maybe not convincing, but certainly much fucking easier. We completely brushed them aside. There were chunks of that first half where they had 9 or 10 players at the edge of the area, defending like the stokes of this world do against us at the Etihad! The 6-1 they were in the game, arguably slightly on top til Balo scored after 20 odd minutes.

This one they were never in it. And yes I'm going to exclude the last half hour of the game, as ridiculous as it sounds, because the simple fact is that united were dead and buried within the hour

 

[GaudinoMotors]

One swallow does not a summer make and all that!!
There were some pretty impressive derby and other big results under the previous manager too.

However - not to be mealy mouthed about yesterday - the improvement in positioning, thinking and pace in Kolorov was striking; as was the confidence and eagerness of Nasri. If these are directly attribuable to the new caoch then credit where credit is due. Going to take more than a derby performance though - but certainly very encouraging on a team and micro level yesterday.

 

[bobmcfc]

I don't know if it was because it was the derby (we know how mindsets can change when you play your rivals) but yesterday we were playing as a team, playing with desire, with heart and with amazing tempo and skill. Kolorov and Nasri seemed to just feed off each Other yesterday and were so aware of each other's positioning without looking. They were all magnificent. The crowd and atmosphere were a major factor in my opinion and you could tell the players were feeding off it and it unsettled united a lot.

I'm hoping he can instill this desire every week and get us showing the form we did in our title winning season. It won't be easy because we have many egos in the team but I'm impressed with the display. Winning the Manchester derby isn't easy and requires a lot of mental strength but he didn't let the occasion swallow him up, he gave moyes a footballing kicking !

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Not quiet here fella. I'm totally fucking buzzing. I can see what this man is doing taking shape before my eyes and I think it's going to be something special. Along with the total football, the unity, the spirit, the fight...

And it's looking like you were right about Samir all along, too ;-)

Nasri had a poor season on and off the field last season, his worst in his professional football by his own admission. On that basis we were always likely to see an improvement this term. The big thing for me is the confidence he's playing with. He's clearly feeling a level of freedom in his play which you can see from him driving at players and acting as much as a wide forward as as a central playmaker. His finishing has got to be in the top 5 in our squad.

The overall result and performance hasn't quite sunk in for me. I think when players like Kolarov are excelling and playing with confidence and swagger, then you know there's something going on behind the scenes which is giving those players that confidence.

Pellegrini got his team selection absolutely bang on yesterday. Negredo bullied Ferdinand and Vidic in a way that Dzeko would never have done. That was for me the key to the space Aguero kept finding. Negredo has the power to hold up balls which are pitched up to him and then has the technique to play the right pass after holding off a challenge.

Navas is actually a more versatile player than even I was aware. He's not being deployed as a chalk on boots winger, he's being deployed as an attacking midfield player who has pace and delivery from wide in his arsenal. There has been a lot of talk about him coming narrow too often in recent week but we saw yesterday that it's actually crucial to controlling games in midfield that Navas and Nasri come narrow when they need to and make challenges. I think it speaks volumes about the confidence which the manager has in him. His play reminds me of the way Pellegrini had Joaquin playing last season at Malaga. Another out and out winger converted into a more versatile attacking midfield player.

This isn't a dig at the previous incumbent because Mancini's way also delivered plenty of big results and performances, but for me it's telling that Pellegrini's press conference narrative about the quality of his squad and players is almost the direct opposite of what Mancini's was. For now at least the players are responding to the things he's saying and doing.

Can we beat Bayern at home? They'll be a much tougher opponent than the rags were but frankly, there's no reason not to be confident of getting something out of that game. Yes they've got goals in them, but so have we.

You've hit several nails on the head there.

Negredo was outstanding because he bullied their back line. He moves much better than Dzeko and he gives us an outlet ball too. He won his aeriel battles better than Dzeko does and that allowed Aguero to run them ragged. Tell you something about Aguero. We are only now seeing the best of him. He's had fitness battles since he's arrived and it's been stop-start. He's got what it takes to be the best striker in the world. What a performance.

Talking about bullying, Vinny bullied Rooney in a way I haven't seen bullied before. Yaya bullied Fellaini. We bullied them all over the park.

Yes, we can beat Bayern. They struggled with us in that friendly when we got the passing game going. If Pellegrini can keep that unity and fight, and get the best from the whole squad we are up there at that level now. I'd be quite happy with 3 points from the two games with them, and I think we will get them if we can keep everybody fit.

 

[Anonymous]

One swallow does not a summer make and all that!!

I agree with that sentiment - although I feel we're being harsh on Pellegrini. It's not one swallow. We played like that against Newcastle and against Plzen. Fucked off with Shrek's free kick because we deserved another clean sheet yesterday.

 

[FantasyIreland]

One swallow does not a summer make and all that!!

I agree with that sentiment - although I feel we're being harsh on Pellegrini. It's not one swallow. We played like that against Newcastle and against Plzen. Fucked off with Shrek's free kick because we deserved another clean sheet yesterday.

A free kick that the fat cnut engineered.....

I honestly dont believe there is a team that cheats more.

 

[bobmcfc]

One swallow does not a summer make and all that!!

I agree with that sentiment - although I feel we're being harsh on Pellegrini. It's not one swallow. We played like that against Newcastle and against Plzen. Fucked off with Shrek's free kick because we deserved another clean sheet yesterday.

We did, it annoyed me that he got a goal. They should have got nothing and a couple more in the back of their net.

 

[Braggster]

Negredo was outstanding because he bullied their back line. He moves much better than Dzeko and he gives us an outlet ball too. He won his aeriel battles better than Dzeko does and that allowed Aguero to run them ragged. Tell you something about Aguero. We are only now seeing the best of him. He's had fitness battles since he's arrived and it's been stop-start. He's got what it takes to be the best striker in the world. What a performance.

Yes, we can beat Bayern. They struggled with us in that friendly when we got the passing game going. If Pellegrini can keep that unity and fight, and get the best from the whole squad we are up there at that level now. I'd be quite happy with 3 points from the two games with them, and I think we will get them if we can keep everybody fit.

I don't always agree with you, Dave, but I do think both of the quoted statements are absolutely spot on. Negredo is a fantastic player, a great acquisition who brings several characteristics that (and this is the key) significantly enhance the contributions of other key players (Aguero, Kolarov, Navas, Nasri, for example, all benefit from his presence, in different ways).

I said elsewhere on here last night that Aguero, great though he's been for us, could be unbelievable this season - 30 in the league and 40 overall is what I think he's capable of, and if he stays fit I reckon he might just hit those heights.

As for the match v Bayern, no reason why we can't get a result. Sure, they're a top team and they may well turn us over - there'd be no shame in that - but we can definitely get a result, and I think, with our quality, that our attitude should be to expect a result. The staff and players will, so we should too.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

One swallow does not a summer make and all that!!

I agree with that sentiment - although I feel we're being harsh on Pellegrini. It's not one swallow. We played like that against Newcastle and against Plzen. Fucked off with Shrek's free kick because we deserved another clean sheet yesterday.

We did, it annoyed me that he got a goal. They should have got nothing and a couple more in the back of their net.

15-20 minutes into the second half I thought we were going to eclipse the 6-1 scoreline. We were that dominant.

But the subs disrupted us and we didn't quite get the breaks on the break, if you know what I mean.<br /><br />-- Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:59 am --<br /><br />

Negredo was outstanding because he bullied their back line. He moves much better than Dzeko and he gives us an outlet ball too. He won his aeriel battles better than Dzeko does and that allowed Aguero to run them ragged. Tell you something about Aguero. We are only now seeing the best of him. He's had fitness battles since he's arrived and it's been stop-start. He's got what it takes to be the best striker in the world. What a performance.

Yes, we can beat Bayern. They struggled with us in that friendly when we got the passing game going. If Pellegrini can keep that unity and fight, and get the best from the whole squad we are up there at that level now. I'd be quite happy with 3 points from the two games with them, and I think we will get them if we can keep everybody fit.

I don't always agree with you, Dave, but I do think both of the quoted statements are absolutely spot on. Negredo is a fantastic player, a great acquisition who brings several characteristics that (and this is the key) significantly enhance the contributions of other key players (Aguero, Kolarov, Navas, Nasri, for example, all benefit from his presence, in different ways).

I said elsewhere on here last night that Aguero, great though he's been for us, could be unbelievable this season - 30 in the league and 40 overall is what I think he's capable of, and if he stays fit I reckon he might just hit those heights.

As for the match v Bayern, no reason why we can't get a result. Sure, they're a top team and they may well turn us over - there'd be no shame in that - but we can definitely get a result, and I think, with our quality, that our attitude should be to expect a result. The staff and players will, so we should too.

With regards to Aguero, he has it all. Pace, skill, vision, finishing. And he has that upper body strength where big defenders cannot knock him off the ball. He gets down low and almost goes under them. See the first goal against Plzen as an example. He's young, by all accounts he trains well and lives well.

You're damn right he can get 30 goals a season. I wouldnt' swap him with anyone in the Premier League - and I think he's going to get better and better.