franksinatra said:
OB1 said:
What was worse about today's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, to a goal that shoudn't have stood, to the three 1-0 defeats under Mancini?
What is worse is the cumulative results under Pellegrinis management. We have already lost four games in six this year compared to four in total last year away from home. The last three years we battered Sunderland but those critical of Mancini never factored this when judging him so I am not sure those rules should apply now. Our problems away from home resulted in 33 and 34 points out of a possible 57 over the last two seasons. Not four out of eighteen as it currently stands.
The cumulative results aren't good enough but we have a new manager, who did inherit some issues that he needs to solve, and what he needs to do is show progress. There will be ups and downs in performance. People have criticised the defending but there was nothing meaningful to complain about in today's defending. At the other end, we had a higher than average shot count. Lots of crosses and corners.
The manager did not cock-up today. His team selection was reasonable given the injuries and mid week game. FFS I've seen people complaining that he picked Micah.
Tactics and team selection did not cost us today. The way he wants the team to play was not the problem today.
If I thought Pellegrini was on the wrong track are making too many errors - he will make some - I would say so. Oh, and I have defended Mancini after Sunderland games in the past.
What Pellegrini has to do is get his team to play with the belief in themselves they are showing at home away from home. Easier said than done.