Discuss Pellegrini (Pt 4)

[Phil1]

As far as the press conferences go, I'm happy that he gives the snivelling parasites nothing. As big a fan of Mancini I was, he did make me cringe with some of the things he came out with - that said, I'd hope that he's a little more animated with the players than he is whenever I've seen or heard him.
Results are what he'll be judged on though, rightly or wrongly it's just the way the modern game is. A win tomorrow and all is well in the world again..

 

[blueinsa]

Top 4 come the end of May will be us, rags, Arse and Chelsea. In what order remains to be seen but im still very confident we will pull away and win it but if we dont, we will qualify for the CL.

Yeah ... the concerns about us finishing in the top 4 seem wholly unrealistic. Even taking into account our away results so far. I'd be more worried if all our away performances had been akin to Cardiff/Stoke. I didn't think Sunderland was a particularly poor performance. Pellegrini got his team wrong to start with, and made changes it half time. It was a poor show from him in that respect, but had either Negredo or Aguero had even a marginally better day we'd have run out comfortable winners.

I thought our work rate at Sunderland, before we went behind, was poor, and this is one thing that does worry me away, Lawrenson had it about right on football focus today, we just don't work hard enough without the ball in away games, and all home sides will press us hard, especially the more they see us struggle against that style of play, but this has been going on away for more than MP's 6 away league games this season, its at least 18 months we have generally been erratic away from home.

The truly great sides and great players have always had that work ethic, especially when not in possession. It started under Bob and it still remains a problem that as a side, we expect something to just happen at times rather than making it so and yes, we are undoubtedly better than most but you have to win the right to prove that week in week out.

 

[Anonymous]

The truly great sides and great players have always had that work ethic, especially when not in possession. It started under Bob and it still remains a problem that as a side, we expect something to just happen at times rather than making it so and yes, we are undoubtedly better than most but you have to win the right to prove that week in week out.

Do either of you think that it's down to lacking a certain amount of urgency, especially away from home, when Vinny's not in the side?

 

[TGR]

Top 4 come the end of May will be us, rags, Arse and Chelsea. In what order remains to be seen but im still very confident we will pull away and win it but if we dont, we will qualify for the CL.

Yeah ... the concerns about us finishing in the top 4 seem wholly unrealistic. Even taking into account our away results so far. I'd be more worried if all our away performances had been akin to Cardiff/Stoke. I didn't think Sunderland was a particularly poor performance. Pellegrini got his team wrong to start with, and made changes it half time. It was a poor show from him in that respect, but had either Negredo or Aguero had even a marginally better day we'd have run out comfortable winners.

I thought our work rate at Sunderland, before we went behind, was poor, and this is one thing that does worry me away, Lawrenson had it about right on football focus today, we just don't work hard enough without the ball in away games, and all home sides will press us hard, especially the more they see us struggle against that style of play, but this has been going on away for more than MP's 6 away league games this season, its at least 18 months we have generally been erratic away from home.

I agree our away form has been a little dodgy for a while and not just this season. However we previously managed to get a result or at least come away with an all important point for a draw. That has not happened this season so far and that is the difference. I still feel the players mentality has a lot to do with it.

 

[blueinsa]

The truly great sides and great players have always had that work ethic, especially when not in possession. It started under Bob and it still remains a problem that as a side, we expect something to just happen at times rather than making it so and yes, we are undoubtedly better than most but you have to win the right to prove that week in week out.

Do either of you think that it's down to lacking a certain amount of urgency, especially away from home, when Vinny's not in the side?

Even with Vinny in the side, we can be very slow in our play, especially when a side decides to sit back and allow us the ball. I had it down to Bob but we are still seeing it under Manuel and t starts to ask the question of do we have a problem with certain mental attitudes of certain players?

Whatever it is, Pellegrini really needs to sort this out as when we do we will be right up there with the very very best.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

The truly great sides and great players have always had that work ethic, especially when not in possession. It started under Bob and it still remains a problem that as a side, we expect something to just happen at times rather than making it so and yes, we are undoubtedly better than most but you have to win the right to prove that week in week out.

Do either of you think that it's down to lacking a certain amount of urgency, especially away from home, when Vinny's not in the side?

Urgency shouldn't come down to missing a player, every player should have that desire to work their arses off every game and really put a shift in.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Do either of you think that it's down to lacking a certain amount of urgency, especially away from home, when Vinny's not in the side?

Without doubt he brings an urgency and industry to the side but he also brings the ability to build from the back and start attacks.He also allows team mates the confidence to concentrate predominantly on their own game without the worry of taking responsibility for the duties of others.

Kompany is a huge miss,both in terms of leadership and ability,his presence is irreplaceable.

 

[cleavers]

The truly great sides and great players have always had that work ethic, especially when not in possession. It started under Bob and it still remains a problem that as a side, we expect something to just happen at times rather than making it so and yes, we are undoubtedly better than most but you have to win the right to prove that week in week out.

Do either of you think that it's down to lacking a certain amount of urgency, especially away from home, when Vinny's not in the side?

It doesn't help not having Vinny in the team, but I don't think its key. At Sunderland, the biggest miss was Fernandihno, his drive has been key to us improving as much as we have until that game, and he links the play very well, and he also seems to make Yaya work harder.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

If we win and united don't tomorrow, does that mean we can go back to laughing at them at their shite start?

Without a doubt.

Of course should the opposite happen, i trust your private bunker has space mate?

Always room for you pal :-)

 

[Anonymous]

The truly great sides and great players have always had that work ethic, especially when not in possession. It started under Bob and it still remains a problem that as a side, we expect something to just happen at times rather than making it so and yes, we are undoubtedly better than most but you have to win the right to prove that week in week out.

Do either of you think that it's down to lacking a certain amount of urgency, especially away from home, when Vinny's not in the side?

Urgency shouldn't come down to missing a player, every player should have that desire to work their arses off every game and really put a shift in.

Oh don't get me wrong - i'm not saying that it's acceptable - but I do feel like Vinny tends to have that capacity to make a surging run forward and inject a bit of tempo into our play. Similar to Yaya really in that respect.

I'd love to see stats for distance covered by players in say our away game at Sunderland in comparison to say Stoke.