Discuss Pellegrini

[BoyBlue_1985]

Are people really annoyed because he doesn't wear a scarf??

 

[TGR]

I perhaps should have stressed more emphatically that I feel that it was Mancini's failure that led to the disintegration of on-pitch effort last season. He's the manager. He has to take responsibility when that happens. He didn't. He failed. He was sacked. Rightly. The problem is that people can learn bad habits. It's a danger. I don't know if it will happen, but not keeping it in mind is negligent I think.


Very salient points. I agree.


Quite possibly. I tend to worry when players seem lost on the pitch. Perhaps overly worry.


I think you're being optimistic. I think it will take half a season to even mostly break the bad habits learned previously and to get everyone on the same page. I just hope this board doesn't implode in the meantime.

'I perhaps should have stressed more emphatically that I feel that it was Mancini's failure that led to the disintegration of on-pitch effort last season. He's the manager. He has to take responsibility when that happens. He didn't. He failed. He was sacked. Rightly. '

Interesting point you make there: However, I do recall when Avram Grant was in charge at Chelsea and had 'lost the dressing room' it was the senior players in the squad who actually stood up to be counted and took responsibilty for the performance of the team on themselves and on the pitch regardless of their contempt or disdain of their Manager. They had the mindset the desire and the will to win by themselves rather than pointing fingers and simply blaming it on someone else and downing tools.
That is the difference and hence the problem with a lot of our top players - they simply couldn't (and based on Sunday's performance some of them still can't) be arsed, even in an FA Cup Final which will alwyas be unforgivable. I am trying hard not use words like 'spoilt brats' and 'Prima Donnas' which interestingly is defined by Wiki as:

'Today the term has become a mainstream word outside opera to often describe a vain, undisciplined, egotistical, obnoxious or temperamental person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team but whose contributions are essential to the success of a team'

The situation with Grant was different. They didn't dislike the guy they just didn't rate him. Now with AVB they detested him and they did down tools. Mancini's problem was not so much the players but the power change at the top. The players always disliked Mancini and took their opportunity when they sensed the power shift from Mancini to Ferran/Txiki leading to a slow but inevitable disintegration on the pitch. Ferran & co just used the general dislike for Mancini as the lever to force him out and to paint the necessary picture of Mancini in the press which was not to difficult as they didn't like him much either :)

In many ways it was inevitable as Mancini wanted to run the show and with Ferran and Txiki around that just wasn't going to happen. A classic power play that Mancini lost. It happens all the time.

I agree, And hence the noticeable tightening of the purse strings in Mancin's last transfer window and the splashing of some serious and heavy cash in this transfer window. He was set up for a fall from a long way out and he knew it. Hence his 'fuck you and fuck everybody' attitude last season. He knew he was going he just decided not go quitely. How many of us would have done the same in that impossible position?

 

[Anonymous]

So you think Rodwell will take Yaya's place alongside Fernandinho?

I can't speak for Dave but I think Rodwell is Yaya's natural understudy in the squad, so if Yaya were to miss out for any reason, Rodwell would be the player who'd come in. Personally I think Pellegrini will rotate those two more than Mancini did - especially during the CL group stages as I said earlier.

 

[TGR]

So you think Rodwell will take Yaya's place alongside Fernandinho?

I can't speak for Dave but I think Rodwell is Yaya's natural understudy in the squad, so if Yaya were to miss out for any reason, Rodwell would be the player who'd come in. Personally I think Pellegrini will rotate those two more than Mancini did - especially during the CL group stages as I said earlier.

If Rodders stays fit and history tells us that is a BIG if.

 

[bernabias home shirt]

That is the difference and hence the problem with a lot of our top players - they simply couldn't (and based on Sunday's performance some of them still can't) be arsed, even in an FA Cup Final which will alwyas be unforgivable. I am trying hard not use words like 'spoilt brats' and 'Prima Donnas' which interestingly is defined by Wiki as:

Calling players "lazy" and saying "they can't be arsed" is nearly always just a lazy and simplistic fan's way of seeing things, usually based on nothing but a bit of frustrated body language or just a total lack of understanding of the game.

Effort was not the problem at the weekend. Even at 3-1 down they were forcing the game and were within a whisker of an equaliser twice.

Do you think they give their all every match though Dave
100% running their nuts off for 90 mins when the chips are down?

 

[Anonymous]

Indeed that was virtually the first cross of any quality we put in during the entire game. The standard of our delivery into the box has been a pet bug bear of mine for years. Inaccurate floaty rubbish to static forwards is virtually our watchword, Mr Clichy being the worst offender by an epic margin. What frustrates is that it's a simple enough technique to whip the ball in flat at head height, and if you get it right it's a cheap source of goals, particularly late on against mentally tired defenders. The rags specialise in it.

Navas's crossing ability is exceptional. I've said this elsewhere but I'm surprised City haven't moved for Baines. His crossing ability is exceptional too, and with Silva playing from wide left, the full back on that side certainly needs to be able to cross a ball better than Clichy does.

 

[taconinja]

Indeed that was virtually the first cross of any quality we put in during the entire game. The standard of our delivery into the box has been a pet bug bear of mine for years. Inaccurate floaty rubbish to static forwards is virtually our watchword, Mr Clichy being the worst offender by an epic margin. What frustrates is that it's a simple enough technique to whip the ball in flat at head height, and if you get it right it's a cheap source of goals, particularly late on against mentally tired defenders. The rags specialise in it.

Navas's crossing ability is exceptional. I've said this elsewhere but I'm surprised City haven't moved for Baines. His crossing ability is exceptional too, and with Silva playing from wide left, the full back on that side certainly needs to be able to cross a ball better than Clichy does.

I will admit I find it highly frustrating watching Silva/Nasri give Clichy the ball in a fairly advantageous position for him to stand on it for a few moments and then kick it back to his outlet at the halfway line.

 

[Anonymous]

Indeed that was virtually the first cross of any quality we put in during the entire game. The standard of our delivery into the box has been a pet bug bear of mine for years. Inaccurate floaty rubbish to static forwards is virtually our watchword, Mr Clichy being the worst offender by an epic margin. What frustrates is that it's a simple enough technique to whip the ball in flat at head height, and if you get it right it's a cheap source of goals, particularly late on against mentally tired defenders. The rags specialise in it.

Navas's crossing ability is exceptional. I've said this elsewhere but I'm surprised City haven't moved for Baines. His crossing ability is exceptional too, and with Silva playing from wide left, the full back on that side certainly needs to be able to cross a ball better than Clichy does.

I will admit I find it highly frustrating watching Silva/Nasri give Clichy the ball in a fairly advantageous position for him to stand on it for a few moments and then kick it back to his outlet at the halfway line.

We've started crossing the ball more frequently under Pellegrini, or at least it seems that way. We'll now see over the course of a season whether someone like Clichy can figure out how to make his crossing more effective.

 

[CitizenTID]

Are people really annoyed because he doesn't wear a scarf??

I want him to wear a replica home shirt.

Infact, let's go for the full kit wanker look, boots and everything.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

That is the difference and hence the problem with a lot of our top players - they simply couldn't (and based on Sunday's performance some of them still can't) be arsed, even in an FA Cup Final which will alwyas be unforgivable. I am trying hard not use words like 'spoilt brats' and 'Prima Donnas' which interestingly is defined by Wiki as:

Calling players "lazy" and saying "they can't be arsed" is nearly always just a lazy and simplistic fan's way of seeing things, usually based on nothing but a bit of frustrated body language or just a total lack of understanding of the game.

Effort was not the problem at the weekend. Even at 3-1 down they were forcing the game and were within a whisker of an equaliser twice.

Do you think they give their all every match though Dave
100% running their nuts off for 90 mins when the chips are down?

I didn't say every player gives 100% for every game. That's why I said "nearly always". But very very few professional footballers go out on the pitch thinking "I'll have a lazy day today". There's too much at stake for them, whether it be professional pride, ego or their place in the team.

Players get frustrated, players lose confidence, players get confused, players even get complacent. But it's very very rare for them to just not put effort in.

There's no way the "can't be bothered" accusation could be thrown at City yesterday, or in the Cup Final as the poster alluded to.