taconinja said:I have no great argument with the idea that the players should have shown more determination in the first half.OB1 said:BillyShears said:Forgive me for speaking for OB1 - I think his point is that irrespective of what the perceived weaknesses were in the team selected - it was still a team which was more than capable of beating Watford comfortably. The fact they didn't and the manager had to make substitutions doesn't automatically mean that the original team selection was wrong. Just that the players didn't perform to anything approaching the standard required.
Nothing to forgive ;-)
Let me add that Richards not suiting how we want to play is not a view a that I subscribe to to any great extent. Richards may ultimately come up short and has been overtaken by Zab but before his injuries, he was helping City concede the fewest goals and getting forward and creating chances for his team mates, he started our title winning season with a host of assists. He should be capable of doing a decent job for us against a Championship side.
Your second point, however, is what I meant about past performances. Two years ago, he played well. That's no way to determine if he will play well now. So far, he's been positionally inept and making incredibly incorrect runs forward in relation to his midfield partner. Can that be corrected? Of course, but Richards often seems much more willing to complain about being asked to do something not 100% in his comfort zone than he does attempting to alter his style of play.
taconinja said:I feel this is where our real summer work has to occur encompassing both the academy and transfers. If it's a starter we're looking for, perhaps CB to partner Kompany, but it's that second tier which needs strengthening.
The manner in which we play seems to often include one central midfielder dropping in line with the two center backs while the fullbacks move forward or drop deep depending on which side the ball is at the time with a lot of shifting laterally for the center backs. I'm not sure Pellegrini cares as much for which foot our central defenders prefer as much whether they're comfortable playing on the left or right side of the pitch. That's conjecture though as I'm not really in a position to ask him.BillyShears said:taconinja said:I feel this is where our real summer work has to occur encompassing both the academy and transfers. If it's a starter we're looking for, perhaps CB to partner Kompany, but it's that second tier which needs strengthening.
I wonder what the perception of Rekik is. We keep being linked with Mangala, who's also left footed. I would expect Rekik back here, and I don't see us having three left footers in the squad. In an ideal world I'd like to see us go and sign another world class right footer, and let Rekik and Nastasic fight for the left sided CB position.
de niro said:wayne71 said:BillyShears said:Forgive me for speaking for OB1 - I think his point is that irrespective of what the perceived weaknesses were in the team selected - it was still a team which was more than capable of beating Watford comfortably. The fact they didn't and the manager had to make substitutions doesn't automatically mean that the original team selection was wrong. Just that the players didn't perform to anything approaching the standard required.
So when we perform poorly these days its no longer the managers fault?
are you joking? if this season goes tits up it'll be the shit players bob left him with. a bit like wee davy over the road.
taconinja said:I feel this is where our real summer work has to occur encompassing both the academy and transfers. If it's a starter we're looking for, perhaps CB to partner Kompany, but it's that second tier which needs strengthening.BillyShears said:taconinja said:Your second point, however, is what I meant about past performances. Two years ago, he played well. That's no way to determine if he will play well now. So far, he's been positionally inept and making incredibly incorrect runs forward in relation to his midfield partner. Can that be corrected? Of course, but Richards often seems much more willing to complain about being asked to do something not 100% in his comfort zone than he does attempting to alter his style of play.
I just don't think Micah's progressed enough as a footballer in the last three or four years. In many respects our more disciplined style of football under Mancini allowed Micah's weaknesses to be better protected, but we've seen a few times this season that he isn't smart enough to play the way Pellegrini wants us to.
It's a stark contrast to Zaba. Someone who had as many weaknesses as Micah when he first came to the club, but has improved enormously in the ensuing years.
I can see OB's point though - ultimately the manager has to rotate his players when we have so many competitions to play in. It may well be that Pellegrini knows certain players probably aren't good enough, particularly when playing together, but the others need their rest.
The way I see it, had we lost yesterday, there'd be justified cause for complaint. However the fact that we didn't, and managed to get away with playing a lot of squad players, should be seen as good management.
For the record, I thought Pellegrini's decision to play Kun and Negredo on Wednesday was an aberration, compounded by Negredo's subsequent injury. Proper dropped bollock.
Rammy Blue said:de niro said:wayne71 said:So when we perform poorly these days its no longer the managers fault?
are you joking? if this season goes tits up it'll be the shit players bob left him with. a bit like wee davy over the road.
Two piss poor posts that just aren't required on the thread. If both of you can't contribute then maybe stay out of the thread?
franksinatra said:The second tier, quality wise, is the envy of most clubs and as stated is packed with international players. The problem is these players are not playing regular football and so it impacts on their form and their ability to reach the desired standard having not played for a number of weeks.
Rammy Blue said:de niro said:wayne71 said:So when we perform poorly these days its no longer the managers fault?
are you joking? if this season goes tits up it'll be the shit players bob left him with. a bit like wee davy over the road.
Two piss poor posts that just aren't required on the thread. If both of you can't contribute then maybe stay out of the thread?
blueinsa said:Rammy Blue said:de niro said:are you joking? if this season goes tits up it'll be the shit players bob left him with. a bit like wee davy over the road.
Two piss poor posts that just aren't required on the thread. If both of you can't contribute then maybe stay out of the thread?
The Modfather is untouchable.