Discussion: Manuel Pellegrini 2014/15 (continued)

[Damocles]

I agree with much that you say but I hope that is a wind-up. Not that I don't think he should give a youngster or two a taste of the first team. He also though needs to let one or two have their City Swansong and deliver another win against a team that will be up for it. Ending the season as the form team in the division is something positive to take into next season.

It's not a one off thing. He has consistently and constantly failed to give young lads any chances unless absolutely forced into it and even then only sparingly. The excuse is always that the game is too important to our season to do so.

No excuses for it this time. If he is as holistic and youth oriented as he and others have claimed then he can fit them in and allow them a taste of Premier League standard of football. Anything else represents a failure to do his job correctly as manager of Manchester City. Which means he should go.

Lots of reasons he should go but this isn't one of them. Iheanacho will get minutes on the pitch. The others that I'd like to
see: Lopes. Rekkik and Denayer are all on loan. I would hope Rekkik replaces Boyata in the squad next season, Lopes
returns and Iheanacho stays. Denayer is still a kid and probably needs another year away before replacing Martin for 2016-17.
That's 4 players we're developing and that are close to breaking through. Not all of them will make it. The others are miles off
yet and shouldn't be rushed. Pellegrini talks to Txiki and Viera, between them I think they know whats what. Be patient.

Rekik won't be here next season; the fact that he's even willing to go anywhere at all rather than put in the transfer request is because Txiki got in his ear and has a good reputation.

Denayer says he wants first team football or nothing.

Lopes will be lucky to get in front of any new signings.

Pellegrini talks to many people and does nothing at all. It wasn't Vieira or Txiki who was bringing on Scott Sinclair or 36 year old Frank Lampard in a game that we were 3-0 up in when we had young players on the bench. This isn't an issue of patience, it's me seeing a clear as day trend about our manager and you using non-arguable excuses about "well he MUST be willing because err...well...he must".

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

City have lots of room for improvement but I just don't think we are as far off as many appear to. Also, we are trying to develop a way of playing that will leave us short of numbers at the back at times.

I couldn't agree more. I'm absolutely and totally optimistic that a few clever sales and signings will transform us. Chelsea won the league easily, yet it was obvious in both games against them that we were the better team. So many reliable players have underperformed this year for whatever reason.

I agree as well. I think something which to a greater or lesser extent we all have to get used to, is that we will be more open than we were back when Mancini was manager whether we have MP in charge or Pep or any other manager espousing the high line, high press, all out attack mentality which we're trying to foster. It's sort of the nature of the beast that if and when the press is avoided or if the opposition pick the right passes and execute them well, then we'll look like a very open side.

You know I love to agree with you chaps, but for all that certain individuals did not play well this season and that there were others whose efforts weren't exactly Stakhanovite, there was one man kept not only picking them, but then deploying them in positions that not only did not play to their strengths, but even accentuated their weaknesses. The last 5 games have given me some hope that we will not see a repeat of the tactical debacles at Klanfield and Old Nafford, or the sheer spineless laziness of Turf Moor next season, but the real proof of the pudding is yet to come for me. DD is right that we were the best team this season, so we need to have a good look at ourselves this summer if we are to properly understand why we have finished so far behind Chelsea.

 

[Damocles]

Should be sacked on Monday if he plays a full team against Soton. Simple as that.

One or two may get some game time but while there is something at stake i.e. Europa League positions I think City are obligated to play a near full strength team, much the same as the rags and West Ham are due to relegation being at stake.

There are post season and pre season tours coming up where the youth will be given opportunities.

Friendlies are NOT opportunities. In fact they are the worst way in the entire world to blood young players.

The reason they need first team football is because the Premier League is in a totally different class to the U21 and they don't know the requirements of speed of decision making and physical strength required to compete to which we they can start developing from. They don't know this because they've been consistently ignored by our manager for a variety of shit reasons that idiots parrot in some amazingly strange form of "trust".

You lot trust the manager to have given the players minutes if they were good enough. The problem though, is that this is completely blind trust with nothing at all to actually back it up. You think he'll do the right thing, despite many, many examples of him doing the opposite, because you WANT him to.

 

[BobKowalski]

Just give us a glimpse of the youngsters. Not asking for wholesale changes but for just once in your bloody time here take a chance and play someone under the age of 23.

 

[Damocles]

Just give us a glimpse of the youngsters. Not asking for wholesale changes but for just once in your bloody time here take a chance and play someone under the age of 23.

Can't mate, Spurs might get upset. We should not blood youngsters because Spurs might get upset. that is a genuine post from these people.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I couldn't agree more. I'm absolutely and totally optimistic that a few clever sales and signings will transform us. Chelsea won the league easily, yet it was obvious in both games against them that we were the better team. So many reliable players have underperformed this year for whatever reason.

I agree as well. I think something which to a greater or lesser extent we all have to get used to, is that we will be more open than we were back when Mancini was manager whether we have MP in charge or Pep or any other manager espousing the high line, high press, all out attack mentality which we're trying to foster. It's sort of the nature of the beast that if and when the press is avoided or if the opposition pick the right passes and execute them well, then we'll look like a very open side.

You know I love to agree with you chaps, but for all that certain individuals did not play well this season and that there were others whose efforts weren't exactly Stakhanovite, there was one man kept not only picking them, but then deploying them in positions that not only did not play to their strengths, but even accentuated their weaknesses. The last 5 games have given me some hope that we will not see a repeat of the tactical debacles at Klanfield and Old Nafford, or the sheer spineless laziness of Turf Moor next season, but the real proof of the pudding is yet to come for me. DD is right that we were the best team this season, so we need to have a good look at ourselves this summer if we are to properly understand why we have finished so far behind them.

I don't disagree in the slightest. Pellegrini has made some bad calls this season without a doubt. If we replace him with Guardiola this summer it wouldn't bother me in the slightest, in fact I'd be even more excited. But if he stays I've a feeling he will get things right again. He's a bold old bastard in my opinion - too bold and trusting sometimes. But he's also clever and canny and I think he's learnt a lot about his squad's weaknesses as well as strengths this season.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Just give us a glimpse of the youngsters. Not asking for wholesale changes but for just once in your bloody time here take a chance and play someone under the age of 23.

Can't mate, Spurs might get upset. We should not blood youngsters because Spurs might get upset. that is a genuine post from these people.

Even a cautious Kenneth such as myself, can see no good reason for Iheanacho and Angelino (and Ambrose if he's fit) not to be on the bench at least

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

still think he should be let go after the post-season tour.

Sadly he likely won't, but hey, will just have to hope that Txiki signs better players than the ones rumoured and the squad wins us the title next season.

 

[andersmcfcdk]

If Pellegrini won't even pick just one of the young guys for the game against Southampton, he can leave. I'm so sick and tired of his attitude towards youth.

 

[RandomJ]

If Pellegrini won't even pick just one of the young guys for the game against Southampton, he can leave. I'm so sick and tired of his attitude towards youth.

Yeah but at least he says hello to them in the corridor.... Holistic my arse.