Discussion: Manuel Pellegrini 2015/16

[hgblue]

I'm not gonna hammer Pellegrini excessively for that, other than to say 2 of the 3 substitutions were ridiculous, the decision not to remove Toure was incredible, and as usual the gaping hole in front of our two centre halves was down to the way he set the team up (the number of times the opposition is able to pass the ball to a team mate totally unmarked, just 25 yards from our goal, is astonishing). Oh and then there's the assemblage of a squad riddled with physical and mental weakness, and his inability to motivate them properly.

The bigger issue tonight was with the players. Ya Ya stank the place out, a lazy, lumbering, lummox, who fell over every time he was put under pressure, and gave the ball away cheaply time and time again. The laughable, half hearted, attempted 2nd half tackle on Barkley on the edge of our box, just about summed him up. Captain, my fucking arse. Kevin De Bruyne? A luxury, lightweight item, who bottles every challenge. Otamendi? Hard man according to the papers. Well, hard men don't dive needlessly on the edge of their own box and concede a corner and then a goal, and they certainly don't get brushed over as pathetically as he did by Barkley in the 2nd half. Dimichelis? Did he really attempt that pass out of his own 6 yard box?
That was a cup semi-final FFS! No-one worked hard enough (bar possibly Navas and Sagna), we chickened out of tackles, we were second to everything, and the whole team is riddled with complacency. Pep can't come soon enough, but when he does he's gonna have his fucking work cut out. The mental and physical weakness is that squad is pronounced. They should be hanging their heads in shame in that fucking changing room, but they won't be.

Apart from that it was pretty fucking impressive though. ;)

 

[OB1]

It isn't any fun though.

Watford was fun for two mins.

It should be like watching the Harlem globetrotters with this squad, even if we lose, but ithere is no inspiration anymore. The team looks like his face.

But why aren't the players playing like that? One thing we know is that Pellegrini does not hold them back from going for it and expressing themselves but the fuckers are not doing that.

Would you take Benitez as an interim?

 

[Neville Kneville]

This is why Pellegrini isn't getting a break and rightly so.

Theres been little fun recently largely down to being outplayed for most of the game. A lot of the games we end up snatching points in are infuriating for 80mins.

We have hardly played well since the opning few games. Even v Newcastle we were shit for half the game.

I find that hard to take, with this squad.

 

[richards30]

Should never have let paddy go to New York! Should be in charge now

 

[cookster]

He's now blaming officials! He can't blame the injuries anymore.

Manuel look in the mirror.

 

[Paul_Powers_Tash]

We was entertaining when we played 4-4-2. Come on mate, what's your suggestion to sort this shit out? Somethings got to change, and it won't be the manager. I'd play exactly like we did two seasons ago, aguero and bony up stop with de bruyne and silva on the flanks. Zaba back in the side, get his timed runs back. I think sagna could be a decent cover for centre back.

Lol, you got me fella. I thought you were being serious for a while there!

 

[richards30]

But why aren't the players playing like that? One thing we know is that Pellegrini does not hold them back from going for it and expressing themselves but the fuckers are not doing that.

Would you take Benitez as an interim?

You know what, I would!

 

[markbmcfc]

Who picked the fucking team and squad?

Who else should he have picked in central defence that would have known not to allow Lukaku a free header from 6 yards?

Explain to me how the team selection caused that goal.

 

[LittleEgg]

It wasn't just Yaya tonight: too many players are underperforming and, whatever the manager is doing right or wrong, the lack of effort and failure to execute is inexcusable.

Maybe, but yaya is the root cause of some of the sloppyness...

What does it say to the whole team that a shuffling wage pinching muppet gets given captaincy, and is then consistently played for 90 mins whilst at the same time clearly,to anyone with eyeballs and an IQ over 10, giving the team a huge problem in the middle of the park...i saw many times tonight players coming out of position to cover his slow arse. Good defenders made to look gash having to do that bit extra, and play in fear of no cover...

Its telling that they allowed toure to take the piss out of the club, manager, and by extension the fans, when they sweeped the whole "engineering for a big money move" in the summer under the carpet after the cake fiasco. Its the underlying message it sends to the rest of the squad that is the most damaging. Pellers is bang average true, but even if he was good he'd struggle to change things at present. A superstar manager like pep, with his own ego, is the only thing that will work while captain shuffle has the captaincy and a clear position of power...

Either a temporary manager comes in and upsets toure not playing him, souring the dressing room...OR...Pellers stays and toure continues as per the last few months.

Neither one is suitable remedy. The truth is Pellegrini should have gone in the summer and toure with him. If i had to pick i'd go temporary manager route, and risk souring the dressing room...but then again i'd imagine some players would be relieved to not have to worry about the gaps left by toure.

 

[The blue phantom]

But why aren't the players playing like that? One thing we know is that Pellegrini does not hold them back from going for it and expressing themselves but the fuckers are not doing that.

Would you take Benitez as an interim?

I would take Warnock right now.