Discussion: Manuel Pellegrini 2015/16

[oakiecokie]

It's worth noting mate that Silva played in each of those first 5 games and was the best player on the pitch in each of them.

Interesting stats on Navas win percentage, I knew he made a difference to the balance of the side, but I didn't realise that much. Be interesting to see the same stats for De Bruyne.

For me the one thing that Navas has more than most City players ... a wonderful work ethic.

 

[TCIB]

Once he leaves us he'll get a job at a club akin to say Swansea...that's his level.

You do not juggle Real Madrid ego's whilst knowing you are getting the boot, scoring their highest points total at the time ever and be Swansea level, imo, ofc.
The only thing stopping him that season was Barca who were at the time the best club side ever, only bested by the current Barca.

He may have found his level but it is a damn sight higher than mid table. There are only a handful better in the world really.

The tie is well poised, no need to shit ourselves yet. If we go out to daft shit i shall be the first to rant.I shall refrain from comments such as "he's a ****" (not you i should add) and generally losing my temper/patience until we are out.
It is frustrating though i can totally understand that.

 

[Marvin]

That's exactly how I was feeling at Goodison tonight, the same seemingly half-hearted approach to getting the ball back after sloppily giving it away, piss poor defending, no tackling in the midfield and little spark up front. WTF must Pep be thinking watching these performances, a manager who wants his teams to go flat out to regain possession asap? We had a man advantage in stoppage time and we couldn't get the fucking ball off them!

Pellegrini seems to lack either the ability or the drive to get players out of that complacent comfort zone that so many are inhabiting just now.

An Abramovic would press the eject button now

I sincerely hope that that Guardiola deal is watertight.

Why is it so difficult for a manager to change a losing team when he has so many riches at his disposal? That's a Wembley appearance under threat. Once a lifetime ambition of many blues so easily and carelessly tossed away.

 

[Shaelumstash]

For me the one thing that Navas has more than most City players ... a wonderful work ethic.

Yep can't argue with that mate.

His final ball really frustrates me, and against a deep and packed defence, he is next to useless.

But we are so much more balanced as a team when he plays. He sticks wide, so it stretches opposition defences, and it leaves more space in the middle for Silva who is our best player.

Our best performances of the season were the first 5 games and Seville away, all of which Navas played in and De Bruyne didn't. I don't think it's a coincidence.

Playing Sterling on the left, Navas on the right and Silva in the middle is the most balanced and effective set up for us. The pace of the two wide players is a nightmare for opposition defenders, and there is no better player in the league to find them with a penetrating pass than Silva.

I like De Bruyne, but as I said, I don't think he fits in to our most balanced side on the wing. Possibly under Guardiola he could be developed in to a central midfielder to replace Yaya. But under the current manager I can't think of any player for us that he has managed to develop or improve. Possibly Kolarov, but going off his last 3 performances, maybe that was only temporary.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Find myself saying the same thing after near enough every game, even when we win half of the time, same old predictable performance, relying on nothing but individual brilliance to win us games and that simply can't happen every game. It's interesting to see the happy clappers slowly change their opinion. He's sucking the life out of this team and we're eight at the point of no return this week and i feel ge's going to cost us dearly. I don't accept pep coming in next summer as an excuse for wasting this season. Get rid now!!!

 

[yatesy94]

Grrrr. Not a terrible result but Pellegrini is up there as one of the most infuriating managers in recent times. Fernando on when we have a 1 man advantage for nearly 10mins instead of Sterling??!

Show some bottle for fuck sake. Yaya + defence were an embarrassment tonight no way any of them looked like seasoned pros.

 

[Marvin]

You do not juggle Real Madrid ego's whilst knowing you are getting the boot, scoring their highest points total at the time ever and be Swansea level, imo, ofc.
The only thing stopping him that season was Barca who were at the time the best club side ever, only bested by the current Barca.

He may have found his level but it is a damn sight higher than mid table. There are only a handful better in the world really.

The tie is well poised, no need to shit ourselves yet. If we go out to daft shit i shall be the first to rant.I shall refrain from comments such as "he's a ****" (not you i should add) and generally losing my temper/patience until we are out.
It is frustrating though i can totally understand that.

It is well poised on paper, but all they have to do is play at a high tempo and we are beat.

Need to bring in Itchy and Delph. Some fans scoff at workrate and think that quality trumps all but this City team has become a soft touch for teams that do nothing but close us down and play a qick through ball

 

[RandomJ]

For me It is difficult to remember the last time I really enjoyed a game. Each game you hope the performance will improve but it just never does. There are a few exciting moments such as the last 10 minutes against Borussia M. but it is just very disappointing on a regular basis. And then Pellegrini gives his after match interview and praises the players for a good performance. No Manuel, they didn't play well and the fact that you think we are actually playing well is quite scary. You might be a great guy but the sooner you go the better. Yes, we are still in all the competitions...blah blah blah, but let's have some excitement please.....come on City!!!!!!!.

I was actually getting a sense of deja vu tonight back to the Pearce days. But at least Pearce had an excuse with us being skint and having shit players. Pellegrini has a team most managers would give their left bollock for and has managed to get them to the point where we are struggling to pass to each other. Where the fuck has the exciting, attacking football from his first season gone?

 

[pudge]

I'd give a left bollock for him to rationally explain that last substitution.

 

[Shaelumstash]

Oh, another point I'd like to make about the manager:

Gareth Barry.

Pellegrini told him before he'd seen him in a single training session that he didn't have a future at the club. No games, no training sessions, seemingly he judged him on that fateful England game against Germany when he wasn't even half fit. Woy has done the same.

Barry was the best player on the park tonight. Made Yaya look like he didn't belong on the same pitch.

I'm reading Pep Confidential at the moment and he says the ideal "number 4" / holding midfielder is one who reads the game well, senses danger, fills in for his team mates when they are out of position, someone who passes forwards and not sideways, and someone who has the confidence and ability to hit a 20 yard pass in to feet to a player stood between the lines in the "number 10 position". Sounds a lot like Gareth Barry to me.

We sold him for £2m and brought in Fernando for £12 :-)