Ferran Soriano & Txiki Begiristain

[without a dream]

MP has got a hell of a challenge on his hands. It's all well and good saying we'll see how he goes after 10 games then judge, on current form we could be out of the title race by then. It's been a poor start, I don't believe anyone looked at our start and didn't think that was 9 points in the bag. I think he can turn it round but the plan needs a short term re-think imo. Lescott is clearly uncomfortable without the protection of a deeper line and any cover from midfield. I think he'll turn it around but there are reasons to be worried at the minute.

 

[toffee balls]

Here's an idea.

Why don't we cut City a bit of slack , sit back and see what happens ??

I know this is a bit revolutionary but give it a go hey.

We are in capable hands , sit back and relax FFS

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Here's an idea.

Why don't we cut City a bit of slack , sit back and see what happens ??

I know this is a bit revolutionary but give it a go hey.

We are in capable hands , sit back and relax FFS

this, let the people paid to worry about it worry about it.

 

[mad4city]

It's been a poor start, I don't believe anyone looked at our start and didn't think that was 9 points in the bag.

Not wishing to gloat about my 20/20 hindsight but I, for one, thought the Cardiff game had banana skin written all over it. Newly promoted club in their first home game, back in the big time, for an age and live on TV? What's not to dread?
Remember how poxed Utd were at St Mary's last year? Remember when they came a cropper at Burnley a few years ago?
These are dangerous outings for anyone unlucky enough to draw them.
Throw in the fact that we've been defending under a new regime and bedding in key players and, all in all, I'm happy enough with our start.
The more we play the meaner we'll get at the back. All we need to do is hang in there so we're still in the mix come New Years.
We can afford two more losses and still do that.

 

[TGR]

It's been a poor start, I don't believe anyone looked at our start and didn't think that was 9 points in the bag.

Not wishing to gloat about my 20/20 hindsight but I, for one, thought the Cardiff game had banana skin written all over it. Newly promoted club in their first home game, back in the big time, for an age and live on TV? What's not to dread?
Remember how poxed Utd were at St Mary's last year? Remember when they came a cropper at Burnley a few years ago?
These are dangerous outings for anyone unlucky enough to draw them.
Throw in the fact that we've been defending under a new regime and bedding in key players and, all in all, I'm happy enough with our start.
The more we play the meaner we'll get at the back. All we need to do is hang in there so we're still in the mix come New Years.
We can afford two more losses and still do that.

History says you can lose 4 or 5 (maximum) games a season if you want to win the title.
So no panic..... yet.

 

[MillionDollarDream]

Here's an idea.

Why don't we cut City a bit of slack , sit back and see what happens ??

I know this is a bit revolutionary but give it a go hey.

We are in capable hands , sit back and relax FFS

We all probably do that in our respective homes, but its a message board is where you come to give your opinion on any and everything regarding our favorite club. If people are concerned why shouldn't they come to a place where there a sure to be a few others who share the same opinion?

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Here's an idea.

Why don't we cut City a bit of slack , sit back and see what happens ??

I know this is a bit revolutionary but give it a go hey.

We are in capable hands , sit back and relax FFS

I've always sit back but can never relax. I never cease to think that we will find another way of conceding a goal! One that will be looped by SSNakesTV for half a season!

 

[MadchesterCity]

It's been a poor start, I don't believe anyone looked at our start and didn't think that was 9 points in the bag.

Not wishing to gloat about my 20/20 hindsight but I, for one, thought the Cardiff game had banana skin written all over it. Newly promoted club in their first home game, back in the big time, for an age and live on TV? What's not to dread?
Remember how poxed Utd were at St Mary's last year? Remember when they came a cropper at Burnley a few years ago?
These are dangerous outings for anyone unlucky enough to draw them.
Throw in the fact that we've been defending under a new regime and bedding in key players and, all in all, I'm happy enough with our start.
The more we play the meaner we'll get at the back. All we need to do is hang in there so we're still in the mix come New Years.
We can afford two more losses and still do that.

PANIC on the streets of Manchester

We shouldn't have lost at Cardiff but now we MUST at least draw with Stoke away and MUST beat the scum at home

 

[BlueAnorak]

A very tricky period coming up for sure.You are correct in saying we have to wait to judge Manuel. I am still of the opinion that unless he sorts this high line defending out we could be well out of touch come the Norwich game. Frightening really however I want to be proven wrong.

Agree 100%.

The Premier League is built upon a set of trained whippets designed to hit the opposition hard on the counter attack. Pre-season, Arsenal destroyed us and AC Milan scored 3 (fortunately we attacked really well prior to the lapses and scored 5 with a superb attacking performance in the first 20 mins). Then into the season we looked dodgey defending against Newcastle (but the attacking play was so good they had to sit back to stop us), Cardiff had 3 1-on-1 chances Hart saved 2 and the other was messed up, Against Hull we would have been 3 down against a team whom had a striker with a pulse. make no mistake if we play a high line against the Rags and we will be slaughtered.

Then there is the change from Zonal to Man Marking. That is a disaster too. Two of the goals at Cardiff down to that - though not helped by injuries to Kompany & Nastasic - then again we could cope against the lesser lights when Kompany was injured last season (his amazing wins with/without ratio stats are down to his long layoff with a toe injury under Hughes).

It is so reminiscent of Clueless Hugheslesssness comedy defending. Still I am confident that Pellegrini is at least pragmatic enough to know when to stop flogging a dead horse. If he doesn't the Premier League title will be gone by mid-October and Champions League qualification by the mid December.

I say again that changing our core defending style was not an essential change. Forwards and AMs pressing did need to be fixed as did attacking with more width and the speed of our attacking. Pellegrini needs to get his priorities right and I am greatly worried by the fact he didn't only change what was necessary and slowly migrate to a more Man-for-man+ Higher line style,

 

[BlueAnorak]

Link the articles.

Trying to find it online as it was in the paper edition that I read it (I'm not a Mail reader, I had it on a plane comeback from holiday!). I might still have the paper somewhere in my recycling so I'll try dig it out later and scan it.

In the meantime, I found a cuple of others that talk about Khaldoon's support of Mancini; not in as explcit terms as Samuels piece, but still backing the notion:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2324053/Roberto-Mancini-sacked-Manchester-City-having-friends-counts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ounts.html</a>

Also, quick google of 'khaldoon backed mancini' throws up a lot of examples of how he publicly backed the man very close to the end of last season, which I feel adds a bit of weight to it all (there's a good article form the Independent there).

Of course they back the manager publicly up until he gives him the boot.

Khaldoon and the Sheik were not reluctant to dismiss Mancini. It was their decision to do so and their orders for Feran to find a successor whilst Mancini was still in situ.

Kaldoon backed the manager. Txiki and Ferran did nothing, zip, bugger all, not a sausage. My information from my friends who work in Abu Dhabhi , hear say admittedly, is that the Sheikh backed the management team - AS HE WAS BOUND TO DO - but was absolutely furious as to the handling of events by the management team. If true, that suggests he won't be overly tolerant of failure this season.