Forget Recriminations, how do we sort this mess out?

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Mancini is directly quoted in most of the match reports today. Including broadsheets...


Mancini: "I didn't like the way we played but then we have not even worked well in training."


WTF - this is the biggest topic of concern for me. A manager who, for whatever reason, seems to concede we are not in it together.

WTF indeed?!?!?!? You know my opinion on the whole situation, I'm not even that surprised.

I've only just logged on and half expected at least a cursory thread in terms of debating the issue.

I'm not going to be held accountable for the supposed shorthand speeds of the average hack.

But from The Times to, yes, The Sun - this is how Mancini is quoted.

I've got to say, they appear in context with regards what follows in the sentence.

A few weeks ago I was championing his cause, in the belief he had finally got everyone on board.

But this contradicts it all. There is a man in the background, as per usual, who is doing his usual come hither.

I've made no secret of my ultimate admiration and he was/is potentially the only man to kickstart a revolution.

It's a debate for another day. If Mancini succeeds, City succeed.

He will live or die by results, and you need all your players for that, surely?

 

[jay_mcfc]

Mancini is directly quoted in most of the match reports today. Including broadsheets...


Mancini: "I didn't like the way we played but then we have not even worked well in training."


WTF - this is the biggest topic of concern for me. A manager who, for whatever reason, seems to concede we are not in it together.

Is this Mancini finally hitting out at what has been a few months of transfer requests and players squabbling/arguing? He's been Mr Cool throughout this whole period but there was definitely a tone in his voice last night that suggested he'd had enough of one or two things. This might not be a bad thing, it's time some of our players realised they are being paid very well to play for a club that wants to challenge for honours. It is clear Mancini has seen one or two things that goes against that and if he now feels that it's time to clamp down on it then it may just be a good thing.

Back to Dave's original point;

We're not 'in a mess'
Hart has not played THAT badly but there are definitely errors creeping in. I would stick with him for now.
Kompany's defensive partner should be Boateng/Lescott/Toure in that order.
Jo and Vieira shouldn't play again but if there are injuries then so be it.


Tolm what is your understanding of the transfer window? Did we not bring anyone else in because of the new rules or is it for some other reasons?

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

is this coming down to Tevez and other members of the squad squawking at double training sessions and Mancini ultimately giving in?

Or are the coaching staff not up to scratch or have they lost faith in what Mancini's trying to do? because things like them rarely passing to Jo shows to me that they aren't on side with other members of the squad, let alone the management.

 

[beast]

WTF indeed?!?!?!? You know my opinion on the whole situation, I'm not even that surprised.

I've only just logged on and half expected at least a cursory thread in terms of debating the issue.

I'm not going to be held accountable for the supposed shorthand speeds of the average hack.

But from The Times to, yes, The Sun - this is how Mancini is quoted.

I've got to say, they appear in context with regards what follows in the sentence.

A few weeks ago I was championing his cause, in the belief he had finally got everyone on board.

But this contradicts it all. There is a man in the background, as per usual, who is doing his usual come hither.

I've made no secret of my ultimate admiration and he was/is potentially the only man to kickstart a revolution.

It's a debate for another day. If Mancini succeeds, City succeed.

He will live or die by results, and you need all your players for that, surely?

I'm reading between the lines. Its twistin me melon

 

[Didsbury Dave]

WTF indeed?!?!?!? You know my opinion on the whole situation, I'm not even that surprised.

I've only just logged on and half expected at least a cursory thread in terms of debating the issue.

I'm not going to be held accountable for the supposed shorthand speeds of the average hack.

But from The Times to, yes, The Sun - this is how Mancini is quoted.

I've got to say, they appear in context with regards what follows in the sentence.

A few weeks ago I was championing his cause, in the belief he had finally got everyone on board.

But this contradicts it all. There is a man in the background, as per usual, who is doing his usual come hither.

I've made no secret of my ultimate admiration and he was/is potentially the only man to kickstart a revolution.

It's a debate for another day. If Mancini succeeds, City succeed.

He will live or die by results, and you need all your players for that, surely?

I share your concern over that quote. Deep concern. I'd have started a thread on it as you well know.

One man is responsible for training, morale and togetherness.

I've wondered if our sudden radio silence on Messrs Luis and Torres might be someow connected to the flirting from Spain....?

 

[blueinsa]

You must look at the quality of player we have now and think to yourself that they come off a pitch against the likes of Leicester, Notts County, Birmingham etc and they must be asking themselves how the fuck can we not be beating these teams?

We have certain players that wont stick around if it keeps happening of that im sure.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Mancini is directly quoted in most of the match reports today. Including broadsheets...


Mancini: "I didn't like the way we played but then we have not even worked well in training."


WTF - this is the biggest topic of concern for me. A manager who, for whatever reason, seems to concede we are not in it together.

Is this Mancini finally hitting out at what has been a few months of transfer requests and players squabbling/arguing? He's been Mr Cool throughout this whole period but there was definitely a tone in his voice last night that suggested he'd had enough of one or two things. This might not be a bad thing, it's time some of our players realised they are being paid very well to play for a club that wants to challenge for honours. It is clear Mancini has seen one or two things that goes against that and if he now feels that it's time to clamp down on it then it may just be a good thing.

Back to Dave's original point;

We're not 'in a mess'
Hart has not played THAT badly but there are definitely errors creeping in. I would stick with him for now.
Kompany's defensive partner should be Boateng/Lescott/Toure in that order.
Jo and Vieira shouldn't play again but if there are injuries then so be it.


Tolm what is your understanding of the transfer window? Did we not bring anyone else in because of the new rules or is it for some other reasons?

I really don't know. There have been subsequent leaks of bids for players from Lakuku, Larsson, a Belgian winger (name escapes me) Patore et al.

Just seems our usual proactiveness in this area was left to a day of panic.

I really don't believe the new rules have any bearing whatsoever.

Sure, we are actively trying to demonstrate that year-upon-year our spend will decrease.

But our plans to combat it aren't short-termism, and certainly not at the expense of being hamstrong in the marker any time soon.

 

[jay_mcfc]

I share your concern over that quote. Deep concern. I'd have started a thread on it as you well know.

One man is responsible for training, morale and togetherness.

I've wondered if our sudden radio silence on Messrs Luis and Torres might be someow connected to the flirting from Spain....?

Oh good God!!

100 pages!

 

[Gabriel]

Genuinely think we're starting to look tired in the final quarter of games. Even against County we never had the strength to pin them back in the final quarter, and I think a telling example of this is the waywardness of passing that is becoming a worrying feature of our play.

Far too many balls are either not reaching the intended target or are put behind the man, meaning our attacks slow down and opponents get back in position. The last two pitches have certainly not been conducive to passing play, but I fear that there is more to it than that.

 

[Dax777]

[/u]

Sorry Dave but we're not.

I agree.

Too many see the names on the teamsheet and think, fuck me, what a side but the reality is they are not a top team and we are not as good as we think we are.

We are a collection of very talented players that we are relying on individual moments of magic rather than a collective, sustained team effort.

I am beginning to even doubt the actual talents of the individual players. I mean lets be honest.

In goal, Hart is close to the top, but then again goalkeeping this year has been poor league wide, so it is no big shakes to be near the top if you've had 2 to 3 masterful performances, Which Hart has.

On defense, we have 2 very good tacklers in Kompany and Zab (not great though) 1 decent in Kolo, 2 average in Micah and Kolarov, and 2 poor tacklers in Boateng and Lescott.

We have a great header in Lescott, 2 good header in Kompy and Micah, and the rest are average.

We have no one who is excellent at positioning. Kolo is the best and he is barely above average, and the rest are.

Kompany is the only one that makes good decisions on the ball consistently. And for all of Kolarov's offensive instinct. His skills are actually lacking, and his speed negligible. Boateng might be the best crosser of the ball, but his movement are often poor and thus reduce or nullify crossing opportunities. Kolarov on the other hand whips in a good ball but doesn't have the same touch or consisitency. And decision making is still lacking.

So that is our defense

Midfield. One great tackler in De Jong, 2 good tackler in Barry and Milner, the rest are average or below. As ball passers, we have a great one in Silva, a good one in Yaya and average passers everywhereelse.

We have no good header of the ball in midfield. I great dribbler in AJ, 2 good ones in Yaya and Silva, and average ones in De Jong and Barry. others are below average.

Decision making: Silva great, Yaya good. Everyone else average to poor.

Speed is non existent. AJ is quick in and out of breaks, Yaya has deceptive power/speed. But no one is a burner. And everyone else neither has speed or quickness.

Touch: Silva great, Yaya good, everyone else average.

Up top: Balo, Tevez and Dzeko are quite good. Bur chemistry and decision making isn't so great.

Yeah! I'd say we have a good team, but we not that deep and certainly not great