Friendly Review

[RVZ Urmston]

Well let me see......... i thought some aquited themselves okay but lets not get to giddy here, we were playing Irsih part-timers.

Taylor, looks very dodgy, i think we need another keeper.

Vesil, looked shakey at first but did quite well consdiering he's a centre back, so did okay.

McGivern, he's solid but i think he's treading water.

Boyata, very disapointing, looked leggy especailly when he went to right back.

Savic, impressive, any defender that gets his foot in to nick balls away from players is gonna be a good aqusition.

Razak, i was not impressed, i thought he gave the ball away too much although did get stronger in last 15 mins.

Johnson, i could pull my hair out, so much talent but has a got a cigar out too much these days, he might be frozen out if he's not to careful, a waste of talent.

Weiss, overated and on his way out.

Wright-Phillips, is everything weiss is not..... hope we keep him as he looks like he has his old sharpness back and could do a job in the hole.

Guidetti, rated him when i first saw him at youth level, but he just looks average, gone backwards!

Suarez, ohhh, a little nugget, loves to be on ball, gives away possesion occasionally, but like Assulain and Cole, looks to have qualities that might see him progress.

Roman, he did okay.

Scapezzi, good movement, but would have to see more of him.

Reilik, (soz if i spelt it wrong), seen him before and he looks cool under pressure, its a wait and see with him i think.

Just my opinion of course.................

 

[Ntini77]

Missed the game today. How did Savic & Razak get on?

 

[Etchy]

impressed with savic, razak! (reminded me of yaya toure today, i thought he was a winger?) and shaun obviously should be part of everything city, why not!?

a couple of other thoughts, guidetti is trying to hard!, good to see players like rekik, suarez and scapuzzi too jus shows were not jus a throw money at it club, were building a great squad now and building the future...

 

[LoveCity]

Missed the game today. How did Savic & Razak get on?

Both played very well. All of the young ones except McGivern (who seems destined for the Championship) showed something and several blew hot and cold as young players often do since they aren't the finished product (although reading some of these posts, some of our fans expect these 17/18/19 year olds to be mistake-free experienced players).

Razak, Savic, and during his spell on the pitch Suarez were very impressive. Shame Roman wasn't on longer as he is quality too.

 

[Ntini77]

Missed the game today. How did Savic & Razak get on?

Both played very well. All of the young ones except McGivern (who seems destined for the Championship) showed something and several blew hot and cold as young players often do since they aren't the finished product (although reading some of these posts, some of our fans expect these 17/18/19 year olds to be mistake-free experienced players).

Razak, Savic, and during his spell on the pitch Suarez were very impressive. Shame Roman wasn't on longer as he is quality too.

That's encouraging. Hopefully, they'll play a part in the Carling Cup.

Cheers, bud.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Veseli, McGivern, Weiss, Boyata and Guidetti didn't have good games today. Johnson was generally poor and looked disinterested, yet came up with a great goal and assist out of the blue. Barry had a great game. Razak was excellent and plays the game in a similar style to Essien. Savic, despite an error or two, oozed class when in possession and will be amazing once Mancini moulds him into the defender he wants. SWP is a man on a mission, but unless he is happy to play no more than 10 games next season, he will still be leaving. Rekik really excites me - cannot believe he's only 16! Suarez is going to be a gem. Ignore the fact that he's lightweight at this moment in time - that will be worked on. Just look at his football brain. He is CONSTANTLY on the move, looking for the space and is able to pick out good passes. A clear star of the future. Roman looked very bright when he came on, but unfortunately we only got to see 8 minutes of him.

Was very good to see the kids dominating possession and all the signs look good.

 

[Adam-mcfc]

Not thrilled with that performance if I'm honest.

Too few of the young lads stepped up.

Savic was disappointing, Johnson too.

Guidetti, Mcgivern have confirmed to me that they are unable to make it at this level.

I still have hopes for Weiss.

It was only because of Barry - man of the match - that we earned the right to dominate possession. And only through SWP, that we had bite going forward.

Razak looks like he has good feet, but I'm not sure he has the ability to control a game. But I'd definitely give him time.

Suarez looks like he has a good brain, but I'm not sure he's enough of an athlete to make it here. Nor do I think he has the feet to make up for that deficiency.

Juan Roman, though I hear good things, is still to convince me.

The highlight for me was Rekik. Looks assured and sharp.

SWP must play against United, though. Even when he came on against them in the semi, he skinned Evra, but was simply unable to pick out the right pass when he should have. In this form though, I suspect that should not be a problem.

Err...what game did you watch? First half was poor but the second half was very good and showed that we have some talented youngsters on the team.

Savic was excellent and AJ was much improved from our other friendlies, im not sure how you thought they were dissapointing. AJ scored and Savic was our best defender.

Guidetti had some decent chances and almost scored a couple and he's only 19 so writing him off now is ridiculous. McGivern though probably won't cut it at City for much longer.

Weiss was poor but he's been very good in our other friendlies, he just didn't have it today.

You're criticism of Suarez is ludicrous. He's 17 and still growing, he's quick and skillful with both feet and you don't have to be a "great athlete" to cut it at City, just look at Silva. Same goes for Roman

Most of these players aren't first teamers and shouldn't be judged as such. They're works in progress and a lot of them look like they could be very good so maybe tone down how harsh you judge them. Remember, they were playing against much older and far more experienced players and still looked very good.

 

[Ntini77]

Thanks for the summary, Trev.

I'm beginning to worry about Johnson, though.

 

[LoveCity]

AJ was awful in the first half, lifeless, lazy, unmotivated. He still had that nonchalance about him in the second half and yet showed the sort of class that can change games in an instant. A great goal and a great assist that many players would not have been able to envision. Mancini needs to sort him out a bit as the talent is there, seems to be more of an attitude problem.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Thanks for the summary, Trev.

I'm beginning to worry about Johnson, though.

Yep. It's his attitude more than anything. For much of today's game he was playing as if he was thinking "how dare you put me, the great Adam Johnson, with the kids." He must know his place is under threat due to his own poor form and also potential new signings, yet he didn't really seem to treat today as an opportunity to prove he belongs in our best 11. It's bizzare, because he scored and got an assist (resulting in him wrongly being awarded the MOTM), but he just doesn't look right.

 

[Alexanda]

Thanks for the summary, Trev.

I'm beginning to worry about Johnson, though.

Yep. It's his attitude more than anything. For much of today's game he was playing as if he was thinking "how dare you put me, the great Adam Johnson, with the kids." He must know his place is under threat due to his own poor form and also potential new signings, yet he didn't really seem to treat today as an opportunity to prove he belongs in our best 11. It's bizzare, because he scored and got an assist (resulting in him wrongly being awarded the MOTM), but he just doesn't look right.

What makes you think he was thinking that.

What I saw today was a poor first half performance primarily due to him making the wrong choices leading to him squandering possession. I think it is beyond my knowledge and yours to attribute it to his attitude.

I think a lot of City fans don't like to see him getting pissed with his mates, wearing flashy clothes, and all the rest of it. And when they see him play poorly they assume it's a psychological thing, a poor attitude, which then enables them to criticise the person and not the player.

Only you know if I speak for you in that last paragraph, but then again only Adam Johnson knows what goes on inside his own head. I can't read your mind, you can't read his.

 

[CaptainCarlos]

Why does AJ suck so bad when he plays on the left??

 

[Bigga]

A very composed performance. Didn't panic at 0-0 at half time.

MotM? For me Barry (sorry SWP)

Must do better award? John Guidetti

Sorry, but "Must Do Better" goes to Boyata and Weiss. A tie!

Boyata seems TOO comfortable, like he's ahead of his similar aged compatriots and a good reason why 'Nervous Ned'(as the stupid OP puts it) should be retained.

And Weiss?? Well, that was shocking!! Shaken by a few boos from the few Celtic fans out there? Couldn't beat his first man? Seen as SWP's replacement?? Not based on that crap!!

Sort it, lad, or be sold! After all, this kid is the one would hyped himself! Ronaldo MKII??

Don't make me laugh...

"Stupid OP" ? eh ! hmmmmm ..... I think if you take a vote you'll find the majority believe Ned has no composure on the ball !

This constant shyte people say about Ned's 'nerves' was from almost 5 years ago!! Boyata gave the ball away as much today as Nedum did then.

It's pathetic and ludicrous how the tag still follows him, from clearly clueless watchers... That is, IF you still watch him!!

 

[Frostie]

I really don't understand why we are still thinking about keeping AJ but getting rid of SWP. AJ has really not got the right sort of attitude for us, ever since he got into England (the 'over-hyper') which was shown throughout the game today. He made only one real run which was
luckily the goal while SWP was really busting a gut at parts.

But maybe I am looking far too into this.

 

[MrOblivious]

I think there have been quite a few players who have shone this pre season. You can definetly tell that Mancini has been working a lot on new tactics such as how to handle pressure and use the ball.
One stand out player for me is Veseli, he is composed and seems quite intelligent on the ball. Likewise I'm happy that Shauny has had a good pre season with 3 belting goals.

 

[Wiirdo]

Rekik looked absolutely class when he came on. Really composed and wanted the ball which is very impressive considering his age. AJ.....I don't know what has happened with him.

Suarez was very good when he came on also. Scpuzzi looked good but he didn't play long enough for a proper judgement.

 

[adrianr]

Well I'm glad Johnson's goal didn't do what it usually does; detract from how largely fucking useless he was the rest of the time (Bit harsh for effect, but seriously that guy needs to work out how to have an impact for the WHOLE game, not 5 minutes at the beginning and the odd nice goal). Did those who voted him MOTM notice there were other City players also on the field?

 

[MCFC4EVR]

What's hppened to gai Assulin ?

 

[TonyM]

Maybe Assulin will be a sub v inter?

I noticed Vlad tweeting prior to he game that he was tired and could seem to recover from the jet lag. I wonder if that played a part in the game. I hope he stays. Think he is maturing into a fine player but that said he's no where near finished developing. Maybe a loan till Jan would be the ideal solution but if so then I hope its to a prem team.

I wonder if SWP and Weiss are battling for the 4th Acadamy produced player spot for the CL 25? If so I'd obviously lean towards SWP staying. By the way him playing in the hole could be fruitful given his manbeating days are sadly over. Imagine him buzzing around behind Augero for example, with Balotelli, Yaya and Silva in midfield. :-)

 

[Impeccable One]

Sorry, but "Must Do Better" goes to Boyata and Weiss. A tie!

Boyata seems TOO comfortable, like he's ahead of his similar aged compatriots and a good reason why 'Nervous Ned'(as the stupid OP puts it) should be retained.

And Weiss?? Well, that was shocking!! Shaken by a few boos from the few Celtic fans out there? Couldn't beat his first man? Seen as SWP's replacement?? Not based on that crap!!

Sort it, lad, or be sold! After all, this kid is the one would hyped himself! Ronaldo MKII??

Don't make me laugh...

"Stupid OP" ? eh ! hmmmmm ..... I think if you take a vote you'll find the majority believe Ned has no composure on the ball !

This constant shyte people say about Ned's 'nerves' was from almost 5 years ago!! Boyata gave the ball away as much today as Nedum did then.

It's pathetic and ludicrous how the tag still follows him, from clearly clueless watchers... That is, IF you still watch him!!

It's obvious we have differing opinions of Ned's composure/talent. Rather than get in to a debate about who is better to judge him, or who has watched him more (I saw him about 6 times last season and didn't see anything that would make me change my mind about him), we can let Mr. Mancini and Ned himself prove which of us is correct. I doubt you'll see him take up a squad position at City, or a starting position in any team that finishes in the top 6 of the premiership.