'If It's Not Broke, Don't Fix It'

[Mancio]

No side has won the premier league playing 3 at the back.

are we playing 3 at the back into the premier league ?

You've just said yourself we did against Liverpool. And the more we keep it as an option, the more likely at some point we will again

The point is - we need consistency, top quality english sides are consistent in defence - they dont change formations regardless of competitions.

the reason why mancini is trying the 3 at the back is that with our squad that is the only way to play when we have to rest silva (or when he was injured or out form)

 

[gio's side step]

I don't see why 3 at the back is such a big issue. It doesn't really explain why players lose possession on the edge of our area (Razak), barry puts through his own net, or players head the ball clear at corners straight to opponents

If I were mancini, I'd give the players some reassurance now and remove all complications and stick to what they are most comfortable with.

Mate .. it's an issue because we had the best defensive record in the country for 2 years - thus our players are used to that system (both defenders and midfield players). There is no value or need to play 3 at the back.

 

[Bill]

I made this point after the Arsenal game, also the fact he took off Dzeko and it brought Arsenal back into the game as everyone said.

I'm sorry but I'm asking questions of Mancini once again. This 3-5-2 formation he has a massive obsession with. IT IS NOT WORKING. We haven't played well at all this season. Tonight has been on the cards, it's been coming. Hopefully this is a kick up the arse. Tonight is what Sunday could and probably should have been, he's tinkering with the squad and once again making bizarre substitutions and tactical errors.

If it's not broke, don't fix it. Were going backwards as we play each game, tonight was dreadful and probably the worse game under Mancini.

i posted the same thing. why change a title winning formula.

 

[Mancio]

I made this point after the Arsenal game, also the fact he took off Dzeko and it brought Arsenal back into the game as everyone said.

I'm sorry but I'm asking questions of Mancini once again. This 3-5-2 formation he has a massive obsession with. IT IS NOT WORKING. We haven't played well at all this season. Tonight has been on the cards, it's been coming. Hopefully this is a kick up the arse. Tonight is what Sunday could and probably should have been, he's tinkering with the squad and once again making bizarre substitutions and tactical errors.

If it's not broke, don't fix it. Were going backwards as we play each game, tonight was dreadful and probably the worse game under Mancini.

i posted the same thing. why change a title winning formula.

maybe mancini wont had changed IF was given a ready world class center back during summer

 

[Soulboy]

No side has won the premier league playing 3 at the back.

are we playing 3 at the back into the premier league ?

At various times this season we have played 3-5-2, 4-2-2-2, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-2-4 and 4-3-1-2. Ridiculous.

I'm sure that last night, in extra time, we harked back to the days of Les MacDowall and George Poyser when we went 2-3-5.

And we still couldn't score!

 

[Anonymous]

maybe mancini wont had changed IF was given a ready world class center back during summer

Change the record - Mancini got what he was given and now he must deliver with the resources he has just as he did last season. A world class manager would go out and win the league again this season with the squad Mancini has got and progress through our group in the CL.

And more importantly we won the league last season with the best defensive record in the league. Makes your argument almost totally invalid.

 

[the goats backside]

My personal feelings are all to with the champs league, we all know the owners will be more than happy with what we have achieved, but he would have been told we have to progress out the group stages, fair enough but then the draw was made. There is no way we can progress in the champs and expect to still win the league, i think we could be lucky to be in the top 4 after the 6 champ league games and if RM plays a slightly weaker team in any game we will be out. Obviously this will have a bearing on the league selections. Both competitions are a huge ask and i think he might get caught between the 2

 

[Marvin]

I don't see why 3 at the back is such a big issue. It doesn't really explain why players lose possession on the edge of our area (Razak), barry puts through his own net, or players head the ball clear at corners straight to opponents

If I were mancini, I'd give the players some reassurance now and remove all complications and stick to what they are most comfortable with.

Mate .. it's an issue because we had the best defensive record in the country for 2 years - thus our players are used to that system (both defenders and midfield players). There is no value or need to play 3 at the back.

There is when teams stop us playing particularly away from home where they just sit there and play for set pieces and break-aways. You need to use all your players as effectively as possible

3 at the back coincides with dip in form, but did it cause the dip, and even if it did, will that dip be temporary?

The more important issue for me is selecting Suarez and Razak together in a midfield 3 with Kolarov and Milner stuck wide unable to get in the game. We didn't have the players yesterday to play that way, but we still went ahead and did it.

 

[gio's side step]

I don't see why 3 at the back is such a big issue. It doesn't really explain why players lose possession on the edge of our area (Razak), barry puts through his own net, or players head the ball clear at corners straight to opponents

If I were mancini, I'd give the players some reassurance now and remove all complications and stick to what they are most comfortable with.

Mate .. it's an issue because we had the best defensive record in the country for 2 years - thus our players are used to that system (both defenders and midfield players). There is no value or need to play 3 at the back.

There is when teams stop us playing particularly away from home where they just sit there and play for set pieces and break-aways. You need to use all your players as effectively as possible

3 at the back coincides with dip in form, but did it cause the dip, and even if it did, will that dip be temporary?

The more important issue for me is selecting Suarez and Razak together in a midfield 3 with Kolarov and Milner stuck wide unable to get in the game. We didn't have the players yesterday to play that way, but we still went ahead and did it.

We are used to sides sitting back. But our defensive stability and ability to dominate possession (last season) were enough to control games and tire the opposition out (we scored a lot of second half goals at home). This worked perfectly. No reason to change it (we have however with Barry being absent and only just returning and de jong leaving) lacked the consistency of controlling the tempo of the game in midfield and protecting the back four from counter attacks. Rodwell and Toure were far too open as were Toure and Garcia. Barry should not have played last night. He should have been saved for the weekend. We will now probably play Toure and Garcia again.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

are we playing 3 at the back into the premier league ?

At various times this season we have played 3-5-2, 4-2-2-2, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-2-4 and 4-3-1-2. Ridiculous.

I'm sure that last night, in extra time, we harked back to the days of Les MacDowall and George Poyser when we went 2-3-5.

And we still couldn't score!

Last night was his worst performance since he came.

What on earth was he thinking? Milner played in four positions. We played four different formations. The players were looking at him, heads down, saying "where am I playing?".