It was only a pre-season friendly

[HellasLEAF]

I think Silva runs the team now. And he is obviously more of a distributer/less selfish. Tevez not coming deep and collecting is better for us in the long run.

 

[the talisman]

I really worry about Silva having a Glyn Pardoe/Colin Bell/Alfie Haaland done on him by the dirty scumbuckets on Sunday

They'd have to get near him first

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

I think I'll need a little more convincing before I'm convinced that Dzeko holds up the ball 'magnificently' but he's done it pretty well at times in pre season. He often loses the ball too much but yesterday when he looked as though he was just about to lose it he often had that extra touch to nick it away from an inter player and then just laid it off. He's a big lad and is starting to use his body like he did for his goal before Silva set him up, but he's still got a little way to go yet to use it fully. Lovely finish for his goal (and the disallowed one)

I think the team on the whole just looked a lot more natural yesterday. Kolarov slipped in effortlessly and just played his game and looked much more comfortable than normal. He got down his flank regularly and his delivery was superb. Hopefully he's gonna be one of those players who just takes a little time to settle and he can prove a lot of people wrong next year.

Couple of minor criticisms for me were that we looked a little disjointed in the middle nearer the beginning of the game, Lescott still looks too uncomfortable on the ball (but defended superbly), Joe's kicking and maybe that Silva went a little quiet for a bit after the first 20 mins or so. Am I being too critical of Dave there? Probably. But I'm of the belief that at times all you need to do is give him the ball and he'll carve out an opening, so when I don't see him regularly on the ball it frustrates me a bit because he's such a brilliant player that at times it really does seem as simple as giving him the ball and then waiting for the inevitable goal scoring opportunity. The guy's a joy to watch and was pissing all over the Inter team whenever he got the ball, he does everything right almost every time. Can't wait to see Dave and Serg together

 

[Anonymous]

There's a phoenix risen from the flames in East Manchester. And it looks ready to peck his fucking eyes out to me.

First Billy Shears and now DD!

Seriously though, that above for me is the single, greatest thing you've posted. Got the old spine tingling in anticipation for the new season.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Very good assessment. I know it was just a friendly, and Inter were quite poor, and behind in their fitness, but I enjoyed what I saw. What makes me excited for the upcoming season, is that there is no big "settling in" period as there was last season. Last year, the preseason was very disruped, what with the World Cup, players coming back late, and new players playing in the Premier League for the first time, and needing time to adjust. Now, everyone has had a good period to rest, and the likes of Silva, Yaya, Balotelli, and Dzeko have had a season of Premier League football under their belts.

For me, Dzeko looks fitter, sharper and more positionally aware. Balotelli was involved in everythings going forward. Kolarov looked quick...yes thats right..quick!...and Silva carried on from where he left off last season. Yaya looks like he's lost half a stone.

Again, totally agree about the fitness too. Dzeko looked fitter towards the end of last season and yesterday he looked the complete centre forward. Don't know how he'll get in the team though, when Aguero's fit. The manager's going to have some real selection headaches next year, that's for sure. But also we're going to have the right strength in depth to challenge on all fronts.<br /><br />-- Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:26 am --<br /><br />

I think I'll need a little more convincing before I'm convinced that Dzeko holds up the ball 'magnificently' but he's done it pretty well at times in pre season. He often loses the ball too much but yesterday when he looked as though he was just about to lose it he often had that extra touch to nick it away from an inter player and then just laid it off. He's a big lad and is starting to use his body like he did for his goal before Silva set him up, but he's still got a little way to go yet to use it fully. Lovely finish for his goal (and the disallowed one)

I think the team on the whole just looked a lot more natural yesterday. Kolarov slipped in effortlessly and just played his game and looked much more comfortable than normal. He got down his flank regularly and his delivery was superb. Hopefully he's gonna be one of those players who just takes a little time to settle and he can prove a lot of people wrong next year.

Couple of minor criticisms for me were that we looked a little disjointed in the middle nearer the beginning of the game, Lescott still looks too uncomfortable on the ball (but defended superbly), Joe's kicking and maybe that Silva went a little quiet for a bit after the first 20 mins or so. Am I being too critical of Dave there? Probably.

I think that's unfair on Silva, he was a threat every time he got the ball. He ran the game.

If I were to criticise anything, and it's minor, it's that the confidence running through the team may just have lead to a touch of complacency at time. HArt has messed kicks up by being cocky thee or four times in recent games, and Ya Ya and Lescott got caught a bit casual.

But these are nice problems to have; they are a simple result of the confidence coursing through the team. That is this cliched "winning mentality" which gets banded about too freely. Simple confidence.

 

[Ntini77]

I still worry about our lack of ideas when Silva isn't on the field. Nasri or someone of similar quality is a must IMO.

That being said, we were brilliant yesterday.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I still worry about our lack of ideas when Silva isn't on the field. Nasri or someone of similar quality is a must IMO.

That was one of my poitns which maybe got lost a bit in my original post: keep him fit and I fancy us to win the league. Whilst I rate and want Nasri, not sure he can run a game like silva. He tends to flit in and out of games, like AJ does.

But yes, he'll be a good addition to an already strong squad.

 

[Anonymous]

Pros.

Team play.
Milner.
Silva.
Richards.
Kola.

Cons.

Dzeko.
Still struggling to find consistent tempo to our passing.
Too slow in our transition from defense to attack at times.

We were impressive as fuck at times and for a friendly I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I'd liken Mancini's team to a heavyweight boxer. When the rhythm and tempo are there we're beast like and almost unplayable. Power and aggression married with flair and subtlety.

The key is going to be playing with consistency regardless of the opposition.