Mancini you are gutless

[SWP's back]

Hughes also didn't have a punishing Thursday-Sunday-Thursday European schedule to fit in.

Besides, looking at the points total itself doesn't tell the whole story, as the league is looking much more compact this year. The Premier League has been won with 75 points by United, and 95 points by Chelsea... so it shows the differentials that can happen. Indeed, Liverpool only came 4th a couple of seasons ago with 76 points. More than the 75 United have won it with. And when Everton qualified they did so with 61 points. So comparing points year on year can be a falsehood - comparing positions and relative proximity to other key teams is much more telling.

The Premierhsip is much tighter this season. The difference between 17th and 5th was 11 points this time last season. Now it's only 5.

It's crazy but I like it.

 

[joel the blue]

Much has been said about last nights performance. For my money we were rubbish, and the only person to blame is Mancini, is tactics are awful, i just wish someone wuld inform him that in England we dont play like they do in Italy.

 

[Anonymous]

Not when you consider Spurs and Pool are both doing even worse than last season and "clueless" only managed for half a season.

I would happily "settle" for 73-75 points now if you offered them, only a nutter would not I suspect.

Would you not?

Underestimating Spurs and Liverpool would be foolhardy in the extreme....as it is to try and use last season's head to head's as some sort of barometer for how much we've progressed or improved in the last 12 months...because they seem to show any improvement is marginal.

At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time - we showed the exact same conservative safety first approach to last night's match as we have done countless times under Roberto. When it works (Chelsea) we all go "tactical genius"...

The question being avoided like the plague is: what does he have up his sleeve when it patently doesn't work (like last night)....settling for a point against anyone at home with the team we have is disappointing. Settling for it against the rags when they come to park the bus and take a point is bitterly disappointing.<br /><br />-- Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:26 pm --<br /><br />

I'm a Mancini fan but last night was a disgrace.

Heard a deluge of opinions since last night stating the same thing...not just on here, but on a couple of City mailing lists I'm on, from the other Blues in the pub last night...

 

[SWP's back]

Not when you consider Spurs and Pool are both doing even worse than last season and "clueless" only managed for half a season.

I would happily "settle" for 73-75 points now if you offered them, only a nutter would not I suspect.

Would you not?

Underestimating Spurs and Liverpool would be foolhardy in the extreme....as it is to try and use last season's head to head's as some sort of barometer for how much we've progressed or improved in the last 12 months...because they seem to show any improvement is marginal.

At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time - we showed the exact same conservative safety first approach to last night's match as we have done countless times under Roberto. When it works (Chelsea) we all go "tactical genius"...

The question being avoided like the plague is: what does he have up his sleeve when it patently doesn't work (like last night)....settling for a point against anyone at home with the team we have is disappointing. Settling for it against the rags when they come to park the bus and take a point is bitterly disappointing.

I don't - I just say, bloody good result and we bullied the midfield.

But I agree, so far Mancini has not shown the ace up his sleve, the treble first half substitution during a first half a la Jose.. Time will have to tell but I can't sell a better alternative out there and I am so used to leaving a derby cursing a late winner for them that I was OK with a point (given the league position and results relative to ours).

 

[Anonymous]

But I agree, so far Mancini has not shown the ace up his sleve, the treble first half substitution during a first half a la Jose.. Time will have to tell but I can't sell a better alternative out there and I am so used to leaving a derby cursing a late winner for them that I was OK with a point (given the league position and results relative to ours).

And that my friend, in my opinion, after nearly a year in charge, is not good enough...hence the fear that we're going to struggle in the final third of the season...

Another thing I want to pick you up on...you keep going on about how "we" should have learned by now about sacking managers over the last 30 years....just out of curiousity, which of that list of umpteen sacked managers went on to prove we were wrong to sack him?

 

[robbieh]

Not when you consider Spurs and Pool are both doing even worse than last season and "clueless" only managed for half a season.

I would happily "settle" for 73-75 points now if you offered them, only a nutter would not I suspect.

Would you not?

Underestimating Spurs and Liverpool would be foolhardy in the extreme....as it is to try and use last season's head to head's as some sort of barometer for how much we've progressed or improved in the last 12 months...because they seem to show any improvement is marginal.

At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time - we showed the exact same conservative safety first approach to last night's match as we have done countless times under Roberto. When it works (Chelsea) we all go "tactical genius"...

The question being avoided like the plague is: what does he have up his sleeve when it patently doesn't work (like last night)....settling for a point against anyone at home with the team we have is disappointing. Settling for it against the rags when they come to park the bus and take a point is bitterly disappointing.-- Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:26 pm --

I'm a Mancini fan but last night was a disgrace.

Heard a deluge of opinions since last night stating the same thing...not just on here, but on a couple of City mailing lists I'm on, from the other Blues in the pub last night...

Sometimes it is quite difficult to beat a Bolton or Blackburn when they come to park the bus. Even more so when, as you rightly point out, United do it. Because unlike Bolton or Blackburn, United can score from nothing. We didn't want that happening again. Hence the turgid game.

Lets see where we are at Christmas. After all Chelsea have Tottenham(away), United(home) and Arsenal(away) consecutively in December.

 

[mammutly]

I am certain that Mancini and his management team will analyse last nights performance in detail and the question of how it could have been better will be pretty much at the forefront of everyone's mind.

A lot of people are talking as if the idea that we might have won last nights game will not have crossed our manager's radar. You can be certain that it has.

 

[SWP's back]

But I agree, so far Mancini has not shown the ace up his sleve, the treble first half substitution during a first half a la Jose.. Time will have to tell but I can't sell a better alternative out there and I am so used to leaving a derby cursing a late winner for them that I was OK with a point (given the league position and results relative to ours).

And that my friend, in my opinion, after nearly a year in charge, is not good enough...hence the fear that we're going to struggle in the final third of the season...

Another thing I want to pick you up on...you keep going on about how "we" should have learned by now about sacking managers over the last 30 years....just out of curiousity, which of that list of umpteen sacked managers went on to prove we were wrong to sack him?

Very good point mate. Cannot argue with that. You have made me think. None.

(which if any mod is watching is how you debate as Billy has just shown by using reason, intelligence and persistance!)

I am still not pro or anti-Mancini, but I am happy so far with the table.

Could you answer my question a page or so back about taking this position and those teams relative to us back on Aug 1st for example, (what I am trying to get at is whether its what you have seen that puts you off or the results or both or neither).

 

[southamptonblue]

I am certain that Mancini and his management team will analyse last nights performance in detail and the question of how it could have been better will be pretty much at the forefront of everyone's mind.

A lot of people are talking as if the idea that we might have won last nights game will not have crossed our manager's radar. You can be certain that it has.

Far too much 'stating the obvious' in that thread......looks well out of place on this forum;)

 

[Mancio]

Much has been said about last nights performance. For my money we were rubbish, and the only person to blame is Mancini, is tactics are awful, i just wish someone wuld inform him that in England we dont play like they do in Italy.

you are so blue as my cock

 

[simon23]

If RM had gone for it last night and got beaten i would have said fair play to him.....i cannt stand this over cautious way of playing....one point or no points, there is hardly a difference in the end.......yes utd would have gained 3 pts on us...bt we could very well have gained 3 pts on them....however with the team he sent out last night the chances of that were very very slim....and then to invite utd on in the second half was almost suicidal!!!

So i suppose last season you was happy with Bellamy for trying to win the derby by playing a ridiculous long ball across field instead of keeping the ball and settling for a point. That point would have meant we'd have gone into the Spurs game only needing a draw and not to win and you're trying to tell me one point or no points mean little in the end. One point less if we went for it and got beat would have also meant United gained 3 on us, honestly Simon thats a ridiculous post

the point i was trying to make (and maybe i dint quite put it rightly) is that i would always rather go for the win and maybe risk losing the odd game then set a team out not to lose but which also really reduces our chances of winning

 

[Anonymous]

And that my friend, in my opinion, after nearly a year in charge, is not good enough...hence the fear that we're going to struggle in the final third of the season...

Another thing I want to pick you up on...you keep going on about how "we" should have learned by now about sacking managers over the last 30 years....just out of curiousity, which of that list of umpteen sacked managers went on to prove we were wrong to sack him?

Very good point mate. Cannot argue with that. You have made me think. None.

(which if any mod is watching is how you debate as Billy has just shown by using reason, intelligence and persistance!)

I am still not pro or anti-Mancini, but I am happy so far with the table.

Could you answer my question a page or so back about taking this position and those teams relative to us back on Aug 1st for example, (what I am trying to get at is whether its what you have seen that puts you off or the results or both or neither).

Performances...I've said it few times....results wise things have been 'okay'...the two bitterly disappointing results were Wolves and Blackburn IMO...

My concern has been the lack of real progression in how the team plays.

I'll put it another way....When Balo replaces Milner it won't change that we will still be playing with the three central players who are picked on their defensive capabilities rather than having one of them with an attacking mentality...

Look at how Real play....Ozil in between Di Maria and Ronaldo....Inter last season....Sneijder in between Eto'o and Pandev....both playing with one up top...four 'attacking' players in big big games (Jose did it away at Stamford Bridge).

The constant use of Toure as the 'advanced' of the three is pointless. What happens is that Silva drifts into 'the hole' leaving Milner to cover both wings. How many times did we work the ball down one side last night, have it moved back to the middle, then find zero outlet on the other side...

 

[rastus]

We were Professional last night...well done Mancini and players. This young/ new team are progressing well.
Im proud to be Blue

 

[SWP's back]

Fair do's Billy, I understand your point.

I'll stick to undecided on here but happy enough so far.

 

[rastus]

Real have won sweet fa for years and my god theyve used some money and a strong established side


Very good point mate. Cannot argue with that. You have made me think. None.

(which if any mod is watching is how you debate as Billy has just shown by using reason, intelligence and persistance!)

I am still not pro or anti-Mancini, but I am happy so far with the table.

Could you answer my question a page or so back about taking this position and those teams relative to us back on Aug 1st for example, (what I am trying to get at is whether its what you have seen that puts you off or the results or both or neither).

Performances...I've said it few times....results wise things have been 'okay'...the two bitterly disappointing results were Wolves and Blackburn IMO...

My concern has been the lack of real progression in how the team plays.

I'll put it another way....When Balo replaces Milner it won't change that we will still be playing with the three central players who are picked on their defensive capabilities rather than having one of them with an attacking mentality...

Look at how Real play....Ozil in between Di Maria and Ronaldo....Inter last season....Sneijder in between Eto'o and Pandev....both playing with one up top...four 'attacking' players in big big games (Jose did it away at Stamford Bridge).

The constant use of Toure as the 'advanced' of the three is pointless. What happens is that Silva drifts into 'the hole' leaving Milner to cover both wings. How many times did we work the ball down one side last night, have it moved back to the middle, then find zero outlet on the other side...

 

[oakiecokie]

Strangely enough SWP I had two PM`s on Sunday from "shady" basically telling me to wind my neck in,because I dared to ask why a thread of mine was removed for sticking up for Bobby Manc !!
Although he was not the MOD he made it clear I was, and I use his words "inflaming the situation" for writing a thread in support.
After all the slagging the poor guy got the previous week,I thought a response in favour would have been more forthcoming !!
Makes you wonder what "shadys" agenda really is ????

Well I have just been given a pm stating that I am treading a very fine line with several (but perhaps not all though he didn't say) of the mods in here for agressive posting (I am assuming he means aggressive intellectually as I have never physically threatened anyone on here)

Back on topic - can I ask anyone if they would have taken this league position (and points in relation to other teams) after 12 games back at the start of August?

Is it just the manner of play or the results that is upsetting people?

Who knows.The only reason I can think of,as I`ve stated before that patience is not a virtue of all the slaggers.
I can wait a bit longer,as I`ve only had 47 years of watching City,seen some relatively good times but like most some dire.Makes me no more knowledgeable about the game, than others.But thats NOT been all the different Managers faults,but circumstances,sometimes out of their control.
Now we have a Manager who is patient and understands more than the fans,how long it will take to overcome our problmes then I`m all for that.
Been some very strange results so far,every week i the PL and I`m certain ther will be more to come.
I would have taken 3 points behind the second placed team,in August.

 

[gooney]

Mancini knew if the game became open, United would come out winning. Thats why he couldnt let the team have a go at them, a point is still good result against United

 

[Epic problems]

I'm happy with a point, Mancini and the tactics. We gave it a really good go at Old Trafford last year after a great start to the season, but we got beat, heads went down and then went on our drawing spree. In fact this season the only time I was slightly unhappy with the result was Wolves, but these things happen.

If you would have told me at this point of the season we would be fourth in the table, 4 points clear of the nearest team and 5 points ahead of Spuds and the red dippers, I would have snatched your hand off. Factor in that we have played all 5 of the other 'big six' team once. United are 3 points ahead, but they have not played the teams in first and third. If they win them both then Chelsea and Arsenal come back to us. If they lose one or both all the better.

Look at the next six games for each team

US - Birmingham, Fulham, Stoke, Bolton, West Ham, Everton.
Scum -Villa, Wigan, Blackburn, Blackpool, Arsenal, Chelsea.
Arsenal- Everton, Tottenham, Villa, Fulham, Man Utd, Stoke.
Chelsea - Sunderland, Birmingham, Newcastle, Everton, Spurs, ManUtd.

I feel we can pick up more points in these games than at least 2 of the other contenters to Christmas. I mean look at Arsenals fixtures, almost every one is a possible lost points if I was betting on the results.

We will be second or joint second by christmas, mark my words.

 

[john blue]

His substituitions are the best, the sub is shown a picture of a diagram of the wiring of a bleeding dishwasher, and goes on the pitch with a head like a box of frogs. !

 

[TTS]

Much has been said about last nights performance. For my money we were rubbish, and the only person to blame is Mancini, is tactics are awful, i just wish someone wuld inform him that in England we dont play like they do in Italy.

What a cracking first post....