Mancini's selection and tactics

[fatbloke]

Our only problem at the moment is coping with the increased expectation levels, as Champions everyone thinks we should be winning games comfortably and scoring 4 or 5 goals in the process because they’re worried about the goals difference but it’s not that easy. You hear fans screaming at the team to get the ball forward quicker 30 seconds into the game and the groans of discontent the second the ball is played backwards and it’s making the players anxious in possession.

Last season we were very comfortable and relaxed in possession, the rotation and movement of the players was based on keeping the ball, being patient and waiting for gaps to open up or waiting for a clever run by one of our players. We were happy to win games 1-0 in the 85th minute if we had to, we just kept passing and kept playing to our strengths in the belief we would eventually score and that’s what we need to get back to now. At the moment the expectations on the team to score 4 or 5 goals every game is affecting the players and they’re trying too hard to force the issue, we’re committing too many players forward and making suicidal passes which leave our defence exposed when we do lose possession. Instead of taking so many risks we need to get back to playing with the freedom we had last season and if we get to the edge of the box and can’t find a way through there’s no shame in passing backwards and starting the attack again.

My only issue tactically is when we play Aguero and Tevez as a partnership because it feels like you have to score the perfect goal every time, there's absolutely no chance of us varying the attack and trying to catch the defence out with an early cross or a route one type goal so it can make us very predictable. Away from home they've got a bit more space and their technical ability shines but at home we do sometimes need that physical presence I think.

 

[MSP]

2) We Need A Settled Side

But even if he used a different system - for f**k's sake find your best team and stick with it! We won the Championship by winning the last eight games with virtually the same 11. This is not rocket science.

This might sound clever but it's far away from it..

We won the Championship by winning the last eight games with virtually the same 11 but in same time those were the only eight games we played in that time.

There were no cups or European games played on midweek.

There's no chance to play same team in this part of the season.

 

[taconinja]

2) We Need A Settled Side

But even if he used a different system - for f**k's sake find your best team and stick with it! We won the Championship by winning the last eight games with virtually the same 11. This is not rocket science.

This might sound clever but it's far away from it..

We won the Championship by winning the last eight games with virtually the same 11 but in same time those were the only eight games we played in that time.

There were no cups or European games played on midweek.

There's no chance to play same team in this part of the season.

And that side was well up for it because of the rotation earlier in the year. Now the argument can be made that without rotation we wouldn't be in that position, but I've yet to see that made into a compelling case.

 

[salfordblues]

In Mancini's defence, he wanted Hazard, De Rossi, Martinez, Thiago Silva, etc, and he ended up with pale imitations. If he had been given his targets (or just a couple of them), we wouldn't be having this discussion imo.

That's not a defence of anything!

Can we please put to bed this myth that the reason we've started slowly is because Mancini wasn't given ANOTHER 150 million plus to spend. It's bullshit and it's the wrong mentality for us supporters to have. The rags have been there or thereabouts in Europe and the league for the last 5 years, winning fuck knows how many trophies along the way. They've signed nobody of any serious note for fucking years. And they've been selling their best players, one of them to us.

We need to get a grip of our transfer expectations and start addressing the thought that maybe, just maybe, our underperforming squad need to sort their shit out and start playing to their abilities. Whether they are unmotivated, or disorganised, or a combination of the two - the answer is in on the training pitch not in the transfer market.

Well said Sir.

 

[jollylescott]

y

Our only problem at the moment is coping with the increased expectation levels, as Champions everyone thinks we should be winning games comfortably and scoring 4 or 5 goals in the process because they’re worried about the goals difference but it’s not that easy. You hear fans screaming at the team to get the ball forward quicker 30 seconds into the game and the groans of discontent the second the ball is played backwards and it’s making the players anxious in possession.

Last season we were very comfortable and relaxed in possession, the rotation and movement of the players was based on keeping the ball, being patient and waiting for gaps to open up or waiting for a clever run by one of our players. We were happy to win games 1-0 in the 85th minute if we had to, we just kept passing and kept playing to our strengths in the belief we would eventually score and that’s what we need to get back to now. At the moment the expectations on the team to score 4 or 5 goals every game is affecting the players and they’re trying too hard to force the issue, we’re committing too many players forward and making suicidal passes which leave our defence exposed when we do lose possession. Instead of taking so many risks we need to get back to playing with the freedom we had last season and if we get to the edge of the box and can’t find a way through there’s no shame in passing backwards and starting the attack again.

I think there is a lot in the psychology of dealing with firstly winning the trophy in such a unique way, and then delivering on expectations the following season. Sometimes it looks like there is anxiety amongst the fans, and as the above person says this is transmitted to the players. I think the supporters don't know how to deal with defending a title and they in turn are putting pressure on the players and the coaches.

History proves that it is very hard to defend a title. One of the factors is definitely the mental approach. Look at any sport. This is why professional sports people employ psychologists as part of their support staff.

Many supporters are arguing that we need to get back to the basics. In essence they are saying go back to what worked last year. Don't look for the killer pass. Work the ball around on the edge of the box with David and Samir darting back and forth. Take your time. Don't rush things.

Both the fans and the players need to relax and enjoy the game. The anxiety off the pitch is being conveyed onto the pitch.

 

[Bill]

What forum was the post above from?

A few points about this article:

First, the author has decided on the basis of 2/3 games that all of our signings are finished/ can't cut it. This is a complete kneejerk reaction. Make the judgement around Christmas time when they've had a chance to bed into a new side.

I don't understand this formation argument. He says we haven't used 3-5-2, did he not watch the Liverpool game? We played it and it plainly didn't work.

He then suggests that we need a settled side (a point I can agree on), refers to the last 8 games (when I really think he means 5/6) of last season and then goes onto talk about NDJ. To quote the author:

We should have stuck with the Baz-Nige-Yaya axis that allowed the back 4 to look to so good

The settled first 11 that compelted those last 5/6 games didn't have the axis of Baz-Nige-Yaya as De Jong only started one out of the last five games.

Hey, you are getting in the way of a good Mancini bashing.

i think its good to hear other forums point of view. bashing, supporting or indifference.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

y

Our only problem at the moment is coping with the increased expectation levels, as Champions everyone thinks we should be winning games comfortably and scoring 4 or 5 goals in the process because they’re worried about the goals difference but it’s not that easy. You hear fans screaming at the team to get the ball forward quicker 30 seconds into the game and the groans of discontent the second the ball is played backwards and it’s making the players anxious in possession.

Last season we were very comfortable and relaxed in possession, the rotation and movement of the players was based on keeping the ball, being patient and waiting for gaps to open up or waiting for a clever run by one of our players. We were happy to win games 1-0 in the 85th minute if we had to, we just kept passing and kept playing to our strengths in the belief we would eventually score and that’s what we need to get back to now. At the moment the expectations on the team to score 4 or 5 goals every game is affecting the players and they’re trying too hard to force the issue, we’re committing too many players forward and making suicidal passes which leave our defence exposed when we do lose possession. Instead of taking so many risks we need to get back to playing with the freedom we had last season and if we get to the edge of the box and can’t find a way through there’s no shame in passing backwards and starting the attack again.

I think there is a lot in the psychology of dealing with firstly winning the trophy in such a unique way, and then delivering on expectations the following season. Sometimes it looks like there is anxiety amongst the fans, and as the above person says this is transmitted to the players. I think the supporters don't know how to deal with defending a title and they in turn are putting pressure on the players and the coaches.

History proves that it is very hard to defend a title. One of the factors is definitely the mental approach. Look at any sport. This is why professional sports people employ psychologists as part of their support staff.

Many supporters are arguing that we need to get back to the basics. In essence they are saying go back to what worked last year. Don't look for the killer pass. Work the ball around on the edge of the box with David and Samir darting back and forth. Take your time. Don't rush things.

Both the fans and the players need to relax and enjoy the game. The anxiety off the pitch is being conveyed onto the pitch.

Funny that every game I've been to the fans have started out giving great backing, and have only gone quiet when we've lost our grip on the game.

There are a variety of reasons for our poor form. Many of them are directly attributable to the manager, but not all of them. But the fans are not one of those reasons.

 

[Sir peace frog]

y

Our only problem at the moment is coping with the increased expectation levels, as Champions everyone thinks we should be winning games comfortably and scoring 4 or 5 goals in the process because they’re worried about the goals difference but it’s not that easy. You hear fans screaming at the team to get the ball forward quicker 30 seconds into the game and the groans of discontent the second the ball is played backwards and it’s making the players anxious in possession.

Last season we were very comfortable and relaxed in possession, the rotation and movement of the players was based on keeping the ball, being patient and waiting for gaps to open up or waiting for a clever run by one of our players. We were happy to win games 1-0 in the 85th minute if we had to, we just kept passing and kept playing to our strengths in the belief we would eventually score and that’s what we need to get back to now. At the moment the expectations on the team to score 4 or 5 goals every game is affecting the players and they’re trying too hard to force the issue, we’re committing too many players forward and making suicidal passes which leave our defence exposed when we do lose possession. Instead of taking so many risks we need to get back to playing with the freedom we had last season and if we get to the edge of the box and can’t find a way through there’s no shame in passing backwards and starting the attack again.

I think there is a lot in the psychology of dealing with firstly winning the trophy in such a unique way, and then delivering on expectations the following season. Sometimes it looks like there is anxiety amongst the fans, and as the above person says this is transmitted to the players. I think the supporters don't know how to deal with defending a title and they in turn are putting pressure on the players and the coaches.

History proves that it is very hard to defend a title. One of the factors is definitely the mental approach. Look at any sport. This is why professional sports people employ psychologists as part of their support staff.

Many supporters are arguing that we need to get back to the basics. In essence they are saying go back to what worked last year. Don't look for the killer pass. Work the ball around on the edge of the box with David and Samir darting back and forth. Take your time. Don't rush things.

Both the fans and the players need to relax and enjoy the game. The anxiety off the pitch is being conveyed onto the pitch.

excellent post,what we need is us fans to get right behind the team,not huffing and puffing everytime a balls goes astray

 

[taconinja]

y

Our only problem at the moment is coping with the increased expectation levels, as Champions everyone thinks we should be winning games comfortably and scoring 4 or 5 goals in the process because they’re worried about the goals difference but it’s not that easy. You hear fans screaming at the team to get the ball forward quicker 30 seconds into the game and the groans of discontent the second the ball is played backwards and it’s making the players anxious in possession.

Last season we were very comfortable and relaxed in possession, the rotation and movement of the players was based on keeping the ball, being patient and waiting for gaps to open up or waiting for a clever run by one of our players. We were happy to win games 1-0 in the 85th minute if we had to, we just kept passing and kept playing to our strengths in the belief we would eventually score and that’s what we need to get back to now. At the moment the expectations on the team to score 4 or 5 goals every game is affecting the players and they’re trying too hard to force the issue, we’re committing too many players forward and making suicidal passes which leave our defence exposed when we do lose possession. Instead of taking so many risks we need to get back to playing with the freedom we had last season and if we get to the edge of the box and can’t find a way through there’s no shame in passing backwards and starting the attack again.

I think there is a lot in the psychology of dealing with firstly winning the trophy in such a unique way, and then delivering on expectations the following season. Sometimes it looks like there is anxiety amongst the fans, and as the above person says this is transmitted to the players. I think the supporters don't know how to deal with defending a title and they in turn are putting pressure on the players and the coaches.

History proves that it is very hard to defend a title. One of the factors is definitely the mental approach. Look at any sport. This is why professional sports people employ psychologists as part of their support staff.

Many supporters are arguing that we need to get back to the basics. In essence they are saying go back to what worked last year. Don't look for the killer pass. Work the ball around on the edge of the box with David and Samir darting back and forth. Take your time. Don't rush things.

Both the fans and the players need to relax and enjoy the game. The anxiety off the pitch is being conveyed onto the pitch.

Funny that every game I've been to the fans have started out giving great backing, and have only gone quiet when we've lost our grip on the game.

There are a variety of reasons for our poor form. Many of them are directly attributable to the manager, but not all of them. But the fans are not one of those reasons.

So you're saying the fans are fair-weather. And before you get all pissy, read what you wrote. That's what you're saying.

 

[Anonymous]

So you're saying the fans are fair-weather. And before you get all pissy, read what you wrote. That's what you're saying.

That's not the definition of a fair weather supporter.

An anxious back four makes the crowd anxious. It's natural for any team.

EDIT:

You know what - these discussions have generally reached rock bottom when supporters are being blamed for a team's underperformance.