Manuel Pellegrini (cont)

[flb]

Yes teams park the proverbial buses but its our acceptance of that tactic, especially in the first 45 mins when we don't break a sweat and aimlessly at times just knock it around sideways that grates.

We cant blame the opposition whilst doing nothing to change our game to counter it.

That is one thing the gaffer and players are most definitely guilty of.

Tonight mate if get 1-0 in front i would go five at the back, i really would , we need to get in the habit of keeping clean sheets, the rest hopefully will click into place when we learn how to defend again.

 

[cibaman]

he won it last year down to scoring goals, this season we will lose our title through abysmal defending.

He won it last year down to scoring goals, with the second best defensive record in the league, he'll lose it this year by having a slightly worse defensive record, and a considerably worse scoring record.

The real reason we are struggling, especially over the last few weeks, is that we haven't a clue how to score goals, even when we make the chances we rarely score, and we're not making enough chances either. Its ironic, that we had "no strikers" for so long, and were winning, yet now we have 3 fit (apparently), and they can't buy a goal.

The problem is if you have a well organised defence and don't give up chances almost every time the opposition attacks then when things dry up at the attacking end you can still nick games 1-0 which is exactly what we should have done against Hull. It doesn't matter who we are playing against these days, we rarely look like keeping a clean sheet and the opposition must always feel they have a sniff of a goal which has the effect of teams not feeling defeated even when we are a couple of goals up which doesn't help. We need to get back to basics tonight, pay much more attention to being organised (we clearly haven't done this so far this season, we've been all over the place) and then maybe we can grind out a win that will just about keep us in the title race. Then when Yaya and Bony are available we can put a decent run together.

Very true. Going all the way back to the 4-0 win against Swansea on the opening day of the 11/12 season, its often taken time for us to wear down teams. But by keeping a clean sheet you knew that the pressure would eventually tell.

I also think that a contributing factor is that our slow tempo means that we dont really tire out teams. Teams are coming to the Eithad, surviving on 40% possession and still looking stronger than us in the last 20 mins.

 

[cleavers]

Yes teams park the proverbial buses but its our acceptance of that tactic, especially in the first 45 mins when we don't break a sweat and aimlessly at times just knock it around sideways that grates.

We cant blame the opposition whilst doing nothing to change our game to counter it.

That is one thing the gaffer and players are most definitely guilty of.

Its not unique to this manager, the previous one had the same trouble, there is a connection though, but many choose to ignore it.

Which is?

Recruitment policy?

No.

 

[blueinsa]

Its not unique to this manager, the previous one had the same trouble, there is a connection though, but many choose to ignore it.

Which is?

Recruitment policy?

No.

Are you going to elaborate?

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Which is?

Recruitment policy?

No.

Are you going to elaborate?

Player power?

 

[hgblue]

he won it last year down to scoring goals, this season we will lose our title through abysmal defending.

He won it last year down to scoring goals, with the second best defensive record in the league, he'll lose it this year by having a slightly worse defensive record, and a considerably worse scoring record.

The real reason we are struggling, especially over the last few weeks, is that we haven't a clue how to score goals, even when we make the chances we rarely score, and we're not making enough chances either. Its ironic, that we had "no strikers" for so long, and were winning, yet now we have 3 fit (apparently), and they can't buy a goal.

The problem is if you have a well organised defence and don't give up chances almost every time the opposition attacks then when things dry up at the attacking end you can still nick games 1-0 which is exactly what we should have done against Hull. It doesn't matter who we are playing against these days, we rarely look like keeping a clean sheet and the opposition must always feel they have a sniff of a goal which has the effect of teams not feeling defeated even when we are a couple of goals up which doesn't help. We need to get back to basics tonight, pay much more attention to being organised (we clearly haven't done this so far this season, we've been all over the place) and then maybe we can grind out a win that will just about keep us in the title race. Then when Yaya and Bony are available we can put a decent run together.

Very good post this. Pellegrini's job was to get us past Yaya's absence still in the title race, and if this meant compensating for his absence by adopting a slightly more pragmatic approach than that is what he should have done. If you're missing a key player and other key players aren't playing well, it's sensible to change your approach to keep things tight at the back and dominate possession by playing that extra midfield player. Keep the opposition at bay and take your chances when they come along, then when you have Bony and Yaya available go back on the attack.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Goals win games, simple as.

We have created more chances than any other team in the league.

Nobody remembers the goals Arsenal and Spurs have scored at our end, in the last 12 months, because we have hit them for five or six.

Hull came for a point, they simply became more emboldened the longer it went without us getting through, and then had the gift which is our defence keeps on giving.

Same goes for Boro.

There was no hangover in the last 12 months with Mancini. It's a false narrative.

Aguero and the rest stopped doing what they are paid to do (fitness issues defo play their part). United won the title back that season thanks to Van Persie shitting goals for the first six months of the season.

They were also conceding goals for fun at places such as Southampton and Reading, yet they still won thanks to getting more at the other end.

The deficiencies in our defence are no worse than previous. They are simply highlighted more because we can't take the chances we create.

The goals drop off between Yaya and the absence of Negredo is enough to legislate for our current position, nothing more.

Every loss this season has had the same pattern.

 

[flb]

Goals win games, simple as.

We have created more chances than any other team in the league.

Nobody remembers the goals Arsenal and Spurs have scored at our end, in the last 12 months, because we have hit them for five or six.

Hull came for a point, they simply became more emboldened the longer it went without us getting through, and then had the gift which is our defence keeps on giving.

Same goes for Boro.

There was no hangover in the last 12 months with Mancini. It's a false narrative.

Aguero and the rest stopped doing what they are paid to do (fitness issues defo play their part). United won the title back that season thanks to Van Persie shitting goals for the first six months of the season.

They were also conceding goals for fun at places such as Southampton and Reading, yet they still won thanks to getting more at the other end.

The deficiencies in our defence are no worse than previous. They are simply highlighted more because we can't take the chances we create.

The goals drop off between Yaya and the absence of Negredo is enough to legislate for our current position, nothing more.

Every loss this season has had the same pattern.

The big trouble is we don't have the ability to nick a game by the odd goal because the defence is all over the show, if you cant score goals make sure you don't concede, as much as goals win you titles when the going gets tough in front of goal then give yourself a chance at the other end.

Its a knack that Manuel could do with learning.

 

[Goldenboy87]

Yes teams park the proverbial buses but its our acceptance of that tactic, especially in the first 45 mins when we don't break a sweat and aimlessly at times just knock it around sideways that grates.

We cant blame the opposition whilst doing nothing to change our game to counter it.

That is one thing the gaffer and players are most definitely guilty of.

Tonight mate if get 1-0 in front i would go five at the back, i really would , we need to get in the habit of keeping clean sheets, the rest hopefully will click into place when we learn how to defend again.

I don't disagree, what I use to like about Mancini was when we were leading a game going in to the last 20 minutes or so, he would put another Centre Back on and go pretty much 5 at the back which seemed to work well when although I appreciate work needs to be put in on the training ground etc. to make sure the players are in tune on how the system works.

I can't see that happening as not really in Pellegrini's mentality, more likely to go 5 in midfield if anything.

 

[middleton___blue]

Hope he gets it Spot on tonight. Nothing but a win. Although he says he's not under pressure, cant help but think today will be the last chance we have realistically too keep up with chelsea. Otherwise imo its curtains for the PL this season.

We need too start moving the ball around quicker and stop being so predictable. Teams are simply sussing us out, especially at home. We all know that stoke are hard to beat like any of hughes sides in the past so we need too play out of our skins today, otherwise i can see them beating us at their place too.