drinkadrink said:Personally I think hes looked better in games this season later one, when one of either aguero or negredo are taken off and samir is aloud to play in the middle just behind which one is left classically with milner coming on and making it a 4231. not to undermine the good progress hes been making in the 4222 positions hes had from the mancini era, just my observation that samir always seems to get in full flow when hes given the space in the middle of the park to run.
pass2silva said:Can't really be arsed traipsing through the previous 90 pages, so apologies if i'm just repeating some of what others have said.
I think Nasri's improvement this season can be put down to two things: 1) his improved fitness and 2) he is happy.
He looks a yard faster this season, to me. A couple of times I've watched him break on the far side of the field and thought that it was Navas, such has been his speed. His stamina has also improved. He covers at the back and is very good at supporting breaks forward, covering a lot of ground. I think this is also the reason why he appears to come on strong in the later stages of game, often when moved centrally and when the game is opening up due to other players tiring.
He just looks a lot happier on the pitch this season. I know that apparent happiness/confidence and an up-turn in performance is a bit of a "chicken and the egg" debate, but his attitude is completely different. There was an instance on Sunday where he was getting fouled by two Swansea players and he kept playing, shrugged them off and played a good ball forward. last season, he would have pulled up in that scenario, complaining to the ref for a free-kick. He really has shrugged off his "angry little man/Nasri vs. the world" attitude this season. Whether this is due to the change in management and Pellegrini understanding that some players need an arm around them from time to time, or that he seems to have buried the hatchet with the French media, I'm not sure. I think the latter may be the key, as I think I saw an interview from the end of last season where Nasri said that the treatment he was getting in the press back in France had really gotten to him and had effected his football and general well-being. Whatever the reason, long may it continue, because when in this form, Nasri is a great weapon for City to possess and a joy to watch.
SrilankanBlue said:pass2silva said:Can't really be arsed traipsing through the previous 90 pages, so apologies if i'm just repeating some of what others have said.
I think Nasri's improvement this season can be put down to two things: 1) his improved fitness and 2) he is happy.
He looks a yard faster this season, to me. A couple of times I've watched him break on the far side of the field and thought that it was Navas, such has been his speed. His stamina has also improved. He covers at the back and is very good at supporting breaks forward, covering a lot of ground. I think this is also the reason why he appears to come on strong in the later stages of game, often when moved centrally and when the game is opening up due to other players tiring.
He just looks a lot happier on the pitch this season. I know that apparent happiness/confidence and an up-turn in performance is a bit of a "chicken and the egg" debate, but his attitude is completely different. There was an instance on Sunday where he was getting fouled by two Swansea players and he kept playing, shrugged them off and played a good ball forward. last season, he would have pulled up in that scenario, complaining to the ref for a free-kick. He really has shrugged off his "angry little man/Nasri vs. the world" attitude this season. Whether this is due to the change in management and Pellegrini understanding that some players need an arm around them from time to time, or that he seems to have buried the hatchet with the French media, I'm not sure. I think the latter may be the key, as I think I saw an interview from the end of last season where Nasri said that the treatment he was getting in the press back in France had really gotten to him and had effected his football and general well-being. Whatever the reason, long may it continue, because when in this form, Nasri is a great weapon for City to possess and a joy to watch.
Not really, they had a major go at him and tried to scapegoat him for the qualifier against Ukraine they lost, but he has learnt not to let him get to him as much I think. Agree totally on point A, the increase in pace and acceleration is amazing
They may have laid off after the win against Ukraine. Before that, they were attacking him at every opportunity.pass2silva said:SrilankanBlue said:pass2silva said:Can't really be arsed traipsing through the previous 90 pages, so apologies if i'm just repeating some of what others have said.
I think Nasri's improvement this season can be put down to two things: 1) his improved fitness and 2) he is happy.
He looks a yard faster this season, to me. A couple of times I've watched him break on the far side of the field and thought that it was Navas, such has been his speed. His stamina has also improved. He covers at the back and is very good at supporting breaks forward, covering a lot of ground. I think this is also the reason why he appears to come on strong in the later stages of game, often when moved centrally and when the game is opening up due to other players tiring.
He just looks a lot happier on the pitch this season. I know that apparent happiness/confidence and an up-turn in performance is a bit of a "chicken and the egg" debate, but his attitude is completely different. There was an instance on Sunday where he was getting fouled by two Swansea players and he kept playing, shrugged them off and played a good ball forward. last season, he would have pulled up in that scenario, complaining to the ref for a free-kick. He really has shrugged off his "angry little man/Nasri vs. the world" attitude this season. Whether this is due to the change in management and Pellegrini understanding that some players need an arm around them from time to time, or that he seems to have buried the hatchet with the French media, I'm not sure. I think the latter may be the key, as I think I saw an interview from the end of last season where Nasri said that the treatment he was getting in the press back in France had really gotten to him and had effected his football and general well-being. Whatever the reason, long may it continue, because when in this form, Nasri is a great weapon for City to possess and a joy to watch.
Not really, they had a major go at him and tried to scapegoat him for the qualifier against Ukraine they lost, but he has learnt not to let him get to him as much I think. Agree totally on point A, the increase in pace and acceleration is amazing
I don't really know the ins and outs of what went on between the French press and Nasri. Perhaps it is more that he learned not to let it bother him or that they just laid off him a bit, rather than a mutual burying of the hatchet.
City Raider said:yes, thanks pudge, saved me digging it out! hopefully it'll lead to an admission of being wrong instead of avoiding the thread! that's what this place is all about, god knows i've been wrong enough times
fwiw i think too much is read into mancini's man-management of players, you don't win as many trophies as he has as manager without knowing how to get the best out of a team
He probably has vague instructions, such as battle for the ball, press high up etc.Project said:If anything he is doing more defensive work
Losing possession was anathema to Mancini. If a player tried a risky pass that might pay off with a goal, Mancini wouldn't have tolerated it. Safety first in his mind. That doesn't work for a player like Nasri.BlueTG said:He probably has vague instructions, such as battle for the ball, press high up etc.Project said:If anything he is doing more defensive work
Mancini was brilliant at setting up the stall to defend a lot of the time, Nasri was probably told to stick in certain areas, not go beyond his instructions etc.
I always thought Mancini had the shackles on Nasri, he is a player who needs to be free to operate anywhere is suitable at the time for him in that final 3rd. Pelle has given him some freedom which he needed.
taconinja said:Losing possession was anathema to Mancini. If a player tried a risky pass that might pay off with a goal, Mancini wouldn't have tolerated it. Safety first in his mind. That doesn't work for a player like Nasri.BlueTG said:He probably has vague instructions, such as battle for the ball, press high up etc.Project said:If anything he is doing more defensive work
Mancini was brilliant at setting up the stall to defend a lot of the time, Nasri was probably told to stick in certain areas, not go beyond his instructions etc.
I always thought Mancini had the shackles on Nasri, he is a player who needs to be free to operate anywhere is suitable at the time for him in that final 3rd. Pelle has given him some freedom which he needed.
pudge said:Took me 2 mins to find the quotes YOU asked for, if you were really bothered I imagine it would have taken you the same time and effort.lasereyes said:pudge said:You mean it's important so that you don't look like a tool?
Too late for that I'm afraid.
Well your last post just revealed who the tool is. Resorting to unprovoked abuse is always the sign of a weak argument and a weaker person.
And here's an internet 101 tip since you seem to be a rookie: nobody with any substance posts random quotes without a source.
They can hardly be random when they are what you asked for. You didn't believe 2 separate posters who have no reason to lie and they told you what Nasri said, you were then presented with the actual quotes that support their claim and you still refuse to believe it, because it doesn't fit this weird, presumptuous, know it all agenda you appear to have.
As for being a rookie? I've called more posters on their bullshit than you've had school lunches this year.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/206645.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/206645.html</a>
Interview
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azQCmpl5Ezk[/youtube]