Post match V Amazulu

[BlueAnorak]

Still very early doors and the team have to get used to what Pellegrini wants.
Still it was another defeat.
- Our pressing was simply not good enough.
- Our attacking was a bit better but playing a high line is going to kill us. Diagonal raking balls leaving us exposed at full back again and again.

 

[Blue Haze]

what was rodwell like, missed the game

Didn't make much of an impact.

Then again, he played a good portion of his minutes with our EDS players.

 

[menace]

didn't think it was that bad we created a few really good chances and had the wide player's (sinclair in particular) had a bit more composure and a better cross we would of created a lot more, an in defense apart from a couple error's they rarely ever troubled us.
it was worth watching if only to see lescott storming down the wing and attempting to beat his man with a couple of step overs an fail.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

what was rodwell like, missed the game

Didn't make much of an impact.

Then again, he played a good portion of his minutes with our EDS players.

seems to be getting better though, can see him being a big player for us up there with joe hart and yaya in the future

 

[shevtheblue]

Sinclair needs to be sold, if only so he can get his career back on track. He will never make it at a big club because honestly he's peaked and is not going to get a lot better than he is now.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

Dzeko, Kolarov and Sinclair what a waste of 250K a week.

If these 3 get much playing time we're f@cked.

Now don't be sad

 

[sk3ptical]

Dzeko, Kolarov and Sinclair what a waste of 250K a week.

If these 3 get much playing time we're f@cked.

lol

 

[MCFC97]

Oh well it was only a friendly Also the ref and lino i thought IMO were shite but on the plus side stevan Jovetic is on his way to city. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/18/stevan-jovetic-manchester-city-fiorentina" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... fiorentina</a>
So no more fucking Dzeko the lone striker

It's worth clicking on the link just to see the photo.
Although I don't have a clue what your last line is supposed to mean.

yeah sorry I'm slightly pissed so I'm seeing double I meant We won't have to put up with that useless prick Dzeko up front on his own like he was today.

 

[Blueband Brother]

Another good outing.
Today we once again succeeded in getting 22 or more players on the pitch including some EDS players and that is a good aspect and ploy of the pre-season so far.

EDS
Personally I wanted to see Devante cole get some minutes as I thought he looked lively in the first game but it wasn't to be. The EDS players seem to have been cut down from the previous game and I foresee more cuts in the upcoming games as things start getting serious as we get closer to the 19th of August. The players that will probably remain involved for the upcoming pre season games are Dennis Suarez and maybe Nimely because he was also very lively when he came on today. Razak is not showing any real progress but It will be unfair to be very harsh on his performance as he was played out of position but I have to say his prospects for the upcoming season are not looking good. Boyata is another player whose development has surprisingly stalled and he looks a completely different prospect to the one that Mancini trusted during the Carling cup semi finals 3 seasons ago. For the sake of his career he should be looking to find pastures new and continue his progress at another club because I don't think he is good enough or has progressed enough to be involved with City. The other EDS players not involved today should now focus on having a good season in the EDS league and continue to develop with some looking to be loaned out to get much needed match time. I advise that it is time for Pellegrini and the staff to start cutting off does players that are not good enough to make it at city. I believe it is time to become very serious about scouting and bringing in genuine prospects and having a system that allows the prospects to progress into the first team.

Essentially,we had the opportunity to observe some of the young players in a match situation today and It is was also interesting to observe the senior players as well.

Scott Sinclair
He is a very ambitious lad that works hard and carries himself with dignity.Unfortunately it is obvious to everybody that he will never quite make it as a city player and I believe that the club, who made the bad and unwise decision to sign him in the first place should be looking to get involved in negotiations with other clubs for Sinclair. There have been links with Newcastle, West Brom and even Swansea and this will be the right moment to move to a club where he could continue to play, develop and regain his confidence. He is a good player and he should have a good career but that is not going to happen at City.

Javi Garcia looks world class
I like many have constantly showed discontent and disappointment by the performance of Garcia in midfield positions as he seem to lack the athleticism and dynamism to handle that role. But I have never questioned his footballing intelligence and ability to read the game. Javi Garcia is tall, has presence about him and its fair to say that he is one of the best headers of the ball in the premier league.Taking all that into consideration, it is understandable for many, including myself to regard him more as a center back than a midfielder. Perhaps he is another Luiz , not in terms of talent but in terms of playing in the wrong position and consequently loosing acclaim and respect as he is not able to display his real potential by playing in a wrong role.
Manuel Pellegrini has obviously seen something and have tried him in that position in the 2 games so far. Mancini experimented as well but that was more about improvisation than idealization. I have to say I was very excited and impressed as it seems that my suspicions and inclinations may be correct. Javi Garcia looked world class today and he I believe he can have a very accomplished career as a center back at City. His footballing ability allows him to take the ball forward and give correct passes to the midfielders; his physical attributes, aerial prowess and fantastic ability to read the game makes him an ideal center back and I will not be surprised if Pellegrini puts out a starting CB paring of Kompany and Garcia next season. I for one will be looking forward to it. This adjustment will cancel out the need for another center back and alleviates the overcrowding problem in the midfield.

Nasri
Nasri showed great leadership in the 3-2 win against Southampton in the first game of last season but that did not persist in what turned out to be a very disappointing season for him. The lowest point being his cowering and pathetic effort to stop that free kick in the derby. However, he showed some positive signs towards the ending of last season, during the post season against Chelsea and that form or spirit seems to have continued into the pre -season. The new manager and all the novelty that entails may allow him perhaps to really step up and assume that position of leadership in those attacking positions and become one of the key players in our squad.
On a critical note, Nasri is exceptionally strong and technically gifted but that does not mean that he should hold on to the ball for longer than required- this is getting a wee bit frustrating for me. He should play with more urgency and decisiveness and not duel on the ball for too long.All in all, I am expecting a good season for Nasri and he should channel that rebellious and strong personality into a position of leadership in our squad.
He can do it.

The Rest
I think it was a good outing by most of the players. Korolov have defensive problems but always looks to go forward and get in behind, which is a plus. He may not have a football brain ( if I want to be extremely harsh on him) but that left foot of his is something that can be useful so it is understandable why the management cannot overcome the temptation to keep him. I also think he is great personality and a top lad to have around the club. Nevertheless his defensive problems will be a liability. Dzeko was dzeko I guess, I still see him as the number one goal scorer in this squad. Fernandinho was solid and really showed that easy pace and acceleration that we missed in that midfield last season. I had my doubts about him but I stand corrected.

All the players are working towards fitness and today has been another successful pre season outing apart from the result but that does not count at the moment because we have not yet started to organize a team for the upcoming season. That will probably start from the Audi cup so from then we can talk about scores of matches as the team then will somewhat reflect the squad and Pellegrini's intentions for the 2013/2014 season.

 

[sk3ptical]

Wouldn't have happened if Mancini was still in charge.

ha wigan

-- Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:48 pm --

Wouldn't have happened if Mancini was still in charge.

ha wigan

-- Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:52 pm --

Much better performance overall, most players still aren't fit and we didn't have a manager. It was difficult to get into rhythm with constant substitutions but we still outplayed Amazulu for most of the match and it was only our lack of that clinical edge and sloppy defensive mistakes (by players that won't even play much next year, if they're still here) that cost us. Our clinical edge will be improved when the likes of Silva, Navas, Aguero, Jovetic, Guidetti and Negredo join the squad.

Positives:
- Garcia (again) looking a decent option at centre-back
- Sinclair had a decent game
- Fernandinho gradually gelling into the squad
- Yaya looking (a little bit) fitter
- Nasri and Rodwell were very good
- Suarez looked very lively when he came on

Negatives:
- Further proof that Razak isn't good enough
- Kolarov
- Dzeko's touch (the norm)
- We lost again

explain

-- Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:52 pm --

Much better performance overall, most players still aren't fit and we didn't have a manager. It was difficult to get into rhythm with constant substitutions but we still outplayed Amazulu for most of the match and it was only our lack of that clinical edge and sloppy defensive mistakes (by players that won't even play much next year, if they're still here) that cost us. Our clinical edge will be improved when the likes of Silva, Navas, Aguero, Jovetic, Guidetti and Negredo join the squad.

Positives:
- Garcia (again) looking a decent option at centre-back
- Sinclair had a decent game
- Fernandinho gradually gelling into the squad
- Yaya looking (a little bit) fitter
- Nasri and Rodwell were very good
- Suarez looked very lively when he came on

Negatives:
- Further proof that Razak isn't good enough
- Kolarov
- Dzeko's touch (the norm)
- We lost again

explain<br /><br />-- Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:53 pm --<br /><br />

Much better performance overall, most players still aren't fit and we didn't have a manager. It was difficult to get into rhythm with constant substitutions but we still outplayed Amazulu for most of the match and it was only our lack of that clinical edge and sloppy defensive mistakes (by players that won't even play much next year, if they're still here) that cost us. Our clinical edge will be improved when the likes of Silva, Navas, Aguero, Jovetic, Guidetti and Negredo join the squad.

Positives:
- Garcia (again) looking a decent option at centre-back
- Sinclair had a decent game
- Fernandinho gradually gelling into the squad
- Yaya looking (a little bit) fitter
- Nasri and Rodwell were very good
- Suarez looked very lively when he came on

Negatives:
- Further proof that Razak isn't good enough
- Kolarov
- Dzeko's touch (the norm)
- We lost again

explain