something is wrong

[ST Coleridge]

Is it just me or does our players off the ball movement seem near non existent at times. I also think we don't pressure enough as soon as we lose the ball.

Both of these in my opinion.

The only player who moves into space, passes the ball quickly, moves into space, receives the ball, passes the ball quickly, moves into space...is Silva. And what Silva doesn't have is a foil in midfield. Look at some midfield partnerships: Fabregas/Nasri, Modric/VDV, Scholes/...(which, although at the top, is why they have looked mediocre), Lampard/Ballack (again, they now look weak in midfield), Alonso/Gerrard. We don't really have anyone who compliments Silva to a degree where our overall tempo is improved.

I honestly think that Mancini relented on buying an attacking midfielder in the last window because (and here's hoping) with Champions League football next season he'll be able to pick one from the top of the table.

I think Tevez is supposed to do this (when in a front three with Silva & Dzeko), but seems more intent on making space for a shot. When he comes deep he's capable of playing lovely balls to the wing or over the top, but doesn't contribute to short, fast passing on the edge of the box.

I'd like to see another midfielder for Silva to tiki-taka with, but he'd also need to have a good passing range - we miss a Scholes or Alonso, who can pick people out from deep (as mentioned above, Tevez seems to be the best at this!).

 

[Nascent Blues]

Both of these in my opinion.

The only player who moves into space, passes the ball quickly, moves into space, receives the ball, passes the ball quickly, moves into space...is Silva. And what Silva doesn't have is a foil in midfield. Look at some midfield partnerships: Fabregas/Nasri, Modric/VDV, Scholes/...(which, although at the top, is why they have looked mediocre), Lampard/Ballack (again, they now look weak in midfield), Alonso/Gerrard. We don't really have anyone who compliments Silva to a degree where our overall tempo is improved.

I honestly think that Mancini relented on buying an attacking midfielder in the last window because (and here's hoping) with Champions League football next season he'll be able to pick one from the top of the table.

I think Tevez is supposed to do this (when in a front three with Silva & Dzeko), but seems more intent on making space for a shot. When he comes deep he's capable of playing lovely balls to the wing or over the top, but doesn't contribute to short, fast passing on the edge of the box.

I'd like to see another midfielder for Silva to tiki-taka with, but he'd also need to have a good passing range - we miss a Scholes or Alonso, who can pick people out from deep (as mentioned above, Tevez seems to be the best at this!).

This is what I was getting at; Silva receives, moves, passes, receives, moves, passes; Tevez receives and shoots, receives and passes, receives and runs. We need a Scholes/Fabregas/Alonso type player to compliment Silva, thus improving our overall play as a team. This would, and equally as important, give the opposition something else to worry about. It's a difficult for a team to stop a player like Silva because he is that good, but it is far, far more problematic for a team to stop two players in the centre mid who are not just world class at what they do, but also on the same wavelength.

 

[hgblue]

I think Tevez is supposed to do this (when in a front three with Silva & Dzeko), but seems more intent on making space for a shot. When he comes deep he's capable of playing lovely balls to the wing or over the top, but doesn't contribute to short, fast passing on the edge of the box.

I'd like to see another midfielder for Silva to tiki-taka with, but he'd also need to have a good passing range - we miss a Scholes or Alonso, who can pick people out from deep (as mentioned above, Tevez seems to be the best at this!).

This is what I was getting at; Silva receives, moves, passes, receives, moves, passes; Tevez receives and shoots, receives and passes, receives and runs. We need a Scholes/Fabregas/Alonso type player to compliment Silva, thus improving our overall play as a team. This would, and equally as important, give the opposition something else to worry about. It's a difficult for a team to stop a player like Silva because he is that good, but it is far, far more problematic for a team to stop two players in the centre mid who are not just world class at what they do, but also on the same wavelength.

Spot on. We're too pedestrian and too predictable. We need someone to pull the strings in midfield.

 

[Breadsnapper]

Don't know if it was this thread or another but they said that balls should be played ahead of the receiving player, which is spot on. Too many times the ball goes square across the pitch to feet or behind the player slowing play down. I really do believe that with the selection of players we have then we are capable of fast paced, passing football. Or main problem I think is that there is not enough movement of the players off the ball. If you watch Silva he is constantly making space for himself, or seems to know where the space is once he has received the ball. I think we have some technically gifted players but for what ever reason we are not playing to our strengths.
Barca last night worked harder when they hadn't got the ball than when they do had it. This is what we need to be doing. We need a quality CB to go with Vincent, which maybe Boateng is, and I might get stick here, a new LB that will then allow Kolarov to play left midfield and a real play maker in the mould of Silva that can also score.
With regards to the OP I think it might be that they have got used to one style of play then it has changed with the introduction of Dzeko and the players are struggling. I also don't think that the build up of fixtures has help a great deal, given some of the injuries we have had.

 

[sumary_boy]

i think it is all about coach remeber inter milan.....remeber man city before mancini (mark hughs) .....it is all about cut the losses and bring in morinho.

 

[Nascent Blues]

i think it is all about coach remeber inter milan.....remeber man city before mancini (mark hughs) .....it is all about cut the losses and bring in morinho.

fanks for that sumery, wel fought out

 

[taconinja]

Don't know if it was this thread or another but they said that balls should be played ahead of the receiving player, which is spot on. Too many times the ball goes square across the pitch to feet or behind the player slowing play down. I really do believe that with the selection of players we have then we are capable of fast paced, passing football. Or main problem I think is that there is not enough movement of the players off the ball. If you watch Silva he is constantly making space for himself, or seems to know where the space is once he has received the ball. I think we have some technically gifted players but for what ever reason we are not playing to our strengths.
Barca last night worked harder when they hadn't got the ball than when they do had it. This is what we need to be doing. We need a quality CB to go with Vincent, which maybe Boateng is, and I might get stick here, a new LB that will then allow Kolarov to play left midfield and a real play maker in the mould of Silva that can also score.
With regards to the OP I think it might be that they have got used to one style of play then it has changed with the introduction of Dzeko and the players are struggling. I also don't think that the build up of fixtures has help a great deal, given some of the injuries we have had.

I agree. Did you notice during Barcelona last night wasn't just passing forward that way as well? Several times the player with the ball while facing goal would backheel the ball without looking or would pass laterally to a player coming from behind him without looking. The team completely understands where every player should be and will be on the pitch. It forces one to realize how many players we have that I'm not sure are capable of that level... BUT we do have a majority of players who can attain Arsenal's level of passing awareness, which isn't shabby at all to say the least. I don't know if we'll ever be Barcelona. I think we have two to four players on our team with that potential (Silva, Yaya, Kompany, Dzecko.) This isn't in any way a criticism of our squad's potential. Maybe I'm wrong though, and I would love to be proven so.

 

[bluezippy]

All that's missing at the moment will soon be solved when the injurys subside.

When De Jong doesnt play, we arent good enough.... simple.

Yaya is our most direct attacking threat, but, when De Jong isnt sat in the hole, Yaya doesnt have the freedom to roam, and the freedom to break forward uninhibeted.

We are also missing Balotelli and Johnson to add a further 'direct' aspect to our game, especially from out wide.

Our back-up midfield players (Viera / Milner out of position / SWP / Jo out of position / kolarov out of position) are not good enough for the current top 4). We are not the only team with this problem... just look at Chelsea!

To compound this, Barry has been poor (pedestrain in his play and often wasteful), Silva misses the support from Yaya and AJ supportin from midfield, so all to often has to slow things down... not to mention the fact that Dzeko has struggled to settle (and i think needs a preseason before he will).

This season (as we expected at the start of the season!) is too soon, it's just that so many people got their hopes up as the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool floundered!

Add a fit Balotelli, AJ, MJ, De Jong to this team.. then add Vlad with a years excperience on loan, and possibly even Caciedo returning to give us a different option... then add the signing of one more creative / wide player (which will happen in the summer)... then add exciting midfield youngsters like Roman / Ibrahim / Assulin / Razak all knocking on the door... and suddenly things look a hell of a lot brighter!

Keep the faith blues!

 

[SWP's back]

Exactly.

Well said.

I've lost the will to live with some posts on here.

People are too impatient these days.

Bad pitch, bad ref...sorry I forgot that, yes the pitch was so bad our players simply couldn't pass to each other! Bad ref? Not really, picky but what has the ref got to do with our style of play over the last few weeks? What next? The fans were shining lazer pens into the faces of the players????
Don't lose the will to live mate, it will get better, when mancini wakes up from his Italian slumber and realises this style of play is getting us nowhere fast and we need width and penatration....it's that simple

Last few weeks we won 3-0 playing very well and were unlucky not to beat Utd then had a clean sheet away in Europe to a team that parked the bus.

Unlike you to not see any positives.

 

[mike channon´s windmill]

Until AJ returns we should go for Dzeko up front with a 3 man attacking mid of Tevez, Silva and Balo , with Yaya and Nige behind them and just go for the throat