something is wrong

[Prestwich_Blue]

One thing I'd say in Mancini's defence is that we probably won't see us play more as a team until next season. We've tried to build a team from scratch and that doesn't work. Next season we'll have a more settled squad and key players like Kolarov, Boateng, Yaya Toure & Dzeko should have adapted better to the Premier League. We won't have 5 or 6 new players coming in to disrupt everything.

However, I do have concerns about our midfield. Players like Barry & Milner, who should be at home in this league, just aren't adding value. They're never a threat going forward and this was shown in the Derby when someone got to the by-line and put a great ball towards the penalty spot but there was no one there to knock it in. That's where Milner, Barry or even a player like De Jong (although he wasn't playing) should have been. But neither of them was in the right place. I'd sell them both and get Krancjar from Spurs, who is much more of a threat from that position.

1. Yes they should. Dzeko especially, taking allready 8 Weeks long.

2. Yes youre an geneuis! How the F´ck didnt we recon. Kranjcar, off course, the sign of God!

Whoah - Hold on there boy.
1) Maybe I wasn't clear enough but I said that I don' t expect them to settle properly until next season. So your sarcastic repsonse is actually agreeing with my point.

2) The point about Krancjar is my opinion and that opinion is that he'd offer more than Barry or Milner offensively as he always seem to be on or around the edge of the box for balls that come back. Again, instead of sarcasm, offer something meaningful if you want to disagree with me.

 

[tonea2003]

Over reaction or what! We were in total control of the game from start to finish and were never in danger of losing. Most fans would take that going away to a place like Greece but not City fans with their new found riches. The game is over two legs; draw away win at home equals job done.

And this obsession with Spurs is outrageous. It happened after they played Inter and it's happened again last night, our fans telling us that we should be doing it the Spurs way! Have a little faith, by the end of next season Spurs will be miles behind us.

miles behind no way, we might be in front we might be behind, but one thing for sure we will both be fighting it out at the top.

 

[Shands]

We still stuggle for cohesion in the final third and I wonder how much of this is down to Tevez. There's no question he's a wonderful player but I think he must be tricky to play with because he's quite unpredictable in what he does. When he and Adebayour played together they didn't link up at all and although it's early days with both Dzeko and Balotelli there's no sense that he has an understanding with them either. For a full back like Kolarov or Micah being asked to supplement the attack your job is made much tougher when Silva and Tevez change the areas the play in so much, instead of being able to send a cross in early you have to pause and look up to establish where they are (or to give them time to arrive from deep) and the momentum is lost.

I think perhaps we're caught between two styles of play at the moment but it's hard to judge until we've seen more of both Dxeko and Balo. I do think more is needed from Yaya though, he's too lazy in his distribution and we're losing out on good positions because of it.

 

[jay_mcfc]

Based on what? We've progressed this season, we bought more better players last summer, and yet even with playing in the CL (which was supposed to hinder their progress in the league), they have made as much progress from last season as we have. And they spent a hell of a lot less than us last summer. So yeah, on what basis do you think they'll be miles behind us next season?

On the basis of time. This thread proves exactly the point, doesn't?

Barring 2/3 we now have the top class players. No more stepping stones or expensive average, we now have the core of the team to take on the title next season. As has been said in this thread we have top quality players who are all confident individuals but as a team it's not quite clicked. I 100% agree with that but where I differ is that something isn't wrong but that the process of building a title challenging team takes a number of years regardless of how much money you spend.

Getting to 5th was a piece of piss. Finishing above the likes of Villa, Everton, Sunderland and a declining Liverpool was easy.

Then come Spurs. A club that have spent millions themselves contrary to popular opinion. They've also had their experienced in the premier league manager for a few years who has built a team capable of challenging for fourth on a regular basis. Fair play to them, they have done brilliantly and so has Redknapp. They beat us to 4th last year, they will not do the same again.

Next is Chelsea, last seasons champions and huge favourites to win this years. Well we're above them and have a very good chance of staying there too. Yes they have come backwards despite keeping the core of the championship winning team and if we do finish above them then that itself represents excellent progress.

I don't really have to say anything about United and Arsenal. Neither have as good/strong squads or individuals as they used to but both clubs have been so well run and managed for so long that they have deep rooted qualities for success. This is proven in the fact they can both field players like Eboue/O'Shea and yet still challenge for titles. Buying top class players in itself is not enough to overtake these teams on the field. The whole club has to grow and have structures from top to bottom in the same way these clubs do (and all of Europes top clubs too).

What I'm saying is that getting to 5th by buying good players is the easy part. Each step we take now will get more and more difficult. We don't have a divine right to finish above United/Chelsea/Arsenal/Spurs because they are clubs that have spent money and been building for success for a long time. If we finish above 2 of these this season that will represent significant progress.

 

[jay_mcfc]

I don't know why I bothered with all that as Prestwich_Blue has summed it up perfectly.

Except the bit about Krancjaer, who to me is a match of the day player.

 

[Anonymous]

Based on what? We've progressed this season, we bought more better players last summer, and yet even with playing in the CL (which was supposed to hinder their progress in the league), they have made as much progress from last season as we have. And they spent a hell of a lot less than us last summer. So yeah, on what basis do you think they'll be miles behind us next season?

On the basis of time. This thread proves exactly the point, doesn't?

Barring 2/3 we now have the top class players. No more stepping stones or expensive average, we now have the core of the team to take on the title next season. As has been said in this thread we have top quality players who are all confident individuals but as a team it's not quite clicked. I 100% agree with that but where I differ is that something isn't wrong but that the process of building a title challenging team takes a number of years regardless of how much money you spend.

Getting to 5th was a piece of piss. Finishing above the likes of Villa, Everton, Sunderland and a declining Liverpool was easy.

Then come Spurs. A club that have spent millions themselves contrary to popular opinion. They've also had their experienced in the premier league manager for a few years who has built a team capable of challenging for fourth on a regular basis. Fair play to them, they have done brilliantly and so has Redknapp. They beat us to 4th last year, they will not do the same again.

Next is Chelsea, last seasons champions and huge favourites to win this years. Well we're above them and have a very good chance of staying there too. Yes they have come backwards despite keeping the core of the championship winning team and if we do finish above them then that itself represents excellent progress.

I don't really have to say anything about United and Arsenal. Neither have as good/strong squads or individuals as they used to but both clubs have been so well run and managed for so long that they have deep rooted qualities for success. This is proven in the fact they can both field players like Eboue/O'Shea and yet still challenge for titles. Buying top class players in itself is not enough to overtake these teams on the field. The whole club has to grow and have structures from top to bottom in the same way these clubs do (and all of Europes top clubs too).

What I'm saying is that getting to 5th by buying good players is the easy part. Each step we take now will get more and more difficult. We don't have a divine right to finish above United/Chelsea/Arsenal/Spurs because they are clubs that have spent money and been building for success for a long time. If we finish above 2 of these this season that will represent significant progress.

Not at all....you said Spurs would be "miles behind" us by next season...based on what?

 

[bongsblue]

My view for what it's worth.

That pitch was bobbins, we found it very difficult to play any accurate close quarter stuff when we were put under pressure around their box.

When Silva struggles with the surface, as he did, lesser mortals are bound to.

I'm a bit concerned about the Edin/Tev combination. I'll try not to be impatient because our new hit man has shown glimpses of what he can do. He needs a couple of really good goals and he'll be away.

I didn't see a line up featuring Ed, Tev, Silva and SWP as lacking attacking ambition. I thought we'd win by a couple of goals. Apparently they have lost 5 league games at home already.

Our set pieces are sheite which is a worry considering the quality which Kolarov can deliver and the size of some of our players. Mancini must be tearing his hair out.

We do miss NDJ big time.

I couldn't see them scoring other than for the usual curse of a deflection or a set piece.

Yet another central defensive partnership!

 

[jay_mcfc]

Not at all....you said Spurs would be "miles behind" us by next season...based on what?

On the basis that time will make us miles better than what we are and that Spurs will not improve enough to go with us. Next season we'll finish 1st or 2nd and they'll be 5th.

 

[Breadsnapper]

Or maybe they were fucked after playing on saturday.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

My view for what it's worth.

That pitch was bobbins, we found it very difficult to play any accurate close quarter stuff when we were put under pressure around their box.

When Silva struggles with the surface, as he did, lesser mortals are bound to.

I'm a bit concerned about the Edin/Tev combination. I'll try not to be impatient because our new hit man has shown glimpses of what he can do. He needs a couple of really good goals and he'll be away.

I didn't see a line up featuring Ed, Tev, Silva and SWP as lacking attacking ambition. I thought we'd win by a couple of goals. Apparently they have lost 5 league games at home already.

Our set pieces are sheite which is a worry considering the quality which Kolarov can deliver and the size of some of our players. Mancini must be tearing his hair out.

We do miss NDJ big time.

I couldn't see them scoring other than for the usual curse of a deflection or a set piece.

Yet another central defensive partnership!

luckly for bob he gets well paid to watch it.


is it sunny in tyldesley