After watching yesterday's game, I started think about our tactic of a 4-3-3/4-5-1 (and at times 4-6-0). This is pretty close to what Mancini played at Inter, and I read a comment in an article that was pretty good.
It went along the lines of saying that we already have our Viera in the shape of Yaya, we already have our Stankovic in the shape of Milner, and all we are missing now is our Cambiasso - a defensive midfielder who can actually create and pass the ball well.
De Jong can't do this job as he's purely an anchorman who will win the ball a million times and pass it short. Barry can't create enough chances as though his passing is good, he lacks the vision to truly be a defensive creator. Kompany is settled at CB and couldn't do the job anyway. Zab hasn't got the vision either and is too much of a loose cannon.
Using Tevez up front as a false 9, Balo and Silva on the wings, then Kolarov/Boateng as wing backs, this is actually a carbon copy of the Inter formation that won the Scudetto three times.
The problem is, I'm not really sure who's out there. Pirlo would be nice but he's a bit old. Not sure Cambiasso would come. This seems to be the role outlined for Gago in the past, as he does play defensive mid, but as a former attacking mid/behind the strikers type, he's got a bit of vision about him. Actually, he's probably the Milner/Stankovic role, as he's not fantastic in the tackle. This seems a bit obvious now. Big Mac was the original choice for the Viera role, then Viera himself as a short term option until Toure came. We've tried numerous in the Stankovic role; Ireland, Milner, Gago, Arteta, Gerrard, etc. Like us, Mancini seem to recognise the need for a player to link the attack and midfield whilst still playing at CM.
Crazy as it sounds, we could do with Barton and his 'Hollywood ball' now, though obviously he isn't good enough all round and is a bit of a tit.
A Diaby from Arsenal wouldn't be too bad of a move, as he has the ability required and is young enough.
To hit the nail on the head, we're looking for a Xabi Alonso, a Redondo or a Guardiola type player, but I can't think of anyone who fits this type of mould who might be available.
It went along the lines of saying that we already have our Viera in the shape of Yaya, we already have our Stankovic in the shape of Milner, and all we are missing now is our Cambiasso - a defensive midfielder who can actually create and pass the ball well.
De Jong can't do this job as he's purely an anchorman who will win the ball a million times and pass it short. Barry can't create enough chances as though his passing is good, he lacks the vision to truly be a defensive creator. Kompany is settled at CB and couldn't do the job anyway. Zab hasn't got the vision either and is too much of a loose cannon.
Using Tevez up front as a false 9, Balo and Silva on the wings, then Kolarov/Boateng as wing backs, this is actually a carbon copy of the Inter formation that won the Scudetto three times.
The problem is, I'm not really sure who's out there. Pirlo would be nice but he's a bit old. Not sure Cambiasso would come. This seems to be the role outlined for Gago in the past, as he does play defensive mid, but as a former attacking mid/behind the strikers type, he's got a bit of vision about him. Actually, he's probably the Milner/Stankovic role, as he's not fantastic in the tackle. This seems a bit obvious now. Big Mac was the original choice for the Viera role, then Viera himself as a short term option until Toure came. We've tried numerous in the Stankovic role; Ireland, Milner, Gago, Arteta, Gerrard, etc. Like us, Mancini seem to recognise the need for a player to link the attack and midfield whilst still playing at CM.
Crazy as it sounds, we could do with Barton and his 'Hollywood ball' now, though obviously he isn't good enough all round and is a bit of a tit.
A Diaby from Arsenal wouldn't be too bad of a move, as he has the ability required and is young enough.
To hit the nail on the head, we're looking for a Xabi Alonso, a Redondo or a Guardiola type player, but I can't think of anyone who fits this type of mould who might be available.