Time To Back The Manager...

[Damocles]

The problem with young players is you just don't know what you're going to get unless they are truly in the top bracket. The rags and Phil Jones is a great example. The Vidic injury has cost them because Jones isn't as good as they thought he was. They now run the very real risk of finishing 3rd if Spurs do better in their upcoming tough run of games than the rags do. It shows that being unlucky with injuries or suspensions can be extremely costly.

Another thing which I think is important is that Mancini wouldn't be going on and on about the lack of bodies he has if he didn't know exactly which players he wants. So it comes back to do you spend now, or do you spend in the summer.

Regarding Tevez/Aguero. My understanding is that Mancini said last summer that he absolutely wanted 4 strikers. Being out of the CL has probably meant that he's not as bothered about that, but lets for arguments sake say we were still in that competition - I imagine Mancini would be even more stressed, and even more vocal in his need for more players.

I am Bobbys biggest fan but if he felt there was shortcomings in the squad he should have brought other players in, within the budget provided. Its an unprecedented situation for us of late with injuries, but can you buy players on the premise, to replace players missing in the short term?

Like you said this is not unique to Bobby, Arsenal are crying out for a centre half, United for a creative midfielder its part of the game and a situation the manager has to contend with. When the African nations cup is over, we will have Kompany, Lescott, Tours and Savic, with the option of Micah to fill in or if still available Nedum. Would we need another player then ? Which probably refelcts the clubs viewpoint.

-- Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:40 pm --

Couldnt agree more, the title is in touching distance, give the manager what he wants.

The addition of those players would cause more problems than they are worth. City of all clubs, now, should know the problem of having so many top players not getting a game. I would prefer us not to go down the same road again. Many on this forum consider Dzeko a confience player who needs game time, De Jong also. The addition of even more players will not improve this situtaion.

Remember Rodney Marsh :-)

The reality is that some are not good enough, others have been left behind by the progress.

The fringes of this squad needs a good purge, I'd say at least seven players to set us up for next five years without any other spend.

Would sell - De Jong, Bridge, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Kolarov, Kolo, Tevez, Johnson, Nasri, Nimley, Onuoha, Weiss, Savic, Dzeko.

Harsh, but there's £150m in transfer fees and £80m in wages.

That's not harsh, it's daft.

De Jong brings us a type of player which we have no replacement for and wins us games, Kolarov is an excellent free kick taker, has a good cross and is happy to play rotation with Clichy, Nasri is in his first year and is STILL the second highest assists maker in the league and Savic is an absolute kid.

I can only assume that I've missed the joke here because your decider of "not good enough" actually means "not in great form", and I know that you aren't stupid.

You want to purge players, even ones who have just joined. And for what? So we can start back to square one and rebuild the squad again? So we can spend ANOTHER £300m. What happens if we buy players who don't instantly hit form then? Sell them and buy again?

And fuck young players; we can't buy any of them because thinking about the future and letting players bed in properly is for rags. We should buy Hazard. And then sell him six months later because he hasn't adapted properly to our play style.

That's definitely how you win leagues.

As I say, have I missed the joke here?

 

[Sigster100]

I am Bobbys biggest fan but if he felt there was shortcomings in the squad he should have brought other players in, within the budget provided. Its an unprecedented situation for us of late with injuries, but can you buy players on the premise, to replace players missing in the short term?

Like you said this is not unique to Bobby, Arsenal are crying out for a centre half, United for a creative midfielder its part of the game and a situation the manager has to contend with. When the African nations cup is over, we will have Kompany, Lescott, Tours and Savic, with the option of Micah to fill in or if still available Nedum. Would we need another player then ? Which probably refelcts the clubs viewpoint.

-- Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:40 pm --



The addition of those players would cause more problems than they are worth. City of all clubs, now, should know the problem of having so many top players not getting a game. I would prefer us not to go down the same road again. Many on this forum consider Dzeko a confience player who needs game time, De Jong also. The addition of even more players will not improve this situtaion.

Remember Rodney Marsh :-)

The reality is that some are not good enough, others have been left behind by the progress.

The fringes of this squad needs a good purge, I'd say at least seven players to set us up for next five years without any other spend.

Would sell - De Jong, Bridge, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Kolarov, Kolo, Tevez, Johnson, Nasri, Nimley, Onuoha, Weiss, Savic, Dzeko.

Harsh, but there's £150m in transfer fees and £80m in wages.

That's not harsh, it's daft.

De Jong brings us a type of player which we have no replacement for and wins us games, Kolarov is an excellent free kick taker, has a good cross and is happy to play rotation with Clichy, Nasri is in his first year and is STILL the second highest assists maker in the league and Savic is an absolute kid.

I can only assume that I've missed the joke here because your decider of "not good enough" actually means "not in great form", and I know that you aren't stupid.

You want to purge players, even ones who have just joined. And for what? So we can start back to square one and rebuild the squad again? So we can spend ANOTHER £300m. What happens if we buy players who don't instantly hit form then? Sell them and buy again?

And fuck young players; we can't buy any of them because thinking about the future and letting players bed in properly is for rags. We should buy Hazard. And then sell him six months later because he hasn't adapted properly to our play style.

That's definitely how you win leagues.

As I say, have I missed the joke here?

Good post Damo. Silva was by no means an instant hit and look at him now. Same can be said of Balo whom you defended stubbornly last season and you were proven right. Jeez, we are top of the league and everything looks rosy. many would have you believe otherwise.

 

[haugemcfc]

The reality is that some are not good enough, others have been left behind by the progress.

The fringes of this squad needs a good purge, I'd say at least seven players to set us up for next five years without any other spend.

Would sell - De Jong, Bridge, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Kolarov, Kolo, Tevez, Johnson, Nasri, Nimley, Weiss, Savic, Dzeko.

Harsh, but there's £150m in transfer fees and £80m in wages.

Summer would be the time to purge, not now. WE need to be buying world class players and there aren't many around.

Seem to remember you labelling the likes of Barry, Richards and Milner as not good enough this time last year ;-)

Only Barry and Lescott, oh, and Boateng!

And Onuoha

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Silva was by no means an instant hit and look at him now. Same can be said of Balo

Whilst I disagree with TH's sentiments, I keep reading this in defence of underperforming players and it's just nonsense.

It was obvious to anyone who knows football that both Silva and Balotelli were top class players as soon as they arrived. And it was obvious Boateng and Kolorov weren't.

The only player who took a while to produce his best form has been Milner. But the exception doesnt prove the rule. In football, in general, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is a duck...

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

It's a very interesting debate, Billy, and one we were just touching on in the "WEll done Bobby" thread. Do you think his demeanour over the last few weeks is partly down to the board refusing to sign the player(s) like DE Rossi who he obviously wants?

I think Mancini is suffering from the unknown quantity of missing Yaya for a few matches, and now VK is sidelined he might think the cupboard, though not exactly threadbare, might need a little refreshment. As long as the points keep rolling in, regardless of sub-standard reffing, he won't mind too much at full time.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Dzeko?? Please TH,you must have been on the sauce...?? He is quality,has bags of passion and is a real handful in both boxes,he's(inexplainably) only lacking sustained game time.

Nasri,it's a tough one because,in his position,there are better players out there,Hazard being the obvious one.No doubt about Nasri's ability just his heart and consistency.....

As for the others on the list,if replacements were sought iwouldn't bat an eye lid.

Hart,Richards,Clichy,Komps,Silva,Yaya,Aguero and Dzeko - all starters imo,that leaves 3 first team spots we can improve.

 

[Danamy]

I am Bobbys biggest fan but if he felt there was shortcomings in the squad he should have brought other players in, within the budget provided. Its an unprecedented situation for us of late with injuries, but can you buy players on the premise, to replace players missing in the short term?

Like you said this is not unique to Bobby, Arsenal are crying out for a centre half, United for a creative midfielder its part of the game and a situation the manager has to contend with. When the African nations cup is over, we will have Kompany, Lescott, Tours and Savic, with the option of Micah to fill in or if still available Nedum. Would we need another player then ? Which probably refelcts the clubs viewpoint.

-- Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:40 pm --



The addition of those players would cause more problems than they are worth. City of all clubs, now, should know the problem of having so many top players not getting a game. I would prefer us not to go down the same road again. Many on this forum consider Dzeko a confience player who needs game time, De Jong also. The addition of even more players will not improve this situtaion.

Remember Rodney Marsh :-)

The reality is that some are not good enough, others have been left behind by the progress.

The fringes of this squad needs a good purge, I'd say at least seven players to set us up for next five years without any other spend.

Would sell - De Jong, Bridge, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Kolarov, Kolo, Tevez, Johnson, Nasri, Nimley, Onuoha, Weiss, Savic, Dzeko.

Harsh, but there's £150m in transfer fees and £80m in wages.

That's not harsh, it's daft.

De Jong brings us a type of player which we have no replacement for and wins us games, Kolarov is an excellent free kick taker, has a good cross and is happy to play rotation with Clichy, Nasri is in his first year and is STILL the second highest assists maker in the league and Savic is an absolute kid.

I can only assume that I've missed the joke here because your decider of "not good enough" actually means "not in great form", and I know that you aren't stupid.

You want to purge players, even ones who have just joined. And for what? So we can start back to square one and rebuild the squad again? So we can spend ANOTHER £300m. What happens if we buy players who don't instantly hit form then? Sell them and buy again?

And fuck young players; we can't buy any of them because thinking about the future and letting players bed in properly is for rags. We should buy Hazard. And then sell him six months later because he hasn't adapted properly to our play style.

That's definitely how you win leagues.

As I say, have I missed the joke here?

Also playing devils advocate, what if we have a managerial change?

Do we purge and start again?

The players we have are good enough to win this League, they just need to believe it themselves and go out and do it...........

 

[Anonymous]

I'm hearing the old "why spoil the road for ha'peth of tar?" argument and I agree to an extent. However, I also believe the squad, although thin at the moment due to ACoN, injury and suspension is still good enough to see us over the finishing line.

The owners seemingly agree. I can't blame Mancini though for wanting to make 100% sure though.

Tough one to call really.

 

[Anonymous]

Also playing devils advocate, what if we have a managerial change?

Do we purge and start again?

The players we have are good enough to win this League, they just need to believe it themselves and go out and do it...........

Of the players TH mentions - only Dzeko and Nasri do I disagree with him on. The rest IMO, will go. The only uncertainty is Savic because obviously he's young and has the possibility of improving.

I agree that the players we have at our disposal are good enough to win the league - on paper. However we were good enough - on paper - to win it last season but fell short. The key is having the right balance within all areas of the squad which we simply don't have right now, because otherwise Mancini wouldn't have been going on about it since last summer.

As I keep saying, it's only three players maximum to complete the squad. I don't see what possible reason the owners could have for cutting off all spending at this juncture.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

What is apparent from this thread is the amount of biting taking place from the freddies in the boiler room - the same people dangling the bait are the same knee jerkers from last year -

Nasri is currently being stripped down by Mancini and the team behind the scene, all thats lacking is eradicating the conditioning he experienced from Arsenal, when he toughens up, and he will, the next level of player will materialise....... its a no brainer

Dzeko on the other hand is the maker or breaker of his own destiny, he either embraces the squad rotation and stops being so petulant or bob will lose patience and ship him out, though when edin is good he's unplayable!!!