Which five players should Mancini build his team around ?

[Dickov 99]

Ok so here we go again, January comes and more signings will surely arrive and a new team is beginning to be built by Roberto and his team, exciting times ahead I think!.

The question is If you were Roberto Mancini which five players in our current squad you be most excited about working with, be ideally planning to build your team around, keep happy and form the bed rock of our bright future ?

Please give reasons for all players you would include in this catergory.

Mine would be the following.

Shay Given

The best keeper in Europe IMO and consistantly a 8 or 9 out of 10 performer. Can't think of any occasion in recent years where he has been at fault and a top professional who all premier league clubs would love in their side.

Nigel De jong

For me the best defensive midfielder in the PL and will only getter better. I must admit when he first joined I felt we potentially paid far too much, now however I feel we could have made one of the best signings in the prem over the last 10 years. Not the finished article yet which is frightening as he is currently performing at a terrific level of consistancy.

Steven Ireland

One of my concerns with Hughes and getting the best from some players this season was Superman. Last season brilliant and head and shoulders above the rest, this season stop start and now I think Mancini will get him going again. Still young and another player that all sides would love to have.

Craig Bellamy

For the best player this season so far and his drive, determination and work rate especially in our side at the moment is essential. We need him and I really hope Mancini sees that for every Robinho there is a Bellamy and its Bellamys in this league that IMO are better suited.

Carlos Tevez

Was just starting to find his feet recently before last weekends events. I feel that Tevez, like Bellamy not only gives us the required level of work rate and effort but has a incredible level of ability. Only matched by Robinho in terms of the forwards.

So there you go that would be my five, thoughts ?

CTID

 

[supercity36]

given: our obvious number 1... unless you want taylor who let 6 in in his last competitive match, costing cardiff a play-off place

kompany: good strong CB, better than kolo and joleon in my opinion.

de jong: cool, calm and collective. but when hes after you, a fucking mental beast!

bellamy: vocal, strong, dosent take shit. should be captain IMO

tevez: same qualities as bellamy, rough slippery little bastard

 

[Deleted member 14625]

Any team should be built around a core of players who would run till they were sweating blood for the team to win! No team should be built around anyone like Robinho at all! Every teams 1st 3-6 names on the team sheet should be people you would want alongside you in a fight when you are outnumbered!
This isnt just for a football team, its the same in rugby, all sports infact...also in business and infact in everything in life!

My core players are Given, Lescott, De Jong, Bellamy and Tevez!
Given is as reliable a shot stopper i have ever seen in a green shirt for any footy team!
Lescott is a very good player, he's not always shown it for us but he's not been here 6 months yet and with every game i thought he was getting better and better! and watch him when we score - he goes fucking mad, thats what you want to see!
I wish De Jong was my mate, end of!
Bellamy has been our best overall player this season he puts 100% all the time!
Tevez - again, attitude effort everything you want from a player he's spot on!

Then the likes of Ireland and Robinho can be added to spice up the team a bit!

 

[cucumberman]

by building around i take it as complementing our Feisty Five (ok someone should think of a better ______ five name), mine would be:

Given
Toure
Ireland
Robinho
Tevez

the back four should be built around Given. if any shortcomings he might have it might be to do with coming out for crosses. so the backfour should complement him and Toure. Also, a general problem with GK when they are on the line are disciplined ontheline blockers. we already saw how Ade was abit out of position during his own goal as he was a tad close to Given's reach. and there were two players blocking that same spot. So at least a defender that are good at makeshift GKing. so thats 2 defenders to complement Given + Kolo

Toure occasionally does wonderful runs up top, so i think its time to have mids that allow him to overlap centrally. this form of attack is now a rarely sight seeing how Defender overlaps are done left and right. So 1 middie that would allow a central Kolo overlap. +Ireland

I dont believe one bit that Ireland has lost his form. He is not playing in the same 11 that contributed his form in the past and he's certainly played out of position. Something that would complement Ireland is a Def that overlaps in the middle (Kolo) and an attacker that gives him time to get into a through pass crossing position, because thats what he preferred last season. none of the long ball, overhead passes that was more of Petrov's expertise.

Robinho needs an overlap partner, which usually is Bridge. improve on Bridge and add a CB offensive (Kolo) plus a box striker (Tevez) then Rob would command his zone.

Tevez. needs other players to distract opposition defenders from marking him. he gets closed down too quickly too often. Toure, Robinho, the RB overlap and Ireland is already enough distraction. 1 more striker would add that advantage. Tevez, when unmarked, is a sure scorer from within 25yards.

 

[Real-City]

Given - Top 5 in the world even at his age.

Kompany - Strong CB who is physical and has a good touch as well.

de Jong - I shouldn't have to explain myself here, and absolute monster.

Ireland - One of the smartest in game players we have. Great touch, vision and one of the better passers in the EPL.

Robinho - His ability is far too good to go unused. He had 14 goals last season in his first year in the league. Once he gets up to form we need to get him in the game again. I think Mancini brings a game that will compliment Robbie.

 

[Garry.Cook]

Don't know why 5 is the magic number. Really, our squad is great and probably only needs 3 or 4 additions to be capable of challenging for the title.

My choices are:

Shay Given - Best keeper we have had in years and key to our success.

De Jong - The new gaffer will probably fall in love with Nige, top defensively just needs to be coached on going forward to become more of an Essien player.

Stevie Ireland - If Bobby Manc can get him playing like last season he has one of the best attacking midfielders in the league.

Robinho - Worldbeater when he wants to be. Again, if Bobby can motivate the lad then he could well be the focal point of our team.

Tevez - Bags of ability, sweat on the shirt, ditched the rags for us, scores important goals. What more do I need to say?

For me the rest are replaceable. Other key players for us I think are Joleon Lescott, Shaunie Wright and Bellamy but none are irreplaceable and even on top form, would probably never be first on the teamsheet.

NB: Really hope Bellamy stays and continues with the form he showed under Hughes. Only reason he isn't in my top five is his age, how injury-prone he is and the fact he might miss Hughes.

 

[the--dud]

Chiellini - Or an equally amazing, strong, no-bullshit defender which I'm convinced Mancini will sign. We need a rock at the back, someone who doesn't muck about.

Ireland - With a manager who has tactical understanding, I think he can get Super Man back to his best.

Robinho - Same as for Ireland. With some quality man-management and tactical understanding Robbie can be as good for us as he is for Brazil!

Tevez - He's just quality, world-class if given the right role in the team.

 

[yatesy94]

Given - Best keeper in the Prem hands down, Mancini should have no trouble motivating him.

Toure - I believe, as well as many others. That Kolo is a top, top defender. He clearly wasn't performing under Hughes and Co, hopefully the new defensive coaches and Mancini himself can get him back playing to his best abilities.

de Jong - Bar Essien, the best DM in the Premiership. Always gives 100 percent and I'm sure he'll flourish under Roberto.

Ireland - He's obviously going to be a bit upset with the departure of Hughes, he was the one who took a chance on Stevie and now look where he is.
Recently he hasn't really set the world alight but with a bit of Italian magic, Superman hopefully will get back to his old ways.

Bellamy - Mancini needs to sit down and have a chat with Bellers. Bellamy is a fans favourite, of course he'll want to be loyal to Hughes and hand in a transfer request in January but RM must stop at all costs to keep him here. He's captain material and like a previous poster stated...he doesn't take shit from anyone.

 

[juhanni]

Micah Richard as central defender, word class speed with the right company,(not Kompany)
Nigel de jong every team need a lion !
Carlos Tevez can make a difference in every attacking position
Adebayor can make a difference in every attacking position
Robinho Because we can afford to have a luxuary player and a winner!

 

[cucumberman]

isnt it amazing how every time kolo decides to run upfield, everyone, including our squad, seemed to look like deers caught in headlights?

three times he done it and no one knew what to do lol.