Why has this season been difficult?

[Terra Passenger]

Evidently we are not better than the three teams above us at the moment.

Sadly this is true.

But wait for next season!

 

[chedlee]

Kun on a hat trick - absolutely killing it - whistle blows... Boni comes on. A dejected look appears on Kun's face as he slowly walks off the field.

Silva, back from injury, finally having a tremendous game - passes are spot on, he's assisting at will - having one of the best games of his life.

Again the whistle blows - on comes Fernando as Silva shakes his head in disbelief and slowly comes off the pitch.

The logical conclusion to your theory is that Silva and Aguero, at worst, will choose not to score or make killer passes because they might get taken off if they do so and, at best, just not be arsed because it doesn't matter whether they play well or not.

These 2 are the first names on any team sheet. They get subbed and don't try next game. Really?

I disagree.

And what about MPs faith in selecting other players? Bony and Willy? Is that demotivating in some way and if so for whom?

 

[Terra Passenger]

The logical conclusion to your theory is that Silva and Aguero, at worst, will choose not to score or make killer passes because they might get taken off if they do so and, at best, just not be arsed because it doesn't matter whether they play well or not.

These 2 are the first names on any team sheet. They get subbed and don't try next game. Really?

I disagree.

And what about MPs faith in selecting other players? Bony and Willy? Is that demotivating in some way and if so for whom?

I don't claim what you state about Silva and Aguero (and the rest of our squad at present).

I claim instead that they lack motivation - City to them is a job. Go on the pitch, put in an effort, if we win great... otherwise... too bad.

Can you not see it on our players' faces? Or in their performances?

It's not as if one or two players are struggling.

It's almost the entire team.
======

Theory 1: Every single one of our starters (other than Dinho, Hart and Kompany), and maybe Kun) is struggling just by chance. Odds of this... maybe 1 in 2 per player. So that's 1/2^7 or 1/128 or so.

Theory 2: TMD is at fault. I think this is 2:1 - but if you think that this is really unlikely, maybe 1 in 10... I'll give you that.

So 1:128 versus 1:10 - what do you think?
---------------

For the record I don't think that any of our players are intentionally mailing it in.

What I think is... is that they don't have the motivation to care.

Have you ever been in a job that you didn't like? - I have, several times... - well, how did you apply yourself? If you're like me, to be honest, I'd put in a shift, but I can't say that I tried my very hardest.

And that's what's happened to our team.

Just for grins, DVD someone coming off the field for Pellers... and then compare that to someone coming off (for the most part, LOL, but not always) for Mancini.

Most of the time, under Pellers, the dejection is palpable; under Mancini (no great motivator either), it was sometimes dejection, and sometimes acceptance.

Or better yet, DvD someone coming off the pitch for Simeone or Klopp or Pep - they're composed - running of the pitch as fast as they can if the team needs a goal, taking their time, smiling, clapping and waving to the crowd if their side is up . The contrast between those motivated players and ours... couldn't be clearer.

 

[Metalartin]

If I don't rate a player it is because I don't rate him based on my eyes, what I see happening over the course of a game, season, career, I don't read newspapers, I don't listen much to pundits.

Not rating someone doesn't equate to a lack of support of City. Surely a football forum is the place to discuss that.

Also, since football began players have been criticised by their own fans, this isn't a new phenomenon. What's new is pussy players using it as an excuse to phone it in. If the fans think you're shit, do something about it. Put in extra shifts on crossing or finishing or your weaker foot.

These fucking excuses for professionals only get my support because they are privileged and lucky enough to play for City. Do you think the majority of them give half a fuck?

That part wasn't aimed at anything you said or your stance in particular and as I said... there's constructive criticism(where it's warranted it can help but really they already know when they aren't at their best we just like to believe they need us to tell them lol) and there's just plain writing a player off at the drop of a hat. There's no doubt that a lot of fans are doing the latter these days, we haven't always been in a position to do that and like I said it's far too close to the Real Madrid fan mindset for my liking.

 

[avoidconfusion]

A mixture of everything.

• At the time I thought the Pep announcement was right, given all the media speculation, but it has affected our form a bit. That being said, we have been poor most of the season.
• Injuries to key players - haven't ever been able to play our full strength team I don't think
• Too many poor performers - it's not just one, it's a few, which for me comes down to the manager and an inability to motivate them, and put their ''trust'' in his methods
• Poor management this season - nice guy, but a bit archaic and stubborn in his management, tactics, and team selection. The continual picking of Bony when fit over Kelechi is staggering.
• Transfers - We haven't bought a player, other than KDB, who has had a real impact on us since Aguero. Aguero was bought in 2011 - that is a poor return for a club of our resources. Sterling will be good, but hasn't had an impact this season, apart from perhaps the CL. Fernandinho has been a great signing - but not had an 'impact' in the way a Yaya/silva/aguero/KDB has. He's just a very solid player.

This.

 

[Omnia Vincit Riot]

Too many substandard signings over the last few years have caught up with us as age and injuries take their toll on our best players.

 

[davymcfc]

Injuries, poor management and general complacency

 

[RichardDunneOwnGoal]

Because we're managed by a clown?

Tonight was a perfect opportunity to rest a few key players prior to the derby on Sunday. We didn't have to win, only needed to stay solid and make sure we didn't get turned over to ensure qualification to the next round.

Instead, Manuel goes full strength again, playing our most prominent key player who holds serious long standing muscle issues for another consecutive start, presumably expecting to play him 3 times in one week - 5 minutes in he pulls his calf again and won't play in that third crucial game on Sunday, and might be out for the rest of the season.

Just complete piss poor management of the squad once more, and it's been a trend throughout the whole season.

 

[hateutd]

We're shit.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FantasyIreland]

Because we're managed by a clown?

Tonight was a perfect opportunity to rest a few key players prior to the derby on Sunday. We didn't have to win, only needed to stay solid and make sure we didn't get turned over to ensure qualification to the next round.

Instead, Manuel goes full strength again, playing our most prominent key player who holds serious long standing muscle issues for another consecutive start, presumably expecting to play him 3 times in one week - 5 minutes in he pulls his calf again and won't play in that third crucial game on Sunday, and might be out for the rest of the season.

Just complete piss poor management of the squad once more, and it's been a trend throughout the whole season.

I cant disagree with that,myself and many others suggested prior to the game that it would be wise to rest our first choice spine,given both Mangala and Yaya also required game time,for reasons of fitness......it was just the logical decision.
It seems Pellegrini's head is a very bizarre and complicated place.