AJ

[zuricity]

From perch in the Gods of the CB stand on wednesday, it seemed like Yaya was carrying an injury. He seemed to struggle to really get going.

So it wouldn't surprise me at all, if Bobby Manc starts Milner and Barry in midfield.

Pushed under the carpet, in the complaints about City from weds night is the fact that we actually played 3 games within seven days,
Thursday Posnan, Sunday WBA and Wednesday the trafford pensioners. Admittedly, we ought to be able to hammer a team of pensioners but......

well now it will be 4 games in 10 days. This is a very demanding schedule indeed. Ok, after Saturday we finally get a Beatles weeks' respite, which is good because we'll need it for that draw at Fulham :-)

Exactly why he should be using the squad more and not just for games he considers to be of no real value.

Doug, you won't get me arguing against squad rotation, but it's good to be able to keep a core, maybe eight or nine playing.
Unfortunately , injuries in key areas where the squad is surprisingly weak ( Bridge / Richards coming in for example) haven't helped us.

However, if AJ is starting tomorrow as suggested in this thread, then It's upto him to keep confirming how good he is.

[blues2win]

Four changes for me . Adebayor for Carlos ( not entirely fit and two matches in quick succession) Johnson for Yaya ( ditto and he ceretainly looked as if he was blowing at the end of the match) Richards for Boateng ( Jerome played well defensively but Micah might offer a bit more going forward although long term he's nowhere near as good technically) and Kolarov for Zabaleta ( he can't keep leaving him out because he's not match fit. A home match against Birmingham is surely the time to give him as near a full game as he can manage. Can't wait to see a free kick or two and maybe an explosive shot! )

[The Goose]

From perch in the Gods of the CB stand on wednesday, it seemed like Yaya was carrying an injury. He seemed to struggle to really get going.

So it wouldn't surprise me at all, if Bobby Manc starts Milner and Barry in midfield.

Pushed under the carpet, in the complaints about City from weds night is the fact that we actually played 3 games within seven days,
Thursday Posnan, Sunday WBA and Wednesday the trafford pensioners. Admittedly, we ought to be able to hammer a team of pensioners but......

well now it will be 4 games in 10 days. This is a very demanding schedule indeed. Ok, after Saturday we finally get a Beatles weeks' respite, which is good because we'll need it for that draw at Fulham :-)

It's a very good point that our current schedule is quite difficult. We do need to get our heads around it though - CL teams are also playing twice a week. Also, the reason for amassing the squad we have, is to be able to compete on all fronts. One caveat is that it was a WC year, so there's an extra amount of fatigue that some of the players will be carrying.

[The Goose]

From perch in the Gods of the CB stand on wednesday, it seemed like Yaya was carrying an injury. He seemed to struggle to really get going.

So it wouldn't surprise me at all, if Bobby Manc starts Milner and Barry in midfield.

Pushed under the carpet, in the complaints about City from weds night is the fact that we actually played 3 games within seven days,
Thursday Posnan, Sunday WBA and Wednesday the trafford pensioners. Admittedly, we ought to be able to hammer a team of pensioners but......

well now it will be 4 games in 10 days. This is a very demanding schedule indeed. Ok, after Saturday we finally get a Beatles weeks' respite, which is good because we'll need it for that draw at Fulham :-)

Exactly why he should be using the squad more and not just for games he considers to be of no real value.

A very good point DH. I think our erstwhile manager's got his thoughts on certain players, and I think we need accept that he isn't going to change them anytime soon.

[john@staustell]

Mancini said there will be changes. And the Sky bloke at the press conference said about AJ starting (definitely) - I know they talk shite but did Bobby actually say this at the conference?

I believe this would be a game for him, whereas Wednesday most certainly was not, nor the W Brom game to start.

Come on AJ, get off the beer and do some talking on the pitch!

[john@staustell]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 32715.html

Roberto Mancini has said that Adam Johnson must "think more" on the pitch if he is to improve as a player. In a critique that also suggested Johnson has paid too much notice to his own press, Mancini said the England winger needs more to his game than just "some dribbling or two crosses".


The Manchester City manager went on to say that he would be happy with a fourth place finish this season.

It was only two months ago that Johnson appeared to have the world at his feet, bursting onto the international scene like a seasoned professional, dancing through tackles and scoring a first England goal to boot.

Having emerged as one of the talents of the Premier League, impressing ever since his £7m move from Middlesbrough in January, the young winger was repeating that form for Fabio Capello and looked set for a long and prosperous career at the top.

But Johnson now finds himself on the fringes of the City side, having started just one of their last eight Premier League games. He made it on as substitute in Wednesday's Manchester derby and at West Bromwich and Wolves recently, but did not get on the pitch in the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal. Johnson's last two starts were both in Europa League ties against Lech Poznan, and he finds himself competing with James Milner, David Silva and Mario Balotelli for two positions in Mancini's preferred 4-3-3 system, but is in line for a start at Eastlands today under the manager's rotation policy.

Mancini suggested how Johnson can make a stronger case for a regular role. "I think he can improve a lot more if he thinks more when he plays," said the Italian. "He's a good player but he's just 22 years old [actual age 23], he's played 20 games in the Premier League and it's impossible to think of him now as a top player.

"For this, he must work, he must think, he must work for the team. Some dribbling or two crosses don't make him a good player. He must keep his feet on the floor. He's a good player, he has a fantastic talent but he is not a top player at this moment. For me, he's a good guy, but it could be because when you are young you read the newspapers which say, 'I am the top, I am the top'. I think it's correct he can play for the England team, but if he wants to play for England he must play very well every game."

[Swales4ever]

I can see Roberto seeing something of himself in Young Adam and his current mismanagement of his talent.
That's why he is so strict on him... because he rate him very very much and does not want him to waste his gift by ANY means, imo

I am not worried at all, though, as Adam is young and so make mistake and/or may be keen to be sidetracked by testosterone but he definitely has something among his ears and certainly he will flourish learning from Mancio.

[john@staustell]

Well if it doesn't work out he could always grow his hair a bit and play the Orlando Bloom bit in a remake:

[Swales4ever]

Hell fall!!!



I wont ever permit such a shame!!!...

[Ted Hughes]

Be surprised if he doesn't play today, for all the reasons mentioned. Does seem as if Bob is trying very hard to get through to AJ in all aspects though. His comments about '2 dribbles & 2 crosses' are spot on imo & I think we can all see there's clearly an aspect of his off feild activities that Mancini is trying to change. He wouldn't bother unless he really rated him though. We could sell AJ for a decent profit if we wanted to so it's not as if we don't have a choice. Clearly Bob sees something special & is trying to make sure he doesn't waste it. Imo he should try & get Capello on his case too.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Training yesterday was a non event as I am sure Mancini thinks the games are coming thick and fast so serious training( for keeping fit) is not needed. Normally the day before a game there would be some suggestion of planning for the opposition and working with the selected team but this didn't happen. Not on the training pitch anyway.

The only hint of the team was the fact that he kept the 11 from Wednesday's game separate for the light jogging etc. Surely though given all the words about players being tired and playing every 3 days he wouldn't keep the same team? I reckon that his words to the press about AJ probably indicate that he is selected for this one and one of Barry,Yaya or Milner will get rested. Mybe 2 if Ade gets the nod as well and Tevez is fit.

Then it would be up to AJ to deliver.

[Ted Hughes]

Training yesterday was a non event as I am sure Mancini thinks the games are coming thick and fast so serious training( for keeping fit) is not needed. Normally the day before a game there would be some suggestion of planning for the opposition and working with the selected team but this didn't happen. Not on the training pitch anyway.

The only hint of the team was the fact that he kept the 11 from Wednesday's game separate for the light jogging etc. Surely though given all the words about players being tired and playing every 3 days he wouldn't keep the same team? I reckon that his words to the press about AJ probably indicate that he is selected for this one and one of Barry,Yaya or Milner will get rested. Mybe 2 if Ade gets the nod as well and Tevez is fit.

Then it would be up to AJ to deliver.

Just found a piece ont net where the reporter recons AJ won't start today. Whether that's just the journo making things up or a tip from Mancini is open to debate though.

[Crossie]

He's good no doubt, but he certainly isnt as good as the press are saying.

We've seen first hand how English players are totally over hyped by our press.

He's a media darling at the moment, not really doing anything wrong, all the good parts are reported, even the drinking thing wasnt really painted in a bad light.

I cant make my mind up between thinking he can be very lucky, or very gifted but only showing it once or twice a game. He needs to be more involved, work even harder, think more.

I hope he doesnt become a ball greedy cunt and play himself out of the first team.

[The Goose]

Just managed to get round to reading this morning's papers and the "2 dribbles 2 crosses" headlines. I think Roberto is wrong in how he's handling AJ. I believe that reprimanding him for the drinking shenanigans publicly was spot on. AJ needed to be spoken to and needs to sort his head out when it comes to behaving like a pissed up teeny bopper.

This however is another issue altogether for me. I think publicly questioning a player's ability is a high risk strategy to take because if it backfires, you lose the player forever.

[Dameerto]

Be surprised if he doesn't play today, for all the reasons mentioned. Does seem as if Bob is trying very hard to get through to AJ in all aspects though. His comments about '2 dribbles & 2 crosses' are spot on imo & I think we can all see there's clearly an aspect of his off feild activities that Mancini is trying to change. He wouldn't bother unless he really rated him though. We could sell AJ for a decent profit if we wanted to so it's not as if we don't have a choice. Clearly Bob sees something special & is trying to make sure he doesn't waste it. Imo he should try & get Capello on his case too.

I think Bobby really rates him (my gut tells me he sees himself in AJ somewhat) - I also think Bobby can see where AJ will end up (IE Wigan) if he doesn't get serious about his career.

[Fesan]

I would like to see Silva play the central role and Milner/Johnson on the wings with Barry/De Jong the defensive pairing in midfield. And Kolarov in at left back. Undecided about the striker, but pretty sure Mancini will go with Tevez as he always does.. maybe he'll be subbed off early in the 2nd half if we look like taking it home safely?

Hart

Boateng, Toure, Kompany, Kolarov

De Jong, Barry

Adam Johnson, Silva, Milner

Tevez




Looks like a pretty decent XI to me! Arguably our strongest starter too. Maybe Yaya in there somewhere when he gets fit/finds form and Balotelli when he gets his head straight:-)

[Dameerto]

Silva HAS to be played centrally (even more so if Tevez is on the pitch) even if it means sacrificing Milner as a wide player. Milner's work rate and defensive capabilities more than make up for it.

[Dubciteh]

I would like to see Silva play the central role and Milner/Johnson on the wings with Barry/De Jong the defensive pairing in midfield. And Kolarov in at left back. Undecided about the striker, but pretty sure Mancini will go with Tevez as he always does.. maybe he'll be subbed off early in the 2nd half if we look like taking it home safely?

Hart

Boateng, Toure, Kompany, Kolarov

De Jong, Barry

Adam Johnson, Silva, Milner

Tevez




Looks like a pretty decent XI to me! Arguably our strongest starter too. Maybe Yaya in there somewhere when he gets fit/finds form and Balotelli when he gets his head straight:-)

Not a bad lineup, id go with zabba ahead of boateng if i was going down your route. I wouldnt write yaya off yet i might swap him for barry there..

[Beefymcfc]

I find the problem with AJ starting is that with only 1 up front it makes it difficult for him to get the space he needs. Playing with Carlos, who comes deep, allows the oppo to double up on AJ and also gives him no real option to pass it into the box therefore forcing him to shoot. I suppose that's better than nothing though.

[Ted Hughes]

Just managed to get round to reading this morning's papers and the "2 dribbles 2 crosses" headlines. I think Roberto is wrong in how he's handling AJ. I believe that reprimanding him for the drinking shenanigans publicly was spot on. AJ needed to be spoken to and needs to sort his head out when it comes to behaving like a pissed up teeny bopper.

This however is another issue altogether for me. I think publicly questioning a player's ability is a high risk strategy to take because if it backfires, you lose the player forever.

I don't hink we need a player at the club who hasn't got the balls to answer Bob on the pitch tbh. I think he's throwing down the gauntlet to AJ & he can either pick it up or leave as far as I'm concerned. I'm right behind Bob on this; AJ is 23 but plays & behaves like he's 19. This is a crucial time for him & he needs waking up & needs to learn how to play top level football, not just make the crowd go oooh as he beats 3 & hoofs the ball into the stand. If more people had been stronger with young talented English players we may have had a national team that wins stuff.