Silver Lining

[Arjan Van Schotte]

This time last season Mancini was very negative against the top 4 in the Prem and was heavily criticised for it (me included) and instead of trying to finish as high as possible in the league seemed more bothered about making the top 4 and winning the FA Cup, which he did.

Does anyone else think we are seeing him adopt a similar strategy this season whereby he is prioritising the Premiership over the Champions League in the hope that once we have won the Premiership he will use the massive confidence boost that it will give the club to push on and make a serious assault on the Champions League next season?

[highlight]I don't think he's prioritizing either[/highlight]. The difference is I can't quite work it out but the CL is much more difficult to play in. Silva has said how he just can't find the same space. Napoli are a very good side who would give anyone a good game.

So why does he put out a stronger team in the Premiership games?

I wouldn't necessarily say he does. Tonight only the full backs wouldn't be considered regulars. Mancini's reaction to our winner against Villereal imo showed how much he valued the competition.

showed how much he valued his substitution you mean....

do you really think he played the "first team" tonight? with barry and aguero on the bench, clichy? richards? any more?

[freshie]

This time last season Mancini was very negative against the top 4 in the Prem and was heavily criticised for it (me included) and instead of trying to finish as high as possible in the league seemed more bothered about making the top 4 and winning the FA Cup, which he did.

Does anyone else think we are seeing him adopt a similar strategy this season whereby he is prioritising the Premiership over the Champions League in the hope that once we have won the Premiership he will use the massive confidence boost that it will give the club to push on and make a serious assault on the Champions League next season?

[highlight]I don't think he's prioritizing either[/highlight]. The difference is I can't quite work it out but the CL is much more difficult to play in. Silva has said how he just can't find the same space. Napoli are a very good side who would give anyone a good game.

So why does he put out a stronger team in the Premiership games?

I wouldn't necessarily say he does. Tonight only the full backs wouldn't be considered regulars. Mancini's reaction to our winner against Villereal imo showed how much he valued the competition.

In our most important Champions League game of the campaign he changes the 2 full backs who are key positions in his tatical set up and rests our best striker and one of our best midfielders this season in Barry before an away trip to Anfield. But he isn't prioritising the league is he?

[freshie]

This time last season Mancini was very negative against the top 4 in the Prem and was heavily criticised for it (me included) and instead of trying to finish as high as possible in the league seemed more bothered about making the top 4 and winning the FA Cup, which he did.

Does anyone else think we are seeing him adopt a similar strategy this season whereby he is prioritising the Premiership over the Champions League in the hope that once we have won the Premiership he will use the massive confidence boost that it will give the club to push on and make a serious assault on the Champions League next season?

[highlight]I don't think he's prioritizing either[/highlight]. The difference is I can't quite work it out but the CL is much more difficult to play in. Silva has said how he just can't find the same space. Napoli are a very good side who would give anyone a good game.

So why does he put out a stronger team in the Premiership games?

I wouldn't necessarily say he does. Tonight only the full backs wouldn't be considered regulars. Mancini's reaction to our winner against Villereal imo showed how much he valued the competition.

showed how much he valued his substitution you mean....

do you really think he played the "first team" tonight? with barry and aguero on the bench, clichy? richards? any more?

I don't think he has a clue what he is on about and he doesn't care either - he just seems to love playing devil's advocate regardless of how stupid it makes him look

[Ted Hughes]

Didn't see this. Have just said on the other thread that I think he is prioritising the Prem.

[PeterParker]

Didn't see this. Have just said on the other thread that I think he is prioritising the Prem.

Then again we will have a poor Euro League adventure..

[guv111]

Who do we send off around Europe to represent the club in the Europa League, though? And would we get hit with yet more City-specific sanctions if we used the third team? Yes, it could be positive that we can concentrate on domestic honours, but who knows what approach Mancini is likely to take? After tonight, it feels difficult to second guess him again. As I said earlier, a lot is riding on the result on Sunday; much more than it did before this evening's match.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I've actually given a very fair assesment, not playing devils advocate. How about my point about Mancini going berzerk when Aguerro scored against Villereal?

Well Clichy and Richards have both played in other CL games and Kola and Zab have played in the PL so I don't think he was prioritizing either over the other.

Dejong is hardly a reserve either.
Balotelli and Dzeko are both first teamers.
I

[Ted Hughes]

I've actually given a very fair assesment, not playing devils advocate. How about my point about Mancini going berzerk when Aguerro scored against Villereal?

Well Clichy and Richards have both played in other CL games and Kola and Zab have played in the PL so I don't think he was prioritizing either over the other.

Dejong is hardly a reserve either.
Balotelli and Dzeko are both first teamers.
I

I went berzerk too but I'd rather lose every Chumps Lg game 4-0 next season as well rather than expunge the 6 -1 at OT & that's just one game. There's no comparison for me; Prem 1st Chumps Lg second.

[vulcan]

I know is unorthodox, but an unofficial "bonus" from us can do the trick.

LOL! Thanks for helping ease the pain!

[freshie]

I've actually given a very fair assesment, not playing devils advocate. How about my point about Mancini going berzerk when Aguerro scored against Villereal?

Well Clichy and Richards have both played in other CL games and Kola and Zab have played in the PL so I don't think he was prioritizing either over the other.

Dejong is hardly a reserve either.
Balotelli and Dzeko are both first teamers.
I

Well then you must simply be thick. Of course Mancini is going to wildly celebrate a last minute goal which snatched a win from the jaws of a draw due to a substitution - it doesn't prove he isn't prioritizing the league though. De Jong is hardly a reserve but on current form he is certainly not ahead of Barry and wouldn't get into my starting XI. Dxeko is a first teamer but isn't a patch on Aguero. Of course all 4 full backs have played in both competitons - I am more interested in which full backs he plays in which games - Clichy and Micah always start in the (as Mancini sees them) big games. The fact that he rested our better players ahead of an away game against Liverpool shows that he clearly wants to win the Premiership more than the Champions League. If you can't see that then you are retarded.

This is the last time I shall respond to one of your posts. Consider yourself in the same company as rag_hater

[FA cup winners 2006]

you would rather be 2nd seed co-eeeeeeficient in uefa than the champions of england????

THEN FUCK OFF YOU MASSIVE FUCKING CUNT - YOU, PRECISELY, ARE WHY I RARELY GO TO FOOTBALL.

PS - FUCK OFF.

you complete wanker,

just because someone has a different point of view to you.

greedy fucking cunt that wants all the glory NOW. no long term goals at all. we may win the league this year we may not but we are moving forward. if I had my way we would win every cup we enter every year but its not likely.

where did i say i would rather finish 2nd in the cl rather than win the league you dickhead. We could have prepared better for the napoli home game, we might have dropped points before hand in the league, we might not, if we did it does not mean we were giving up on the league.

getting out of the group and being second seed next year is important for setting us up long term.

you fucking wanker

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I've actually given a very fair assesment, not playing devils advocate. How about my point about Mancini going berzerk when Aguerro scored against Villereal?

Well Clichy and Richards have both played in other CL games and Kola and Zab have played in the PL so I don't think he was prioritizing either over the other.

Dejong is hardly a reserve either.
Balotelli and Dzeko are both first teamers.
I

I went berzerk too but I'd rather lose every Chumps Lg game 4-0 next season as well rather than expunge the 6 -1 at OT & that's just one game. There's no comparison for me; Prem 1st Chumps Lg second.

But he said what does Mancini prioritize. I really think Mancini values both very highly and is far too professional.

[Ted Hughes]

I've actually given a very fair assesment, not playing devils advocate. How about my point about Mancini going berzerk when Aguerro scored against Villereal?

Well Clichy and Richards have both played in other CL games and Kola and Zab have played in the PL so I don't think he was prioritizing either over the other.

Dejong is hardly a reserve either.
Balotelli and Dzeko are both first teamers.
I

I went berzerk too but I'd rather lose every Chumps Lg game 4-0 next season as well rather than expunge the 6 -1 at OT & that's just one game. There's no comparison for me; Prem 1st Chumps Lg second.

But he said what does Mancini prioritize. I really think Mancini values both very highly and is far too professional.

I think, if weren't playing Liverpool next, Mancini would have played Clichy & Richards.

[FA cup winners 2006]

exactly mate. for me, the PLis "the big one".

would rather beat the whole of england (and wales, unionists....) than a small number of teams that finished quite high in their national leagues.

Totally disagree,

getting out of the group and maybe getting to the quarters or semi final is important to our UEFA co efficient. we need to be 2nd seed at least

you would rather be 2nd seed co-eeeeeeficient in uefa than the champions of england????

THEN FUCK OFF YOU MASSIVE FUCKING CUNT - YOU, PRECISELY, ARE WHY I RARELY GO TO FOOTBALL.

PS - FUCK OFF.

where did i say that i would prefer to be 2nd in the group rather than win the league you prick.

we could have prepared better for the napoli home game, we may have dropped points in the league, it does not mean we are giving up on the league.

[Sideshow Bob]

as i said in another thread, i would have gladly traded 3 points at dipperpool for a win over napoli. we've lost a huge opportunity to make our mark in europe. the media will have a field day with this. :(

[ronk]

exactly mate. for me, the PLis "the big one".

would rather beat the whole of england (and wales, unionists....) than a small number of teams that finished quite high in their national leagues.

Totally disagree,

getting out of the group and maybe getting to the quarters or semi final is important to our UEFA co efficient. we need to be 2nd seed at least

you would rather be 2nd seed co-eeeeeeficient in uefa than the champions of england????

THEN FUCK OFF YOU MASSIVE FUCKING CUNT - YOU, PRECISELY, ARE WHY I RARELY GO TO FOOTBALL.

PS - FUCK OFF.

where did i say that i would prefer to be 2nd in the group rather than win the league you prick.

we could have prepared better for the napoli home game, we may have dropped points in the league, it does not mean we are giving up on the league.

Might have been when you totally disagreed with him when he said he only cared about winning the league over the Europa Cup.

[dazby]

I think he could have had it both ways by playing Clichy/Zabs and Kolarov/Micah.

[ant london]

ahhhhhhh this is more like it in terms of a mancityfans thread. Disharmony and infighting. It's just not been right on here this season ;-)


I said the silly Italian cunt would play Zabba and Kolarov and that it would cost us.

Fuck it though, I think we can win the Europa.......and I want to win the PL. Not a bad season that would be.

[Alex Sapphire]

I'm going down the bookies and putting a few quid on a City Quadruple

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Ok freshie. If mancini wasn't prioritizing the cl then why did he leavee silva out against newcastle, villa and wigan( I think) games just before the cl