***Official Manchester City v Leeds United Match Thread***

[Mark Garrett]

Carl - Nastasic did not play against Stoke in either of the two games we had against them in January. On Jan 1, Nastasic was left out for Lescott with the aerial threat in mind and this was repeated when we went to the Britannia stadium for the FA Cup, although Nastasic was actually injured for this game and not in the 18 man squad.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Carl - Nastasic did not play against Stoke in either of the two games we had against them in January. On Jan 1, Nastasic was left out for Lescott with the aerial threat in mind and this was repeated when we went to the Britannia stadium for the FA Cup, although Nastasic was actually injured for this game and not in the 18 man squad.

Correct , I have indeed admitted I was wrong on this occasion but to say that Mancini uses Lescott instead of Nasty when we play a team that hoofs it upfield is way off the mark.

I recall the partnership between Kompany and Lescott was diabolical most of the season until it was changed around with Nasty coming in - he was onyl taken out due to an injury.

[Mark Garrett]

Carl - Nastasic did not play against Stoke in either of the two games we had against them in January. On Jan 1, Nastasic was left out for Lescott with the aerial threat in mind and this was repeated when we went to the Britannia stadium for the FA Cup, although Nastasic was actually injured for this game and not in the 18 man squad.

Correct , I have indeed admitted I was wrong on this occasion but to say that Mancini uses Lescott instead of Nasty when we play a team that hoofs it upfield is way off the mark.

I recall the partnership between Kompany and Lescott was diabolical most of the season until it was changed around with Nasty coming in - he was onyl taken out due to an injury.

Overall I rate Nastasic very highly and am glad that he appears to be first choice with Kompany. However, it is clear to me that for both the Everton and both Stoke games, Mancini clearly identified that Lescott's superior heading ability would be required against those sides.

[kinkylola]

Manchester City v Stoke (away)Sep 2012:- Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Toure, Javi Garcia, Sinclair, Balotelli, Tevez

Man City v Stoke (away) Saturday 26 January 2013 14.40 GMT

Manchester City: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Garcia, Barry, Milner, Tevez, Silva, Dzeko

Manchester City v Stoke (home)1 January 2013

01 Hart
04 Kompany
05 Zabaleta
06 Lescott Booked
22 Clichy
07 Milner
18 Barry
21 Silva (Sinclair - 82' )
42 Y Toure
10 Dzeko Booked (Razak - 90' )
16 Aguero (Tevez - 77' )



Manchester City v Everton

01 Hart
03 Maicon
04 Kompany
06 Lescott Booked
13 Kolarov (Zabaleta - 7' Booked )
08 Nasri
18 Barry
21 Silva
42 Y Toure
10 Dzeko (Balotelli - 80' )
32 Tevez (Aguero - 68' )

You live in a Lescott hating dreamworld.

well, doesn't that make the answer simple? He plays lescott when he fears the aeriel threat and he plays nasti when he wants more fluid passing out of the back and maybe needs a bit more pace ... isn't that kind of situational selection something that managers are usually praised for?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Manchester City v Stoke (away)Sep 2012:- Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Toure, Javi Garcia, Sinclair, Balotelli, Tevez

Man City v Stoke (away) Saturday 26 January 2013 14.40 GMT

Manchester City: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Garcia, Barry, Milner, Tevez, Silva, Dzeko

Manchester City v Stoke (home)1 January 2013

01 Hart
04 Kompany
05 Zabaleta
06 Lescott Booked
22 Clichy
07 Milner
18 Barry
21 Silva (Sinclair - 82' )
42 Y Toure
10 Dzeko Booked (Razak - 90' )
16 Aguero (Tevez - 77' )



Manchester City v Everton

01 Hart
03 Maicon
04 Kompany
06 Lescott Booked
13 Kolarov (Zabaleta - 7' Booked )
08 Nasri
18 Barry
21 Silva
42 Y Toure
10 Dzeko (Balotelli - 80' )
32 Tevez (Aguero - 68' )

You live in a Lescott hating dreamworld.

well, doesn't that make the answer simple? He plays lescott when he fears the aeriel threat and he plays nasti when he wants more fluid passing out of the back and maybe needs a bit more pace ... isn't that kind of situational selection something that managers are usually praised for?

One man's situational selection is another man's tinkering.

Lescott and Nasty, two very good centre backs at opposite ends of their careers, we're lucky to have both imo.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Manchester City v Stoke (away)Sep 2012:- Hart, Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Toure, Javi Garcia, Sinclair, Balotelli, Tevez

Man City v Stoke (away) Saturday 26 January 2013 14.40 GMT

Manchester City: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Garcia, Barry, Milner, Tevez, Silva, Dzeko

Manchester City v Stoke (home)1 January 2013

01 Hart
04 Kompany
05 Zabaleta
06 Lescott Booked
22 Clichy
07 Milner
18 Barry
21 Silva (Sinclair - 82' )
42 Y Toure
10 Dzeko Booked (Razak - 90' )
16 Aguero (Tevez - 77' )



Manchester City v Everton

01 Hart
03 Maicon
04 Kompany
06 Lescott Booked
13 Kolarov (Zabaleta - 7' Booked )
08 Nasri
18 Barry
21 Silva
42 Y Toure
10 Dzeko (Balotelli - 80' )
32 Tevez (Aguero - 68' )

You live in a Lescott hating dreamworld.

well, doesn't that make the answer simple? He plays lescott when he fears the aeriel threat and he plays nasti when he wants more fluid passing out of the back and maybe needs a bit more pace ... isn't that kind of situational selection something that managers are usually praised for?

One man's situational selection is another man's tinkering.

Lescott and Nasty, two very good centre backs at opposite ends of their careers, we're lucky to have both imo.

Well said that man.Lescott is a better defender while Nasti is probably a better footballer. That makes sense doesn't it?

Most teams would go for the better defender and I would use the Vidic comparison again. He is or certainly has been the best defender in the premiership but 1) he is not quick 2) with the ball at his feet he is close to useless 3) when a good attacker gets the chance to run at him he will beat him and force a booking or sending off....but he is a top top defender.

Lescott is in the Vidic mould. Maybe not quite as good but not that far away and he is one of the reasons why we won the league last season.

[Hazy2]

Ted , NASTI is calmer he plays the ball and the position he is in better than Joleon, he ran Ronaldo of the pitch twice right in front of me in The East stand like a proper player, proper player, no dirty footwork or clumsy shank, btw I have nothing but Love for JL a winner with us sadly a better player has taken his shirt, just how it should be at a top club.

[Ted Hughes]

Ted , NASTI is calmer he plays the ball and the position he is in better than Joleon, he ran Ronaldo of the pitch twice right in front of me in The East stand like a proper player, proper player, no dirty footwork or clumsy shank, btw I have nothing but Love for JL a winner with us sadly a better player has taken his shirt, just how it should be at a top club.

How many other examples of great defending can you think of, or key defending ? I've barely ever seen Nastasic do anything which I would consider an especially difficult interception or header. By contrast, I've seen him left for dead or murdered in the air or fail to pick up an atacker on many occasions.

And yes I've seen it happen to Lescott & Vinny too, but not anything like as often & I've seen them make scores of absolutely killer tackles, headers, blocks & interceptions.

If Lescott had been playing v the rags, he would most likely have blocked Rooney's shot & possibly cleared the ball to stop the 2nd. Nastasic was all over the fucking shop for both but nobody mentions it, he just let him plop the ball into the fucking net without a challenge for the first & was running facing his own goal for the 2nd; it's ok for him to do that yet people were crucifying Lescott when Crouch knocked the ball past him with his fucking hand at Stoke. The mistake Lescott made v Ajax, Nastasic made in the very next game & the oppo missed. I highlighted it & people say I'm just on his case. I'm just pointing out the truth.

People should be fair about this & judge the good & bad of both players not just cherry pick moments to slag one, then let the other off.

If Nastasic was a better defender than Lescott I'd be happy for him to play every game for the next 10 years, I have nothing against him. He's not though. I'm not sure he ever will be.

The people who rate him higher are mainly some City fans & possibly Mancini, very few neutrals do, in fact a fair few I've spoken to think he's shite & I've actually defended him.

[Green & Blue]

Ted , NASTI is calmer he plays the ball and the position he is in better than Joleon, he ran Ronaldo of the pitch twice right in front of me in The East stand like a proper player, proper player, no dirty footwork or clumsy shank, btw I have nothing but Love for JL a winner with us sadly a better player has taken his shirt, just how it should be at a top club.

How many other examples of great defending can you think of, or key defending ? I've barely ever seen Nastasic do anything which I would consider an especially difficult interception or header. By contrast, I've seen him left for dead or murdered in the air or fail to pick up an atacker on many occasions.

And yes I've seen it happen to Lescott & Vinny too, but not anything like as often & I've seen them make scores of absolutely killer tackles, headers, blocks & interceptions.

If Lescott had been playing v the rags, he would most likely have blocked Rooney's shot & possibly cleared the ball to stop the 2nd. Nastasic was all over the fucking shop for both but nobody mentions it, he just let him plop the ball into the fucking net without a challenge for the first & was running facing his own goal for the 2nd; it's ok for him to do that yet people were crucifying Lescott when Crouch knocked the ball past him with his fucking hand at Stoke. The mistake Lescott made v Ajax, Nastasic made in the very next game & the oppo missed. I highlighted it & people say I'm just on his case. I'm just pointing out the truth.

People should be fair about this & judge the good & bad of both players not just cherry pick moments to slag one, then let the other off.

If Nastasic was a better defender than Lescott I'd be happy for him to play every game for the next 10 years, I have nothing against him. He's not though. I'm not sure he ever will be.

The people who rate him higher are mainly some City fans & possibly Mancini, very few neutrals do, in fact a fair few I've spoken to think he's shite & I've actually defended him.

Well Lescott rates him according to this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ed-1549617

[Ted Hughes]

Ted , NASTI is calmer he plays the ball and the position he is in better than Joleon, he ran Ronaldo of the pitch twice right in front of me in The East stand like a proper player, proper player, no dirty footwork or clumsy shank, btw I have nothing but Love for JL a winner with us sadly a better player has taken his shirt, just how it should be at a top club.

How many other examples of great defending can you think of, or key defending ? I've barely ever seen Nastasic do anything which I would consider an especially difficult interception or header. By contrast, I've seen him left for dead or murdered in the air or fail to pick up an atacker on many occasions.

And yes I've seen it happen to Lescott & Vinny too, but not anything like as often & I've seen them make scores of absolutely killer tackles, headers, blocks & interceptions.

If Lescott had been playing v the rags, he would most likely have blocked Rooney's shot & possibly cleared the ball to stop the 2nd. Nastasic was all over the fucking shop for both but nobody mentions it, he just let him plop the ball into the fucking net without a challenge for the first & was running facing his own goal for the 2nd; it's ok for him to do that yet people were crucifying Lescott when Crouch knocked the ball past him with his fucking hand at Stoke. The mistake Lescott made v Ajax, Nastasic made in the very next game & the oppo missed. I highlighted it & people say I'm just on his case. I'm just pointing out the truth.

People should be fair about this & judge the good & bad of both players not just cherry pick moments to slag one, then let the other off.

If Nastasic was a better defender than Lescott I'd be happy for him to play every game for the next 10 years, I have nothing against him. He's not though. I'm not sure he ever will be.

The people who rate him higher are mainly some City fans & possibly Mancini, very few neutrals do, in fact a fair few I've spoken to think he's shite & I've actually defended him.

Well Lescott rates him according to this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ed-1549617

That's typical of the bloke & another thing Lescott brings to the team & the club; personality. He's a fucking top geezer as well as a top player.

That's the biggest thing we've lost with Nige going & Lescott would also be missed on & off the pitch.

If we chuck him out without getting in a real top quality player, we will regret it.

[Hazy2]

Ted , NASTI is calmer he plays the ball and the position he is in better than Joleon, he ran Ronaldo of the pitch twice right in front of me in The East stand like a proper player, proper player, no dirty footwork or clumsy shank, btw I have nothing but Love for JL a winner with us sadly a better player has taken his shirt, just how it should be at a top club.

How many other examples of great defending can you think of, or key defending ? I've barely ever seen Nastasic do anything which I would consider an especially difficult interception or header. By contrast, I've seen him left for dead or murdered in the air or fail to pick up an atacker on many occasions.

And yes I've seen it happen to Lescott & Vinny too, but not anything like as often & I've seen them make scores of absolutely killer tackles, headers, blocks & interceptions.

If Lescott had been playing v the rags, he would most likely have blocked Rooney's shot & possibly cleared the ball to stop the 2nd. Nastasic was all over the fucking shop for both but nobody mentions it, he just let him plop the ball into the fucking net without a challenge for the first & was running facing his own goal for the 2nd; it's ok for him to do that yet people were crucifying Lescott when Crouch knocked the ball past him with his fucking hand at Stoke. The mistake Lescott made v Ajax, Nastasic made in the very next game & the oppo missed. I highlighted it & people say I'm just on his case. I'm just pointing out the truth.

People should be fair about this & judge the good & bad of both players not just cherry pick moments to slag one, then let the other off.

If Nastasic was a better defender than Lescott I'd be happy for him to play every game for the next 10 years, I have nothing against him. He's not though. I'm not sure he ever will be.

The people who rate him higher are mainly some City fans & possibly Mancini, very few neutrals do, in fact a fair few I've spoken to think he's shite & I've actually defended him.

Well Lescott rates him according to this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ed-1549617

That's typical of the bloke & another thing Lescott brings to the team & the club; personality. He's a fucking top geezer as well as a top player.

That's the biggest thing we've lost with Nige going & Lescott would also be missed on & off the pitch.

If we chuck him out without getting in a real top quality player, we will regret it.

I might be wrong here but did you not rate Ramos until he was what I said prior to our games World Class Full back or centre half loon BTW but a class act.

[Ted Hughes]

Ted , NASTI is calmer he plays the ball and the position he is in better than Joleon, he ran Ronaldo of the pitch twice right in front of me in The East stand like a proper player, proper player, no dirty footwork or clumsy shank, btw I have nothing but Love for JL a winner with us sadly a better player has taken his shirt, just how it should be at a top club.

How many other examples of great defending can you think of, or key defending ? I've barely ever seen Nastasic do anything which I would consider an especially difficult interception or header. By contrast, I've seen him left for dead or murdered in the air or fail to pick up an atacker on many occasions.

And yes I've seen it happen to Lescott & Vinny too, but not anything like as often & I've seen them make scores of absolutely killer tackles, headers, blocks & interceptions.

If Lescott had been playing v the rags, he would most likely have blocked Rooney's shot & possibly cleared the ball to stop the 2nd. Nastasic was all over the fucking shop for both but nobody mentions it, he just let him plop the ball into the fucking net without a challenge for the first & was running facing his own goal for the 2nd; it's ok for him to do that yet people were crucifying Lescott when Crouch knocked the ball past him with his fucking hand at Stoke. The mistake Lescott made v Ajax, Nastasic made in the very next game & the oppo missed. I highlighted it & people say I'm just on his case. I'm just pointing out the truth.

People should be fair about this & judge the good & bad of both players not just cherry pick moments to slag one, then let the other off.

If Nastasic was a better defender than Lescott I'd be happy for him to play every game for the next 10 years, I have nothing against him. He's not though. I'm not sure he ever will be.

The people who rate him higher are mainly some City fans & possibly Mancini, very few neutrals do, in fact a fair few I've spoken to think he's shite & I've actually defended him.

Well Lescott rates him according to this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ed-1549617

That's typical of the bloke & another thing Lescott brings to the team & the club; personality. He's a fucking top geezer as well as a top player.

That's the biggest thing we've lost with Nige going & Lescott would also be missed on & off the pitch.

If we chuck him out without getting in a real top quality player, we will regret it.

I might be wrong here but did you not rate Ramos until he was what I said prior to our games World Class Full back or centre half loon BTW but a class act.

I wouldn't want Ramos in the Premier League, he would fuck up too much over a season. On his day he would be fantastic, the next he would be fucking hopeless. The lad next to him however, Verane, is exactly the kind of player I would wish Nastasic to be.

I still wouldn't play Verane every week in the Premier League though, I'd pick the games carefully.

[Mase]

Neither of them are as good as Kolarov so you might as well stop arguing.

[Ted Hughes]

Neither of them are as good as Kolarov so you might as well stop arguing.

Could always move him inside.

I'm sure he'd take to it like a duck.

[Hazy2]

I think move on here Ted. xx

[Alex Sapphire]

Neither of them are as good as Kolarov so you might as well stop arguing.

that'll never happen
this is a war of attrition
last man standing and all that

[carl_feedthegoat]

Neither of them are as good as Kolarov so you might as well stop arguing.

Did he play in Januarys games?

[Cocacolajojo1]

Could someone start a vote of the best centre back pairing? It'd be interesting to see what the view of the forum is.

[Mase]

Could always move him inside.

I'm sure he'd take to it like a duck.

We basically need 11 Kolarovs in my opinion.

On a serious note though, Lescott was our best center half last year. Before anyone starts, yes obviously Kompany is the better defender. But Lescott had a better season in my opinion and didn't get a lot of credit. I don't think he's been given a good enough run this season but I can see why Mancini has done it, because of Nasti's potential.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Could always move him inside.

I'm sure he'd take to it like a duck.

We basically need 11 Kolarovs in my opinion.

On a serious note though, Lescott was our best center half last year. Before anyone starts, yes obviously Kompany is the better defender. But Lescott had a better season in my opinion and didn't get a lot of credit. I don't think he's been given a good enough run this season but I can see why Mancini has done it, because of Nasti's potential.

He was excellent last season yes. I'd even say he was immense towards the end of the season before as well, including the accidental goal at Bolton. This season though, so and so.