Go On, Have A Moan!

[Slim]

It wasn't good, but we didn't concede and can win the tie at home and we really should.

[guv111]

Not so much a moan but my own personal thoughts;

i hate mancinis attitude, not his attidude to footballl but his ignorance to other professionals; all players should be made feel like superstars, like the way harry makes an average spurs team feel, (bellemy & adebayor should be still part of this team)

Shay Given has been given the biggest slap in the face of his personal career and still has not voiced his disconcernation, even after joe harts shocking displays of late (going back as far as newcastle), where he (shay) should have been restored as nr. 1 (if it had happened to an outfield player then he WOULD have been replaced)

This is an excellent point, often overlooked. It's been said that it doesn't matter whether or not a manager gets on with his players as long as they do their job on the pitch. Well, you don't need to love your manager, but you definitely need to respect him - and yourself. I've never bought this myth we often hear about Given that he's world class; his distribution is poor and he is usually rooted to his goal line when the ball is hit in high. But when your No.1 repeatedly acts like a self-indulgent ninny rather than a mature international goalkeeper, it is a slap in the face when his closest competitor in the squad still finds himself sitting on the bench. Given could obviously have done a decent job for us in many games this season, but Mancini prefers to let him stew. He might as well give him a dunce's hat to wear.

We may claim not to care what other people think of us, but by heck don't we just feed them titbits? Given will no doubt be yet another who goes to the tabloids when he leaves and tells how he was treated shabbily here, ostracised for no particular reason when Hart was making blunders left, right and centre. It's a PR catastrophe as well as poor man management. Being suddenly super rich doesn't mean you have to act like some arrogant no-mark lottery winner, letting off fireworks at midnight and telling your neighbours to fuck off (this isn't a pun on Taggart's "noisy neighbours", btw).

If there is a lethargy and a lack of confidence and commitment from some quarters, maybe Shay Given demonstrates why. As I said, you don't need to be bestest friends with your manager, but Mercer, Clough, Shankly, Revie and Taggart had/have the ability to wring every last drop out of their players, either through fear or self respect (wanting to better themselves). There's no sign at all that Mancini wants to foster such desire. We want players here who love the club, and that needs nurturing through mutual respect.

[Ted Hughes]

Not so much a moan but my own personal thoughts;

i hate mancinis attitude, not his attidude to footballl but his ignorance to other professionals; all players should be made feel like superstars, like the way harry makes an average spurs team feel, (bellemy & adebayor should be still part of this team)

Shay Given has been given the biggest slap in the face of his personal career and still has not voiced his disconcernation, even after joe harts shocking displays of late (going back as far as newcastle), where he (shay) should have been restored as nr. 1 (if it had happened to an outfield player then he WOULD have been replaced)

This is an excellent point, often overlooked. It's been said that it doesn't matter whether or not a manager gets on with his players as long as they do their job on the pitch. Well, you don't need to love your manager, but you definitely need to respect him - and yourself. I've never bought this myth we often hear about Given that he's world class; his distribution is poor and he is usually rooted to his goal line when the ball is hit in high. But when your No.1 repeatedly acts like a self-indulgent ninny rather than a mature international goalkeeper, it is a slap in the face when his closest competitor in the squad still finds himself sitting on the bench. Given could obviously have done a decent job for us in many games this season, but Mancini prefers to let him stew. He might as well give him a dunce's hat to wear.

We may claim not to care what other people think of us, but by heck don't we just feed them titbits? Given will no doubt be yet another who goes to the tabloids when he leaves and tells how he was treated shabbily here, ostracised for no particular reason when Hart was making blunders left, right and centre. It's a PR catastrophe as well as poor man management. Being suddenly super rich doesn't mean you have to act like some arrogant no-mark lottery winner, letting off fireworks at midnight and telling your neighbours to fuck off (this isn't a pun on Taggart's "noisy neighbours", btw).

If there is a lethargy and a lack of confidence and commitment from some quarters, maybe Shay Given demonstrates why. As I said, you don't need to be bestest friends with your manager, but Mercer, Clough, Shankly, Revie and Taggart had/have the ability to wring every last drop out of their players, either through fear or self respect (wanting to better themselves). There's no sign at all that Mancini wants to foster such desire. We want players here who love the club, and that needs nurturing through mutual respect.

Clough's treatment of some of his players was fucking bizarre & no example to anyone & Revie used to massage their thighs. Do you think they'd like Bob to do that?

[guv111]

Clough's treatment of some of his players was fucking bizarre & no example to anyone & Revie used to massage their thighs. Do you think they'd like Bob to do that?

Good grief, that's poor. You ignore all that I said about respect nurturing success, and instead come out with stuff about massaging thighs. I thought you were a bit better than that.

[dick dastardley]

yaya toure giving it large over the weekend in the papers, then being shite on sat and last night. needs to get fit and actually give a fuck!!!!!!!!!!

[Ted Hughes]

Clough's treatment of some of his players was fucking bizarre & no example to anyone & Revie used to massage their thighs. Do you think they'd like Bob to do that?

Good grief, that's poor. You ignore all that I said about respect nurturing success, and instead come out with stuff about massaging thighs. I thought you were a bit better than that.

The point I'm making is that it's all speculation by you. There's no 'point' in what you are saying. The managers you have mentioned all used totally different methods, had totally different personalities & their teams played in totally different ways. You're actually proving the point that there's no reaon Mancini's methods shouldn't work.

[Mase]

yaya toure giving it large over the weekend in the papers, then being shite on sat and last night. needs to get fit and actually give a fuck!!!!!!!!!!

His real age is probably closer to 50 though.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Last 5 away games;
Notts County draw
Villa lost
Brum draw
Scum lost
Aris draw

Not too impressive is it? But there is no reason why we won't see:
Chelsea win
Liverpool win
Everton win
Bolton win


Is there?

I am sure we'll sort it out soon.

How sure are you? I should have added that the two away games before the 5 I listed were a draw at Leicester and nil nil v Arsenal.So it's no away wins in 7 in 2011 and 5 goals scored( 3 against lower league opposition.)

So waht makes you SURE it will be sorted soon against tough opposition? What are ths signs you have seen to say that from recent games?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Not been impressed with DZEKO at all. Poor touch and looks completely off the pace. Hopefully he'll do a Silva because right now we need him.

[aaron bond]

Not been impressed with DZEKO at all. Poor touch and looks completely off the pace. Hopefully he'll do a Silva because right now we need him.

It is amazing how we all see things differently. That's the beauty of football I suppose!

I'm actually pleased with Dzeko so far. Admittedly he looks a bit rusty and the reality is that he'll need a few months at least to adjust. But I like the fact he's not afraid to shoot when the opportunity arises and when we put balls into the box, he has been getting there (Notts County, Utd last Sat, a couple of chances last night). Also, he looks strong on the ball.

I think we've got a very good player on our hands but he needs time to adjust. That's not me making excuses, that's the reality of the situation - regardless of how much a player costs.

My only concern is how to form good partnerships out of him, Balotelli and Tevez. That's something we definitely need to work on.

[Dronny]

Been so bastard busy over the last few days this is the first time I've been on, who won last night anyway?

[Mase]

Been so bastard busy over the last few days this is the first time I've been on, who won last night anyway?

I think Gattuso, some people think Jordan. You'll have to watch the YouTube vid and see for yourself mate.

[Slim]

The fact he said 0-0 was better than 1-1 has me scratching my head. Does he understand maths at all?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Not been impressed with DZEKO at all. Poor touch and looks completely off the pace. Hopefully he'll do a Silva because right now we need him.

It is amazing how we all see things differently. That's the beauty of football I suppose!

I'm actually pleased with Dzeko so far. Admittedly he looks a bit rusty and the reality is that he'll need a few months at least to adjust. But I like the fact he's not afraid to shoot when the opportunity arises and when we put balls into the box, he has been getting there (Notts County, Utd last Sat, a couple of chances last night). Also, he looks strong on the ball.

I think we've got a very good player on our hands but he needs time to adjust. That's not me making excuses, that's the reality of the situation - regardless of how much a player costs.

My only concern is how to form good partnerships out of him, Balotelli and Tevez. That's something we definitely need to work on.

Balotelli looked twice as sharp and he's been injured for weeks.

[Kladze]

The fact he said 0-0 was better than 1-1 has me scratching my head. Does he understand maths at all?

That one bamboozled me as well - a 0-0 draw away from home in the first leg is a dangerous scoreline, 1-1 would have been better.

Anyway, back to the thread topic .......

I started this season in the "In Roberto we trust' camp. Then he drove me to despair, such that I called for his head and demanded we replace him with Big Fat Sam ;-)
Almost immediately our performance style changed and I was right behind him again.
Now? I really don't know - he's like Jekyll and fucking Hyde.

We desperately need to mix up our game going forward. Yes plenty of good passing to retain possession and pressing the opponents high up the field. We need to learn to vary it with airborne stuff from wide positions though and, as Ted has said, some diagonals. Also a ball or two over the top to get defenders turning (and guessing).

[blues2win]

I agree with that but in fairness Dzeko gets no service. He all but scored from the one decent cross he got all night. He also scored from a Micah cross in the Notts County game. Feed the Dzek and he'll score. It's infuriating that we get so few crosses into the box when we have a striker who's so good in the air. Apart from the one from Barry I saw one from Kolarov that was too long and that was about it. I'm afraid SWP was a great disappointment. Frankly I'm fed up with the usual excuses about needing a run of games etc. I would start him against Notts County but he really needs to pull his finger out.

Of course I'm not suggesting we should play one dimensionally; we are also far too slow in getting from back to front when an opposition move breaks down. When you play a team like Aris who are incredibly cautious and get behind the ball quickly you have to move the ball quickly. We may not have much pace in the team but we certainly have the players who are technically capable of snapping the ball through midfield. Why oh why don't see that often enough in matches?

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Dzeko couldn't trap a fly with no wings if he caught it sleeping and had a giant bowl in his hands.

[aaron bond]

Not been impressed with DZEKO at all. Poor touch and looks completely off the pace. Hopefully he'll do a Silva because right now we need him.

It is amazing how we all see things differently. That's the beauty of football I suppose!

I'm actually pleased with Dzeko so far. Admittedly he looks a bit rusty and the reality is that he'll need a few months at least to adjust. But I like the fact he's not afraid to shoot when the opportunity arises and when we put balls into the box, he has been getting there (Notts County, Utd last Sat, a couple of chances last night). Also, he looks strong on the ball.

I think we've got a very good player on our hands but he needs time to adjust. That's not me making excuses, that's the reality of the situation - regardless of how much a player costs.

My only concern is how to form good partnerships out of him, Balotelli and Tevez. That's something we definitely need to work on.

Balotelli looked twice as sharp and he's been injured for weeks.

Give the guy a chance! I know we want these players to be superstars from day one but it doesn't work like that. Also, it's not his fault if we're not delivering the ball into the box.

We need Dzeko to get up to speed as quickly as possible in our push for Champions League and the cups, but we have to accept it doesn't happen overnight. I didn't know much about Dzeko before he came to us but his goalscoring record in the past was exceptional and he was highly coveted around Europe so on that basis alone we need to give him a chance to settle.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

It's as if we're trying to force Dzeko into the team and it simply is not natural. Playing Dzeko compromises Tevez's game. If you are going to play Dzeko then you need to play with two wingers who will put the ball into the box regularly. I'm not saying Dzeko won't be good but so far I've not been impressed.

[blues2win]

Tevez didn't play well with Adebayor either. He's not easy to play with because he's a pretty selfish player. There again he scores a lot of goals! I suppose what he really likes is dropping off and being fed through by Silva with one twos. I still think he could be made to appreciate Dzeko holding up the ball and bringing him in and feeding off knock downs. Van der Vaart is thriving on the service from Crouch and Dzeko's a much better player than Crouch.

GIVE HIM TIME. PLEASE.