Honest thoughts on this season?

[carl_feedthegoat]

FA cup win and come second , anything less than this (I already said as much months ago) and it will be a shite season.

[DoomMerchant]

FA cup win and come second , anything less than this (I already said as much months ago) and it will be a shite season.

Agreed you leathery old cat-taming Siegfried and Roy wannabe.

[Hazy2]

FA cup win and come second , anything less than this (I already said as much months ago) and it will be a shite season.

Arsenal and Spurs will be open top bus for 4th.

[Original Dub]

I don’t think what happens in the FA Cup Final should define our season, very short sighted in my opinion. For starters it is a one off match, Wigan play decent football and could have beaten us the other night. Will be a tough game.Win or lose it wont change my opinion on the manager.

For me We learn from our mistakes this Season. When our manager says we need quality players like De Rossi and Hazard, we don’t buy him a load off shite and expect him to perform miracles.

This Season has been tough one on Roberto Mancini,he did not get the players he warned we needed to take us to the next level. I think when he signed his 5 year contract he was told he would get the players he wanted and needed, then that gentleman’s agreement with the CEO was reneged on ,I think the fall out from this was carried on in to our Season. In his minds eye he knew how he wanted us set up to play, then had to readjust because the personnel never arrived. It is admirable that He has kept a dignified silence on this all the way through the season when he must have felt betrayed.

The Season has panned out exactly as Roberto Mancini predicted it would. We stopped evolving because we stopped spending when we should not have.

I am hoping we give Roberto Mancini a blank cheque book to buy who he wants, because my biggest fear is we lose the best manager since Joe Mercer to Monaco or some other side with ambition.

I have not been impressed with the set up behind the scenes since Gary Cook left, and I think there has been to much unhealthy input from the 2 Spaniards. The sale of Balotelli made no sense and left us light, just like selling De Jong only to replace him with Garcia made no sense.

It is easier for some just to blame the manager when he can barely field a fit first 11 players because off a short sighted transfer policy by those in charge at the Club.

I think those in Charge will respect what Roberto Mancini has managed to accomplish this season with none of the signings he wanted to start with.It is testament to the man what he has managed to still achieve with the financial constraints imposed on him.None of the signings have figured greatly this season other than Nastasic ironically a player that Roberto had ear marked for a while and one who has been our player off the season.

FORZA MANCINI

Roberto Mancini x 4.

You excelled yourself this time Mrs. Mancini.

[zuricity]

Roberto Mancini x 4.

You excelled yourself this time Mrs. Mancini.

She's picked up the lingo much faster than her Hubby OD !

Must be all those polish plasterers coming round during training sessions

Edit :

Woah ! that might be deemed racist ... i meant to write plastic polishers

[Bridge'srightfoot]

We have had a lot of changes behind the scenes, Bobby is not calling the shots as he did with Marwood. The Barca boys have a vision which IMHO will not include RM at some point maybe sooner than the start of next season he will be replaced.
The team looks like a team with potential not Champions, The future is bright and for 45 mins we were on a different planet to Spurs. If we had won we would be all smiling today. I thought we were awsome at the swamp .

Same problem as the season has progressed we are 1 up when we should be out of sight. Cup final to come, It could be a lot worse.

Won't matter if we lose though, after all we were playing Wycombe ten years ago.

Sorry mate I have missed it.

Wasn't aimed at you mate.
It was me showing my annoyance to all those who think it's fine for us to be out the title race by February if not before because we were once shit.

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

Sets up next season nicely, hopefully means that we'll do better business in the summer, off-load a bit of the (very highly paid) deadwood, and come back refreshed and up for the fight with a recognisable core/spine of players.

No point tearing it all up and starting again.

As you may all know, any United fan will tell you that Lord baconhead makes all kinds of mistakes: tactically, team selections, substitutes, in the transfer market - anything you can think of basically - and that has contributed to Utd being knocked out the Champ's league (especially), the FA cup and doing badly in the league any number of times. BUT, because his judgment and his position are - by and large - unquestioned, they benefit from consistency of vision, authority and style. This is the basis of their success. If we are to emulate it, we need a manager who has the opportunity to learn from his mistakes, develop a genuine passion for the club and establish a true champion's mentality.

Mancini may have clashed with individual players, fucked up systems and tactics and done bad transfer business but it is clear, to me anyway, that if everyone at the club wanted to win as much as him (fucking hated losing so much it blew their mind), then we would succeed more often than not. He can only establish that mood - that standard - over time, through trial and error, with the unwaivering support of the club.

Frankly, if Nasri doesn't like it, Tevez (29?) runs home, Sinclair is not needed, Joe Hart gets called out for his mistakes and Kolarov is sold at a loss, that will be fine. We still know where we'll be in 2-3 seasons and what standard will be expected/enforced. If Mancini goes, who knows what will happen... and the new man will need just a long, will make just as many mistakes, will move on players, will bring in donkeys and will piss us off just as much. If he doesn't (Mourinho), he'll probably just fuck off and leave us to it after 3 seasons anyway.

[Hazy2]

When Q for Champions League is the Holy Grail for Spurs, Liverpool and Arse, how is our 2nd and a Cup a failure, payable by sacking. Wenger has got nowhere near winning anything for years. Harry was close to being the England manager on the basis of 1 season in Europe.Bob has worn his heart on his sleeve in fact he is closer to most fans in his anger at losses than he is given any credit for by fans rabid with anger. Bale did us with some magic, which is not the case at Sunderland, Southampton, Everton, We are strong at home as strong as anyone in Europe. We lack the mental edge, we lack width and we lack the DNA needed to churn it out week in week out, Bayern failed on every front last season even losing the Holy Grail on their own ground, Walked the League this season and have for a season dominayed a better team in Dortmund and bounced back to be Favs for the Chumps, Rome in a day and all that, I think enjoy the end of the season and turn your phone off tonight.

[zabbadabbado]

I don’t think what happens in the FA Cup Final should define our season, very short sighted in my opinion. For starters it is a one off match, Wigan play decent football and could have beaten us the other night. Will be a tough game.Win or lose it wont change my opinion on the manager.

For me We learn from our mistakes this Season. When our manager says we need quality players like De Rossi and Hazard, we don’t buy him a load off shite and expect him to perform miracles.

This Season has been tough one on Roberto Mancini,he did not get the players he warned we needed to take us to the next level. I think when he signed his 5 year contract he was told he would get the players he wanted and needed, then that gentleman’s agreement with the CEO was reneged on ,I think the fall out from this was carried on in to our Season. In his minds eye he knew how he wanted us set up to play, then had to readjust because the personnel never arrived. It is admirable that He has kept a dignified silence on this all the way through the season when he must have felt betrayed.

The Season has panned out exactly as Roberto Mancini predicted it would. We stopped evolving because we stopped spending when we should not have.

I am hoping we give Roberto Mancini a blank cheque book to buy who he wants, because my biggest fear is we lose the best manager since Joe Mercer to Monaco or some other side with ambition.

I have not been impressed with the set up behind the scenes since Gary Cook left, and I think there has been to much unhealthy input from the 2 Spaniards. The sale of Balotelli made no sense and left us light, just like selling De Jong only to replace him with Garcia made no sense.

It is easier for some just to blame the manager when he can barely field a fit first 11 players because off a short sighted transfer policy by those in charge at the Club.

I think those in Charge will respect what Roberto Mancini has managed to accomplish this season with none of the signings he wanted to start with.It is testament to the man what he has managed to still achieve with the financial constraints imposed on him.None of the signings have figured greatly this season other than Nastasic ironically a player that Roberto had ear marked for a while and one who has been our player off the season.

FORZA MANCINI

Roberto Mancini x 4.

You excelled yourself this time Mrs. Mancini.

I do believe being a Catholic it is highly likely he was christened and not pissed on.

Therefor his Cristian name is Roberto, and his forename is Mancini.

I don't know what your problem is ?,just being respectful imo.

I wont be changing how i use his name just to please you,so get over it.:-)

[DoomMerchant]

Sets up next season nicely, hopefully means that we'll do better business in the summer, off-load a bit of the (very highly paid) deadwood, and come back refreshed and up for the fight with a recognisable core/spine of players.

No point tearing it all up and starting again.

As you may all know, any United fan will tell you that Lord baconhead makes all kinds of mistakes: tactically, team selections, substitutes, in the transfer market - anything you can think of basically - and that has contributed to Utd being knocked out the Champ's league (especially), the FA cup and doing badly in the league any number of times. BUT, because his judgment and his position are - by and large - unquestioned, they benefit from consistency of vision, authority and style. This is the basis of their success. If we are to emulate it, we need a manager who has the opportunity to learn from his mistakes, develop a genuine passion for the club and establish a true champion's mentality.

Mancini may have clashed with individual players, fucked up systems and tactics and done bad transfer business but it is clear, to me anyway, that if everyone at the club wanted to win as much as him (fucking hated losing so much it blew their mind), then we would succeed more often than not. He can only establish that mood - that standard - over time, through trial and error, with the unwaivering support of the club.

Frankly, if Nasri doesn't like it, Tevez (29?) runs home, Sinclair is not needed, Joe Hart gets called out for his mistakes and Kolarov is sold at a loss, that will be fine. We still know where we'll be in 2-3 seasons and what standard will be expected/enforced. If Mancini goes, who knows what will happen... and the new man will need just a long, will make just as many mistakes, will move on players, will bring in donkeys and will piss us off just as much. If he doesn't (Mourinho), he'll probably just fuck off and leave us to it after 3 seasons anyway.

it's a reasonable argument for sure. I'm just not convinced that Mancini has "it" as much as you believe he does. I believe for sure he hates losing, and i love that about him. And i believe he is tactically a shrewd football manager. Bridging the gap between passion and being tactically shrewd with the actual 11 human beings on the pitch is what i struggle to see him manage properly at crucial times.

Just in terms of yesterday for example, the puzzlements for me ran deep. Milner was doing beautiful work. He has to come off due to injury, and he puts Kolarov on? And then sits on his hands when for at least 5 minutes we looked like we were about to let Spurs level? And starting Dzeko as a nostalgic act from 18 months ago? You can file that under "any manager will fuck up" if you want i suppose. And you'd be right.

Those are the basics that you and I wouldn't get wrong in the spotlight of winning a competition called "Manage a City match for a day."

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

Sets up next season nicely, hopefully means that we'll do better business in the summer, off-load a bit of the (very highly paid) deadwood, and come back refreshed and up for the fight with a recognisable core/spine of players.

No point tearing it all up and starting again.

As you may all know, any United fan will tell you that Lord baconhead makes all kinds of mistakes: tactically, team selections, substitutes, in the transfer market - anything you can think of basically - and that has contributed to Utd being knocked out the Champ's league (especially), the FA cup and doing badly in the league any number of times. BUT, because his judgment and his position are - by and large - unquestioned, they benefit from consistency of vision, authority and style. This is the basis of their success. If we are to emulate it, we need a manager who has the opportunity to learn from his mistakes, develop a genuine passion for the club and establish a true champion's mentality.

Mancini may have clashed with individual players, fucked up systems and tactics and done bad transfer business but it is clear, to me anyway, that if everyone at the club wanted to win as much as him (fucking hated losing so much it blew their mind), then we would succeed more often than not. He can only establish that mood - that standard - over time, through trial and error, with the unwaivering support of the club.

Frankly, if Nasri doesn't like it, Tevez (29?) runs home, Sinclair is not needed, Joe Hart gets called out for his mistakes and Kolarov is sold at a loss, that will be fine. We still know where we'll be in 2-3 seasons and what standard will be expected/enforced. If Mancini goes, who knows what will happen... and the new man will need just a long, will make just as many mistakes, will move on players, will bring in donkeys and will piss us off just as much. If he doesn't (Mourinho), he'll probably just fuck off and leave us to it after 3 seasons anyway.

it's a reasonable argument for sure. I'm just not convinced that Mancini has "it" as much as you believe he does. I believe for sure he hates losing, and i love that about him. And i believe he is tactically a shrewd football manager. Bridging the gap between passion and being tactically shrewd with the actual 11 human beings on the pitch is what i struggle to see him manage properly at crucial times.

Just in terms of yesterday for example, the puzzlements for me ran deep. Milner was doing beautiful work. He has to come off due to injury, and he puts Kolarov on? And then sits on his hands when for at least 5 minutes we looked like we were about to let Spurs level? And starting Dzeko as a nostalgic act from 18 months ago? You can file that under "any manager will fuck up" if you want i suppose. And you'd be right.

Those are the basics that you and I wouldn't get wrong in the spotlight of winning a competition called "Manage a City match for a day."

I'm no believer in "it" to be honest. The managing relationships thing is clearly an issue but the best man managers sometimes end up saddled with overpaid turnips they're too fond of to call out or dress down. Take Mourinho, arguably he doesn't have the courage to pull down and replace the players he's built up. Use them in their prime, disregard the others, cut and run as soon as they wane.

Take Sir Frog as the model for success - I don't think that makes me a "Munich lover" - and look at the number of very good, expensive and talented players he's clashed with and then fucked off. The ones that remain do it his way. The ones that come in grasp that quickly. The culture is established and the work is done. I don't think you can race to that - it must take time.

Mancini, more than anything, has the job and has proven that he can win trophies. It may have been tight (loved it), but he was in charge when we did it. I'd keep him on that basis.

For all the apparent howlers, there is plenty he sees to base his judgments on that we don't - fitness reports, coaches' assessments, stats, scans, attitude in training, relationships and tensions between players, leadership away from the field, graft and a feel that you could only ever get from being around the group every day. The players aren't computer characters with stats that you just wheel out each week in the correct configuration - that makes it unpredictable and certain that even the best managers (which of those are available and proven in the Prem?) will get it wrong. Mancini got it right in 2 derby's in succession last season and we won the title. One day, probably soon, he'll get it right against Everton too, then maybe Ajax and Dortmund and so on...

Re: putting Kolarov on - on another day he inspires the come back against Sunderland or bangs in a CL free-kick. Maybe Kolarov has been zinging and hungry all week, chomping at the bit and performing well. Who knows...

[Lev Bronstein]

When the Sheikh took over, when we won the lottery, I thought, that's great we'll be up there competing for honours from now on. I didn't expect to win everything season after season. Football's not like that.

The first year that started with Hughes and ended with Mancini. We finished fifth and got knocked out at the semi final stage of the league Cup by you know who. Not quite at the top, but near, and with promise for the future.

The next two years saw a second place and FA Cup then the Premiership. More like it. The European campaigns were a bit of a damp squib - still not qualifying from the group with 10 points seemed harsh and not something to beat ourselves up about. All in all, over the period we saw some great football.

This year we're favourites to finish second in the League, and favourites for the Cup. On the surface not bad. BUT, have we really competed in the League? Them, 16 points in front after tonight. We might be closer than anyone else, but I don't find that any consolation. As for the Champions League - Ok, it was one of the toughest groups ever, did we gain any credit from it though?

So how do I feel about this season? Well, it's not finished yet, we've six more games to play. Win the remaining games with style and panache, lift the FA Cup and I won't feel as bad as I do now, and more optimistic about next year.

I'm too much of a loyalist to call for Mancini, or any City manager, to go, I always expect them to sort things out. However, play like we did for the last 20mins on Sunday for the rest of the season and I will expect that radical surgery to be performed on both the coaching staff and players.

[simon12]

we've gone backwards

Bingo

[budfox]

Disappointed that we were so poor on so many occasions. When I watched us beat the rags recently I felt real joy at the football we played, but a certain sadness that it didn't happen more often.

I also strongly agree that teams roll over for those bastards, giving them an edge that we just don't have.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

When the Sheikh took over, when we won the lottery, I thought, that's great we'll be up there competing for honours from now on. I didn't expect to win everything season after season. Football's not like that.

The first year that started with Hughes and ended with Mancini. We finished fifth and got knocked out at the semi final stage of the league Cup by you know who. Not quite at the top, but near, and with promise for the future.

The next two years saw a second place and FA Cup then the Premiership. More like it. The European campaigns were a bit of a damp squib - still not qualifying from the group with 10 points seemed harsh and not something to beat ourselves up about. All in all, over the period we saw some great football.

This year we're favourites to finish second in the League, and favourites for the Cup. On the surface not bad. BUT, have we really competed in the League? Them, 16 points in front after tonight. We might be closer than anyone else, but I don't find that any consolation. As for the Champions League - Ok, it was one of the toughest groups ever, did we gain any credit from it though?

So how do I feel about this season? Well, it's not finished yet, we've six more games to play. Win the remaining games with style and panache, lift the FA Cup and I won't feel as bad as I do now, and more optimistic about next year.

I'm too much of a loyalist to call for Mancini, or any City manager, to go, I always expect them to sort things out. However, play like we did for the last 20mins on Sunday for the rest of the season and I will expect that radical surgery to be performed on both the coaching staff and players.

Top post.
Spot on. I agree the Fa Cup will make us feel better but it would somewhat be papering over the cracks if were to start thinking everything is honkey dory after it.

[Jon London]

Nothing less than 6 wins and only then will our season be saved.

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

we've gone backwards

Bingo

It happens in football. Who's been on a relentless unassailable march forwards within 3 years of entering the bigtime? Nobody.

We're guaranteed to go backwards if we replace everyone, then maybe we'll go forwards for a bit, until we go backwards... then replace everyone again?

[Original Dub]

I do believe being a Catholic it is highly likely he was christened and not pissed on.

Therefor his Cristian name is Roberto, and his forename is Mancini.

I don't know what your problem is ?,just being respectful imo.

I wont be changing how i use his name just to please you,so get over it.:-)

Blow me you dirty slut Mrs M.

[Blue Since 76]

I do believe being a Catholic it is highly likely he was christened and not pissed on.

Therefor his Cristian name is Roberto, and his forename is Mancini.

I don't know what your problem is ?,just being respectful imo.

I wont be changing how i use his name just to please you,so get over it.:-)

Surname is Mancini. Forename is Roberto.

If he does walk/get sacked, will you follow him? I honestly can't decide if you're a City fan or just a Mancini fan.

[Blue Since 76]

The form in the league has to be a disappointment - we've not looked like being in the race for months.

Champions league - very tough group with two of the semi finalists, but still don't think we did anything in it to get any credit.

League cup - disappointing. Might be the least priority by far, but it's a trophy we haven't won in almost 40 years so I don't think we can turn our nose up at it.

FA Cup - a bright point. Perhaps a bit lucky with some of the draw, but Stoke away and Chelsea at Wembley are not easy games.

I'd settle now for the FA Cup and reducing their league lead to single figures, so it looks closer than it was. Then some serious work over summer and we need to some major improvements in the league and Champions League next season.