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Why? The results so far have been good, defence looks A LOT better but the general play has been very average (bar second half at Wolves). I don't think playing so many players out of position is helping. Today, in the second half our wingers got a lot of space but they didn't attack the full-backs cos they kept having to turn inside or go backwards to get the ball on their stronger foot. So why insist on playing them out of position?

Because its working?? How is it out of position if they are playing well there?? Maybe Mancini thinks they are better suited in other positions? Who says they are better suited to a certain wing God? As long as it's working I honestly don't have a problem with it. If it doesn't work Mancini will move them about.

I don't agree that the play has been average ... we're playing a different type of game now, slow build up and tight defence ... it's not break neck speed at both ends, which I prefer. It also allows for more adaptibility with players playing out of position. and I think more and more what you will see is slow build up with intricate passing that leads to breakaway 1 on 1

Still very early days with Mancini moulding the squad into his image but so far played 3, won 3, goals for 6, goals against 0. Just maybe Roberto knows something you don't?

kinkylola wrote:I don't agree that the play has been average ... we're playing a different type of game now, slow build up and tight defence ... it's not break neck speed at both ends, which I prefer. It also allows for more adaptibility with players playing out of position. and I think more and more what you will see is slow build up with intricate passing that leads to breakaway 1 on 1

Plus the players are still learning the new system, once they've mastered it we will be playing free flowing football, i'd give it 2 or 3 weeks.

The fact we are still getting the results though with cleen sheets proves Roberto is a top manager.

I'm not trying to slag off Mancini btw, just don't think we have played as well as some people think we have been doing.
We've played 3 shite, but very tough opponents. Will the way we play work against better sides? Or will we play differently ourselves?
I'm very interested, excited and a bit scared all at once

Petrov on the right and Vlad on the left in the 2nd hald didn't make much sense to me, but I'm not Mancini !

I think people are strugglein to adapt due to bein used to Hughes playing the same style all of the time. Its workin at the mo.. And who says this and that position is a players strongest when we havent really seen them tested playin elsewhere..

Fidel Castro wrote:Why? The results so far have been good, defence looks A LOT better but the general play has been very average (bar second half at Wolves). I don't think playing so many players out of position is helping. Today, in the second half our wingers got a lot of space but they didn't attack the full-backs cos they kept having to turn inside or go backwards to get the ball on their stronger foot. So why insist on playing them out of position?

It's possibly because he thinks they're more dangerous passing/shooting inside rather than crossing, especially when we don't have RSC/ADE to cross to & I don't mind it as a viable variation. Sure he'll try more conventional wingers too. Hughes tried it once or twice & people used it as an example of him being a fucking clueless idiot but hey we're all friends now, don't mention the war etc.

Agree that the football's mostly been poor so far though but we showed some great stuff later on at Wolves. I blame the crap stuff on the players not carrying out the plan properly; same problem as under the last bloke. Pass pass pass becomes pass pass trip panic lump.

Sylvinho at centre mid, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Dubaimancityfan wrote:Petrov on the right and Vlad on the left in the 2nd hald didn't make much sense to me, but I'm not Mancini !

it worked though, we weren't in the game until then, chances quickly followed and a Petrov run switching in from the right led to the goal...

Ted Hughes wrote:I blame the crap stuff on the players not carrying out the plan properly; same problem as under the last bloke. Pass pass pass becomes pass pass trip panic lump.

i reckon that's a confidence thing, and will improve as mancio's ideas get through and we (hopefully) keep winning games.

The defense are the most likely suspects (Zabs seems to have problems making adjustments, Sylvh moving up) but given the
amount of football they have had to play; I think they have done quite well.

If this has truly become a squad game, a lot was learned today. We have guys other than Kompany, Garrido and Zabaleta that can play both defense and midfield. It can only help with all the games we have this much. Kudos to Mancini. Not much more you can ask for 1-0 in those conditions and the defensive team he put out there in those miserable conditions.

Tony P wrote:Sylvinho at centre mid, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Actually I think he played quite well there. He is technically very gifted and has an eye for a good pass and he does not shy away from tackles either.

Besides the wingers in todays case Martin and Vlad everbody is playing where they have played before or are playing where they normally play.
Barry was where he normally plays and so where most of the others.
Kompany has played in defence and midfield before,
Ndj was in midfield today.
Go through the whole team and besides Martin and Vlad who was out of position.No one.

Rag_hater wrote:Besides the wingers in todays case Martin and Vlad everbody is playing where they have played before or are playing where they normally play.
Barry was where he normally plays and so where most of the others.
Kompany has played in defence and midfield before,
Ndj was in midfield today.
Go through the whole team and besides Martin and Vlad who was out of position.No one.

Sylvinho. We didn't have any outlet on the left in the first half and looked very unbalanced.

avoidconfusion wrote:

Tony P wrote:Sylvinho at centre mid, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Actually I think he played quite well there. He is technically very gifted and has an eye for a good pass and he does not shy away from tackles either.

agreed...thought he had a good game

Fidel Castro wrote:

Rag_hater wrote:Besides the wingers in todays case Martin and Vlad everbody is playing where they have played before or are playing where they normally play.
Barry was where he normally plays and so where most of the others.
Kompany has played in defence and midfield before,
Ndj was in midfield today.
Go through the whole team and besides Martin and Vlad who was out of position.No one.

Sylvinho. We didn't have any outlet on the left in the first half and looked very unbalanced.

I'd think that was down to Stevie and Swp being injured and him having no other options along with the quality of Sylvinho.And if your saying that keeping Martin on the left would have given us more balance I would disagree cos for me that would mean putting Syl on the right which I think would have made us weaker.

Petrov right wing and Weiss left wing is just wrong, I don't mind switching play for 5/10 mins play but to spend the entire match in those positions just makes us far too narrow. When Bellamy came on he instantly went down the line instead of cutting inside and set up 2 clear cut chances which should have been buried.