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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 14,00.html

Mancini - Tactics will change
City boss will alter approach once key men return


Roberto Mancini has vowed to revert back to a more attacking style once he has a fully-fit squad.

The Manchester City boss has often deployed club captain Carlos Tevez as a lone frontman this season, preferring instead to pack the midfield.

Argentine strike ace Tevez has not taken too kindly to being asked to plug away on his own, with the fiery South American becoming embroiled in a dressing room bust-up with his manager during Sunday's meeting with Newcastle.
Mancini, though, is standing by his selection policy, insisting he is doing the best he can with those available to him.

With a number of key men sidelined, or working their way back to full fitness, he has called on his players to be patient as he pieces together his strongest starting XI.

Necessity

The Italian has hinted that he will adopt a more direct approach once the Eastlands treatment room has emptied, reassuring Tevez that he will soon have a partner to help carry the goalscoring burden.

"It's out of necessity," said Mancini on his current tactics.

"Emmanuel Adebayor has just recovered from injury, but Mario Balotelli hasn't.

"And without flying full-backs like Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov, who can push forward, I've had to adjust the team to get results. But only until everyone is back and fit."

About bleeding time an'all!

Surely this is something to do with Carlos and not losing the dressing room?

i'll believe it when i see it. he comes across as a stubborn bastard.

I am a believer - the transfers in the summer indicated that his formation was going to be fluid FBs providing penetration and crosses - this must therefore have either Ade or Mario in the middle with Tevez - otherwise it does not make any sense

You cannot attempt to have Micah or Zab/Lescott filling in - they are not capable so you have to adapt - I may be 'Blue-tinted' but I think that is has just been good tactics

It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next months if we do get a fully fit squad. I do believe Mancini will have realised that he needs to be a little more commited to attacking and the Tevez incident will have really stressed the need to do so but more than anything it could well be the reason why he has come out and said something now.

I think we all know by nature Mancini is a cautious thinking coach and it isn't just having a few injuries that have tailored his approach to games.We still wait to see what his team and set up will be when everyone is available. We expect to see 2 full backs marauding down the wings but ,if it's 4.3.3, what will the team be? Will he leave Tevez in the middle up front or is that where Balotelli fits in? Will there be just one holding player in the middle or will he still play Nigel with either Yaya or Barry?

The bottom line is that he will have options and change things to suit the opposition but the key to it all is what Mancini tells the players to do in terms of attacking ambition.We can play all the attacking players we want or indeed all the defensive players in a line up but if the manager tells them to be cautious and that the most important thing is not to concede then we might not see much change.If he releases the shackles a little and lets players get forward and run beyond the " strikers" then we will see a real difference.

It may be faint but it seems there's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and let's hope that some sort of attacking football is not too far away. I think we all realised that a big part of his plan was to have 2 attacking full backs in the team and unfortunately that was shot to pieces from day one. Maybe in a month or so when they're both in the team and have picked up their fitness levels we may begin to see a style of football that we're all much happier with

Until then I'll settle for winning ugly

craigmcfc wrote:It may be faint but it seems there's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and let's hope that some sort of attacking football is not too far away. I think we all realised that a big part of his plan was to have 2 attacking full backs in the team and unfortunately that was shot to pieces from day one. Maybe in a month or so when they're both in the team and have picked up their fitness levels we may begin to see a style of football that we're all much happier with

Until then I'll settle for winning ugly

agreed

I think it's a testament to the fella that we are still in the mix despite most of his new signings being crocked for the opening games

I have no doubt he planned to use attacking fullbacks...that and Mario being out too...I don't think he has felt like he has had much of an option but to be cautious

I'll settle for winning full stop. Mancini should do more interviews with Italian newspapers as they are much more informative and revealing. Until everyone is up to speed and fit making sure we are in touch with the front runners is our main priority. How we develop style wise remains to be seen but its going to be interesting to find out. At the moment Mancini starts with a default gameplan that is geared to defensive strengths with more attacking options blended if needed during the game. At the moment it makes sense and I can't see Mancini changing it much this side of Xmas just because fans think it a bit dull and the media think we are the most boring team ever to kick a football. Mancini may be stubborn but he ain't stupid and charging forward and getting spanked early on in the season because the team hasn't come together yet would be the height of stupidity. As for Tevez, playing the lone striker isn't the problem its lack of support at times from the midfield that causes him to vent. And rightly so.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next months if we do get a fully fit squad. I do believe Mancini will have realised that he needs to be a little more commited to attacking and the Tevez incident will have really stressed the need to do so but more than anything it could well be the reason why he has come out and said something now.

I think we all know by nature Mancini is a cautious thinking coach and it isn't just having a few injuries that have tailored his approach to games.We still wait to see what his team and set up will be when everyone is available. We expect to see 2 full backs marauding down the wings but ,if it's 4.3.3, what will the team be? Will he leave Tevez in the middle up front or is that where Balotelli fits in? Will there be just one holding player in the middle or will he still play Nigel with either Yaya or Barry?

The bottom line is that he will have options and change things to suit the opposition but the key to it all is what Mancini tells the players to do in terms of attacking ambition.We can play all the attacking players we want or indeed all the defensive players in a line up but if the manager tells them to be cautious and that the most important thing is not to concede then we might not see much change.If he releases the shackles a little and lets players get forward and run beyond the " strikers" then we will see a real difference.

If the fullbacks do get forward successfully, his 3 so called 'defensive' midfielders then make sense because he could play 3 attackers, 2 attacking fullbacks & have the 3 man midfield behind the ball peotecting & joining in by making late runs rather than leading the charge. He could also put Silva in there to join the front 3 & have 2 sitting giving us 6 attacking players on the counter.

Imo our biggest problem isn't personel or formations atm though, it's a lack of cohesive purpose & final ball. One example being; players don't go into the 6 yard box because the ball never comes, therefore the ball never goes in because there's nobody there to get on the end of it. We have no Bellamy for counter attacking so we need to have more purpose & togetherness in other attacking areas. We can't just rely on Balotelli & fullbacks as they could all strruggle in their 1st season. (I don't think they will struggle mind you, I think Balotelli in particular will be fucking fantastic once 100% fit) They could get injured again.

We need plans B, C, & D not just plan A.

This is something that's been discussed on here from time to time, I was of the opinion Mancini was being forced to play to his strengths during our injury crisis, namely his midfield (since both attack and defence has been a patched up affair) - I don't think the Tevez confrontation (assuming it actually happened) has forced him to change anything other than communication.

Is it just me that thinks that Boateng is not and will never be an attacking full back?

london blue 2 wrote:Is it just me that thinks that Boateng is not and will never be an attacking full back?

He is comfortable on the ball and capable of some accurate deliveries, give him a few more matches and you might change your mind. (He had a bad game against Newcastle in my opinion, but he hasn't got much Prem experience yet)

Dameerto wrote:This is something that's been discussed on here from time to time, I was of the opinion Mancini was being forced to play to his strengths during our injury crisis, namely his midfield (since both attack and defence has been a patched up affair) - I don't think the Tevez confrontation (assuming it actually happened) has forced him to change anything other than communication.

It happened but I don't think it cause Mancini to change anything as such. The issue is not so much the tactics as such but the fact that we still not have meshed together as a cohesive unit with too many moves breaking down or passes just missing their mark or players not making the right runs or whatever. Its like looking at a picture that is not quite in focus yet. Tevez and Mancini having a 'ballsy row' is not exactly a surprise and I doubt if it will be the last but then most dressing rooms have huge bust ups its just that they never get reported whereas at City they appear in print 10 mins later. Which is no surprise if you have a player in the dressing room who is very pissed off at being dropped, is unlikely to get a game at City again and has the ear of some journalists...

...and I don't mean Ade who only ever talks about himself.

Dameerto wrote:

london blue 2 wrote:Is it just me that thinks that Boateng is not and will never be an attacking full back?

He is comfortable on the ball and capable of some accurate deliveries, give him a few more matches and you might change your mind. (He had a bad game against Newcastle in my opinion, but he hasn't got much Prem experience yet)

you're not wrong.

but, before we signed him (and just after) the majority of us on here including myself thought we'd bought him as a replacement CB. We had these thoughts confrmed when he went on camera to insist that CB was his best/preffered postiton (if I remember rightly). This is why I find it hard to buy into the "when we have our fullbacks we'll be freeflowing" chat. I dont know about Kolorov so i'll reserve judgement.

Sounds sensible but I'm not sure the treatment room will ever be 'empty'!

Dameerto wrote:

london blue 2 wrote:Is it just me that thinks that Boateng is not and will never be an attacking full back?

He is comfortable on the ball and capable of some accurate deliveries, give him a few more matches and you might change your mind. (He had a bad game against Newcastle in my opinion, but he hasn't got much Prem experience yet)

Well for a start he's only just got back to full fitness and he is STILL miles ahead of Richards

Ted Hughes wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next months if we do get a fully fit squad. I do believe Mancini will have realised that he needs to be a little more commited to attacking and the Tevez incident will have really stressed the need to do so but more than anything it could well be the reason why he has come out and said something now.

I think we all know by nature Mancini is a cautious thinking coach and it isn't just having a few injuries that have tailored his approach to games.We still wait to see what his team and set up will be when everyone is available. We expect to see 2 full backs marauding down the wings but ,if it's 4.3.3, what will the team be? Will he leave Tevez in the middle up front or is that where Balotelli fits in? Will there be just one holding player in the middle or will he still play Nigel with either Yaya or Barry?

The bottom line is that he will have options and change things to suit the opposition but the key to it all is what Mancini tells the players to do in terms of attacking ambition.We can play all the attacking players we want or indeed all the defensive players in a line up but if the manager tells them to be cautious and that the most important thing is not to concede then we might not see much change.If he releases the shackles a little and lets players get forward and run beyond the " strikers" then we will see a real difference.

If the fullbacks do get forward successfully, his 3 so called 'defensive' midfielders then make sense because he could play 3 attackers, 2 attacking fullbacks & have the 3 man midfield behind the ball peotecting & joining in by making late runs rather than leading the charge. He could also put Silva in there to join the front 3 & have 2 sitting giving us 6 attacking players on the counter.

Imo our biggest problem isn't personel or formations atm though, it's a lack of cohesive purpose & final ball. One example being; players don't go into the 6 yard box because the ball never comes, therefore the ball never goes in because there's nobody there to get on the end of it. We have no Bellamy for counter attacking so we need to have more purpose & togetherness in other attacking areas. We can't just rely on Balotelli & fullbacks as they could all strruggle in their 1st season. (I don't think they will struggle mind you, I think Balotelli in particular will be fucking fantastic once 100% fit) They could get injured again.

We need plans B, C, & D not just plan A.

Plans B, C & D rely a lot on having a target man fit and able imo.

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Dameerto wrote:

london blue 2 wrote:Is it just me that thinks that Boateng is not and will never be an attacking full back?

He is comfortable on the ball and capable of some accurate deliveries, give him a few more matches and you might change your mind. (He had a bad game against Newcastle in my opinion, but he hasn't got much Prem experience yet)

Well for a start he's only just got back to full fitness and he is STILL miles ahead of Richards

Damn right, for a start he has a left foot. Chelsea play Ivanovic at right back and I believe The Boat has more attacking qualities.

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Dameerto wrote:

london blue 2 wrote:Is it just me that thinks that Boateng is not and will never be an attacking full back?

He is comfortable on the ball and capable of some accurate deliveries, give him a few more matches and you might change your mind. (He had a bad game against Newcastle in my opinion, but he hasn't got much Prem experience yet)

Well for a start he's only just got back to full fitness and he is STILL miles ahead of Richards

Not on the Newcastle showing he isn't. It looked liked like Micah was his personal coach.

Wise words Doug.
That's the way I saw it too.