I, as everyone will be, am store fuming after yesterday but to gain some perspective 13 years ago today we drew 0-0 away at Blackpool to continue our languish in mid table. We've come along way and that's what those sad red bastards forget. In the words of Noel Gallagher "All they've known is winning". I'd rather have Andy Morrison as my hero then Eric Cantona any day.
There are a lot of positives from yesterday including a couple of new hero's but its time to focus on whats to come.
Priority is obviously the league, no better place to start, is ours to throw away and I believe if we are top come February 1st its ours to lose. This is the most difficult month in terms of sheer number of games. The important thing is whilst we have Spurs, United and Chelsea still to come to the Campus, the filth have to go to Spurs, ok they always win that one, they head to Arsenal at the end of this month and they've still got to go to Stamford Bridge. If we just keep doing what we've been doing at home, and try and re-discover a little away form its ours.
Rotation in the league has to end now, whatever one's opinion about Kolorov and Zabaleta is, we are not close to the same team when they both play together. At centre half the impulse is to buy, Samba, Cahill, Hangeland etc have all been named and Mancini has admitted that he does not have a target in mind. Personally, I agree with Doug that none of these are better than Lescott and who would want to come to play as 4th choice long term. I think Savic has shown glimpses of quality this year, and assuming Vincent doesn't win the appeal I'd be comfortable bring Boyata back as cover. Either way I don't think we'll see Nedum
Mancini wants De Rossi and maybe the latest injuries and suspensions will convince the board to purchase before Bridge and Neddy are sold to QPR :-) Midfield is gonna be interesting without Yaya, yesterdays game was crying out for him, I think we'll be ok as long as there are no more suspensions or injuries. I'd like to see us sign a little more width but that's being choosey.
Up front we're looking lightweight at the moment. Mario was sorely missed on Sunday. Dzeko, although having a hard time of it at the moment, means we lack that extra dimension and Aguero runs his bollocks off but I'll admit i think he's been playing only half fit since he did his groin in October at Blackburn which is why the lack of complete 90 minutes. The obvious deal is to swap Tevez for someone from one of the Milan's. AC want to off-load Pato and Robinho, we've had one, I'm not sure we want the other. Mancini loves Ibrahimovic but I don't think we'll get him. At Inter the only player they could offer us is Sneijder and I'd think we'd all be happy with this. Inter's strikers are Pazzini, Milito, Forlan and Zarate. Pazzini would be the best of the 4, Milito was great under Mourinho but is the wrong side of 30, Forlan only arrived in the summer and Zarate, who played for Birmingham and only scored against us is only on loan.
Europa League, I know a few posts have said fuck Europa, but I don't think thats necessary. The path to the final gets mapped well in advance, and playing 5pm Wednesday could be to our advantage even if its not to the supporters. We're not going to beat Porto fielding the stiffs that played against Birmingham in the 3rd Rd of the Carling Cup but we're playing them either side of a free weekend, sandwiched between Villa away and Blackburn at home.
Carling Cup against the scouse, looks like a case of patching a team together, but we've proved in the league we have what it takes to beat them regardless.
Heads up, Hearts out everyone
Cheers