Mancini (The Ted Hughes and BBS thread)

[BobKowalski]

Agreed. To be honest I wasn't that impressed at the Arsenal result despite the 'great team spirit' bit. The attitude shown made me feel slightly better but a 3-0 defeat still sticks. The Wolves result and performance was so far short of a top side showing that it defied belief and the only thing that made it slightly better was Mancini saying it was in effect 'shite' - admittedly he put it more diplomatically but if he had come out with a series of lame excuses I would have started a 'Mancini Out' thread. Saying it was unacceptable and shouldn't happen and must not happen again I can handle and go 'ok Bobby spot on now make sure it doesn't happen again' and get some closure as the Americans would say.

That said I know it will happen because every top side drops a bollock. Chelsea had back to back away defeats last year and everyone starting muttering Ancellotti would go the way of Scolari. WBA took Arsenal apart at the Emirates and so on. But as long as our management deem it unacceptable and strive to make it as rare as possible then ok move on and bear in mind that whilst we still a work in progress we still need to grind out points and if that means ugly performances then I'll take 28 games of it right now and thanks very much.

How we respond is critical and made more difficult in that we still have players finding their feet but that's life at the top and we have to deal with it. Mancini is an egotistical, arrogant c**t who drives the players hard and expects a lot from them. He ain't popular and I really don't care because 1) I'm a Mancini fanboy and 2) An egotistical, arrogant c**t who has spent his life as a player and a manager winning things is who I want to see in charge right now. My only advice to Mancini is don't take Ade off in a fit of rage because Ade has ballooned another chance over the bar.

Particularly when the ball played into him was fast and behind him!

Well ok

I still think he subbed him in moment of blind rage though :)

[ant london]

My two penneth is,
Bob needs to sort himself and the team out sharpish,lay it all on the line and get the team together again.

Im not on the Mancini out boat but he is dong worse than last seasons manager and has been very lucky if he doesnt change it soon then the people might turn quickly.

That is simply bullshit.

Someone will no doubt quote the stat but I'm pretty sure.....statistically in terms of points.....we were doing better at this point last season.

[brite blu sky]

I've just wasted 10 minutes reading this whole thread. Nowhere near as rowdy as it should be. Admirable tongue-biting from NQDP though.

Today was garbage, but we're still top 4 and can get back on track. As was the case with Hughes and Sven, I really don't want to see another change of manager. If we want Wenger-esque sustained results, we're gonna have to give one fella a run at some point. Managers will continually get undermined and we'll never settle if the management position is constantly under threat.

In a different note, if the_georgian_genius seriously thinks Ted is a poor poster, I'd say he's in a minority of one.

I only got to see the game on sunday because we weren't live on telly on saturday and rather than watch a stream I rather waited to see it on telly. Generally, win, lose or draw I've stayed away from this site during the games and in immediate aftermath for the reasons that I want to form my own opinions and see how they match with opinion of others.

Seeing as we are in top 4 I find it rather interesting how certain people found the time and place to vent their deep down feelings. At least I've never hid my true feelings about anything in the past. Starter of this topic mostly stayed away from football discussions for weeks when things were going great only to make incidental comeback after saturdays result. Maybe you should think about that?

I'm not certain what you're getting at here. Think about what? I'm pretty sure we're in agreement that this little blip is exactly that - no biggie. As for the "admirable tongue-biting," I'm only pulling your leg.

The point is I'm just as pissed about weekends result as the next man. However, if we look at the bigger picture I feel things are going quite well as far as this season is considered. Getting kicked out of League Cup, Wolves and to some extent Sunderland were all huge disappointments but there have been lot of positives as well and I feel we are moving in right direction and towards Champion's League. Unfortunately it's sometimes two steps forward, one step back.

What became painfully clear in weekend is the one worry I had earlier as well. Besides Tevez we lack prolific goalscorer. We had tons of chances to get a draw and even win the game. Unfortunately we fluffed all of them. But that's something I feel Mancini will look into in january.

The way Ade was banging them in between late-2006 and late-2008, I thought we'd bagged ourselves that 20-a-season striker we've not had since Anelka. I think most of us expected him to be our main goal threat when we signed him, and until about October/November last year he was. He's a flaky character, but I'd appreciate if Mancini could start getting consistent results out of him like Wenger did during his time at Arse.

I know people bang on about Dzeko, Ibrahimovic, Benzema, Eto'o etc, but Ade is a tried and tested Premier League goalscorer. Even his stats for us aren't that bad (I think something like 20 goals in 40 starts in all competitions since arriving). I wouldn't like us to spend heavily in January. I'd rather work on maximising the potential of what we've got. By the end of the season, the wheat will have been cut from the chaff. If he doesn't pull his finger out, Ade might well fall by the wayside but he's DEFINITELY got the ability if we can find a way to keep him fit and focussed.

Agree with that obviously. Cant see how subbing him for Zabba can help that though, especially right after he got a shot in from a poor pass from AJ. I cant think that will have done Ade any good at all.

[lets all have a disco]

NQDP get down of your high horse im NOT saying sack Mancini as thats the wrong move but even his most loyal allies will agree all is not well in the camp.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

My two penneth is,
Bob needs to sort himself and the team out sharpish,lay it all on the line and get the team together again.

Im not on the Mancini out boat but he is dong worse than last seasons manager and has been very lucky if he doesnt change it soon then the people might turn quickly.

That is simply bullshit.

Someone will no doubt quote the stat but I'm pretty sure.....statistically in terms of points.....we were doing better at this point last season.

Perhaps pointwise we were on about level terms, although we went into shocking run during next about ten games. However we hadn't met many top sides, only rags to my recollection, and we were playing much worse.

But that's all gone now. Let's see where we are by the end of the season.

NQDP get down of your high horse im NOT saying sack Mancini as thats the wrong move but even his most loyal allies will agree all is not well in the camp.

I'm not saying "all is well" (when is all well anyway) but we are clearly moving to right direction despite few setbacks.

[lets all have a disco]

My two penneth is,
Bob needs to sort himself and the team out sharpish,lay it all on the line and get the team together again.

Im not on the Mancini out boat but he is dong worse than last seasons manager and has been very lucky if he doesnt change it soon then the people might turn quickly.

That is simply bullshit.

Someone will no doubt quote the stat but I'm pretty sure.....statistically in terms of points.....we were doing better at this point last season.

Perhaps pointwise we were on about level terms, although we went into shocking run during next about ten games. However we hadn't met many top sides, only rags to my recollection, and we were playing much worse.

But that's all gone now. Let's see where we are by the end of the season.

Mate were slowly slipping into a run,lost two in a row for the first time in 18 months.

[Beefymcfc]

Is he still here?

[Beeks]

Mancini rubbishes player revolt

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 93,00.html

[Ted Hughes]

I don't think it's correct at all to say we've been better this season so far. We played better this time last season imo but we then hit a really shit run of results. Imo some of the performances during that run were also better than some of the performances so far this season but we drew games we should have won.

I'm all for Mancini staying at City but I've never liked the excuses for performances since he came as opposed to the hysterics that Hughes suffered for the slightest mistake. It's simply not true to say we've been that much better. Often on here if we win we're brilliant but we're shit if we lose. I think it's sometimes the opposite. Under Mancini we've sometimes been a lot more solid but hardly ever been as good going forward. Ironically I thought we looked as good as Hughes' team attacking for 20 mins on Saturday, for the 1st time since Mancini took over imo, then we defended as badly or worse!

Hughes shouldn't have been sacked & neither should Mancini be sacked. They're both good managers & either could feasibly win everything with City if allowed the time, to make mistakes like human beings do, without panic decisions.

[brite blu sky]

I don't think it's correct at all to say we've been better this season so far. We played better this time last season imo but we then hit a really shit run of results. Imo some of the performances during that run were also better than some of the performances so far this season but we drew games we should have won.

I'm all for Mancini staying at City but I've never liked the excuses for performances since he came as opposed to the hysterics that Hughes suffered for the slightest mistake. It's simply not true to say we've been that much better. Often on here if we win we're brilliant but we're shit if we lose. I think it's sometimes the opposite. Under Mancini we've sometimes been a lot more solid but hardly ever been as good going forward. Ironically I thought we looked as good as Hughes' team attacking for 20 mins on Saturday, for the 1st time since Mancini took over imo, then we defended as badly or worse!

Hughes shouldn't have been sacked & neither should Mancini be sacked. They're both good managers & either could feasibly win everything with City if allowed the time, to make mistakes like human beings do, without panic decisions.

Agree with this Ted, i stayed completely out of the Hughes arguments as i thought they were motivated by other things than just football. Also believe it is not a sensible idea to sack a manager mid season.
Anyway my take this season is that we (and Mancini) have had a lot to deal with simultaneously for great performances to emerge, namely a lot of new players to bed in and then a lot missing: So any rhythm that might have been expected to be gained; hasn't.

For that reason mainly i am happy enough to let things develop as so far we haven't lost touch with the best teams for whatever reason. We are starting to come up against it though as the players that were out still need to get up to speed and bed into the team and Mancini make adjustments etc etc... and we are over a 1/4 of the way through the season now.

[Ted Hughes]

I don't think it's correct at all to say we've been better this season so far. We played better this time last season imo but we then hit a really shit run of results. Imo some of the performances during that run were also better than some of the performances so far this season but we drew games we should have won.

I'm all for Mancini staying at City but I've never liked the excuses for performances since he came as opposed to the hysterics that Hughes suffered for the slightest mistake. It's simply not true to say we've been that much better. Often on here if we win we're brilliant but we're shit if we lose. I think it's sometimes the opposite. Under Mancini we've sometimes been a lot more solid but hardly ever been as good going forward. Ironically I thought we looked as good as Hughes' team attacking for 20 mins on Saturday, for the 1st time since Mancini took over imo, then we defended as badly or worse!

Hughes shouldn't have been sacked & neither should Mancini be sacked. They're both good managers & either could feasibly win everything with City if allowed the time, to make mistakes like human beings do, without panic decisions.

Agree with this Ted, i stayed completely out of the Hughes arguments as i thought they were motivated by other things than just football. Also believe it is not a sensible idea to sack a manager mid season.
Anyway my take this season is that we (and Mancini) have had a lot to deal with simultaneously for great performances to emerge, namely a lot of new players to bed in and then a lot missing: So any rhythm that might have been expected to be gained; hasn't.

For that reason mainly i am happy enough to let things develop as so far we haven't lost touch with the best teams for whatever reason. We are starting to come up against it though as the players that were out still need to get up to speed and bed into the team and Mancini make adjustments etc etc... and we are over a 1/4 of the way through the season now.

Posnan away is potentially a great opportunity for Bob to put his boring formation back into operation though. If he can get them back working & organised it will help get us back on track for the coming games & he can bring on Balotelli at the end to win it or get a bit more playing time.

[brite blu sky]

Thats true.. however with Mancini you have to say you never fuclin know!

Last time out at home v Poznan
Hart, Richards, Boyata, Lescott, Zabaleta (Bridge 85mins), de Jong, Vieira, Wright-Phillips (Jo 78mins), Silva (Yaya Toure 75mins), A. Johnson, Adebayor.

i'd imagine changes to that side, even though there is a logic in giving the same side the opportunity to go and do the business again.

[Ted Hughes]

Thats true.. however with Mancini you have to say you never fuclin know!

Last time out at home v Poznan
Hart, Richards, Boyata, Lescott, Zabaleta (Bridge 85mins), de Jong, Vieira, Wright-Phillips (Jo 78mins), Silva (Yaya Toure 75mins), A. Johnson, Adebayor.

i'd imagine changes to that side, even though there is a logic in giving the same side the opportunity to go and do the business again.

The fact that it's away from home & we're coming off an absolute shitter of a defeat & we have two big games coming up, makes me think he'll go for a more conservative approach. I hope he doesn't go fucking stupid & start messing around with 2nd rate reserve players in key positions etc though on the excuse of resting players. We need a nice solid performance to boost morale.

[Beefymcfc]

That's what's confusing. We play at home with a game of possession and control yet we play away to Blackpool and Wolves with a more expansive and open formation. Did he under-estimate the competition?

[brite blu sky]

That's what's confusing. We play at home with a game of possession and control yet we play away to Blackpool and Wolves with a more expansive and open formation. Did he under-estimate the competition?

You might be right there Beefy.. possibly he thought that those were games we could be more open in and explore that side of our play.. develop it if you like. Although the Wolves game i think he was forced to try something in not having deJong and Tevez available.. so that one is difficult to judge.

Onwards and upwards eh!

[Original Dub]

I've just wasted 10 minutes reading this whole thread. Nowhere near as rowdy as it should be. Admirable tongue-biting from NQDP though.

Today was garbage, but we're still top 4 and can get back on track. As was the case with Hughes and Sven, I really don't want to see another change of manager. If we want Wenger-esque sustained results, we're gonna have to give one fella a run at some point. Managers will continually get undermined and we'll never settle if the management position is constantly under threat.

In a different note, if the_georgian_genius seriously thinks Ted is a poor poster, I'd say he's in a minority of one.

I only got to see the game on sunday because we weren't live on telly on saturday and rather than watch a stream I rather waited to see it on telly. Generally, win, lose or draw I've stayed away from this site during the games and in immediate aftermath for the reasons that I want to form my own opinions and see how they match with opinion of others.

Seeing as we are in top 4 I find it rather interesting how certain people found the time and place to vent their deep down feelings. At least I've never hid my true feelings about anything in the past. Starter of this topic mostly stayed away from football discussions for weeks when things were going great only to make incidental comeback after saturdays result. Maybe you should think about that?

Typical wanker comment from someone who can see no wrong with Roberto. Where were you after the loss, when things weren't going so great? The difference between us is that I generally don't spend half as much time on here as I used to, due to the amount of extra work I'm doing. You spend the exact same time as you always did, only you don't like to comment on any kind of criticism aimed at Mancini.

I don't want him to go right now, I merely said IF we continue to play this horribly frustrating way, as we did against Blackpool, Newcastle and Wolves and many other games, then I will want him to go, because a) we won't achieve what we should achieve and b) IT BORES THE FUCKING PANTS OFF ME and I watch football for entertainment.

It is my opinion, not my "agenda" as you seem to intimate as often as possible. I want to see a manager who wants to play football the right way in charge. I hope its Roberto, but at the minute it doesn't look like it TO ME.

You probably feel comfortable watching us, I feel extremely uncomfortable for the most part. I also feel uncomfortable with a lot of his tactics and decision making. IF it continues against West Brom and the rags, he is in trouble and rightly so.

We were better off this time last season than we are now, so the slump in both results and style of play has to change NOW.

You may think there was no need for this thread, but judging by the ongoing debate and the speed at which it has accumulated
posts, its actually been the most relevant thread for some time.

Perhaps you should just take the debate on board and give you're opinion on the subject matter instead of trying to wind me up, because you, me and everybody on this board knows how that old story ends.

[Cocacolajojo1]

I've just wasted 10 minutes reading this whole thread. Nowhere near as rowdy as it should be. Admirable tongue-biting from NQDP though.

Today was garbage, but we're still top 4 and can get back on track. As was the case with Hughes and Sven, I really don't want to see another change of manager. If we want Wenger-esque sustained results, we're gonna have to give one fella a run at some point. Managers will continually get undermined and we'll never settle if the management position is constantly under threat.

In a different note, if the_georgian_genius seriously thinks Ted is a poor poster, I'd say he's in a minority of one.

I only got to see the game on sunday because we weren't live on telly on saturday and rather than watch a stream I rather waited to see it on telly. Generally, win, lose or draw I've stayed away from this site during the games and in immediate aftermath for the reasons that I want to form my own opinions and see how they match with opinion of others.

Seeing as we are in top 4 I find it rather interesting how certain people found the time and place to vent their deep down feelings. At least I've never hid my true feelings about anything in the past. Starter of this topic mostly stayed away from football discussions for weeks when things were going great only to make incidental comeback after saturdays result. Maybe you should think about that?

Typical wanker comment from someone who can see no wrong with Roberto. Where were you after the loss, when things weren't going so great? The difference between us is that I generally don't spend half as much time on here as I used to, due to the amount of extra work I'm doing. You spend the exact same time as you always did, only you don't like to comment on any kind of criticism aimed at Mancini.

I don't want him to go right now, I merely said IF we continue to play this horribly frustrating way, as we did against Blackpool, Newcastle and Wolves and many other games, then I will want him to go, because a) we won't achieve what we should achieve and b) IT BORES THE FUCKING PANTS OFF ME and I watch football for entertainment.

It is my opinion, not my "agenda" as you seem to intimate as often as possible. I want to see a manager who wants to play football the right way in charge. I hope its Roberto, but at the minute it doesn't look like it TO ME.

You probably feel comfortable watching us, I feel extremely uncomfortable for the most part. I also feel uncomfortable with a lot of his tactics and decision making. IF it continues against West Brom and the rags, he is in trouble and rightly so.

We were better off this time last season than we are now, so the slump in both results and style of play has to change NOW.

You may think there was no need for this thread, but judging by the ongoing debate and the speed at which it has accumulated
posts, its actually been the most relevant thread for some time.

Perhaps you should just take the debate on board and give you're opinion on the subject matter instead of trying to wind me up, because you, me and everybody on this board knows how that old story ends.

How?

[BobKowalski]

Thats true.. however with Mancini you have to say you never fuclin know!

Very true and I guess is kind of what Mancini is trying to do keep everyone guessing with differing formations/tactics/personnel so that he can pick and mix for different games or during the game if needs be. How often have we said that we have no plan B or once teams suss us out thats it for the season. The Soccer Saturday Brains Trust have often said they 'can't work Mancini out' so I guess in the long run it will pay if other teams are unsure what system we are going to play although if our players can't work it out either ala wolves then it redefines the concept of 'foot' and 'shooting oneself'.

If Mancini can implement fluid, shifting patterns of play whilst keeping it tight when needed it is going to be fascinating to watch and difficult to counter. On the other hand it could go totally tits. Still its why he has gone for versatile players and it is early days. I have no idea if all of this is going to work but if it does and we can adhere to it as a club philosophy irrespective of manager it could be the start of something wonderful. Or it could go totally tits. Or am I deluding myself that there is a plan and a purpose here and everyone else is right (media/pundits/Original Dub) and thats its just aimless, shite football with a shite manager?

[getdressedmctavish]

When you calm down you have to realise that we are a work in progress and shit will happen.My main concern is the lack of steel when sides get at us away. This is where we seem to lack a motivator. That said our two tigers were missing. The mancini method will be to clinically disarm teams by superior organisation, skill and physical strength rather than an up and at em approach. At the moment we are vulnerable because the organisation isn't there. But I think there is enough evidence to think that it will come and that we have the personnel given time.What the final combination may be may not be the one we expect.Hart, Kompany, Nige, Silva and Tevez are shoe ins at the minute. The rest have yet to satisfactorily make their case but I think the obvious candidates will emerge over the next two or three months.

[Ted Hughes]

I'm sure there was a very strong plan which Mancini was implementing pretty well. His attempts at expanding that are so far verging on incompetence though. I think he needs to take a step back & re organise, then move forward a bit more slowly. He's gone from almost total negativity & one up front, to random attacking formations with different players in different jobs. Half the team are playing one way & half the other.