So....who'll take that

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I'm more than happy with a point to be honest.

I'm with you. Performance was bit of a disappointment but I'd much rather take a point than another fucking 3-4 heartbrake. You get no points for that despite what some people would have you to believe.

Fact is that they won three out of four contests last season and getting a point at this stage is a good result for me. But don't let me ruin your misery people. Main moaners are obviously in full flow.

I know for a fact that you've agreed with me in criticising teams who don't have a go at Utd & pay them too much respect & said how it makes things so much easier for them. How is it ok for us to do that on our own ground? Is that really the most difficult night our £300M squad can give a Utd team missing their best front 3 of Rooney, Giggs & Valencia? If that's truly the best our club can do after all this time then God iknows what will happen if they do spend some money as promised.

Most of the teams that don't take the game at united lose their games.

But like I said, I wasn't too happy about the way we played but that doesn't really matter as we came with a point and I'm satisfied with that.

[brite blu sky]

I think you have to give the rags some credit in making the game as it was. They have only just squeeked wins against lower teams and last night set themselves up in tactics and workrate as though they were playing Chelsea or Barca. That could be taken as a compliment but realistically it was in the knowledge that they couldn't afford to let us play.. you have to respect that they played with an intensity they reserve for crucial games against the Arse, Chelsea and CL games, on the basis of that i think Mancini would be happy enough with the end result knowing that it wont get any worse than that.

Something that may be tricky for City fans to get used to im not sure, is taking the longer term view. The club are building something that can not only get into the CL and challenge for the title, but that will continue to do that on a permanent basis.

Like most i would love us to be tearing teams apart.. but look no further than Spurs, the last time they defeated the rags was 19.05.2001 at WHL, the last Draw they managed was 02.02.2008 at WHL every other 23 meetings was a defeat.

Spurs are going to find it very very difficult to land in the top 4 again this season.. and it could be years until they do again.

City are not trying to be another Spurs and so it demands that we become very very solid.. it may be a good while before we see the best of the eventual City team's ability to take top teams apart and although we might not like it now it is a price that simply has to be paid.

[steveo_88]

At my first derby Stuart Pearce beat a much better and younger Manyoo side 3-1! We all know under SP the defensive side of the game was good but we couldn't pick up points because he didn't understand the attacking side of the game.

Last night was the worst football game I've ever seen at any level, not an understatement. I've seen players slice the ball a yard out from goal with an empty net in league one but at least they attacked. God forbid, If I was one of them I'd be ecstatic at picking a point off of us. They were there for the taking and we didn't even attempt to break them down, what's the point in taking to the football field if you don't even try to win the game? Hand over the points before kick-off and save everyone the trouble of watching that rubbish.

Mancini maybe scared of Manyoo and Taggart but only he can answer that one. But there is no excuse in football for standing ten yards of your man every time they had the ball. The rags didn't pass it around us like some on here have claimed we just sat back and watched them have a training session in the MANCHESTER DERBY! Manyoo played within their means (which is very restricted compared to recent years), we watched, the players should feel disgusted because they're better than that performance and Mancini should be ashamed for playing like that at HOME!

[mcfc1632]

Well - I said early in the second half that I would take 0 - 0 - so I guess I will take it

..but that was a defensive and negative view based on the way I could see the game going - I thought that there was likely only going to be 1 winner - probably with an heartbreaking late goal - really we have to be happy with the point - but not be in denial by failing to recognise what a poor performance that was

Quite a few players simply did not turn up - or at least did not commit to the occasion of a derby - I know we have a large influx of players to whom the Manchester derby might have been in the past just some distant unimportant fixture - but we have all those coaching staff - how can the importance to the fans not have been got across?? I felt really disappointed that the scum players showed so much more determination and commitment - IMO we are the better side by far - but last night they played better and were motivated better

And tactics??? - and I do not just mean Mancini - these are professional footballers - if everyone of us on here could say - .....get a grip of the ginger twat and give him no space and we will have them - well why could not our manager and his coaching team before the game - and our vaunted midfielders during the game - he was given wwwaaaaayyyy too much space - we made the twat look good FFS

....so yeah end result I will take it and feel a bit lucky - but it is hard to take the lack of ambition, preparation and flexibility during the game - why oh why do we give those twats so much fucking respect - they are not the team they used to be by a fucking long way!!!

[Ted Hughes]

I think you have to give the rags some credit in making the game as it was. They have only just squeeked wins against lower teams and last night set themselves up in tactics and workrate as though they were playing Chelsea or Barca. That could be taken as a compliment but realistically it was in the knowledge that they couldn't afford to let us play.. you have to respect that they played with an intensity they reserve for crucial games against the Arse, Chelsea and CL games, on the basis of that i think Mancini would be happy enough with the end result knowing that it wont get any worse than that.

Something that may be tricky for City fans to get used to im not sure, is taking the longer term view. The club are building something that can not only get into the CL and challenge for the title, but that will continue to do that on a permanent basis.

Like most i would love us to be tearing teams apart.. but look no further than Spurs, the last time they defeated the rags was 19.05.2001 at WHL, the last Draw they managed was 02.02.2008 at WHL every other 23 meetings was a defeat.

Spurs are going to find it very very difficult to land in the top 4 again this season.. and it could be years until they do again.

City are not trying to be another Spurs and so it demands that we become very very solid.. it may be a good while before we see the best of the eventual City team's ability to take top teams apart and although we might not like it now it is a price that simply has to be paid.

Spurs are a bunch of soppy, soft arsed, southern, cunts though, who only ever turn it on v us & could only manage that for 45 mins, so I don't think that counts.

[patrickblue]

At my first derby Stuart Pearce beat a much better and younger Manyoo side 3-1! We all know under SP the defensive side of the game was good but we couldn't pick up points because he didn't understand the attacking side of the game.

Last night was the worst football game I've ever seen at any level, not an understatement. I've seen players slice the ball a yard out from goal with an empty net in league one but at least they attacked. God forbid, If I was one of them I'd be ecstatic at picking a point off of us. They were there for the taking and we didn't even attempt to break them down, what's the point in taking to the football field if you don't even try to win the game? Hand over the points before kick-off and save everyone the trouble of watching that rubbish.

Mancini maybe scared of Manyoo and Taggart but only he can answer that one. But there is no excuse in football for standing ten yards of your man every time they had the ball. The rags didn't pass it around us like some on here have claimed we just sat back and watched them have a training session in the MANCHESTER DERBY! Manyoo played within their means (which is very restricted compared to recent years), we watched, the players should feel disgusted because they're better than that performance and Mancini should be ashamed for playing like that at HOME!

Thanks Stevo, you saved me the trouble of saying just that. Worst match I've seen too, and I was there all of that SP no goals after Christms season. As you say, there for the taking and Mancini didn't even want to try.

[CityFanFromRome]

I will get over it in a day or two, but come on, it was the derby. You play it to win, for fuck's sake. I'm gonna keep moaning a bit more, since it makes me feel better venting a bit of frustration, and boy did I build up a lot of that last night!

And regarding the underlined part: I thought we set ourselves up perfectly for a 0-1 heart break with an injury time goal from Scholes. That would've been really hard to swallow after last night's performance.

I disagree. I, for one, prefer much more to draw a derby the way we did last night than to lose it in injury time like we did more than once last season. In fact, for me, going into a derby, it's essential not to lose it. If it can be won all the better, but first worry is not to lose.

[colonel_muck]

yeah i'll take that. £550 to be bored out of my skull every other week at the expense of still very possibly finishing outside the top 4. i've never called for a manager's head before but i'm saying it now. paying fans deserve entertainment. how sad is it that the most exciting part of last night was watching united hammer us at the end and cheering clearances?

[mr_nool]

I will get over it in a day or two, but come on, it was the derby. You play it to win, for fuck's sake. I'm gonna keep moaning a bit more, since it makes me feel better venting a bit of frustration, and boy did I build up a lot of that last night!

And regarding the underlined part: I thought we set ourselves up perfectly for a 0-1 heart break with an injury time goal from Scholes. That would've been really hard to swallow after last night's performance.

I disagree. I, for one, prefer much more to draw a derby the way we did last night than to lose it in injury time like we did more than once last season. In fact, for me, going into a derby, it's essential not to lose it. If it can be won all the better, but first worry is not to lose.

First of all I think you should play all games to win, especially when you have such a strong squad as ours. I admit that I, under almost all circumstances, rather will take a draw than a loss, but I certainly do not want us set out to play for a draw. And be totally honest now, which game would you rather watch again, and which fills you with more pride, yesterday's lacklustre display or the 3-4 at the swamp last year?

[colonel_muck]

I will get over it in a day or two, but come on, it was the derby. You play it to win, for fuck's sake. I'm gonna keep moaning a bit more, since it makes me feel better venting a bit of frustration, and boy did I build up a lot of that last night!

And regarding the underlined part: I thought we set ourselves up perfectly for a 0-1 heart break with an injury time goal from Scholes. That would've been really hard to swallow after last night's performance.

I disagree. I, for one, prefer much more to draw a derby the way we did last night than to lose it in injury time like we did more than once last season. In fact, for me, going into a derby, it's essential not to lose it. If it can be won all the better, but first worry is not to lose.

i'm sorry Rome, but this mentality is wrong on so many levels and is one of many reasons we aren't moving on. still terrified of man utd when it comes down to it.

[Dameerto]

I tend to enjoy 'chess match' football, I seem to be in a minority (of one) though. We didn't control the game as we could have, but they were expecting us to take it to them and I think they had prepared for us to do that.

[saulman]

I'd like to see a poll along the lines of..........

a) I'm happy with the dull performance if it means we got a point.

b) I'd have been happy to be beaten, provided we tried to win.



Personally, I don't think Mancini had a choice last night. Despite what many people are saying, The Scum showed up last night and they looked like a decent side to me. If we'd have left ourselves exposed at the back, they would probably have scored. They have the players to damage us, as they've showed time and again....and they're unbeaten all season.
The way the game was played, It needed a moment of magic from either side to break the deadlock and sadly for us, we couldn't provide it. However, luckily for us, neither could they.

That's just the way things go sometimes. I'm happy with 4th and being 4 points clear. Anyone who isn't must be off their heads, or have very short memories. This is a work-in-progress team and we won't see the complete article for some time yet. In the meantime, if we continue to cement our place in the top four, I'll remain happy. That's regardless of how ugly the football gets.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

It's a tough choice beleive it or not, between what I'd prefer. A point like that or none in last years 4-3.

The away game is a classic, despite the result it's a game I'll remember for many years.

Yesterdays game I think I may have already forgotten.

[bluej]

Personally, I don't think Mancini had a choice last night. Despite what many people are saying, The Scum showed up last night and they looked like a decent side to me. If we'd have left ourselves exposed at the back, they would probably have scored. They have the players to damage us, as they've showed time and again....and they're unbeaten all season.
The way the game was played, It needed a moment of magic from either side to break the deadlock and sadly for us, we couldn't provide it. However, luckily for us, neither could they.

That's just the way things go sometimes. I'm happy with 4th and being 4 points clear. Anyone who isn't must be off their heads, or have very short memories. This is a work-in-progress team and we won't see the complete article for some time yet. In the meantime, if we continue to cement our place in the top four, I'll remain happy. That's regardless of how ugly the football gets.

Pretty much how I would sum it up.

And with regards to the poll, I think something was done fairly recently.

[Beefymcfc]

What about:

c. I'd be happy to play for a win, but would accept a draw.
or

d. I'd be happy to play for a win, and accept a win.

Seems that some have now set their expectations that low that they can't even post in a positive fashion, instead trying to insist there is no other choices than those that suit their debate. Come on boys, we're better than that!

Here's another loaded question then. If you were playing Top Trumps, which team would you prefer?

[center]Team Statistics

Manchester ? v Manchester ?

0 Goals 0

0 1st Half Goals 0

2 Shots on Target 3

4 Shots off Target 2

3 Blocked Shots 5

8 Corners 5

11 Fouls 12

0 Offsides 1

0 Yellow Cards 2

0 Red Cards 0

83.1 Passing Success 85.4

21 Tackles 24

61.9 Tackles Success 75

46.6 Possession 53.4

41.7 Territorial Advantage 58.3[/center]