Another Rodney Marsh Moment?

[john@staustell]

Slightly more senior members will remember when a City team flying toward the league title signed the extra superstar (1972?) and then it all went tits up as the team's quick, fluid style was disrupted.

Is it possible to suggest that mostly plunging Dzeko straight into the side has disrupted a team that was doing pretty well? Tevez thrives on being the focal front point of the attack, and things seem to be going a little awry right now.

Sure everyone is knackered or injured, but could this be a factor, and if so will Bobby address it? Or maybe we are just playing like this with the only fit players?

[john68]

An interesting point John and one that I have discussed a couple of times with knowledgeable mates.
My thoughts are that previously, as a lone striker, Tevez had all the space in front of him to use, make his runs, carry the ball through etc. Now with Dzeko alongside he has less space to operate and his options are diminished. I thought I saw signs recently where the two of them seemed to be gelling but that needs to happen much more.
My mate, reckons that he would not use Dzeko in the league games to solve this problem and considers there are enough cup games to give Dzeko game time.

On the Rodney marsh thing, the problem there was the speed that we went from defence to attack. Usually out of defence, wide onto the wings and chuck a cross in to the forwards. that strategy worked well for us. Marsh was a ball player and an entertainer. he would hold the ball up, do his tricks (which being honest, we loved) and stop the swift attack dead in its tracks.

[dazby]

Someone been listening to blue Tuesday. I think our problems are well before tevez or dzeko get on the ball.

[kinkylola]

i think part of our problems are just that carlos is a bit out of form at the moment, meaning the effort is still there but the final product is a bit off ... and he never gives up the ball when he should. It's not a problem when he smashes it in the net, but when he doesn't it raises a few more eyebrows.

I also agree that dzeko should not be thrown in straight away ... a completely different type of player than we've had at city in a long time, and we are not set up to accommodate that yet. I agree that dzeko would be better off played in the euro games and cup games, with balotelli being preferred in the prem for now. Next season, we'll have to wait and see

[john@staustell]

Someone been listening to blue Tuesday. I think our problems are well before tevez or dzeko get on the ball.

No I haven't mate. Just seems an obvious possibility. If Tevez scores 2 or 3 out of nothing, we win, if he's not in a position to do that, we dont.

[dazby]

Someone been listening to blue Tuesday. I think our problems are well before tevez or dzeko get on the ball.

No I haven't mate. Just seems an obvious possibility. If Tevez scores 2 or 3 out of nothing, we win, if he's not in a position to do that, we dont.

did you know John that one of your comments got read out on blue Tuesday last week? I think it was about our defensive set up.

[Biamp]

Dzeko is a great player, nevertheless he needs time to settle in. Dezko and Tevez would make a great partnership upfront. Tevez has been missing the last few games, regardless if he's playing as alone striker or not. Dzeko needs games at the moment to settle in quicker, so I wouldn't take him off, and I would rather play him with Tevez so they can gel quicker. Regarding the point to restrict him to just playing in cup games, I see it as a pointless thing. He's a new player and given time he'll become a great hit for City.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Carlito just looks like he is trying too hard to do to much at the moment. Especially at The Swamp.

[kinkylola]

i d'nt think anyone is saying different biamp ... but thrusting him into a team that is not used to him and expecting to challenge for top 4 at the tail end of a season is asking a bit much of him, and of the team ... if he played all cup games and all euro games ... firstly I think it would help his adaptation to the team, secondly I think it would put his confidence up to a point where in our last few games he could really do some damage to opponents. Right now he is learning as he goes, and that's great experience ... but it can be damaging to confidence, and being a striker is so much about confidence at the top level, it needs to be managed carefully.

[ant london]

If you put Dzeko AND Balotelli into the side and take away Nigel and Silva then I think it would be a fucking miracle if things weren't pretty significantly destablised from a playing perspective.

One of the few players who makes things happen through the middle is Yaya and whilst Nigel has been out he has been pinned back "holding/tackling" which he a) doesn't do as well as NdJ and b) means he cannot maraud through the middle and create space/chaos/opportunity.

Add that to a lack of AJ on the flank and...well....I don't think this is down to introducing Dzeko alone.

So no this is not another Rodney moment

[john@staustell]

Someone been listening to blue Tuesday. I think our problems are well before tevez or dzeko get on the ball.

No I haven't mate. Just seems an obvious possibility. If Tevez scores 2 or 3 out of nothing, we win, if he's not in a position to do that, we dont.

did you know John that one of your comments got read out on blue Tuesday last week? I think it was about our defensive set up.

No, didn't know anything about it. Wonder what I said!

[Renato_CTID]

I disagree with you, John, because I think we're actually very unlucky that de Jong is injuried just when Edin is coming in our squad. Our midfield needs so much the Dutch and our strikers too!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I think it could well be a similar situation.I just don't see a game where the 3 should/could play together unless the opposition are very weak.I do think Tevez is a bit off form but what John says is right about Tevez not having the space he has got used to.Unfortunately I also think Tevez isn't that happy about the set up recently.

Does Mancini really think he HAS to play all 3 if they are fit? The balance has been all wrong when they are together and I hope he chooses just 2 for tonight and if Yaya plays he is also given a freer role to get up with and beyond the strikers.

[Ted Hughes]

I agree mainly with Ant that losing Yaya as an attacking player has had an effect. Balotelli has scored a great goal but not done much else to effect the play, wheras Yaya tends to retain possession in attacking areas. Then, when playing with Dzeko, I also think that Tevez has lost a little bit of his effectiveness purely because he's trying to do a slightly different job & therefore isn't operating quite so much in the areas where he's been at his most dangerous.

The big weakness though is lack of a wide player (& we lacked a creator too on Sun). Balotelli so far shows no instinct to play wide, the fullbacks produce nothing & Dzeko is only being used to half his effectiveness when he gets one decent cross per 2 games compared to 5/6 per game at Wolfsberg. Tevez would feed off his touches if we weren't completely shit & slow at delivering the ball.