Mancini - 50 Not Out

[ashton287]

I think since the start of the season peoples expectations have risen. I was happy with the prospect of fourth and a decent europa run. As far as im concerned we are on track for what in my life time is the best season i have ever seen so its better then decent.

I dont see why if were third right now and looking well in the cups its only decent. I thought getting europa last year was decent and CL would of been amazing. Doesnt matter who we sign or who manages us none of its gauranteed and we shouldnt act like it doesnt mean anything or its not good enough for us.

[blue wine]

Wouldnt want any other manager in the world at the moment. Perfect for us and most of our squad have become better players under him and seems to get the best out of them.

[Ted Hughes]

I think since the start of the season peoples expectations have risen. I was happy with the prospect of fourth and a decent europa run. As far as im concerned we are on track for what in my life time is the best season i have ever seen so its better then decent.

I dont see why if were third right now and looking well in the cups its only decent. I thought getting europa last year was decent and CL would of been amazing. Doesnt matter who we sign or who manages us none of its gauranteed and we shouldnt act like it doesnt mean anything or its not good enough for us.

If we finish top 4 or win a trophy, I will be delighted. I would be equally delighted if Neil Warnock got us top 4 & won a trophy & I recon he'd have a very good chance with this squad but I wouldn't think he was a genius for achieving it.

I'm probaly one of the few people on here who won't automatically be calling for Bob's head if we come fifth & win fuck all. I'll judge it as I see it & if I think we're going in the right direction, I'd rather keep him. If we miss our targets down to 'tiredness' though he can fuck off imo as it will be entirely his fault. He's let five players go on loan who could all have done jobs against lesser teams while he rested players.

[blues2win]

I entirely agree that Mancini should shut up about tiredness and it's no excuse. The question though is are some of the players fatigued and is that affecting their performance? Our performance in the second half yesterday was such utter dogshite and we seemed pushed so deep that it's hard to argue that tiredness wasn't a factor. The other possibility is nerves, I suppose, but these are multi capped internationals who have played at the highest level.

Mancini's other moan is that with injuries the squad is too small and he can't freshen things up as he needs to. Two points here. First, Mancini can't expect to go through the season without quite a few injuries; it's part of his job to cope. Second, did the Club use the January close season as well as it might have done? I can't criticise Sheikh Mansour who's been absolutely terrific for us. If he decided to close the cheque book then fair enough. However, if Marwood and Cooke said no to Mancini or if he didn't ask for more strengthening then that's another question. For my money we needed a pacy wide right foooted player who could come on against tiring sides and really get the fans going. If he was two footed all the better since he could then play on both sides.( I'm sorry but SWP isn't that player any more). Pretty everyone on this site says the same thing. Not enough pace. I can't believe Mancini can't see it so why wasn't something done about it?

As I type this Spurs are 2-3 up. We're in for the fight of our lives to stay into the top four. Any more performances like yesterday's in the second half and we won't make it.

[Ted Hughes]

I entirely agree that Mancini should shut up about tiredness and it's no excuse. The question though is are some of the players fatigued and is that affecting their performance? Our performance in the second half yesterday was such utter dogshite and we seemed pushed so deep that it's hard to argue that tiredness wasn't a factor. The other possibility is nerves, I suppose, but these are multi capped internationals who have played at the highest level.

Mancini's other moan is that with injuries the squad is too small and he can't freshen things up as he needs to. Two points here. First, Mancini can't expect to go through the season without quite a few injuries; it's part of his job to cope. Second, did the Club use the January close season as well as it might have done? I can't criticise Sheikh Mansour who's been absolutely terrific for us. If he decided to close the cheque book then fair enough. However, if Marwood and Cooke said no to Mancini or if he didn't ask for more strengthening then that's another question. For my money we needed a pacy wide right foooted player who could come on against tiring sides and really get the fans going. If he was two footed all the better since he could then play on both sides.( I'm sorry but SWP isn't that player any more). Pretty everyone on this site says the same thing. Not enough pace. I can't believe Mancini can't see it so why wasn't something done about it?

As I type this Spurs are 2-3 up. We're in for the fight of our lives to stay into the top four. Any more performances like yesterday's in the second half and we won't make it.

In view of the late equaliser by Wolves, that last minute miss by Wigan could be one of those rare occasions when luck favours us & perhaps for once, it could have just tipped the scales in our favour.

[Fesan]

Wouldnt want any other manager in the world at the moment. Perfect for us and most of our squad have become better players under him and seems to get the best out of them.

I'll give him this: He has done miracles with Micah and Lescott!

[Crossie]

Kompany, Lescott, Richards, DeJong, Tevez, Silva, Hart, Zaba, have all flurished under Mancini.

No one will know how those players would have done for Hughes.

Agreed about the jan window, we shipped out dead wood, which is fine, but we didnt replace. 3 or 4 injuries and suddenly Vieira is a mainstay!!

[the_georgian_genius]

Can anyone compare him with the first 50 games of Mourinho, Ferguson, Ancellotti, Wenger in the league? Would be interesting.

[Ted Hughes]

Can anyone compare him with the first 50 games of Mourinho, Ferguson, Ancellotti, Wenger in the league? Would be interesting.

Ferguson's circumstances were very different as he had a complete rebuiling job to do wheras the others took over sides that were used to competing & winning at the top level, so it would be difficult to learn much either way from comparisons.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Can anyone compare him with the first 50 games of Mourinho, Ferguson, Ancellotti, Wenger in the league? Would be interesting.

To be fair mate, those are different circumstances.

Though of course both Jose and Ancelotti, the only two you could realistically compare him to, won titles in their first 38 games as managers with a 2.5 & 2.25 ppg total respectively.

As many people have said these stats could be worked to deliver whatever message you want, a case of the narrative fitting the plot. I'd still say that the main tag-line is that, overall, Mancini could be doing better.

[DoomMerchant]

If it remains so then it will be a decent but not spectacular season as far as the league goes. 'Decent but not specatacular' would be a reasonable description of his tenure so far. I think he MAY have been an improvement on Hughes but so far, it's very very close & there isn't a conclusive argument for either. I'm not sure we wouldn't be further down the line now if we'd never brought him in but equally, I have hopes that in the end he'll take us further than Hughes would have been able to & build a more solid team.

I have a big problem with this 'tired' crap though. It's very negative & is giving an excuse for failure. If 'tiredness' is allowed to ruin our season, I want him out. Everyone else has the same problems every year & we've had the time & money to sort it. If he can't plan for it & deal with it, he's not good enough.

i honestly think the "tired" argument is just his attempt at deflection -- for both the players, and him personally.

he's a boiling frog at City...anyone will be, but i like his style in terms of handling it. Usually a smile, some feigned lack of understanding English at just the right time, and some bullshit.

I don't know any manager worth their salt who was trying to build his side and getting some shit results that would do anything differently. Jose is an expert at making the conversation anything but about the football when the job dictates it.

all in all i think Roberto is on the right path.

Also, wrt the Jan transfer window...i'm sure part of our lack of replacements had to do with the asking prices. Mancini probably doesn't make the final decisions on whether the price is right. I'm sure it's Marwood. Don't you think?

I'm cautiously optimistic for City under Mancini. i quite like him personally and hope he's the fuclin man.

cheers

[ant london]

i honestly think the "tired" argument is just his attempt at deflection -- for both the players, and him personally.

he's a boiling frog at City...anyone will be, but i like his style in terms of handling it. Usually a smile, some feigned lack of understanding English at just the right time, and some bullshit.

I don't know any manager worth their salt who was trying to build his side and getting some shit results that would do anything differently. Jose is an expert at making the conversation anything but about the football when the job dictates it.

I'm cautiously optimistic for City under Mancini. i quite like him personally and hope he's the fuclin man.

cheers

Whilst I understand the frustration of quite a few of you at the "tired" comments by Mancini I agree fully with Doom as to what game he is really playing.

I like his patter though and you can tell his a sneaky little humourous cunt.

I love the bit at the beginning of this interview (post Villa) where he is asked...."so Roberto, that all seemed to go to plan" and he replies..."Our plan?......Yes I think so" with a little fucking chuckle to himself. He's a class act

http://mcfc.co.uk/Video/Interviews/City-v-Villa-Mancini-reaction

He's not pulled up any real spectacular trees along the way this season but he's done a pretty bloody solid job. The league has been a funny old one this year (in a good way for fans) which is borne out by the fact that I'd say that it is very likely that 40 points will not keep teams up this year. Lots of big noses have been bloodied along the way by "lesser" teams and this, combined with the inability of the top 6 or so teams (us included) has led to a sitation where no team at the top has had a barnstorming season.

In that relief I think Mancini has done a good job. We could (and should) have done better but that applies to our rivals also.

I think he's the man for the job and I genuinely hope that faith is borne out.

[BobKowalski]

i honestly think the "tired" argument is just his attempt at deflection -- for both the players, and him personally.

he's a boiling frog at City...anyone will be, but i like his style in terms of handling it. Usually a smile, some feigned lack of understanding English at just the right time, and some bullshit.

I don't know any manager worth their salt who was trying to build his side and getting some shit results that would do anything differently. Jose is an expert at making the conversation anything but about the football when the job dictates it.

I'm cautiously optimistic for City under Mancini. i quite like him personally and hope he's the fuclin man.

cheers

Whilst I understand the frustration of quite a few of you at the "tired" comments by Mancini I agree fully with Doom as to what game he is really playing.

I like his patter though and you can tell his a sneaky little humourous cunt.

I love the bit at the beginning of this interview (post Villa) where he is asked...."so Roberto, that all seemed to go to plan" and he replies..."Our plan?......Yes I think so" with a little fucking chuckle to himself. He's a class act

http://mcfc.co.uk/Video/Interviews/City-v-Villa-Mancini-reaction

He's not pulled up any real spectacular trees along the way this season but he's done a pretty bloody solid job. The league has been a funny old one this year (in a good way for fans) which is borne out by the fact that I'd say that it is very likely that 40 points will not keep teams up this year. Lots of big noses have been bloodied along the way by "lesser" teams and this, combined with the inability of the top 6 or so teams (us included) has led to a sitation where no team at the top has had a barnstorming season.

In that relief I think Mancini has done a good job. We could (and should) have done better but that applies to our rivals also.

I think he's the man for the job and I genuinely hope that faith is borne out.

Fair comment(s)

[bluej]

i honestly think the "tired" argument is just his attempt at deflection -- for both the players, and him personally.

he's a boiling frog at City...anyone will be, but i like his style in terms of handling it. Usually a smile, some feigned lack of understanding English at just the right time, and some bullshit.

I don't know any manager worth their salt who was trying to build his side and getting some shit results that would do anything differently. Jose is an expert at making the conversation anything but about the football when the job dictates it.

I'm cautiously optimistic for City under Mancini. i quite like him personally and hope he's the fuclin man.

cheers

Whilst I understand the frustration of quite a few of you at the "tired" comments by Mancini I agree fully with Doom as to what game he is really playing.

I like his patter though and you can tell his a sneaky little humourous cunt.

I love the bit at the beginning of this interview (post Villa) where he is asked...."so Roberto, that all seemed to go to plan" and he replies..."Our plan?......Yes I think so" with a little fucking chuckle to himself. He's a class act

http://mcfc.co.uk/Video/Interviews/City-v-Villa-Mancini-reaction

He's not pulled up any real spectacular trees along the way this season but he's done a pretty bloody solid job. The league has been a funny old one this year (in a good way for fans) which is borne out by the fact that I'd say that it is very likely that 40 points will not keep teams up this year. Lots of big noses have been bloodied along the way by "lesser" teams and this, combined with the inability of the top 6 or so teams (us included) has led to a sitation where no team at the top has had a barnstorming season.

In that relief I think Mancini has done a good job. We could (and should) have done better but that applies to our rivals also.

I think he's the man for the job and I genuinely hope that faith is borne out.

Think this pretty sums up how I feel as well.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

if his constant reference to being "tired" is........ I honestly think the "tired" argument is just his attempt at deflection -- for both the players, and him personally. Then I think he is getting it wrong. It seems to me the players are believing they are tired and it is showing in the performances more and more.


I would ask though if it is an attempt at deflection, what exactly is it deflecting from?

[Ted Hughes]

Andy Gray has just said on the radio that City won't get much sympathy from the rest of the country for having tired players seeing as we're the richest club in the world & that he 'hates' managers talking about their players being tired as sometimes they start to believe it.

Agree with him 100%.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Andy Gray has just said on the radio that City won't get much sympathy from the rest of the country for having tired players seeing as we're the richest club in the world & that he 'hates' managers talking about their players being tired as sometimes they start to believe it.

Agree with him 100%.

Exactly. Plus we havent really had that many injuries plus we have a small squad more by choise than anything else.

[Chinners]

It's a sad state of affairs when even Andy Gray gets held up as a beacon of knowledge

[Ted Hughes]

Andy Gray has just said on the radio that City won't get much sympathy from the rest of the country for having tired players seeing as we're the richest club in the world & that he 'hates' managers talking about their players being tired as sometimes they start to believe it.

Agree with him 100%.

Exactly. Plus we havent really had that many injuries plus we have a small squad more by choise than anything else.

That's what I'm wondering about. Since summer, I've been slating Bob because he was inviting this situation. Letting Bellamy go is one of the worst managerial decisions I've ever known & that's saying something by City standards. Then not buying a like for like replacement for him or the other attacking players we've lost, so effectively we were relying on Balotelli (nutcase) Ade (nutcase) RSC (crock) Tevez & AJ with struggling SWP as our full set of out & out attackers.

I've said all along it's inviting trouble but as we reached the winter window, I thought we'd got away with it. Then we got rid of RSC & Ade & brought in only Dzeko, this after Tevez throws a wobbler. So then we have untried Dzeko, unsettled Tevez & nutcase Balo as our strikers with AJ & out of form SWP, AJ gets crocked.

This imo is some of the worst managerial planning I've ever witnessed anywhere. It's diabolical. It's close to complete incompetence. My question is: is it down to Bob?

I'm just wondering if the whole business, going back to Bellamy, is down to Cook & Marwood limiting Bobs options to 'either/or' & whether Bob's comments now about lack of players are aimed for their ears?

[Ted Hughes]

It's a sad state of affairs when even Andy Gray gets held up as a beacon of knowledge

I should imagine most other ex title winning pro footballers would say the same.