Same old?

[trueblue64]

Excuses.........

Roberto Mancini felt his Manchester City side ran out of legs during a 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea.

Sunday's setback at Stamford Bridge saw City slip below their weekend opponents, into fourth spot in the Premier League standings.

A disappointing result in the capital also came on the back of Thursday's Europa League exit to Dynamo Kiev.
Mancini believes that game took its toll on his players, with there nothing left in the tank as they battled in vain to keep Chelsea at bay.

"I thought we played a good game, when you think that two days ago we played a game against Kiev," he told Sky Sports.

"We played poorly in the last 20-25 minutes, we were so tired, but we were ready to make changes when we conceded a goal."

City's efforts were dealt a devastating blow prior to kick-off when talismanic skipper Carlos Tevez failed a fitness test.

Firepower

Mancini's men posed little threat without their Argentine leader, but the Italian tactician insists he has the necessary firepower at his disposal to remain competitive.

He added: "Carlos is a good player, but so is [Edin] Dzeko and [Mario] Balotelli.

"I think for 70 minutes it was normal that Chelsea have more of the ball. We didn't concede anything up until that moment. Then we conceded the goal and everything changed."

City now face a scrap to cling on to their top-four standing, with Tottenham only four points back with a game in hand.

On what his side need to do during the run-in, Mancini said: "I think that after yesterday's results, today was an important game for us. If we had won this game or got a draw, that would have been fantastic.

"Now, nothing has changed at this moment. We have eight games until the end and it is important for us to recover all of our players. We don't have the Europa League anymore, so maybe we can do well in the last eight games."

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Damn I forgot that.

[trueblue64]

Well we have 2 weeks off now I think, so time to recharge the batteries....

[failsworthblue]

Excuses.........

Roberto Mancini felt his Manchester City side ran out of legs during a 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea.

Sunday's setback at Stamford Bridge saw City slip below their weekend opponents, into fourth spot in the Premier League standings.

A disappointing result in the capital also came on the back of Thursday's Europa League exit to Dynamo Kiev.
Mancini believes that game took its toll on his players, with there nothing left in the tank as they battled in vain to keep Chelsea at bay.

"I thought we played a good game, when you think that two days ago we played a game against Kiev," he told Sky Sports.

"We played poorly in the last 20-25 minutes, we were so tired, but we were ready to make changes when we conceded a goal."

City's efforts were dealt a devastating blow prior to kick-off when talismanic skipper Carlos Tevez failed a fitness test.

Firepower

Mancini's men posed little threat without their Argentine leader, but the Italian tactician insists he has the necessary firepower at his disposal to remain competitive.

He added: "Carlos is a good player, but so is [Edin] Dzeko and [Mario] Balotelli.

"I think for 70 minutes it was normal that Chelsea have more of the ball. We didn't concede anything up until that moment. Then we conceded the goal and everything changed."

City now face a scrap to cling on to their top-four standing, with Tottenham only four points back with a game in hand.

On what his side need to do during the run-in, Mancini said: "I think that after yesterday's results, today was an important game for us. If we had won this game or got a draw, that would have been fantastic.

"Now, nothing has changed at this moment. We have eight games until the end and it is important for us to recover all of our players. We don't have the Europa League anymore, so maybe we can do well in the last eight games."

Barcelona don,t look tired and they play with the same players every week.

Piss poor excuse and if you say it enough the players will believe it.

I will go with piss poor team selection, a manager who is really struggling and the pressure is building.

[BlueinBosnia]

Does anyone else reckon that

"Now, nothing has changed at this moment. We have eight games until the end and it is important for us to recover all of our players. We don't have the Europa League anymore, so maybe we can do well in the last eight games."

will become

"Now, nothing has changed at this moment. We have five games until the end and it is important for us to recover all of our players. We don't have the FA Cup anymore, so maybe we can do well in the last five games."

?

[Ted Hughes]

So answer this one Bob: If the players were tired & you knew it, why, when Drogba & Anelka came on with fresh legs, did you do nothing?

Perhaps some of Bob's family & P.R. people on here can explain that one to me.

[Original Dub]

Bollox bollox and more bollox.

For fuck sake we played Kiev three days ago not two for starters.

[paulmclaren]

He's on 4 million a fucking year.
He'll get a handsome payout if remove.
If that's what you call pressure then you are wrong.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

The word old made me think of David Weir at Rangers. How old is he,does he get tired? I think he gets picked as long as he is fit and today was no doubt a hero in a Cup Final victory! Tired my arse.

[david yearsley]

The word old made me think of David Weir at Rangers. How old is he,does he get tired? I think he gets picked as long as he is fit and today was no doubt a hero in a Cup Final victory! Tired my arse.

Correct - excuses are wearing very thin - he knows he´s on thin ice . Can´t get the word Rafa out of my head - can´t think why?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

The word old made me think of David Weir at Rangers. How old is he,does he get tired? I think he gets picked as long as he is fit and today was no doubt a hero in a Cup Final victory! Tired my arse.

Correct - excuses are wearing very thin - he knows he´s on thin ice . Can´t get the word Rafa out of my head - can´t think why?

Try harder

[Lev Bronstein]

Excuses.........

Roberto Mancini felt his Manchester City side ran out of legs during a 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea.

Sunday's setback at Stamford Bridge saw City slip below their weekend opponents, into fourth spot in the Premier League standings.

A disappointing result in the capital also came on the back of Thursday's Europa League exit to Dynamo Kiev.
Mancini believes that game took its toll on his players, with there nothing left in the tank as they battled in vain to keep Chelsea at bay.

"I thought we played a good game, when you think that two days ago we played a game against Kiev," he told Sky Sports.

"We played poorly in the last 20-25 minutes, we were so tired, but we were ready to make changes when we conceded a goal."

City's efforts were dealt a devastating blow prior to kick-off when talismanic skipper Carlos Tevez failed a fitness test.

Firepower

Mancini's men posed little threat without their Argentine leader, but the Italian tactician insists he has the necessary firepower at his disposal to remain competitive.

He added: "Carlos is a good player, but so is [Edin] Dzeko and [Mario] Balotelli.

"I think for 70 minutes it was normal that Chelsea have more of the ball. We didn't concede anything up until that moment. Then we conceded the goal and everything changed."

City now face a scrap to cling on to their top-four standing, with Tottenham only four points back with a game in hand.

On what his side need to do during the run-in, Mancini said: "I think that after yesterday's results, today was an important game for us. If we had won this game or got a draw, that would have been fantastic.

"Now, nothing has changed at this moment. We have eight games until the end and it is important for us to recover all of our players. We don't have the Europa League anymore, so maybe we can do well in the last eight games."

Barcelona don,t look tired and they play with the same players every week.

Piss poor excuse and if you say it enough the players will believe it.

I will go with piss poor team selection, a manager who is really struggling and the pressure is building.

Actually, Barca are looking tired.

Surely if you expect to do well, then you must also expect to play every 3 days. Would the fitness coach step forward and explain

[MaineRoadMemories]

That is his biggest downfall with the "tired - playing 3 games a week" excuse. To be successful you need to play 3 games a week at this stage of the season. Is he admitting that he cannot cope with success? I'm sure he isn't but it leaves him wide open for attack and leaves his bosses thinking he cannot cope with the amount of games a successful team has to play.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Well we have 2 weeks off now I think, so time to recharge the batteries....

Not really a most players will go to their home countries and play 2 internationals next week. Only Tevez is guaranteed to sit this one out. I don't know if AJ and Milner will be picked for England.
So really not much of a rest for most of our players.

[halnone]

It is a legitimate excuse this time. We played a game just 4 days with 10 men ffs.
This is the last time I will accept this excuse however. Now that we aren't in Europa we should have more energy. If we don't, I'm blaming Mancini.

[Bluez]

Its probably why Chelsea looked so fresh, they didn't have a midweek game.
Oh hang on...

[Ted Hughes]

It is a legitimate excuse this time. We played a game just 4 days with 10 men ffs.
This is the last time I will accept this excuse however. Now that we aren't in Europa we should have more energy. If we don't, I'm blaming Mancini.

So when the team is tired, any team, & the opposing manager makes two changes late on, what does the manager of the 'tired' team do? Any manager, anywhere? What does Mourinho for example do in those circumstances, or Ferguson?

[9secondlegend]

So answer this one Bob: If the players were tired & you knew it, why, when Drogba & Anelka came on with fresh legs, did you do nothing?

Perhaps some of Bob's family & P.R. people on here can explain that one to me.

no one can
fact 1: we are not good enough
fact 2: chelsea,utd,arsenal have played equally as much games as us but do they complain? do they send some of there best players out on loan (bellend,adebayor)

i have stuck up for mancini against the doubters but , today again , we have proved we are not big time. fact.






i fucking hate facts

[Goaters 103]

The seasons on a tightrope.

We could finish top 4 and win the FA Cup - that would allow me to die happy, and Mancini to have a hallowed place in City history.

Then again we could again lose to Man U in a semi and finish 5th having spent a gazillion, to finish right backwhere we were 12 months ago, in the same position at which point Mancini would be a goner. Fine margins.

Hopefully we have 10 games left, and can win the two FA Cup ones. If we win our four homes, and at Blackburn, perfectly possible, it takes us to 68 points and would force Spurs wo win 7 of their last 8 games (not including City) which features trips to Anfield, Stamford Bridge and at home to Arsenal. So there you go, win our four homes and win at Blackburn and its well in our hands.

[Mike J]

its bullshit. excuses from a man that imo is on very thin ice indeed. even if we scrape 4th (which for the record i think we will fuck up again) im not sure i even want him here. so sick on tired of pathetic performances and even worse excuses.