Let's have it then...

[Alioune DVToure]

All that needs to change to see us play better is the managers defensive mentality.

Sadly it's built deep deep in him and won't be changing anytime soon, which for me will end up being Mancini's downfall.

Bobby should drop a DM and play two up top.... but he won't.

Spot on.

At this stage [highlight]he hasn't got anything to fucking lose[/highlight]. He needs to get results. No amount of shitty draws will do it anymore. We need RESULTS in fucking league.

I actually disagree with that. We're 4 points plus goals in front of Spurs, so effectively five points. They've got a game in hand, so at worst this gap could become one point plus goals (or, effectively, two points).

Basically, they need to clock up two wins more than us between now and the end of the season and have one more game in which to do it. Our target should be to go into that game against them 3 points clear, protected by our goal difference.

A draw at Liverpool, I think, would be a good result. I'm not sure we should be all-out gung ho when it's up to Spurs to catch us, not the other way around.

More positive, yes, but we're not at the stage when it's all-or-nothing. A point could be precious come May.

[Kladze]

Don't give a shit about line ups at this stage. We need to start showing some fucking courage and backbone. Fucking gutless worms. All of them.

And the manager?

During pre-season (can't remember which thread and I'm certainly not searching it out) I said that I had the impression that Mancini was planning to go with some kind of 5-3-2 formation, packing central midfield and using the full backs to supply the width. To which you responded - not word for word - "I fucking hope not, That would be a disaster in the premier league and even I would be calling for his head".

I wasn't far wrong was I?

So?

[simon12]

--------------------Hart

Richards - Kompany - Lescott - Zabaleta

----------------------NDJ

Silva ------------- YaYa/Milner ---------- Johnson

-------------Dzeko------Tevez

Fucking go for it you mard arse.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Don't give a shit about line ups at this stage. We need to start showing some fucking courage and backbone. Fucking gutless worms. All of them.

And the manager?

During pre-season (can't remember which thread and I'm certainly not searching it out) I said that I had the impression that Mancini was planning to go with some kind of 5-3-2 formation, packing central midfield and using the full backs to supply the width. To which you responded - not word for word - "I fucking hope not, That would be a disaster in the premier league and even I would be calling for his head".

I wasn't far wrong was I?

So?

You are more or less spot on about the comment I made, it is still my opinion that 5-3-2 with attacking fullbacks is fucking useless formation if you genuinely plan winning something. And I am not exactly best pleased with the way things are going right now. I thought that was pretty obvious.

It would be foolish to even consider changing managers at this crucial stage of the season BUT we will have to re-evaluate when the season is over. IF we are out of top 4 or don't win FA Cup with the football we are currently playing, he can go for all I care. If he manages to reach either of those targets then he should stay as the end result would have justified the means.

[petrov]

------------------taylor------------------
Richards--Kompany---Lescott--Zabs-
-------------------------------------------
-----------DeJong---JohnsonM---------
Etuhu------------------------------Silva
-----------Guidetti---Jo----------------

That'll teach the overpaid primadonna's who aren't trying to actually start moving there arses around the field. Cause bar the 4 i've left in the rest have being shite.

[Kladze]

Don't give a shit about line ups at this stage. We need to start showing some fucking courage and backbone. Fucking gutless worms. All of them.

And the manager?

During pre-season (can't remember which thread and I'm certainly not searching it out) I said that I had the impression that Mancini was planning to go with some kind of 5-3-2 formation, packing central midfield and using the full backs to supply the width. To which you responded - not word for word - "I fucking hope not, That would be a disaster in the premier league and even I would be calling for his head".

I wasn't far wrong was I?

So?

You are more or less spot on about the comment I made, it is still my opinion that 5-3-2 with attacking fullbacks is fucking useless formation if you genuinely plan winning something. And I am not exactly best pleased with the way things are going right now. I thought that was pretty obvious.

It would be foolish to even consider changing managers at this crucial stage of the season BUT we will have to re-evaluate when the season is over. IF we are out of top 4 or don't win FA Cup with the football we are currently playing, he can go for all I care. If he manages to reach either of those targets then he should stay as the end result would have justified the means.

Big of you to 'own up' mate :-)

And I agree that it would be daft to sack him now, though I disagree that should he achieve one or both of those targets that we should definitely keep him. The end doesn't justify the means in my book because I feel totally sure that he'd then continue to use the same means next season. It doesn't even bear thinking about.

[Arjan Van Schotte]

versus sunderland... i would go like this:

--------------------------Hart-----------------------------

Richards---Kompany-----Lescott------zabba/barry

milner--------- silva-------de jong-----johnson

-----------------tevez---------------------------------

----------------------------dzeko----------------------

silva alternating with milner where appropriate. we'd fuckin kill em.

[Wooders]

I agree with slim - there are a lot of square pegs in round holes in our squad - the reason why bobby is failing is because he rigidly sticks to his system, and crams players in to play around it -
yaya = not a creative midfielder
balla = not a left winger
Johnno = not a natural right winger
tevez = not a natural front man
dzeko = not a second striker behind tevez

[bigblue]

When I become manager in a few months, this'll be the lineup next season:

------------------------Hart------------------------

--------Richards----Kompany----Lescott---------

----------------De Jong--------Yaya---------------

Silva-------------------Milner-------------Johnson

-------------Tevez--------------Dzeko-------------

Have narrow a back 3 of smart athletes, with De Jong and Yaya protecting them. Yaya pushes forward more than De Jong but still hold back to prevent him from dying 30 mins into the game. Silva and Johnson on their proper sides to get crosses in and stretch the field wide (more room for people in the middle). Milner playing box-to-box but can also interchange with Silva and Johnson. Tevez and Dzeko play little man-big man up top.

Stick people where they know to play and set our team up to the strengths of our players. Keep a steady system so our players always know what to do, while allowing for improvisation to confuse opponents. You can see how this 3-5-2 could easily become a 3-3-1 (milner and tevez dropping back) or a 3-4-3 (yaya and silva/johnson pushing forward).

Unbeatable

[Bridge'srightfoot]

You know what we need? 2 shit hot wingers, playing on the correct wings with plenty of pace. A right footer on the right wing, left footer on left wing.
Never mind this 8 defensive midfielder shit, get some fucking wingers. Nani and Bale spring to mind.

[Slim]

You know what we need? 2 shit hot wingers, playing on the correct wings with plenty of pace. A right footer on the right wing, left footer on left wing.
Never mind this 8 defensive midfielder shit, get some fucking wingers. Sanchez and Bale spring to mind.

Fixed your post, you're welcome.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

You know what we need? 2 shit hot wingers, playing on the correct wings with plenty of pace. A right footer on the right wing, left footer on left wing.
Never mind this 8 defensive midfielder shit, get some fucking wingers. Sanchez and Bale spring to mind.

Fixed your post, you're welcome.

Doesn't matter who they are as long as they have fukloads of pace and stick to the touchline. Someone exactly like Petrov, although not him, just someone like that.
Even Matt Jarvis looks bloody tasty comapred to what we have at the moment. Wouldn't cost too much either.

[Slim]

You know what we need? 2 shit hot wingers, playing on the correct wings with plenty of pace. A right footer on the right wing, left footer on left wing.
Never mind this 8 defensive midfielder shit, get some fucking wingers. Sanchez and Bale spring to mind.

Fixed your post, you're welcome.

Doesn't matter who they are as long as they have fukloads of pace and stick to the touchline. Someone exactly like Petrov, although not him, just someone like that.
Even Matt Jarvis looks bloody tasty comapred to what we have at the moment. Wouldn't cost too much either.

When your first choice is Nani, it matters.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

When Petrov is considered it also matters!

[CityFanFromRome]

I think we need to decide which style of play we want to introduce with the wingers. Do we want the traditional winger who goes down the touchline and whips crosses in, or do we want someone who cuts inside and is a goalscoring threat, like the two wingers of Barcelona are, and in a way those of Arsenal too?

Once this is decided then we can choose the players. In the first case we need a left footer on the left and a right footer on the right, in the second case we need a right footer on the left and a left footer on the right. Look at Nani, he plays on the right but he often cuts inside and shoots with his left foot, and the same does Messi for Barcelona.

The ideal would be someone who's almost equally good with both feet so he could either cross or cut inside, making his game less predictable.

[Dubaimancityfan]

When Petrov is considered it also matters!

I miss Petrov !

[Avalon]

I think we need to decide which style of play we want to introduce with the wingers. Do we want the traditional winger who goes down the touchline and whips crosses in, or do we want someone who cuts inside and is a goalscoring threat, like the two wingers of Barcelona are, and in a way those of Arsenal too?

Once this is decided then we can choose the players. In the first case we need a left footer on the left and a right footer on the right, in the second case we need a right footer on the left and a left footer on the right. Look at Nani, he plays on the right but he often cuts inside and shoots with his left foot, and the same does Messi for Barcelona.

The ideal would be someone who's almost equally good with both feet so he could either cross or cut inside, making his game less predictable.

Players like that are rare, unfortunately. However, there's players like Andres Guardado, Jose Manuel Vargas, Bale, Alexis Sanchez, Neymar, Witsel, Lennon and Gervinho. So, there's plenty of players to choose from. Either way, wingers cutting inside can still whip the ball into the box for players to park their foot against, or can even square the ball for a charging midfielder to torpedo the ball at goal.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

You know what we need? 2 shit hot wingers, playing on the correct wings with plenty of pace. A right footer on the right wing, left footer on left wing.
Never mind this 8 defensive midfielder shit, get some fucking wingers. Sanchez and Bale spring to mind.

Fixed your post, you're welcome.

Doesn't matter who they are as long as they have fukloads of pace and stick to the touchline. Someone exactly like Petrov, although not him, just someone like that.
Even Matt Jarvis looks bloody tasty comapred to what we have at the moment. Wouldn't cost too much either.

When your first choice is Nani, it matters.

Nani is a brilliant, brilliant player. He's a rag, he's a cunt and an utter twat but the same could of been said about Tevez. His pace, delivery and goal getting have been top class this season and he is far and beyond any wingers we currently have. Not saying sign him but someone with similar attributes.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

When Petrov is considered it also matters!

Petrov was fantastic for us first season. Amazingly gifted player.

[Solihull Blue]

Agree with all the thoughts on 3 defensive midfielders. When are we going to wake up to the fact that we will only succeed playing a style suited to the Prem not Serie A. We bought Djecko to get on the end of crosses so lets play a team capable of getting of doing that and this means playing wide with pace and getting behind the full backs and playing everything through the middle. Also whoever suggested playing Mario again needs to be taken away in the yellow van-we are going to win nothing with Mario on the park!