brite blu sky wrote:No problem with Mancini at all and will back him to the hilt at the moment.
When he subbed Dzeko and the commentator says oh that's odd, I turned to my mate and said it means that he will bring Tevez on and is shoring up the midfield first. Exactly what he said post match. If you have been watching carefully he has done the same thing 3 times this season now. For me that shows a great insight into Mancini's thinking... ie. planning ahead with care. He is aware that the change of a striker isolated up front will make less impact while the midfield is struggling than if some parity has been restored.
He knows the value of a solid base and knows which way round is more likely to bring results.
When he came in and did all the boring stuff after Hughes it wasn't clear what he was about, but over the course of last season he showed exactly that he had a plan to solidify the team from defence to midfield and then on to the attack. He stuck with that plan when fans were moaning and got the team to show they could hold the midfield away from home at the best teams grounds.
Things that have got in the way imo have been players not doing what they are told to do, or unable to... read Adebayor, Jo.
With all the players brought in it is no easy feat getting a style of play and discipline sorted while trying to achieve something and learn about the Prem as well.
For me there is little doubt that Mancini is a cut above your average manager, he looks like he has a clear and detailed plan that he will push to realise as and when practicalities allow. If given the time and support I really have no doubt he will turn the squad into a team that rarely loses a game and has a mentality that backs that up.
The new players in this summer were always going to distort the balance while they find the roles and communication with the others already here that eez normaaal! What appears to have happened so far though is that the balance has gone too far towards creative play and a loss of discipline has crept in. Mancini is obviously aware of this and has said so on numerous occassions already, he doesn't appear to have found a way of sorting it though and Yaya and Barry combo just lacks the communication required for a top class watertight outfit.
Is that why Bob was asking for another proper midfielder?
DeJong is the answer, but isn't the real answer if you get that.
Bob will sort it of that we can have no doubt and that is why we can be confident in him imo.
While we are on the subject though, Yaya, Nasri and Aguero need to do more work, simples.
Re the midfield connundrum I think we´ll be seeing Hargreaves sooner rather than later , although not in the CL which is a shame considering Tevez has just wasted a spot