Johnson

[brite blu sky]

I would totally agree with Mancini's apparent thoughts and comments about AJ but I don't agree with the way he goes about handling him in the public eye. Only time will tell whether it works or not but it has been going on for some time already and we still have the same AJ.

He is definitely talented enough to be worth keeping and on his good days he is a match winner. Even though he probably isn't a 90 minutes a game type player ( not many wingers are are they?) he produces enough to be good value and has done so already this season to prove that.

There is no doubt that Bob knows the 'weight' of stating something in public, he has talked of other players from time to time but AJ particularly has been singled out numerous times. I can only think that Mancini sees that as a tactic with AJ for some reason.. you see them on a day to day level Doug, is there anything you see that would suggest the need for such an approach. Does AJ seem like he really listens to Mancini from what you can tell stood by the fence?

Contrary to others posting I beleive that AJ's decision making has improved in games.. particularly around the area, he looks to me more naturally inclined to look up and assess his choices and is looking particularly for short killer passes into or close to the area. That to me seems very different from when he arrived and also the bulk of last season.
When pushed Mancini cited not tracking back on camera, but i kind of suspect that comment covered a wide variety of defensive duties. For me AJ looks like a fish out of water visibly trying to figure out how to get challenges in and often just runs after the ball in little circles looking for all the world a little schoolboy out of his depth. It has even crossed my mind he is a bit frightened to get stuck into challenges.
The rest of his game, when he is contributing, seems to be improving to me though.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I would totally agree with Mancini's apparent thoughts and comments about AJ but I don't agree with the way he goes about handling him in the public eye. Only time will tell whether it works or not but it has been going on for some time already and we still have the same AJ.

He is definitely talented enough to be worth keeping and on his good days he is a match winner. Even though he probably isn't a 90 minutes a game type player ( not many wingers are are they?) he produces enough to be good value and has done so already this season to prove that.

There is no doubt that Bob knows the 'weight' of stating something in public, he has talked of other players from time to time but AJ particularly has been singled out numerous times. I can only think that Mancini sees that as a tactic with AJ for some reason.. you see them on a day to day level Doug, is there anything you see that would suggest the need for such an approach. Does AJ seem like he really listens to Mancini from what you can tell stood by the fence?

Contrary to others posting I beleive that AJ's decision making has improved in games.. particularly around the area, he looks to me more naturally inclined to look up and assess his choices and is looking particularly for short killer passes into or close to the area. That to me seems very different from when he arrived and also the bulk of last season.
When pushed Mancini cited not tracking back on camera, but i kind of suspect that comment covered a wide variety of defensive duties. For me AJ looks like a fish out of water visibly trying to figure out how to get challenges in and often just runs after the ball in little circles looking for all the world a little schoolboy out of his depth. It has even crossed my mind he is a bit frightened to get stuck into challenges.
The rest of his game, when he is contributing, seems to be improving to me though.

Nothing I see at training says he needs to be singled out for public criticism.He works hard in training .I accept that Mancini chooses to do this and it may turn out to be the correct approach for him but imo opinion it isn't. I think your comments about AJ's game are spot on.

The one thing I would say is that I think AJ is a real big head.I am sure he thinks he should be in every starting line up for both City and England and you can see from his reactions at times when he does something really good there is a total arrogance in him. Didnt he show that when he scored the 1st at Blackburn? That may well contribute to Mancini doing it the way he is.

[mr_nool]

Just throwing out a crazy idea here: Could it be that Bobby simply doesn't like AJ on a personal level. Bob thinks he's arrogant and, somewhat childishly, chooses the public area to put him down.

It wouldn't be the first time in football a manager would let his personal feelings influence his managerial decisions.

[zuricity]

I think Mancini makes public his thoughts about Johnson, firstly because he wants Johno to be the best he can be and secondly because he doesn't want to have the media make him out to be the next English hero, saviour. Clearly he ( Johnson ) is not ready for it. I don't for one minute think they have personal issues.

Watching the beautiful football, week in week out. I'm not going to go looking for problems where they don't exist.

[Dameerto]

If Bob had personal issues with AJ then AJ wouldn't be in the squad, let alone playing - he would have been frozen out and either loaned or sold.

[john@staustell]

Just throwing out a crazy idea here: Could it be that Bobby simply doesn't like AJ on a personal level. Bob thinks he's arrogant and, somewhat childishly, chooses the public area to put him down.

It wouldn't be the first time in football a manager would let his personal feelings influence his managerial decisions.

Nothng personal Mr nool.

It's just that as a football perfeccionist and 'obsessive' in the words of Vialli yesterday, Bobby doesn't like people who play for 10 minutes and disappear for 80. Hiding behind opponents so as not to get the ball (total opposite of GazBaz), losing possession easily and not tracking back when required.

Come to that I dont like it either, and I have never met AJ.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Just throwing out a crazy idea here: Could it be that Bobby simply doesn't like AJ on a personal level. Bob thinks he's arrogant and, somewhat childishly, chooses the public area to put him down.

It wouldn't be the first time in football a manager would let his personal feelings influence his managerial decisions.

Nah.

see Balotelli, Mario.

[brite blu sky]

I would totally agree with Mancini's apparent thoughts and comments about AJ but I don't agree with the way he goes about handling him in the public eye. Only time will tell whether it works or not but it has been going on for some time already and we still have the same AJ.

He is definitely talented enough to be worth keeping and on his good days he is a match winner. Even though he probably isn't a 90 minutes a game type player ( not many wingers are are they?) he produces enough to be good value and has done so already this season to prove that.

There is no doubt that Bob knows the 'weight' of stating something in public, he has talked of other players from time to time but AJ particularly has been singled out numerous times. I can only think that Mancini sees that as a tactic with AJ for some reason.. you see them on a day to day level Doug, is there anything you see that would suggest the need for such an approach. Does AJ seem like he really listens to Mancini from what you can tell stood by the fence?

Contrary to others posting I beleive that AJ's decision making has improved in games.. particularly around the area, he looks to me more naturally inclined to look up and assess his choices and is looking particularly for short killer passes into or close to the area. That to me seems very different from when he arrived and also the bulk of last season.
When pushed Mancini cited not tracking back on camera, but i kind of suspect that comment covered a wide variety of defensive duties. For me AJ looks like a fish out of water visibly trying to figure out how to get challenges in and often just runs after the ball in little circles looking for all the world a little schoolboy out of his depth. It has even crossed my mind he is a bit frightened to get stuck into challenges.
The rest of his game, when he is contributing, seems to be improving to me though.

Nothing I see at training says he needs to be singled out for public criticism.He works hard in training .I accept that Mancini chooses to do this and it may turn out to be the correct approach for him but imo opinion it isn't. I think your comments about AJ's game are spot on.

The one thing I would say is that I think AJ is a real big head.I am sure he thinks he should be in every starting line up for both City and England and you can see from his reactions at times when he does something really good there is a total arrogance in him. Didnt he show that when he scored the 1st at Blackburn? That may well contribute to Mancini doing it the way he is.

Cheers Doug, I suppose i was wondering if you were able to 'read' AJ's body language on chatting / taking instruction from Bob.. but to be honest that is very difficult to assess and not just assume things.
I do think that maybe Nooly has a point though, not so much dislike at a personal level, but literally a realisation that AJ may nod his head but not really listen. We can all tell intuitively when someone is not really taking something in, or disagreeing but going through the motions of looking like they accept something (especially criticism).
My take is that Bob has resorted to public criticism as the only way that truly gets through to AJ for now. It is a risky strategy for sure, but I would trust Mancini that he knows that and is only doing it as a last resort to get through to him.

[Ted Hughes]

But what about all the other people who are making the exact same mistake ? Will they be left out because of it or just AJ ?

[getdressedmctavish]

Heard his interview for mom. Found myself thinking Harry Enfield was right. Bollocked the telly for his gormless lack of tracking for their second. q has any one ever seen him make a tackle?think he needs to be encouraged to come inside and get involved more. He's got so many attributes it would be silly to waste them through lack of application. He's not a kid anymore.

[brite blu sky]

Well others must be convincing Bob that they understand any criticism pulling them up about stuff, enough for Bob not to use another method of communication. What we have been trying to work out here is the reason for public comments, not that various players make mistakes. We can only assume that any mistakes or lack in players is addressed by the staff behind the scenes without the need for public statements.

I would add that I prefer that Mancini plays AJ and criticises, rather than just not play him as a way of focussing his mind or trying to communicate with him.

[mcfc1632]

I think AJ is a player who is suited to the Prem better than quite a few who have played for Barca & Real. I also think AJ is the kind of player who could be the matchwinner v Barca or Real as they are used to defending against players like Silva & Nasri. I also think he has been better in general play so far this season than Nasri & was playing miles better than Nasri the other night when Bob took him off, but both are making assists & scoring goals so we have little to complain about. It's just about getting the team balance right for each game with a mixture of different kinds of players. Milner has been better than both of them but Barca wouldn't pick him either.

Not entirely sure what you are trying to say there.
Nasri has only just joined and has to find his place etc etc etc. AJ has had 2 seasons with the same-ish players.
I didn't mention players playing against barca etc, but the idea is good that AJ is the type of player to hurt them.

Milner imo would get in a barca team, not regular though. Why because he has the workrate expected and the pitch coverage. There are 3 or so barca players not too disimilar. eg. Keita

My comments are not meant to be any criticism of AJ - I am just wondering if he needs to change his game - or if that is what is best for him to have a long term future.

A little hard to explain but when he first made an impact it was a 'Winger' - out and out, but he seems to have lost something (pace - confidence?) that means he does not do this role so effectively any more - if we are going to have someone in the squad as a 'winger' it will most likely be a Sanchez type quality.

Watching him on Wednesday and on some other occaisions I just womder if he can become a sort of 'understudy' to Silva and emulate a similar role. Might seem strange but I just think that is possible - he needs to be more confident on the ball and able to play the tight short passes

Just a thought
Where I think that he could be

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I think AJ is a player who is suited to the Prem better than quite a few who have played for Barca & Real. I also think AJ is the kind of player who could be the matchwinner v Barca or Real as they are used to defending against players like Silva & Nasri. I also think he has been better in general play so far this season than Nasri & was playing miles better than Nasri the other night when Bob took him off, but both are making assists & scoring goals so we have little to complain about. It's just about getting the team balance right for each game with a mixture of different kinds of players. Milner has been better than both of them but Barca wouldn't pick him either.

Not entirely sure what you are trying to say there.
Nasri has only just joined and has to find his place etc etc etc. AJ has had 2 seasons with the same-ish players.
I didn't mention players playing against barca etc, but the idea is good that AJ is the type of player to hurt them.

Milner imo would get in a barca team, not regular though. Why because he has the workrate expected and the pitch coverage. There are 3 or so barca players not too disimilar. eg. Keita

My comments are not meant to be any criticism of AJ - I am just wondering if he needs to change his game - or if that is what is best for him to have a long term future.

A little hard to explain but when he first made an impact it was a 'Winger' - out and out, but he seems to have lost something (pace - confidence?) that means he does not do this role so effectively any more - if we are going to have someone in the squad as a 'winger' it will most likely be a Sanchez type quality.

Watching him on Wednesday and on some other occaisions I just womder if he can become a sort of 'understudy' to Silva and emulate a similar role. Might seem strange but I just think that is possible - he needs to be more confident on the ball and able to play the tight short passes

Just a thought
Where I think that he could be

I think (hope) AJ is adapting his game slightly to fit in more to the Mancini pass and move game. He cant' be all about wing play and getting crosses in but somehow I don't think he will ever have the touch,composure,awareness to be a Silva undrestudy in the middle of the pitch.That isnt a criticism as very very few can do that

[mcfc1632]

Agreed Doug - but I mean 'sort of'. I worry about where the creativity comes from if Silva is out (or at least Ihave previously worried - hard to sustain that worry given our scoring record). I really worry about Silva being injured - and he is certainly being targetted for some painful challenges.

If he can do his own 'version' of creative MF then at least we will have another player able to lay the ball through to strikers

[brite blu sky]

Well obviously AJ could be seduced by 'arry and go and ply his trade for Spurs... with his manager then just saying 'go on son just go out there and do your stuff'.

Which he might like. He could even have competitions with Aaron Lennon to see who could run down the wing the fastest and get the most cheers from the crowd.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Just seen the interview with Mancini and also the part where he spoke about AJ.

I think he is absolutely spot on with his comments regarding AJ and why he criticizes him - I did say that I actually thought he did it in public because he wanted all and sundry to understand why, I think this is why he does it.

The more I listen to Mancini the more I like him..apart from the obvious beating everyone in sight.....he talks sense and shows us that he knows exactly what hes doing is the right way, behind the scenes as well as on the field.

[Ted Hughes]

I think AJ has looked better inside that when he's been out wide & his contibution in terms of goals & assists in recent games has been right up there with the best. I don't understand why he has to do more defensively than other players do when in the same position, unless Bob has it in mind to play him in the same team as Silva & Nasri & make up for the times they don't make it back.

Both of them track back, especially Silva who does it really well for an attacker, but both of them fail to get back fairly regularly, and are no less guilty of that than AJ. That's what forwards/attackers do. Same with Balotelli when he plays there.

If he wants AJ to become more like Milner so he can fit him in another position then fair enough but if not, it's just unfair to single him out, he should point out other players in public too.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I think AJ has looked better inside that when he's been out wide & his contibution in terms of goals & assists in recent games has been right up there with the best. I don't understand why he has to do more defensively than other players do when in the same position, unless Bob has it in mind to play him in the same team as Silva & Nasri & make up for the times they don't make it back.

Both of them track back, especially Silva who does it really well for an attacker, but both of them fail to get back fairly regularly, and are no less guilty of that than AJ. That's what forwards/attackers do. Same with Balotelli when he plays there.

If he wants AJ to become more like Milner so he can fit him in another position then fair enough but if not, it's just unfair to single him out, he should point out other players in public too.

You don't know what goes on behind the scenes Ted ....I would give Mancini the benefit of the doubt here.

btw - he has pointed out a fair few players..Ballo..Tevez to name but 2..Dzeko that's 3.... I'm sure there are more.

[twosips]

He wouldn't be calling AJ out if he didn't think he needed it/deserved it.

Bearing that in mind I have to just trust his opinion. He's normally right. If I remember correctly he used to be a little bit critical about Micah and Hart, saying they could improve, and they've definitely stepped up their games.

And to be honest, he's hardly being incredibly harsh is he? Regardless of whether he says it in public or not, he's right in everything he says. He does disappear too often, and he definitely can improve and do more. If AJ has the right attitude he'll respond well to this. If he doesn't, he'll cry and moan and fuck off to Spurs. If that's what he wants then so be it. All Mancini wants is for him to improve. I want players in the squad that respond well to constructive criticism, not big time charlies who fuck off when their ego isn't pandered to.

AJ strikes me as the kind of player who if you told was the bees knees he'd believe it, and it'd be a detriment to his game. He'd try to do everything himself, lose the ball, and he'd disappear and not track back. He needs the tough love in my opinion. Mancini's obviously realised that, hence the treatment. Mancini's too intelligent to single him out for no reason.

[Ted Hughes]

I think AJ has looked better inside that when he's been out wide & his contibution in terms of goals & assists in recent games has been right up there with the best. I don't understand why he has to do more defensively than other players do when in the same position, unless Bob has it in mind to play him in the same team as Silva & Nasri & make up for the times they don't make it back.

Both of them track back, especially Silva who does it really well for an attacker, but both of them fail to get back fairly regularly, and are no less guilty of that than AJ. That's what forwards/attackers do. Same with Balotelli when he plays there.

If he wants AJ to become more like Milner so he can fit him in another position then fair enough but if not, it's just unfair to single him out, he should point out other players in public too.

You don't know what goes on behind the scenes Ted ....I would give Mancini the benefit of the doubt here.

btw - he has pointed out a fair few players..Ballo..Tevez to name but 2..Dzeko that's 3.... I'm sure there are more.

That's fair enough & I'm all for everyone running their bollox off for 90 mins, but I've seen plenty of players doing what AJ is being criticised for. I've pointed out some of them on here. They are still doing it, so if he has told them about it, they haven't taken any notice, so will they be dropped to the 'B' team like AJ or just carry on for the rest of the season in the same way, still getting picked whilst AJ gets dropped ? In the end, Bob can do what the fuck he wants imo if we play football like this; if he wants AJ out, so be it but I see double standards here.

I also find it quite amusing how, when people likke myself used to say Robinho & Co needed to get some fucking work done, there were scores of dissenters, some even taking the piss at the very idea attacking players should actually graft. Now, it's club policy & everyone seems to be 100% behind it. Where did they all go ?