Johnson

[Kladze]

I miss Robinho









;-)

[mcfc1632]

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.

I really agree that Mancini is becoming a joy to listen to - if you want to hear and see that the man in charge of our club is very focussed on keeping evryones feet on the ground, very determined to make all the players feel the need to earn their place and very intent on not letting the meida undermine us through too much hype or a focus on negatives.

I think that we are only talking about this subject becasue Mancini was asked a direct question where he had to be either fulsome in his praise or more cautious. He has done this before with other players and I think that it is perhaps more warranted with AJ because (obviously just IMO) I think that he is the type of individual that could get casual if he thought that he was in a secure position.

If he is successful in keeping this focus and keeping away distractions I feel that we will certainly win the league with Chelski 2nd both reasonably well clear.

[Dameerto]

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 ?

It's not club policy it's fundamental to the successful use of our current tactics, and AJ clearly isn't doing enough in general to fit in with Mancini's masterplan whereas others are showing HIM at least some progress in the right direction. Bob wouldn't be going to all this bother if he thought AJ wasn't worth it.

[Ted Hughes]

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 ?

It's not club policy it's fundamental to the successful use of our current tactics, and AJ clearly isn't doing enough in general to fit in with Mancini's masterplan whereas others are showing HIM at least some progress in the right direction. Bob wouldn't be going to all this bother if he thought AJ wasn't worth it.

It's Bob's policy, whatever the tactics, he said so pretty much as soon as he got here & then fucked off Robinho (rather than 'getting the best out of him' as many predicted). Seeing as he is the manager, it's current club policy & any kids who come through will also have to adhere to it.

[Ted Hughes]

Just listening to the latest interview on the OS, Bob admits to being hard on AJ but says it's because he's after consistency; that he wants to see him play at the top level in every game & that he can be one of the 'top wingers' if he does.

I've no problem with that whatsoever. It's the specific criticism about tracking back that I thought was unfair. If Bob's goal is to make him more consistent then I agree 100% it needs improving.

[Kladze]

Just listening to the latest interview on the OS, Bob admits to being hard on AJ but says it's because he's after consistency; that he wants to see him play at the top level in every game & that he can be one of the 'top wingers' if he does.

I've no problem with that whatsoever. It's the specific criticism about tracking back that I thought was unfair. If Bob's goal is to make him more consistent then I agree 100% it needs improving.

Maybe he's been on at AJ about tracking back because he does it sometimes but NOT consistently. If that's the case, it's true and he's right.

[Blue Since 76]

It's Bob's policy, whatever the tactics, he said so pretty much as soon as he got here & then fucked off Robinho (rather than 'getting the best out of him' as many predicted). Seeing as he is the manager, it's current club policy & any kids who come through will also have to adhere to it.

In fairness regarding Robinho, he came in, bigged Robinho up about how great he was and how he'd make him the most important player etc. Robinho then went out and gave one of his usual away performances at which point he was doomed.

He's done the same with Mario and it's finally starting to pay off. He was given more chances that Robinho but I think we all knew what Robinho had become by the time Mancini arrived.

Out of interest, has anyone heard anything from Robinho or has he just disappeared into a world of parties and wasted talent?

[Kladze]

It's Bob's policy, whatever the tactics, he said so pretty much as soon as he got here & then fucked off Robinho (rather than 'getting the best out of him' as many predicted). Seeing as he is the manager, it's current club policy & any kids who come through will also have to adhere to it.

In fairness regarding Robinho, he came in, bigged Robinho up about how great he was and how he'd make him the most important player etc. Robinho then went out and gave one of his usual away performances at which point he was doomed.

He's done the same with Mario and it's finally starting to pay off. He was given more chances that Robinho but I think we all knew what Robinho had become by the time Mancini arrived.

Out of interest, has anyone heard anything from Robinho or has he just disappeared into a world of parties and wasted talent?

Last time I saw Robinho play for Milan he was just about as useless looking as he ever was for us.

Last time I actually saw Milan play, Robinho was injured - dunno what his current situation is.

[Mase]

Last time I actually saw Milan play, Robinho was injured - dunno what his current situation is.

He's still married to the fat bird I think.

[brite blu sky]

Just listening to the latest interview on the OS, Bob admits to being hard on AJ but says it's because he's after consistency; that he wants to see him play at the top level in every game & that he can be one of the 'top wingers' if he does.

I've no problem with that whatsoever. It's the specific criticism about tracking back that I thought was unfair. If Bob's goal is to make him more consistent then I agree 100% it needs improving.

I take your point Ted, possibly aimed at Yaya. But as Carl says we dont know how things go day to day. As i said already maybe others repond at least face to face with Mancini in the right way,maybe AJ doesn't. Either way it is Bob's call to use the media if he thinks it necessary. Carl has a point also about making the fans aware and perhaps the England fans aware of what he is doing.
Lets face being public about something puts the responsibility squarely and firmly on AJ's shoulders.

Frankly your comparison with Silva tracking back and tackling was laughable, Silva does a fair amount of ball robbing, hounding and sliding tackles when needed.. cant say i have seen AJ do that once. His best attempts are a kind of shadowing the person on the ball.

Ultimately as a lot have pointed out you have to trust Mancini as he has had an effect on numerous players so far. Hart, Micah, Kompany, deJong, Balo, Milner who incidently he also publically said could play better at least twice.
It isn't a matter of double standards either, it is up to Bob to decide what methods to use to conjole and improve players, if he is cute about it and i rekon he just might be, he would be doing that on a player by player basis, not some written rule that everyone gets irrespective of their character or attitude or needs.

As for Yaya if that is who you are suggesting should get the same treatment or be left out, then I would agree with the idea he has gone awol too often.. less so recently though, so maybe he has been pulled up about it. There is no comparison with AJ again though. Yaya is basically a senior player and has vast experience, he is also a key part of the midfield effectiveness, certainly not beyond criticism but equally certainly not in the same boat as AJ.

[phips]

I thought Johnson played fairly well today after coming on as a sub. He did have one mistake and gave the ball away and the ensuing free kick but aside from that I thought he did well. After the sending off he was even better...he was forced to play RB with Mancini having a back 5 yet AJ was still able to go forward effectively, get a great goal, and then come back to defend and get a nice tackle in.


The only thing that I saw that bothered me when AJ came on was the congestion on the right side. AJ almost always stays on the right and partners with the marauding Richards. However, Nasri and Silva both have freedom to roam and I dont think theyve figured out how to play all that well together as they frequently end up crowding the same area. Thus, those 2 bunched up with AJ and Richards on the right and kinda jumbled things up...leaving really only Kolarov on the left. If we get that sorted and get Silva and Nasri working together and keeping the spacing of the formation when AJ is in itll all be good.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

I don't believe the criticism of Johnson is necessarily aimed at his non tracking back. I believe it's more to do with positional awareness and concentration. Mancini is strict about the shape of his side and if all ten aren't doing their bit to maintain the shape of the side then we have a weak link.

Mancini has worked wonders with Richards in this regard. If AJ listens to him he will become a more complete player because his attacking wing play is second to none imo.

[Crossie]

Mancini was probably one of the best and most consistent wingers ever to play football.

I'll take his word on what makes a good winger, and what AJ might need to work on to one day be as good as Mancini was.

Any other manager would wank all over AJ week in week out and AJ would become lazier and lazier as a result, and only be interested in dribbling and shooting. Hopefully he can become a big team player, pass abit more, and track back with the intent to win the ball back.

[ruralblue]

The stuff Mancini's saying is probably and hopefully keeping the lad grounded and not letting what he does have get spoiled by all the trappings that comes with the media coverage and cash. He will improve I have no doubt and defo won't become another Ireland!

[dazby]

AJ's goalscoring record must be rather good. He seems to bang them in regularly.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

People seem to be missing the point here. Right now Mancini is at his most critical of aj. Right now aj is scoring and setting up nearly every game.

Coincidence?

[The Original Special One]

People seem to be missing the point here. Right now Mancini is at his most critical of aj. Right now aj is scoring and setting up nearly every game.

Coincidence?

I thought it funny that AJ was trying to replicate Silva 'specials' in the Carling Cup game.
Its marvellous the way Silva has caused Milner, Gaz, and AJ to up their games, technique wise

[Slim]

Think this through:
AJ doesnt play.
Media wonder why a young England starlet with so much potential isn't starting for City.
AJ reads the paper and thinks the media is right and he should be starting.
AJ falls out with Mancini over lack of game time and has to be moved on.


or:
AJ doesnt play.
Media wonder why a young England starlet with so much potential isn't starting for City.
Mancini brings it to the attention of the media that there are flaws in his game.
The media attach that to every story on AJ from now on in.
Some lazy journalists even sense a story already written and analyse AJ's defensive capabilities.
AJ reads the paper and thinks the media is right and starts working on his overall game.

[brite blu sky]

People seem to be missing the point here. Right now Mancini is at his most critical of aj. Right now aj is scoring and setting up nearly every game.

Coincidence?

I think you are on to something there, I've noticed that too.

[Colin the King]

Mancini is handling and managing Johnson in a very specific way to maximise his potential- he's doing so because he genuinely sees something in the guy- he wouldn't dedicate the time and effort to him otherwise.

If he simply didn't rate him he'd be left to rot/somewhere else. Cases in point: Adebayor, Emmanuel. Bridge, Wayne, Onuoha, Nedum. Santa Cruz, Roque. etc. etc. etc.

Ultimately I don't see how his man management can be disputed when Johnson is coming on and making an impact on an almost weekly basis. He's been pivotal, we're top of the league. End of, surely.