This season

[Green & Blue]

I'm really struggling with City this season.I'm not enjoying watching any of the games.Even the wins are frustrating me as we are so mundane.Mancinis ideas are not translating well to the team whatsoever, so often we don't even look like a team.We have quality in abundance and for that reason have managed to get results we have not deserved.I'm really worried about where this is going if Mancini persists with constantly farting around with our shape.The formation is constantly being tinkered with during games and the players are looking completely lost on it.

[Londonblue1]

I'm really struggling with City this season.I'm not enjoying watching any of the games.Even the wins are frustrating me as we are so mundane.Mancinis ideas are not translating well to the team whatsoever, so often we don't even look like a team.We have quality in abundance and for that reason have managed to get results we have not deserved.I'm really worried about where this is going if Mancini persists with constantly farting around with our shape.The formation is constantly being tinkered with during games and the players are looking completely lost on it.

Don't think you'll find many who would disagree with this,just get the team doing the same as we were last season and make the changes when they are really needed not forcing them on the team.

[lets all have a disco]

Something isnt right and unless he finds the formula sharpish the owners will have words.

[JonnyAsh]

In hindsight it would have been better keeping the exact squad together from last season, apart from the deadwood. That means NDJ and AJ staying, so what?
I think the problem started early doors in the transfer window, when our targets weren't achievable. For some reason, we had to pile bodies in, and tbh, not one of them is up to the level. maybe in future, but not now.
If we had kept the two we sold, we would have had stability. I think Mancini sees the need to add each window, which is easy, when the hardest thing is to leave alone.
Last season was the first this squad played together, so they should have been more familiar second time around. Instead, as well as tinkering with systems, we are bedding new players in who are not of the quality of those signed in the past. Milner and Lescott are now frozen out, if we rotate the squad any more, we will spin out of control.
Back to basics with last years team who bonded well, Micah, Barry, Milner, Lescott, and only bring the new players in if and when it's merited, instead of trying to justify their transfer immediately.

[halnone]

In hindsight it would have been better keeping the exact squad together from last season, apart from the deadwood. That means NDJ and AJ staying, so what?
I think the problem started early doors in the transfer window, when our targets weren't achievable. For some reason, we had to pile bodies in, and tbh, not one of them is up to the level. maybe in future, but not now.
If we had kept the two we sold, we would have had stability. I think Mancini sees the need to add each window, which is easy, when the hardest thing is to leave alone.
Last season was the first this squad played together, so they should have been more familiar second time around. Instead, as well as tinkering with systems, we are bedding new players in who are not of the quality of those signed in the past. Milner and Lescott are now frozen out, if we rotate the squad any more, we will spin out of control.
Back to basics with last years team who bonded well, Micah, Barry, Milner, Lescott, and only bring the new players in if and when it's merited, instead of trying to justify their transfer immediately.

brilliant post

[AG7]

Seems to me that Mancini's problem is that he has picked up way too many players on the last day ... Fuck Garcia, Rodwell, Nasti, Maicon and Sinclair off the available players list and a fucking great team picks up itself which doesn't disturb any partnerships at the back, have a team playing that knows how to with each other and nobody is fucking getting threatened by the newcomers coming in the team ...

I think Mancini made too much fuss over transfers with owners earlier in the season and went ahead and got all these on last day with their reluctant nod and probably against a few other people at the club and is now trying to get them to play in, to show he needed them, and to get them to bed in at the same time ... Why the fuck else would he throw in Nasti and Sinclair (debut for the baby one) against Real Madrid away ... and today again persisting with him and bringing in Rodwell and Garcia when Barry, Milner and Lescott would have been clearly the better choices ...

And final problem, Dzeko is not a starting XI player for us ... Every single time he comes on as sub, he looks sharp and great and every time he starts I find myself thinking why is he playing instead of (in todays's case) Tevez ... which takes me back to my original point, Mancini has more players than he can manage, and that's causing us problems as he is trying to keep everyone happy, and this constant rotation without any rational is not working and with us already out of Capital One Cup and by the looks of it soon from CL as well is only going to highlight this.

[JonnyAsh]

Seems to me that Mancini's problem is that he has picked up way too many players on the last day ... Fuck Garcia, Rodwell, Nasti, Maicon and Sinclair off the available players list and a fucking great team picks up itself which doesn't disturb any partnerships at the back, have a team playing that knows how to with each other and nobody is fucking getting threatened by the newcomers coming in the team ...

I think Mancini made too much fuss over transfers with owners earlier in the season and went ahead and got all these on last day with their reluctant nod and probably against a few other people at the club and is now trying to get them to play in, to show he needed them, and to get them to bed in at the same time ... Why the fuck else would he throw in Nasti and Sinclair (debut for the baby one) against Real Madrid away ... and today again persisting with him and bringing in Rodwell and Garcia when Barry, Milner and Lescott would have been clearly the better choices ...

And final problem, Dzeko is not a starting XI player for us ... Every single time he comes on as sub, he looks sharp and great and every time he starts I find myself thinking why is he playing instead of (in todays's case) Tevez ... which takes me back to my original point, Mancini has more players than he can manage, and that's causing us problems as he is trying to keep everyone happy, and this constant rotation without any rational is not working and with us already out of Capital One Cup and by the looks of it soon from CL as well is only going to highlight this.

Yep, pretty much my way of thinking. I think Mancini took his early lack of successs in the last window, re DDR, RVP and EH, out on the last day in frustration. The rags bought five or six, and their needs were greater than ours, but they have only tried to work in two, RVP and Kagawa, whilst we have thrown the lot in. Not only does that disrupt the remaining players, where 3 or 4 new faces each game, but puts undue pressure on the new boys, who could have been eased in gently. I personally wouldn't have bought any of them, as they are no better than what we have, and I thought the whole philosophy was to improve, rather than just add numbers.
I'm not writing the new signings off, but 5 was too many We should and are in the position where one or two maximum are brought in , in any window, to be less disruptive to what we have, and given the quality we already have here, this should be enough to keep the momentum.

[AG7]

This is also pissing off squad players ... tell me how or why would Leacott, Milner, Barry, Kolo, Kolarov or Micah would be feeling any better this season?

[john68]

This is also pissing off squad players ... tell me how or why would Leacott, Milner, Barry, Kolo, Kolarov or Micah would be feeling any better this season?

Your statement is so positive....can you share the evidence that this IS pissing off squad players.

I would think that Leacott (who?), Milner, Barry, Kolo, Kolarov and Micah would be very pissed off being called squad players.
Did you cut and paste this from your own brain?

Jus askin

[Ted Hughes]

We found a nice starting point formation wise v Fulham.

Imo it should have been Lescott next to Vinny, but tactically we were pushing everyone forward, so I can understand why he went for someone who is a bit (potentially) quicker on the ball than JL.

We had Garcia deep but pushing up whenever possible, then Barry plus Yaya doing a general allround midfield job, Aguero based left but dropping back into midfield, Tevez pushed forward centrally, but dropping back & interchanging, then Silva based right side but dropping back intechanging etc. We basically had 1 up front but the whole team pushed up, so it could be 8 up front, but everyone was filling the midfield.

Then we come to tonight.

Dzeko & Aguero pushed forward, half fit Nasri instead of Barry & no Tevez at all. So from having ten players dominating the midfield, we now have Yaya & Garcia sat back & Silva plus half fit Nasri expected to create & track back.

I haven't watched the recording & tbh, I'm fucking sick of analysing this pathetic, incompetent shite in Europe, so I'll probably just delete it & get a life, but I'm telling you that, at the game, I was counting players in areas & for instance, at one point we had about five or six players between our penalty area & the halfway line (we had the ball) & then Dortmund had five players in centre midfield.

No City players, just 5 Dortmund.

Last season, there were examples on TV of us doing this to other clubs. Well Bob, you have just been arse raped by Mourinho, Wenger & now this cunt tonight, in the same way you did it to teams last season.

It's your fucking fault. Sort it out.

[phips]

I'm not writing the new signings off, but 5 was too many We should and are in the position where one or two maximum are brought in , in any window

And final problem, Dzeko is not a starting XI player for us ... Every single time he comes on as sub, he looks sharp and great and every time he starts I find myself thinking why is he playing instead of (in todays's case) Tevez ...

These

[Nigels Tackle]

In hindsight it would have been better keeping the exact squad together from last season, apart from the deadwood. That means NDJ and AJ staying, so what?
I think the problem started early doors in the transfer window, when our targets weren't achievable. For some reason, we had to pile bodies in, and tbh, not one of them is up to the level. maybe in future, but not now.
If we had kept the two we sold, we would have had stability. I think Mancini sees the need to add each window, which is easy, when the hardest thing is to leave alone.
Last season was the first this squad played together, so they should have been more familiar second time around. Instead, as well as tinkering with systems, we are bedding new players in who are not of the quality of those signed in the past. Milner and Lescott are now frozen out, if we rotate the squad any more, we will spin out of control.
Back to basics with last years team who bonded well, Micah, Barry, Milner, Lescott, and only bring the new players in if and when it's merited, instead of trying to justify their transfer immediately.

in short then, you're blaming marwood?

[JonnyAsh]

In hindsight it would have been better keeping the exact squad together from last season, apart from the deadwood. That means NDJ and AJ staying, so what?
I think the problem started early doors in the transfer window, when our targets weren't achievable. For some reason, we had to pile bodies in, and tbh, not one of them is up to the level. maybe in future, but not now.
If we had kept the two we sold, we would have had stability. I think Mancini sees the need to add each window, which is easy, when the hardest thing is to leave alone.
Last season was the first this squad played together, so they should have been more familiar second time around. Instead, as well as tinkering with systems, we are bedding new players in who are not of the quality of those signed in the past. Milner and Lescott are now frozen out, if we rotate the squad any more, we will spin out of control.
Back to basics with last years team who bonded well, Micah, Barry, Milner, Lescott, and only bring the new players in if and when it's merited, instead of trying to justify their transfer immediately.

in short then, you're blaming marwood?

Not exactly, it just seems that we missed all out targets who would have been the right calibre, and ended up with poor second or third choices. It just seemed we had to get players in. Not sure who should take the rap, Mancini for his choices, or Marwood for sanctioning them. It's just my opinion, if the right people weren't available, don't just fill the gaps with others...wait!

[The Brazilian Genius]

Deadline day signings are like buying Christmas present on Christmas Eve.... What you originally wanted is no longer in stock and your loved ones end up with presents that are ok but everybody's knows deep down that are crap. I have learnt the hard way before and bear the scars!!

The signings we made (without wanting to put them down before they have settled) did not make sense and seemed like it was a battle of wits between Mancini and Marwood.

We have gone from having a settled squad (Champion Squad) to a team full of new players who need to settle in and it is showing.

I used to be critical of De Jong and Johnson, and i must admit moving forwrad i will be careful what i wish for as i recall last night (and not for the first time) I saw Kolarov on the left wing....

Not the end of the world as we are still unbeaten in the league, but we need to get settled and quick.

Yes - i know you cant be expecte dto play 60+ games a season, but on the big games you play your best team. Liverpool, Madrid, Arsenal & last night we never!!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

It's not just buying too many players too late but also completely wrongplayers in wrong positions. There was zero need for Maicon. There was very little need for Garcia, especially after Rodwell came in. Sinclair was completely pointless untill we sold AJ.

Nasty Nas was just about only signing that made any sense to me and even he was supposed to be battling for number 3 CB role with Kolo rather than replacing Jolene.

What we NEEDED was
Central attacking midfielder
central defence cover

What we got was
rightback
two holding midfielders
winger
central defence cover

And yes, I'm blaming Marwood for fucking up the summer but Mancini needs to shoulder some of the blame for forcing the issue when there was no market left anymore. Mancini needs to shoulder the blame for putting those players in the line up though. Enough of that crap and let clowns like Garcia earn their spot.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

We've lost our direction completely. We're not sure what we are trying to be now. We were a slick passing team for a while, now we just try to grind out results with a team of giants. A sort of upmarket Stoke.
But if you look at 2012 as a whole, we've been dog shit for the vast majority of it. the six game winning run to the title is the out of character part.
Bob's tactics are still shit boring and ineffective, and it was only once we'd blown the title, with that gutless, cowardly effort at Arsenal, that we actually started playing to win games again. I do sometimes wonder if the players took it upon themslves to ignore him and go out and give it a bloody good go rather than slip away with barely a whimper.
If we don't beat Sunderland on Saturday the season will start slipping away very quickly. I can't see this team even mounting a title challenge at the moment, and it looks like we could well be playing Ajax for a Europa League place.
I'm sure somebody can supply stats for 2012. I bet it doesn't make pretty reading.

[JonnyAsh]

We have just spent a god given age weeding out the deadwood, who were holding us back, it took forever, and we will, if not careful be nurturing a second wave of deadwood.
I don't mean to sound harsh, but if the new signings do not integrate and pull their weight, we will have another problem.
It's like any business, imagine a team of workers who have achieved their objectives, bond very well, then all of a sudden 20% new people added, it will unsettle the balance, at least for a while.

The other side of this same coin, is not writing all the new signings off too soon, they are all decent players, who all have something to prove. It's just a pity that we couldn't maintain the momentum from last season, and we had to change in certain areas, how we play. I think Mancini sometimes tries to be too clever, by thinking that we had to keep one step ahead by changing for changing sake. I think we could have naturally evolved, by experience and togetherness in a more subtle way, rather than by personnel and tactics, in such a drastic way as we have.

[john68]

God Bless yer Antti Mate...You just love a good scapegoat...:-)

What's Marwood's job again?

[phips]

It's not just buying too many players too late but also completely wrongplayers in wrong positions. There was zero need for Maicon.

Absolutely agree.

Mancini thinks we NEED to buy new players every off-season. No, we don't. You don't buy for the sake of
buying...and after last season's prem success and CL "success" (despite being eliminated we were in the GoD and
got 10 pts) we didn't need Maicon at all and we sure as shit didn't need 5 new players. And we didn't need 5 new
players on deadline day. Mancini is obsessed with spending; I've always thought so. Just because our owner has the
money and is, more than often, willing to spend it, doesn't mean we should. I don't like Mancini's mindset. Yes, we
got Aguero...that was needed. We didn't need anyone we bought in the offseason except a CB.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

God Bless yer Antti Mate...You just love a good scapegoat...:-)

What's Marwood's job again?

Scapegoat?

It's fact that he didn't really deliver this summer. But I'm also putting the blame on Mancini for forcing the issue. And remember, I love Mancini and think he is the way forward for REALLY REALLY long term. But Mancini dropped a bollock by forcing Marwood to enter business in haste last day of the window.

None of that would've happened if Marwood had been able to close our initial targets.