De Boer's City pep talk

[Ted Hughes]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/st ... MP=OTC-RSS

Ajax manager Frank de Boer has criticised Manchester City's players for both an inability to change tactics and their workrate as his side beat them 3-1 in Amsterdam.

City manager Roberto Mancini switched from 4-2-3-1 to a back three when he replaced Joleon Lescott with Aleksandar Kolarov after Ajax's second goal - only for Christian Eriksen to promptly add a third.

After the game, City's Micah Richards suggested that they prefer to play with a four-man defence.

But former Ajax, Barcelona and Holland defender De Boer exonerated Mancini and instead argued that top-class players should be tactically flexible enough to cope.

"If you are at the top level and your manager tells you two things, you have to be able to do it," he said.

He also faulted City's attacking players for failing to track back and help out their defenders.

Ajax's first goal came from a cross from their overlapping right-back Ricardo van Rhijn, who was given too much space throughout the match by the three players employed at different stages as City's left winger.

De Boer added: "There are always moments in games when Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri go to sleep. They do not chase the full-back, as they do not believe it is necessary."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd


If that doesn't get them going for the re match, nothing will. Nice one Frank.

Poor ol Mario gets a mention for being lazy in spite of not being on the pitch.

[Crossie]

He is bang on.

[Ted Hughes]

He is bang on.

He is. Mario was dreadfully lazy again in the 5 seconds he was on the pitch.

[Sideshow Bob]

he IS correct with regard to nasri and aguero last night...neither made much of an effort to "track back" and it was pissing me off.

[Surrey Sky Blue]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/176229.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Ajax manager Frank de Boer has criticised Manchester City's players for both an inability to change tactics and their workrate as his side beat them 3-1 in Amsterdam.

City manager Roberto Mancini switched from 4-2-3-1 to a back three when he replaced Joleon Lescott with Aleksandar Kolarov after Ajax's second goal - only for Christian Eriksen to promptly add a third.

After the game, City's Micah Richards suggested that they prefer to play with a four-man defence.

But former Ajax, Barcelona and Holland defender De Boer exonerated Mancini and instead argued that top-class players should be tactically flexible enough to cope.

"If you are at the top level and your manager tells you two things, you have to be able to do it," he said.

He also faulted City's attacking players for failing to track back and help out their defenders.

Ajax's first goal came from a cross from their overlapping right-back Ricardo van Rhijn, who was given too much space throughout the match by the three players employed at different stages as City's left winger.

De Boer added: "There are always moments in games when Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri go to sleep. They do not chase the full-back, as they do not believe it is necessary."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd


If that doesn't get them going for the re match, nothing will. Nice one Frank.

Poor ol Mario gets a mention for being lazy in spite of not being on the pitch.

Already been said but he is spot on.

[Nigels Tackle]

He is bang on.

He is. Mario was dreadfully lazy again in the 5 seconds he was on the pitch.

eh? he played the whole 90 minutes didn't he? or maybe de boer has confused him with micah? same boots, haircut, build etc...

[Dameerto]

Not quite spot on - we switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 when we took the lead, then from that to 3-5-2.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

As for going to sleep you can throw regular offenders Richards and Lescott into the picture, as well as Kompany of late not to mention Clichy. I reckon the players are being given sleeping-tablets before the games rather than the caffeine one's they're supposed to take (á la England).

[Beanieboy]

He is bang on.

He is. Mario was dreadfully lazy again in the 5 seconds he was on the pitch.

eh? he played the whole 90 minutes didn't he? or maybe de boer has confused him with micah? same boots, haircut, build etc...

YOU FUCKING RACIST! You should be hanged in the woods near Finland and then banned from here for a month!

[Mase]

eh? he played the whole 90 minutes didn't he? or maybe de boer has confused him with micah? same boots, haircut, build etc...

You're thinking of Clichy.

[Sideshow Bob]

sadly, i don't think the players will be arsed about these comments...

[john68]

sadly, i don't think the players will be arsed about these comments...

Why should they be?
I would hope they are far too professional to take any notice of what some outsider, with an agenda says to the press.

[Hazy2]

sadly, i don't think the players will be arsed about these comments...

Why should they be?
I would hope they are far too professional to take any notice of what some outsider, with an agenda says to the press.

Pros or not, John we were made to look 2nd rate in tight areas last night and as players that will be a scar. Just like watching England v Italy a few months ago, well coached players with great touch and technique passing a team to death at times. I do worry when I watch 3 England players done for each goal.

[Goataldo]

sadly, i don't think the players will be arsed about these comments...

Why should they be?
I would hope they are far too professional to take any notice of what some outsider, with an agenda says to the press.

Pros or not, John we were made to look 2nd rate in tight areas last night and as players that will be a scar. Just like watching England v Italy a few months ago, well coached players with great touch and technique passing a team to death at times. I do worry when I watch 3 England players done for each goal.

We can't exactly shrug off informed, almost constructive criticism, from an informed source, who sounds like he has done his homework (let's face it; it paid off) - it gives me a little shuddery pang about Mancini saying he hadn't prepared the team properly.

It's not just a good pep talk cos it feels/sounds cheeky as fuck Ted, it's cos it's true to an extent. If our team, which is surely superior 'on paper', were firing on all pistons, doing every hundredth of a percent last night, we would surely have performed better.

Edit, just realised I countered Ted whilst quoting someone else. Such a pro! Anyway, hopefulyl my point still somehow stands. If not. Tough.,

[lets all have a disco]

Pep talk eh?

You say Pep.