Mancini

[sidSmith]

The question is though ,does he know what the problem is or even think there is one.I think when he made that statement he was referring to our defensive lapses but the real problem ( it certainly is now anyway) is our attacking play and the fact that we don't really look like scoring goals.

Doug. Has he managed to train this out of us? We seem to really focus on keep ball and close triangles but we struggle to shift it forward at pace and equally break down defences lines.

In your experience of the sessions, is he killing our creative flair?

[Goaters 103]

In a nutshell, at the moment we can have the ball all day long and still not look like scoring at all.

We got lucky against Reading, but not today.

19 games in the league, 1 in the Capital One and 6 in the CL - in how many of those have we played well?

Unless we win the Prem or at the very least the FA Cup, Mancini is a goner. Ive seen very little to indicate he will be manager next season, and for this squad to be playing so poorly isnt really acceptable. Ya Ya, Aguero, Tevez, Silva, Nasri etc arent doing it for us this year, not often enough and not anywhere nearly enough.

[Redna]

FFP will restrict any sackings a presume as Booby is on big dole.
I hope we will be on our best sooner rather than later.
CTID!!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

The question is though ,does he know what the problem is or even think there is one.I think when he made that statement he was referring to our defensive lapses but the real problem ( it certainly is now anyway) is our attacking play and the fact that we don't really look like scoring goals.

Doug. Has he managed to train this out of us? We seem to really focus on keep ball and close triangles but we struggle to shift it forward at pace and equally break down defences lines.

In your experience of the sessions, is he killing our creative flair?

I don't think it's that. he does look for clever and at times intricate passing but he looks for them to do it quickly and with crisp passing.It does drive me mad in games when a ball is played sideways or even backwards but not at pace.I don't have a problem with shifting the ball around but it needs to be done much quicker rather than as they are doing now which gives the opposition plenty of time to regroup and get the shape right.

It's when we get control of the ball now and are pressing the final 3rd that I wonder what is going on. Of course at times we go get through but there will still be plenty of defenders around so unless it 100% perfect we don't score but somehow I don't see enough movement from the front 2 main players or from others getting beyond the ball and the strikers to really pull the defenders about.

It's all so slow and predictable.

And I do wish the boss would not say it's impossible that we do not score/win when it's clearly not.

[getdressedmctavish]

We play to a system. Retain the ball. Probe for openings. One will come. Dont throw men forward in numbers, quickly, or too far and you wont get caught on the break. When the chance comes we have the best strikers so we will win, probably 1-0. Thats it. That's what we train for. That's what we do. Week after week. Unfortunately about a year ago teams sussed that if they denied us gaps through the middle we would become impotent. Then they might catch us on the break and too many got lucky. The players, particularly the strikers became disillusioned with this, as any one would being asked to play a failing (in comparative terms)system. It needs us to get one up and someone to score from the scraps that ensue from this system. Its not Mancini's only system. He knew width was an alternative so came up with 3 at the back. Unfortunately the players either were never schooled well enough or didn't fancy it, so oppos ran through the great empty prairies to score.So we have systems that dont work and disillusioned players. We have done for a long time for those with eyes to see.Bob is now fecked. He's spent £90 million on strikers, two of whom cant get a game, the other looks completely pissed off. And as many have said, no sign of progress or solutions. But for Bob to change would require a totally different, much more adventurous psychology and team plan than the one he has used all his career. Judge for yourselves whether he will rip his plan up and start again.Personally I think he has pissed off too many people at the club to be given the funds for a different approach even if he wanted to. If you cant get a feckin goal out of the four strikers we've got, why should you be given a chance.So there you have it. Thats what you get for £350 million. We're hard to beat. Just not that hard.Didn't play bad today. Just didn't have the luck.Bob had it sussed. If the strikers dont score, it is impossible. Maybe he really is that simple.Maybe.

[Swales4ever]

well, You'd pardon me, cause I ' m drunk. Had quite a decent night out to try and steam it off, but FuCK NO! Cant recall who wisely said on match thread that tragedies are others than losing a football match away from home, but FUCKING NO: I'm still gutted as fuck, despite having to face bigger problems, than City losing a game, on daily basis.

You'd also pardon me if I deliberately withdrew me from debate and don't even try to scoll up 6 hours of gutted hearts, knee jerks reactions and sensible attempt to discuss a solution.
FOOTBALL is magic, as all considered can drive You crazy all life long, while a decently passionate Italian can only lasts mad for pussy for a couple of decades.... that's the beauty and the pain: endless and immense as the joy it can provide.

Now, I am sure that 1/3 of the board has claimed for the Clueless's head and perhaps a couple could even have genuinely regretted the non signing of Van_the_horrible_scrote_Pussy. NOT ME: credit me whatever right of Citizenship but I would prefer to see City relegated before having to cheer up a despicable bastard like that. Although - as I humbly had been said over the last 2 seasons - HERE lays the problem: You can suck the balls as much as You want, riding the flanks hunting for a cross as Usain Bolt, or passing and move the ball and running in spaces to create channels (are we doing it, bar few times Tevez and Mario, btw?) BUT football still remains the game You need to shoot and SCORE to win.
I am sure and hope (because Taggart teaches there) Mancini would have moaned at the blatant "mistake" on Zabba, BUT the reality is still that we keep needing to create 10-15, not just opportunities, but SITTERS to score a couple and win!
I have been advocating for long that I would not swap any of our striker with quite any other, but NOW, still far from a cool assessment of the pain, I am starting to doubt: > 200 millions pounds of striking force and need 10-15 chance to win a match IT?S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, it'd barely be for a mid-low table skint Club.

Finally, back on topic title, we can blame the manager for mismanagement of players (I did again today when Tevez and not the untenable Aguero made way to Dzeko), for the signing of them, but it's not the manager who MUST shoot on goal and upon the conversion ratio we are experiencing this season - and in many games of last too - I can only think to one manager who might sort it out: Jesus Christ, which sadly retiered long ago.

Once said that, the 3 less performing strikers ( and tevez cannot be blamed since the Kia issue has been put to bed) were all Mancini signings, as was one of the most gifted attacking midfielder in the whole world, who seems to have a personal issue with shooting (while wearing a City kit, only, weird enough!) and is certainly Mancini the man who MUST sort their sterility out.
If he does not, I have no objection to people who want blood, but Pep, Kloss, never mind the Clown, might do any different if City's fowarders (whole pack, not only strikers!) won't acquire a greedy appetite for scoring: ALWAYS when presented a sitter as VanPussy and Shrek almost often do, and more often than not when they are presented an half opportunity: Dzeko at WHL last seasons and Aguero when entered the pitch on his first City game spring to mind.

I am just a clueless moaner as everyone, know fuck all, I even started that thread to suggest a military approach to this "comfort attitude", dunno, but if our wealth play like half arsed employee at pub level we won't never climb to top, whatsoever manager is in charge.

Rant over.

[DoomMerchant]

if it helps at all i think i just broke my foot playing footy indoors with the 7 year old. The wife, for some odd reason, is unimpressed.

Right now i'd give Mancini the rest of the season if i can have an unbroken foot, so...just consider that vote of confidence in this debate please.

If my foot is fine tomorrow i could give two fucks what happens to Mancini. In fact, I spent most of today away from the internets half hoping he'd already been sacked upon my return. Alas, i am not really that "lucky."

cheers

[Im_Spartacus]

Finally, back on topic title, we can blame the manager for mismanagement of players (I did again today when Tevez and not the untenable Aguero made way to Dzeko), for the signing of them, but it's not the manager who MUST shoot on goal and upon the conversion ratio we are experiencing this season - and in many games of last too - I can only think to one manager who might sort it out: Jesus Christ, which sadly retiered long ago.

Good post, even if pissed!

Thing is, I've long said that the number of shots we require to score a goal is not the strikers fault. Someone, cant remember on this thread or another bemoaning the scoring prowess of RVP also completely missed the point.

RVP would have been just as redundant as Dzeko has when started. Our strikers 10/15/20 shots per game are generally a mixture of shots at players legs, or scuffed half chances. Very few make the keeper make a save, even those on target are often blocked by defenders before they even get to the keeper.

This is not down to the quality of striker on show, but down to the quality and pace of delivery.

The very fact that there are 11 defenders in the box by the time we get there tells you all you need to know about the problem, the cause and the solution. Scoring generally aint going to happen unless the opposition go to sleep. RVP would struggle just the same as our current strikers do under this setup. Our game is based on the opposition making a defensive mistake which allows us the time to pick a pass, and the recipient time in the area to set the sights. We dont actually have another plan, other than panic when it doesnt work.

The reason United / RVP are more clinical is nothing to do with luck, better forwards etc, it is down to the pace at which they break, which doesnt allow midfielders to retreat and pack the box, therefore giving uniteds advanced midfielder(s) an opportunity of picking a relatively simple pass or cross to a forward in space or moving into space, and their forwards being in space to receive it.

That is a tactical issue, and that blame lies at Mancinis door, not the players.

The pace of delivery to our forwards is an issue, whether that be down the wings or through the middle is largely irrelevant to be honest, its the speed with which we press thats the issue.

To say jesus christ couldnt manage a solution is rubbish. i could deliver that solution, and I dont earn £200k a week to do that.

[DoomMerchant]

Finally, back on topic title, we can blame the manager for mismanagement of players (I did again today when Tevez and not the untenable Aguero made way to Dzeko), for the signing of them, but it's not the manager who MUST shoot on goal and upon the conversion ratio we are experiencing this season - and in many games of last too - I can only think to one manager who might sort it out: Jesus Christ, which sadly retiered long ago.

Good post, even if pissed!

Thing is, I've long said that the number of shots we require to score a goal is not the strikers fault. Someone, cant remember on this thread or another bemoaning the scoring prowess of RVP also completely missed the point.

RVP would have been just as redundant as Dzeko has when started. Our strikers 10/15/20 shots per game are generally a mixture of shots at players legs, or scuffed half chances. Very few make the keeper make a save, even those on target are often blocked by defenders before they even get to the keeper.

This is not down to the quality of striker on show, but down to the quality and pace of delivery.

The very fact that there are 11 defenders in the box by the time we get there tells you all you need to know about the problem, the cause and the solution. Scoring generally aint going to happen unless the opposition go to sleep. RVP would struggle just the same as our current strikers do under this setup. Our game is based on the opposition making a defensive mistake which allows us the time to pick a pass, and the recipient time in the area to set the sights. We dont actually have another plan, other than panic when it doesnt work.

The reason United / RVP are more clinical is nothing to do with luck, better forwards etc, it is down to the pace at which they break, which doesnt allow midfielders to retreat and pack the box, therefore giving uniteds advanced midfielder(s) an opportunity of picking a relatively simple pass or cross to a forward in space or moving into space, and their forwards being in space to receive it.

That is a tactical issue, and that blame lies at Mancinis door, not the players.

The pace of delivery to our forwards is an issue, whether that be down the wings or through the middle is largely irrelevant to be honest, its the speed with which we press thats the issue.

To say jesus christ couldnt manage a solution is rubbish. i could deliver that solution, and I dont earn £200k a week to do that.

this is why all of us were begging for some pace on the wings all summer. We missed Hazard, and ended up signing Sinclair, who can't get a look in. Not exactly stellar.

I'm glad people are finally realizing why i was shitting bricks in the summer in the "Leatherface" era when i was losing my shit day by day as we did fuckall of nothing to try and combat what was so fucking obvious last season. It still kills me that some took the piss and gave me shit -- i'm looking at you Soccs -- and said we were the best team in the league and had nothing to fear. We have plenty to fear esp. with Bob at the helm guiding the ship.

I'm nearing a Piccs level "we've been shit for nearly a year, with a short 1-month stint where the players revolted and won the league" level of angst.

cheers

[Ted Hughes]

Finally, back on topic title, we can blame the manager for mismanagement of players (I did again today when Tevez and not the untenable Aguero made way to Dzeko), for the signing of them, but it's not the manager who MUST shoot on goal and upon the conversion ratio we are experiencing this season - and in many games of last too - I can only think to one manager who might sort it out: Jesus Christ, which sadly retiered long ago.

Good post, even if pissed!

Thing is, I've long said that the number of shots we require to score a goal is not the strikers fault. Someone, cant remember on this thread or another bemoaning the scoring prowess of RVP also completely missed the point.

RVP would have been just as redundant as Dzeko has when started. Our strikers 10/15/20 shots per game are generally a mixture of shots at players legs, or scuffed half chances. Very few make the keeper make a save, even those on target are often blocked by defenders before they even get to the keeper.

This is not down to the quality of striker on show, but down to the quality and pace of delivery.

The very fact that there are 11 defenders in the box by the time we get there tells you all you need to know about the problem, the cause and the solution. Scoring generally aint going to happen unless the opposition go to sleep. RVP would struggle just the same as our current strikers do under this setup. Our game is based on the opposition making a defensive mistake which allows us the time to pick a pass, and the recipient time in the area to set the sights. We dont actually have another plan, other than panic when it doesnt work.

The reason United / RVP are more clinical is nothing to do with luck, better forwards etc, it is down to the pace at which they break, which doesnt allow midfielders to retreat and pack the box, therefore giving uniteds advanced midfielder(s) an opportunity of picking a relatively simple pass or cross to a forward in space or moving into space, and their forwards being in space to receive it.

That is a tactical issue, and that blame lies at Mancinis door, not the players.

The pace of delivery to our forwards is an issue, whether that be down the wings or through the middle is largely irrelevant to be honest, its the speed with which we press thats the issue.

To say jesus christ couldnt manage a solution is rubbish. i could deliver that solution, and I dont earn £200k a week to do that.

this is why all of us were begging for some pace on the wings all summer. We missed Hazard, and ended up signing Sinclair, who can't get a look in. Not exactly stellar.

I'm glad people are finally realizing why i was shitting bricks in the summer in the "Leatherface" era when i was losing my shit day by day as we did fuckall of nothing to try and combat what was so fucking obvious last season. It still kills me that some took the piss and gave me shit -- i'm looking at you Soccs -- and said we were the best team in the league and had nothing to fear. We have plenty to fear esp. with Bob at the helm guiding the ship.

I'm nearing a Piccs level "we've been shit for nearly a year, with a short 1-month stint where the players revolted and won the league" level of angst.

cheers

I was gutted about missing Hazard (but there are strong rumours it was actually Bob, who pulled the plug) however I don't think we should EVER be looking at a player like RVP.

The problem though is not that we missed RVP or Hazard, it's that we already have Dzeko, Balotelli & Nasri.

Mancini has had so much money to spend with no responsibility, that we, as City fans, don't even question this kind of shit, we just whinge about the small ones like Sinclair (& whinge about Marwood).

Boateng, Kolarov, Balotelli, Dzeko, Nasri, Savic, now add Garcia, Sinclair, Rodwell, if you want.

All of these bought as additions to a squad, not as panic buys to keep us together. None of these were essential signings; all 'last piece in the jigsaw' kind of players who will have been sold to Khaldoon as the extra bit we needed.

I don't regret all of those signings, but if I was manager, would I have seen other priorities ? Too fucking right, & so would most on here including the absolute lickers.

Marwood's fault my arse. If he had that much power, his fault is the players he sanctioned, not the ones he missed.

[Goataldo]

[/quote]

The very fact that there are 11 defenders in the box by the time we get there tells you all you need to know about the problem, the cause and the solution. [/quote]

ACHINGLY ANNOYINGLY THIS.

Edit: epic quote fail, such a noob. Props to Spartacus, for cramming all my thoughts on the matter into a shell, like a small wooden yolk.

[Hazy2]

Having had a kip, confused by Mancini sums it up. Tactical or motivational he appears to me anyway as working week to week. For me we look lacking in spark and for me the players seem to be not enjoying it , the changes week in week out dont work. Sunderland away is becoming like Everton. Will he get a load of dough not sure he will. Chelsea might be overtaking us on current form, still support him just think he is the new Ranieri.

[sidSmith]

Having had a kip, confused by Mancini sums it up. Tactical or motivational he appears to me anyway as working week to week. For me we look lacking in spark and for me the players seem to be not enjoying it , the changes week in week out dont work. Sunderland away is becoming like Everton. Will he get a load of dough not sure he will. Chelsea might be overtaking us on current form, still support him just think he is the new Ranieri.

Having also had a kip I'm now sure my support isn't unconditional. It's been shit almost exactly a year and unless it changes to how we played and destroyed teams 18 months ago my support will reduce each game. We're not in Europe anymore and we're only competing domestically against sides like Sunderland, Stoke, Nowrich, etc, so no fucking excuse not to go after them.

Also realised that he is the master of deflection and bullshit, not as good as slur, but he finds a scapegoat and goes after them.

Properly fucked off with him/it.

[Beefymcfc]

I was gutted about missing Hazard (but there are strong rumours it was actually Bob, who pulled the plug) however I don't think we should EVER be looking at a player like RVP.

The problem though is not that we missed RVP or Hazard, it's that we already have Dzeko, Balotelli & Nasri.

Mancini has had so much money to spend with no responsibility, that we, as City fans, don't even question this kind of shit, we just whinge about the small ones like Sinclair (& whinge about Marwood).

Boateng, Kolarov, Balotelli, Dzeko, Nasri, Savic, now add Garcia, Sinclair, Rodwell, if you want.

All of these bought as additions to a squad, not as panic buys to keep us together. None of these were essential signings; all 'last piece in the jigsaw' kind of players who will have been sold to Khaldoon as the extra bit we needed.

I don't regret all of those signings, but if I was manager, would I have seen other priorities ? Too fucking right, & so would most on here including the absolute lickers.

Marwood's fault my arse. If he had that much power, his fault is the players he sanctioned, not the ones he missed.

Ted, I know you are trying to set the scene but come on, are those your real thoughts?

You say there is strong rumour that Mancini pulled the plug on Hazard? Where is this strong rumour mate, which of our board have leaked this out? It's poppycock mate, absolute bullshit. Hazard was simply out of our price range due to other factors, nothing more. Next you'll be saying RVP was the same.

And the others you mention, Dzeko, Nasri et al. Well, some of them didn't work out but in reality we got our money back for Boateng and Savic with the added bonus of Nastasi thrown in. As for Dzeko and Nasri, I was fully up for getting those 2 players and still think they are quality in their own right. Mario though, never really liked him but eh oh, Aguerooooooooooo.

But what about Aguero and Silva, did Mancini not bring them in, as well as Nastasic and Clichy. All these players are part of a Premier League winning squad yet they have no baring on what we've done and where we are now?

I understand that we are preparing that 'Stick' to beat him but come on, he pulled the plug on Hazard???

[City64]

DEAR MR BOBBY MANC,

ITS LIKE THIS ....... WE NEED TO BE SCORING GOALS, GOALS WIN GAMES , GOALS MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THE PLAYERS , GOALS , GOALS AND MORE GOALS ................. NOW !!!!!

[Beefymcfc]

DEAR MR BOBBY MANC,

ITS LIKE THIS ....... WE NEED TO BE SCORING GOALS, GOALS WIN GAMES , GOALS MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THE PLAYERS , GOALS , GOALS AND MORE GOALS ................. NOW !!!!!

Dear Mr City64,

"It is impossible that our strikers didn't score, it is a big problem at this moment."

"We are too soft in attack and too soft when we have chances and shoot."

"We didn't deserve to lose. We dominated, so I don't know how it is possible that we lost this game,"

"Last year, we scored one, two, three goals every game. Now when we have chances, we are too soft and this is not good.

"We should be very strong when we have chances, sometimes we take one extra touch and maybe think 'Okay, we will score next time.' But football is not like that.

"We have a fantastic attitude because we want to win right up until the last second but we can't recover every game. We need to score before that, we had five or six chances in the first half. It's incredible."

"United score a lot of goals, but they also concede more than us,"

"It depends on us because the season is long and we can recover, no problem, but we need to change something in our team because we cannot continue like this."

"Maybe Zabaleta deserved a red card?" Mancini said sarcastically. "I don't think the referee and linesman had a good performance today.

"It is impossible that they didn't see a foul like that."

Yours,

Bobby M

[City64]

DEAR MR BOBBY MANC,

ITS LIKE THIS ....... WE NEED TO BE SCORING GOALS, GOALS WIN GAMES , GOALS MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THE PLAYERS , GOALS , GOALS AND MORE GOALS ................. NOW !!!!!

Dear Mr City64,

"It is impossible that our strikers didn't score, it is a big problem at this moment."

"We are too soft in attack and too soft when we have chances and shoot."

"We didn't deserve to lose. We dominated, so I don't know how it is possible that we lost this game,"

"Last year, we scored one, two, three goals every game. Now when we have chances, we are too soft and this is not good.

"We should be very strong when we have chances, sometimes we take one extra touch and maybe think 'Okay, we will score next time.' But football is not like that.

"We have a fantastic attitude because we want to win right up until the last second but we can't recover every game. We need to score before that, we had five or six chances in the first half. It's incredible."

"United score a lot of goals, but they also concede more than us,"

"It depends on us because the season is long and we can recover, no problem, but we need to change something in our team because we cannot continue like this."

"Maybe Zabaleta deserved a red card?" Mancini said sarcastically. "I don't think the referee and linesman had a good performance today.

"It is impossible that they didn't see a foul like that."

Yours,

Bobby M

Many thanks

Now get the cunts scoring !

[Chinners]

Ha ha, good work both ... B+

[Dancity073]

It goes to show how far we've come in the last 3 years. Who'd have thought we'd be complaining about our being 7 points behind the scum. Years ago we'd have hoped to be 7 points above relegation!

Anyhow, I do see Mancini has taken us as far as he can. He has changed the Champions into a bunch of second rate players. The flare has gone, the constant goal threat on every attack has vanished....it definitely is no more " we'll score when we want !" coming from the crowd.
We are like Arsenal years ago, trying to walk the ball into the net and getting nowhere!

Derby Jong is better than Garcia, 4-4-2 is better than 3-5-2, Lescott up front instead of Tevez is ridiculous and playing Balotelli instead of Dzeko is down right criminal. Balotelli has no drive, unless he's in an Italian shirt and was an embarrassment against the scum. Mancinis decision to play Balotelli instead of Tevez against the scum is one of the hardest things for me to understand........Tevez hates the scum and is miles ahead as the most effective player on the pitch and in rousing the others around him too.

Wake up and smell the coffee Mancini before it's too late, and we cannot catch the scum. I do see Pep or Jose in soon as Mancini has to be the worst champions league manager....or Europa manger and one of the worst tacticians this season. Even Benitez would do a better job ha ha ha.....maybe too far there.

[ashton287]

A bit of new manager syndrome would do us good at the minute I reckons.

Get the strikers shooting trying to impress. Get rid of balo because no one but bob will put up with that absolute cunt. Get lescott back in the defence and make kompany work for his place instead of being a liability guaranteed a start. Barry starting again. Stick to a team and set up for the rest of the season.

Fuck it. Mancini can go. Pep and falcao in.