Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Here is the place to talk about all things city and football!

Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby Chinners » Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:25 am

THE BOLLOX

Image

Manchester City to review Roberto Mancini's position at end of season
Eastlands sources unable to confirm manager will remain • Mancini confident of staying and is planning recruitment
Image
The Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, believes that the club would have fared better this season if they had signed their targets last summer.
Roberto Mancini's reign as Manchester City manager will be reviewed at the end of the season, with sources at Eastlands unable to confirm he will still be in place next season. The Italian enters a defining week on Monday night with the derby at Manchester United followed by Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
Mancini was given a five-year contract last summer to indicate the faith Sheikh Mansour has in him and City favour stability, so there is no sense that the owner will be panicked into a decision.
However, with City 15 points behind United in a disappointing championship defence and the failure to reach the Champions League knockout stages for a second successive year – the team finished bottom of their group – there remains doubt over Mancini's position.

The Italian will face an end-of-season review in Abu Dhabi, which is to be led by Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman, and include Ferran Soriano, the chief executive, and the director of football, Txiki Begiristain. If United beat City on Monday evening , and Mancini's side are then knocked out of the Cup, the Italian's situation would be weakened.
There will be investment in players this summer, as the club strive to avert the mistakes of last year when none of their first-choice targets was landed. Mancini is sure that if those players had been bought – they include Robin van Persie, who instead moved to United – City would have enjoyed more success. Of the prospect of strengthening this summer, Mancini said: "I am sure we can do well this year, that we can do a good job in the market."
That suggests Mancini is confident he will remain in place. Yet with Begiristain and Soriano forming a new power base, there is a desire to ensure their first summer in charge of transfer policy involves the right manager, especially as Mancini hinted at the end of last week there could be a sizeable outlay.
"I don't know how much money we can spend," Mancini said. "I don't know this. But United in the past did spend a lot to buy important players. Now they don't need to spend every year, £100m. United are a top team, they just need to buy one top player every year because they are strong. For us it is different, we need to do it this way and may be in three or four years we need only buy one player in the summer because we have a strong team."

Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Tevez according to Italian source CalcioMercato.
The 29 year old Argentine has been linked with a possible Etihad Stadium exit as Roberto Mancini looks to re-shuffle his attacking pack and is the latest in a long line of apparent targets for the San Siro side who are keen to bring in a proven goal-scorer this summer.
The former West Ham and Man United man has recently been handed a community service order for driving whilst disqualified and without insurance but on the field of play has been in fine form of late, netting seven goals in his last six matches in all competitions.
Nerazzurri boss Andrea Stramaccioni has drawn up a list of potential summer additions to boost his firepower and Tevez joins the likes of Sampdoria forward Mauro Icardi and Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez as potential summer targets.
Man City will demand a hefty fee for Tevez, who cost the club around £30m and has scored 73 goals in 138 games since his move in July 2009.


Manchester Derby: Manchester City won't win anything without kids, says Gary Neville
Former United captain says Mancini must give his good young players a chance to develop
Explanations for the 15-point gap between the two Manchester teams grow more elaborate by the day, with Roberto Mancini even suggesting, as his City side prepare for the Old Trafford match that could all-but confirm their dethroning as champions tonight, that the mediocre teams have simply been too timid against Manchester United, in the last eight months.
The lack of self-scrutiny is remarkable from a manager who seems only to believe that all would be well had his club not failed him in last summer’s transfer market. Though reinforcements are needed this summer to deliver the width and counter-attacking pace which has been lacking in City and present in United, Gary Neville wonders why City do not simply look at the faith Sir Alex Ferguson has invested in young players and display the same themselves.
“I don’t know why they’ve not created a player in the last five years when Manchester City have won the [FA] Youth Cup and been in the latter stages of that competition,” Neville told The Independent. “I’ve seen players in their youth team when they’ve beaten United. You’ve got to create the pathway and at the moment I don’t see that pathway at City, whether the players are good enough or not.”
Placing trust in an 18-year-old is easier, of course, when you have the time, space and job security enjoyed by Ferguson. But after a season in which a bedrock of young players – Tom Cleverley, Jonny Evans, Rafael da Silva, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck – have been integral to United’s imminent title, we are no closer to knowing how good the leading lights of City’s youth might be. Denis Suarez and Abdul Razak, the Spanish and Dutch midfielders have started one League Cup game apiece; Portuguese midfielder Marcus Lopes once appeared as a substitute. Karim Rekik and Jeremy Helan are on loan.
“Unless you play that 17-year-old British kid, the French or African kids that come over at the age of 14 to your academy, in your first team you are never going to find out about them,” Neville said. “If you asked me at the age of 17: ‘Are you good enough to play for Manchester United?’ I wouldn’t have had a clue, until I played. And to be fair, Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have a clue, either. You might have the ability but until you test your temperament, desire and ability to compete and live at that level, you are never really going to know. Daniel Sturridge was good enough but he left. You can’t build a long-term future for a club unless you test these players and build a core.”
Mancini’s future beyond next month is unclear – Spanish director of football Txiki Begiristain and not the manager has featured mainly in City’s discussion of a new contract for Yaya Touré – but the Italian wants to plunge back into the transfer market for Napoli’s Edinson Cavani. Yet the 20 goals that City have lacked this season require more than another striker. Neville, tonight’s match analyst on Sky’s Monday Night Football programme where he has made a strong impact in his first season as a broadcaster, sees the 15-point deficit as about more than the “lazy” notion that Robin van Persie’s decision to sign for Ferguson has dictated the course of the title race.
“The difference for me between City and United this year is that City lack pace,” he says. “They rely on their passing game – and it’s a good one with creative players like David Silva, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez coming into those pockets off the front. But everything’s got to be perfect for it work and they’ve got to have space – whereas with United there’s a bit more. They’ve got width and they work the wide areas.
“On those occasions when the passing game isn’t quite right, City haven’t got the Plan B. Roberto Mancini has tried to go to five at the back but that’s very rarely worked. He hasn’t got many players in wide areas who can beat men. Silva, Tevez and Nasri all like to play in the field, so if you close that central area off they don’t really have anyone to stretch you out wide.
“In football terms, when you haven’t got real counter-attacking pace that can become a problem.”
Mancini would point to the failure to sign Eden Hazard, who went to Chelsea instead. It is a player in the bracket and mould of Real Madrid’s Angel di Maria who could make the difference. “You haven’t got anyone at City who runs past the centre-forward that much, only Yaya Touré really,” said Neville. “Yes, the problem this season has been scoring as many goals and for me that’s because when you watch City you know what’s going to happen.”
Neville also reflected on the marginal loss of what some in elite sport call “the edge”. “A huge weight was lifted off the shoulders of the club last May and I suppose in some ways you could argue it’s human nature for some at City just to go: ‘Wow. We did it. We got there’.” He does not ascribe great significance to Mancini’s tendency – observed often this season – to criticise his players publicly, something Ferguson does not generally do. “From my perspective, you would always argue it’s a misjudgement because I’m not sure how it’s going to get the players on-side. But nobody was complaining about that last season. I think he has a style which [Fabio] Capello had a bit in him: the Italian way – the Latin way – of speaking your mind.”
Ferguson certainly had something to say about his own players on the day City clinched the title last May. “I know my young players will learn from this and be lifting titles in years to come,” he said, and this registers most with Neville, his former captain. “You just see the development of young players,” he added. “Eventually they get it. The penny drops. Something happens. It happened with me. It happened with other young players. Eventually it just comes to you, that: ‘Right, I know what to do now, better than I did’.”
The Manchester derby is live on Monday Night Football from 7pm on Sky Sports 1HD and 3D

Wasted talent? Young City players left out in the cold

John Guidetti, 20
The Swedish striker has made one appearance – the League Cup defeat by West Bromwich in September 2010. Scored 20 goals in 23 matches on loan at Feyenoord, though injury has curtailed him.

Jeremy Helan, 20
Former France Under-16 midfielder signed from Rennes amid poaching claims, and now on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. Sources suggest that he was never seen at City as a guaranteed first-team star.

Dedryck Boyata, 22
Proof that investment of faith in a young player doesn’t always pay. Played only four Premier League games for Mancini after dismissal against Arsenal. Unconvincing on loan at Bolton and now on loan at Twente.

Former City striker Balotelli 'sure' Mancini will find a way to win at Old Trafford
Maverick striker Mario Balotelli is 'sure' his former club will win the Manchester derby.
Image
The Italian, who now plays in the red and black of AC Milan rather than the sky blue of Manchester City, is confident that Roberto Mancini, with whom he shared an up and down relationship, can find a way to win again at Old Trafford.
He said: 'I am sure Roberto Mancini will find the right way to win the derby. I really hope City win.'
'I'm sure': Ex-Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is confident Roberto Mancini can find a way to win at Old Trafford
In last season's unforgettable 6-1 encounter, Balotelli produced one of the memonts of the season revealing his now famous 'why always me?' t-shirt after opening the scoring.
'The goal I scored at Old Trafford was a great moment in my career, like the goal I scored for Italy against Germany in the Euros,' he said in an interview with the club's website, mcfc.co.uk.
'As soon as I arrived at City, everyone talked to me about the derby as the game to win and the Old Trafford as the stadium to conquer... I understood that - and did it!
'I am sure me and Nigel (de Jong) will watch the game - perhaps not together - but we will both supporting our ex-teammates, the boss and the supporters big time: we want a win.'
Balotelli has found himself in unstoppable form since exiting the Etihad for the San Siro, with seven goals in his first eight matches for his new club.

'I have never watched the 6-1 defeat... why would I?'
ALEX FERGUSON admits he has never watched a replay of last season’s 6-1 Manchester derby humiliation — as he is not into ‘self-flagellation’.
But the United boss is certain there will be no repeat of the collapse which made October 23, 2011 such a nightmare day.
Almost 18 months have passed since City ran riot at Old Trafford and tonight’s clash promises to be a more sombre affair for them.
Fergie’s men have banished the memories of last term in stunning fashion by striding 15 points clear of the champions and it is now a matter of WHEN and NOT if they reclaim the title.
When asked about last season’s fixture he said: “Do you think I’m going to mention that? Jesus Christ. I can talk about our form this season, I think I will concentrate on that.”
But has he ever watched the video back? “No,” he added. “Why would I? I’m not into self-flagellation.
“It happened, we threw it away, committed suicide in the game. We were the better team until they scored just before half-time.
“Then we had a man sent off and kept chasing the game. That’s gone in the history books but it will be different on Monday.”
That was not the only bad City memory which haunted Ferguson during the summer break.
Losing the title with almost the last kick of the season to their neighbours also took some getting over.
Fergie admitted: “The way we lost it resonates with a lot of people in the club. I think any player who was involved would have to feel it.
“It sticks in your mind but the only thing you can do after that kind of thing is do better.
“That’s what the players did — they focused and their team spirit was terrific. There was a definite purpose in getting the title back. They’ve achieved a lot this season.”
Many people have pointed to City’s decline since winning the crown — they are currently eight points worse off than this time last season

Manchester Derby: Roberto Mancini claims Manchester United scare teams into submission
ROBERTO MANCINI believes teams are so scared of Manchester United they are beaten before they start.
City boss Mancini cranked up the stakes ahead of tonight’s Manchester derby by suggesting clubs have a “soft mentality” and roll over when they face United – but try harder against City.
Mancini said: “No one plays well against United because they only play with fear.
“Every team that plays against them plays very soft because they think this game is difficult – they can’t beat them. Their mentality is poor.
“They think they can do nothing. But it is not true. If you play strong against United, you can beat them like they can beat us.
“United are strong now because of this importance as a team, as a club. This is because United have been a strong team for a long time. For the other teams they play against, it is difficult.”
Mancini was stunned by Sunderland’s limp display against United last Saturday that prompted Martin O’Neill’s dismissal.
Roberto Mancini thinks Man City would be champions if the likes of Robin Van Persie had joined
Sunderland have beaten City three years running at the Stadium of Light and were the only team to take a point at the Etihad Stadium last season.
But Mancini admits City do not carry the same fear factor for opponents yet because they have not been at the top for as long as their neighbours.
“We are young as a team and we don’t have the same importance like United yet,” he said. “The history is very important. We can’t do this in two years but maybe in 10 years.”
Mancini refuses to accept that United are a better team than City, even though they could stretch their lead to 18 points by completing the double over them tonight.
“We know we can beat them because they are not better than us,” he said. “This is sure, 100 per cent. We deserved to win the game at the Etihad Stadium [in December]. Like them we are a strong team. There is no difference.”
Mancini maintains that, had he been able to sign top targets such as Robin van Persie, Eden Hazard and Javi Martinez last summer, City would have retained the crown.

[spoiler]Image[/spoiler]
Van Persie was never going to Man City, insists Man Utd boss Ferguson
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insists Robin van Persie was never close to joining Manchester City last summer
Alex Ferguson insists Robin van Persie was never close to joining Manchester City last summer ahead of his eventual transfer to Manchester United.
The Netherlands striker moved to the Red Devils in a £24m deal from Arsenal in August, amid reported interest from Roberto Mancini’s side.
Van Persie, 29, has gone on to score 23 goals in his first season at Manchester United – and Ferguson insists the Dutchman was not considering a move to the Eithad Stadium
“It’s hypothetical, he was never going to City,” said Ferguson ahead of Monday’s derby showdown with City at Old trafford.
“He’s been fantastic for us, a really good footballer. We needed a bit of maturity up front and he’s been terrific.
“The improvement is not just through Robin but even when he doesn’t score he’s a fantastic footballer.”
Ferguson’s comments come after City boss Mancini claimed that missed signings in last summer’s transfer window have cost his side the title this season.
“We would probably be at the top… probably also in a Champions League quarter-final,” said Mancini.
“We had a chance to get three or four players that would have improved our team but now it is finished with.”

TWEET OF THE DAY
Image

Swansea could make Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas, 25, their first signing in the summer on a free transfer. Daily Mirror

Aussie full-back Craig Goodwin, 21, who plays for Newcastle Jets in the A-League, has been offered a two-week trial with Reading in the hope of moving to England next season. Sporting Life

West Brom defender Jonas Olsson, 30, believes the Baggies need to finish in the Premier League's top eight to attract bigger players to the club. Daily Mirror

Reading striker Adam Le Fondre believes Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez should have been sent off for his challenge on goalkeeper Adam Federici in scoring on Saturday. Instead Rodriguez's goal stood as the Saints won 2-0. DSSC

Real Madrid will take four goalkeepers to Turkey as part of their 21-man squad for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Galatasaray on Tuesday. Diego Lopez, 31, is expected to start once again ahead of the out-of-favour Iker Casillas, 31. El Mundo

Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil, 24, was only on the pitch for 15 minutes in Saturday's 5-1 win over Levante, but managed to score twice. Assistant manager Aitor Karanka later said the German international was carrying a slight injury. Marca

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, 25, met his match in the form of a robot goalkeeper as part of a bizarre Japanese game show. Metro


MORE BOLLOX LATER ...
Last edited by Chinners on Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:12 am, edited 2 times in total.
Image
User avatar
Chinners
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Kaptain Kompany's Komposure
 
Posts: 14256
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:52 pm
Location: Hampton Court Palace
Supporter of: B*ll*x
My favourite player is: Kun Tueart

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby lets all have a disco » Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:43 am

I agree 100% with the Mancini review at the end of the season,Hughes got the same treatment and went.
If the board don't think he has met his targets then he should be held accountable as IMHO he has made plenty of boo boos this season.
He was never me,me,me but always you,you,you
User avatar
lets all have a disco
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Pellegrini's Hoodie
 
Posts: 22479
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:20 pm
Location: Blue Army
Supporter of: Manchester City FC
My favourite player is: STILL MICAH RICHARDS

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Foreverinbluedreams » Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:49 am

LAHAD,

Mancini has had an end of season review at the end if every season he's been here.
Foreverinbluedreams
Denis Law's Backheel
 
Posts: 9224
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:34 pm
Supporter of: Euthanasia

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby lets all have a disco » Mon Apr 08, 2013 7:53 am

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:LAHAD,

Mancini has had an end of season review at the end if every season he's been here.



Yes i know,he has passed with flying colours the last few.
He was never me,me,me but always you,you,you
User avatar
lets all have a disco
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Pellegrini's Hoodie
 
Posts: 22479
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:20 pm
Location: Blue Army
Supporter of: Manchester City FC
My favourite player is: STILL MICAH RICHARDS

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Peter Doherty (AGAIG) » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:06 am

I have no doubt that Mancini will be here next season (unless we fall to pieces in the next few weeks). We'll get some quality recruits in during the summer and Mancini will have a point to prove next season. Already looking forward to it (that's my spin, anyway).
Peter Doherty (AGAIG)
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Shaun Goater's 103 Goals
 
Posts: 7170
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:15 am
Location: Manchester
Supporter of: MCFC
My favourite player is: Johan Cruyff

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby ant london » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:06 am

Good lad Mario!

As to Roberto's end of season review. So he should....I'm pretty sure most employees these days have something similar. The good thing about having Cheeky Burgerstain and Ferran The Man in place is that now we have some people actually qualified to talk critically to Roberto about football matters. He clearly respects them and whilst I'm sure he won't accept them meddling on a day to day basis...strategic discussions about what could be improved I think would now be possible whereas under leatherfuckface that would never have happened as Mancini clearly did not respect him in anywhere near the same way.

If we missed out on 2nd and lose the semi or final I think his "review" could be very uncomfortable. If we get second and win the cup it will be a frank appraisal and "what can we do better" and nothing more.
Image
User avatar
ant london
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Neil Young's FA Cup Winning Goal
 
Posts: 11505
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:01 pm
Location: Almaty
Supporter of: Cityski
My favourite player is: Mario Balotelli

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby lets all have a disco » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:10 am

ant london wrote:Good lad Mario!

As to Roberto's end of season review. So he should....I'm pretty sure most employees these days have something similar. The good thing about having Cheeky Burgerstain and Ferran The Man in place is that now we have some people actually qualified to talk critically to Roberto about football matters. He clearly respects them and whilst I'm sure he won't accept them meddling on a day to day basis...strategic discussions about what could be improved I think would now be possible whereas under leatherfuckface that would never have happened as Mancini clearly did not respect him in anywhere near the same way.

If we missed out on 2nd and lose the semi or final I think his "review" could be very uncomfortable. If we get second and win the cup it will be a frank appraisal and "what can we do better" and nothing more.


This is correct.
He was never me,me,me but always you,you,you
User avatar
lets all have a disco
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Pellegrini's Hoodie
 
Posts: 22479
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:20 pm
Location: Blue Army
Supporter of: Manchester City FC
My favourite player is: STILL MICAH RICHARDS

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Blue Since 76 » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:52 am

I'm mainly worried about our 'wasted talent' - why haven't we played Giudetti this season? Surely we should have been playing him in most of our games just like the rags have done with Smalling and Jones.
Blue Since 76
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Joe Hart's 29 Clean Sheets
 
Posts: 5965
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 9:37 pm

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Foreverinbluedreams » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:54 am

Blue Since 76 wrote:I'm mainly worried about our 'wasted talent' - why haven't we played Giudetti this season? Surely we should have been playing him in most of our games just like the rags have done with Smalling and Jones.


Not sure if serious
Foreverinbluedreams
Denis Law's Backheel
 
Posts: 9224
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:34 pm
Supporter of: Euthanasia

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby leomcfc » Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:00 am

Phil jones and Chris smalling from uniteds youth development?! My only surprise is they not claiming van persie is. Pathetic
leomcfc
De Michelis's Pace
 
Posts: 42
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:57 pm
Supporter of: man city
My favourite player is: yaya

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby ant london » Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:05 am

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Blue Since 76 wrote:I'm mainly worried about our 'wasted talent' - why haven't we played Giudetti this season? Surely we should have been playing him in most of our games just like the rags have done with Smalling and Jones.


Not sure if serious


I'm hoping tongue in cheek but I really am not sure!!!
Image
User avatar
ant london
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Neil Young's FA Cup Winning Goal
 
Posts: 11505
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:01 pm
Location: Almaty
Supporter of: Cityski
My favourite player is: Mario Balotelli

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby johnny crossan » Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:13 am

not forgetting Turkeyneck in the Telegraph

Alan Hansen: Manchester City’s missed opportunity to rule means manager Roberto Mancini has to go
Manchester City had the biggest chance of all-time to blow the rest of English football away last summer and set in motion success for the next 10 years, but Roberto Mancini’s future is now under threat because they have simply failed to grasp their opportunity.

Feeling the blues: Roberto Mancini's Manchester City job is under threat after his team failed to assert any kind of pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Alan Hansen6:15AM BST 08 Apr 201337 Comments

When Sergio Agüero scored the goal to win the Premier League title in the dying seconds of last season, everybody expected City to kick on and obliterate the rest of the field. Yet as they go to Old Trafford on Monday, 15 points behind their neighbours Manchester United, questions are being asked of Mancini and people are trying to decide who is at fault for the position in which City now find themselves in.
Mancini continues to talk about City’s failure to sign the players he wanted last summer, top-class performers such as Robin van Persie, Daniele De Rossi and Javi Martínez. But the fact that none of those players arrived and Mancini chose to stay suggests to me that he is at fault for still being there.
The minute a manager fails to persuade his bosses to get the players he wants is the minute he should go. Jose Mourinho ultimately walked out on Chelsea because he was not happy with the players being brought in to the club. Mourinho knew a manager had to be left to manage.
What happens on the pitch always comes back to the manager, so if Mancini was not happy with the players who were added to his squad, or displeased at those who did not arrive, he could have done what Mourinho did at Chelsea.
There have been too many other issues at City this season, though, and that is why Mancini now finds himself in trouble. He has failed to get the best out of players who were good enough to win the title last season, he allowed the Mario Balotelli distraction to run on for far too long and the lack of team spirit is another problem that has to come back to the manager.

In a football dressing-room, nobody likes a manager, or certainly very few players do. Bob Paisley used to say that the moment a manager is liked by his players is the moment when he is in trouble, but while they don’t have to be liked, the players have to be able to rely on the manager.

There have been too many noises coming out of the City camp this season, though, and too much talk of in-fighting and the lack of togetherness has played itself out in the defeats at Southampton and Everton, when their performance was totally unacceptable. There was no fight from City in either game and that has to be down to the manager.
When you have the club captain playing for his country against the manager’s wishes after two months out with injury, you know you have problems.

As captain, Vincent Kompany has to be the leader in the dressing room, somebody who is on the same wavelength as the manager.
He has to be the buffer between the manager and the players, but by playing for Belgium last month after all that time on the sidelines, he did little to convey the notion that he and Mancini are on the same frequency.
There is now talk of Barcelona being interested in Kompany, so instead of City adding world-class players to their squad, they are now faced with the prospect of the team breaking up.
After winning the title last season, City simply should not find themselves in the position they are now in. And one of the biggest indictments of their title defence is that their under-par showings have led to people starting to describe the leading team as one of Ferguson’s best.

Nobody was saying that back in October and November when United were scraping 1-0 victories against mediocre opposition, but they have since stretched their lead to 15 points because City have put them under absolutely no pressure.
United have been allowed to coast to the title. They capitulated last season, but City have failed to assert any kind of pressure to make that happen again.

And that is why Mancini is now hearing talk of his job being under threat, because the modern game demands success immediately. He has overseen a team that has gone from being in a position of absolute power to one that has left everyone guessing again about what the future holds.

And while Mancini may still complain about the failings of last summer and the lack of top-quality additions to his squad, the buck always stops with the manager and nobody can say that he or City have had a good season.
Image
User avatar
johnny crossan
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Bert Trautmann's Neck
 
Posts: 12222
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:25 am
Location: The Barcelona of The North
Supporter of: City
My favourite player is: Merlin

Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Peter Doherty (AGAIG) » Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:22 am

Hansen: vile bastard for sale.
Peter Doherty (AGAIG)
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Shaun Goater's 103 Goals
 
Posts: 7170
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:15 am
Location: Manchester
Supporter of: MCFC
My favourite player is: Johan Cruyff

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby sweenyuk » Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:29 am

Just got confirmation that Ian Ladyman will be at the next MCDSA meeting, the Bollox live on Tour 2013.....
User avatar
sweenyuk
De Jong's Tackle
 
Posts: 1012
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:54 pm
Location: Leigh
Supporter of: City
My favourite player is: Silva

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby Chinners » Mon Apr 08, 2013 12:19 pm

What the hell has that cunt Ladyman been invited for? I guarentee we will see more negative stories about our fans in the days after his attendance. Bad move imo
Image
User avatar
Chinners
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Kaptain Kompany's Komposure
 
Posts: 14256
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:52 pm
Location: Hampton Court Palace
Supporter of: B*ll*x
My favourite player is: Kun Tueart

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby Swales4ever » Mon Apr 08, 2013 2:51 pm

Cheers for the superb Derby day issue, luxury babe and genious t@ of the day.

Imho, the "Manchester Derby: Roberto Mancini claims Manchester United scare teams into submission" shouldn't have featured: it ain't bollox.

1. "unintelligible language"
2. "ACID QUEEN"
3. "never once fails to turn a football thread into a himseelf thread"
4. "thumbs stalker often resulting in repetitive thumb strain"
5. ignore the cunt. he's on permantent wum mission. only TIDs may know City

You'd need to make a very good psychiatrist in order to guess what next in a eight yrs long line of hatred...


In Roger Ailes/Donnie Drumpf's words: "don't know it for a fact, but many people say so..."
there must be some truth, then!
User avatar
Swales4ever
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Shaun Goater's 103 Goals
 
Posts: 7168
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:18 am
Location: On the Edge of Insanity
Supporter of: Sharia for Spafia
My favourite player is: an intelligent one

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby Blue Since 76 » Mon Apr 08, 2013 3:19 pm

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Not sure if serious


Not serious - Smalling and Duncan Edwards have missed games for the same reasons ie injured, but they're put forwards as how progressive the rags are, but Guidetti is put forwards as an example of how we don't promote kids.
Blue Since 76
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Joe Hart's 29 Clean Sheets
 
Posts: 5965
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 9:37 pm

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby ant london » Mon Apr 08, 2013 3:21 pm

Blue Since 76 wrote:
Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Not sure if serious


Not serious - Smalling and Duncan Edwards have missed games for the same reasons ie injured, but they're put forwards as how progressive the rags are, but Guidetti is put forwards as an example of how we don't promote kids.



I was fairly sure that was the case seeing as it was you but thanks for the clarificationalalityness
Image
User avatar
ant london
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Neil Young's FA Cup Winning Goal
 
Posts: 11505
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:01 pm
Location: Almaty
Supporter of: Cityski
My favourite player is: Mario Balotelli

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby Cit.revenge » Mon Apr 08, 2013 4:31 pm

I also think that we do not try to use young players, why we must buy all , can we produce one player ?There is no way you will get young stars from your youth team with 10 min in 20 games.Bob wants to have 20 great players names then next season another 5 then again another 5 that is not managing that is just buying. Course we are 2 that is fine , but 15 points that rags can't be better and Ajax is not better then us even Real and Borussia have no right to say that , and Bob us right how other teams play against rags but also sometimes it s clear that we have no motivation like them-And sometimes i don't know what to think abaut Bob , sometimes hes amazing and then again sometimes i do not know wtf hes doing.We will see , there is game tonight that can make us fell all better.
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
Cit.revenge
Rosler's Grandad Bombed The Swamp
 
Posts: 3771
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:43 pm
Location: Sarajevo BiH
Supporter of: Manchester City
My favourite player is: Silva

Re: Monday's B*l**x (updated)

Postby johnny crossan » Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:41 am

Blue Since 76 wrote:
Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Not sure if serious


Not serious - Smalling and Duncan Edwards have missed games for the same reasons ie injured, but they're put forwards as how progressive the rags are, but Guidetti is put forwards as an example of how we don't promote kids.
but Guidetti has a withered leg
Image
User avatar
johnny crossan
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Bert Trautmann's Neck
 
Posts: 12222
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:25 am
Location: The Barcelona of The North
Supporter of: City
My favourite player is: Merlin

Next

Return to The Maine Football forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Blue Jam, BlueinBosnia, branny, city72, dick dastardley, john@staustell, Majestic-12 [Bot] and 107 guests