Very Concerned

[Wonderwall]

4 games played
2 wins 1 draw 1 loss
Played good against the barcodes and not very good since.
However Pellegrini is new to the league and the squad. It will take time for him to get what he wants. Kneejerk bollocks are for chelsea fans ffs. Did you expect barca style footy for every minute of every game? We need to keep the faith for a good while yet before becoming a bunch of whinging twats. We have 7 points from 12 and we know we have been way below our average performance never mind our best. Therefore this is a massive plus that we are still grinding out results whilst Pellegrini gets up to speed and we get our best players fit.

Wind your necks in ladies

[Nigels Tackle]

i will be supporting liverpool next season at this rate

[Rag_hater]

4 games played
2 wins 1 draw 1 loss
Played good against the barcodes and not very good since.
However Pellegrini is new to the league and the squad. It will take time for him to get what he wants. Kneejerk bollocks are for chelsea fans ffs. Did you expect barca style footy for every minute of every game? We need to keep the faith for a good while yet before becoming a bunch of whinging twats. We have 7 points from 12 and we know we have been way below our average performance never mind our best. Therefore this is a massive plus that we are still grinding out results whilst Pellegrini gets up to speed and we get our best players fit.

Wind your necks in ladies

Spot on,and considering we have such a shit defense:
3 clean sheets whilst playing bad means things can only get better.

[Tony P]

I'm concerned about the defence, midfield and attack!!

Yes Stoke away is a tough game, but not to test their keeper is worrying.

At least Joe's improved then!

[Twobob]

I don't get how people can say the defence was the biggest problem when we didn't have a single shot on target. A massive lack of creativity.

If you dont have faith in the defence then players arent as willing to push forwards, full-backs stay back and there's a nervousness about the team as they know if the lose possession then we look flaky when the oppo's in attack - pretty much means goals become difficult to come by specifically against well disciplined defences like today.

Cardiff, Hull and today it has almost seemed that the central midfield has been playing for a different team than the defence and attack too, poor cover for the defence, poor linkup from defence to attack and they just seem lost and confused with a either a different game plan in their heads or none at all.

I'm not overly concerned as this point, i have confidence that its just time needed to get used to playing differently and Pellers getting used to the league but football is football no matter which sky you play it under so I'd expect things to start improving Tuesday and Sunday or the excuses will run out.

We said it before after Cardiff, lets hope the lesson has been learnt - and injuries to key players has not helped, but seeing Garcia back in there and such a disjointed team doesn't bode well that things are being learnt too quickly.

We need a win now on Tuesday, anything less and it will be another joke of a CL campaign - nothing less that 6 points off Plzen will be good enough IMHO, not even going to think about the derby until Weds.

[MilnersJaw]

I think we are overreacting. Give him sometime. How things are going we might not win the league but if we win something and progress in the cl it ain't too bad. don't forget though with Kompany injured the defence is bad.

[AG7]

I am "very concerned" too ... concerned that we're not playing like we played that day (yes, that 1-6 day) ... concerned that we're not winning every game 4-0 minimum ... oh wait, let me check some facts ...

- We have scored most goals in the league ...
- We have the highest goal difference ...
- We have kept 3 clean sheets out of 4, yes highest again in the league ...
- We have 7 points, same as other two title contenders (Chelsea and Scum) but wait, we sit above them due to our better GD ...

OK Arse, Pool and Spurs are above us in the table but c'mon, which moron seriously thinks that any single one of them will finish there?

It's 4 games people, just 4 out of 38. Another 34 to go ... give the new manager a chance and the new players coming in to adjust to each other ...

I'd give them another 4 games ... after 8 games then (and with 30 still to go) if we are not in touching distance of the top then yes I'll start to get concerned ...

Today's team selection said it all (what I expected and voiced in another thread earlier this week as well) ... that the Sheikhs and the Spaniards have clearly told Pellegrini where lies the priority this season.

You'll see us playing cup games with a different intensity and CL is our top priority ... win a domestic cup or two and get as far as possible in the CL (beyond group of course) and while doing so, keep in touch with leaders in the league and come December we'll see if we are still up there and need to really pull ahead, then we'll get you whatever else you need in January window ...

[john68]

I do patience to a point where it almost becomes a coma...but for the life of me I cannot see what direction we are aiming in. Usually, at least you get a clue of what we're trying to do, even if we;re doing it badly. You could see what Stoke we're attempting. It may not have been done that well, but there was a hint of what they may be aiming at.
We may have the highest GD and scored the most...but against who? Newcastle, Cardiff,Hull and Stoke? I would expect we should have a pretty decent return from those fixtures.

Our defence was a disorganised shambles, our 2 central midfielders were overrun by Stokes 3. For much of the game, our passing game was inlittle tight knit triangles that were going nowhere nd only served to allow Stoke to crowd players into the tiny area we were operating in. At one point Aguero, who refused to pass the ball, had as many as eight Stoke defenders in close proximity.

Even with our stars out, we had enough quality on the field to despatch a Stoke side who also like us are undergoing changes.

[Socrates]

I do patience to a point where it almost becomes a coma...but for the life of me I cannot see what direction we are aiming in. Usually, at least you get a clue of what we're trying to do, even if we;re doing it badly. You could see what Stoke we're attempting. It may not have been done that well, but there was a hint of what they may be aiming at.
We may have the highest GD and scored the most...but against who? Newcastle, Cardiff,Hull and Stoke? I would expect we should have a pretty decent return from those fixtures.

Our defence was a disorganised shambles, our 2 central midfielders were overrun by Stokes 3. For much of the game, our passing game was inlittle tight knit triangles that were going nowhere nd only served to allow Stoke to crowd players into the tiny area we were operating in. At one point Aguero, who refused to pass the ball, had as many as eight Stoke defenders in close proximity.

Even with our stars out, we had enough quality on the field to despatch a Stoke side who also like us are undergoing changes.

Just having to remind myself that we shouldn't be comparing with the halcyon days when we were title contenders with Mancini. Mancini is gone and there is no going back. Pellegrini has now earned the right to be compared with Pearce as the results are ok even if it is visually dire. If we start playing better then we can start to compare with Keegan. If the clown ever wins a trophy, something he has yet to do in 9 years in Europe, then we can start to compare with Mancini!

[Clowncrete]

I don't get how people can say the defence was the biggest problem when we didn't have a single shot on target. A massive lack of creativity.

If you dont have faith in the defence then players arent as willing to push forwards, full-backs stay back and there's a nervousness about the team as they know if the lose possession then we look flaky when the oppo's in attack - pretty much means goals become difficult to come by specifically against well disciplined defences like today.

Cardiff, Hull and today it has almost seemed that the central midfield has been playing for a different team than the defence and attack too, poor cover for the defence, poor linkup from defence to attack and they just seem lost and confused with a either a different game plan in their heads or none at all.

I'm not overly concerned as this point, i have confidence that its just time needed to get used to playing differently and Pellers getting used to the league but football is football no matter which sky you play it under so I'd expect things to start improving Tuesday and Sunday or the excuses will run out.

We said it before after Cardiff, lets hope the lesson has been learnt - and injuries to key players has not helped, but seeing Garcia back in there and such a disjointed team doesn't bode well that things are being learnt too quickly.

We need a win now on Tuesday, anything less and it will be another joke of a CL campaign - nothing less that 6 points off Plzen will be good enough IMHO, not even going to think about the derby until Weds.

Having a poor defence should not be an excuse for poor attacks. Scum last season were leaking goals like fuck in the first 5 months and yet they were scoring just enough to get all 3 points. For all the scapegoating of our defence, it did what it was supposed to do: not leak a goal. Garcia was pretty good and better than Nastasic, who somehow got all the plaudits. Where was the midfield which lost the ball or were simply unable to get into the opponent's half? Nasri, Jovetic were completely ineffective and Negredo became an island due to the poor midfield.

[ruralblue]

Don't worry, be happy. Cause every little thing... is gonna be alright :-)

[Breks]

Total over reaction. Most of our squad where away on international duty and the whole squad probably got about 2 days training together before this game. How is pellers meant to get them to gel and sort out any weaknesses in that time. We are 4th after 4 games its hardly a crisis. Get a grip theres 34 league games left.

[Blue Since 76]

Just having to remind myself that we shouldn't be comparing with the halcyon days when we were title contenders with Mancini. Mancini is gone and there is no going back. Pellegrini has now earned the right to be compared with Pearce as the results are ok even if it is visually dire. If we start playing better then we can start to compare with Keegan. If the clown ever wins a trophy, something he has yet to do in 9 years in Europe, then we can start to compare with Mancini!

Maybe you could compare him with last season when we were also visually dire and failed to win anything.

Or we could just discuss what the problems are and what may need fixing without trying to score points that the last manager was better. These problems and performances started last year and whilst Pellegrini tries to engineer a solution, he's definitely making it worse. The concern is whether he can fix it.

Whether you wanted Mancini gone or not, pretty much every fan's thoughts on Pellegrini were similar, that it was an 'interesting' appointment and time would tell. Whether he will be better than Mancini or not, we'll see, although I have my doubts. Any failings he has don't make Mancini perfect. To use your analogy, seeing Pearce's team didn't mean we should have kept Keegan.

[Socrates]

Just having to remind myself that we shouldn't be comparing with the halcyon days when we were title contenders with Mancini. Mancini is gone and there is no going back. Pellegrini has now earned the right to be compared with Pearce as the results are ok even if it is visually dire. If we start playing better then we can start to compare with Keegan. If the clown ever wins a trophy, something he has yet to do in 9 years in Europe, then we can start to compare with Mancini!

Maybe you could compare him with last season when we were also visually dire and failed to win anything.

Or we could just discuss what the problems are and what may need fixing without trying to score points that the last manager was better. These problems and performances started last year and whilst Pellegrini tries to engineer a solution, he's definitely making it worse. The concern is whether he can fix it.

Whether you wanted Mancini gone or not, pretty much every fan's thoughts on Pellegrini were similar, that it was an 'interesting' appointment and time would tell. Whether he will be better than Mancini or not, we'll see, although I have my doubts. Any failings he has don't make Mancini perfect. To use your analogy, seeing Pearce's team didn't mean we should have kept Keegan.

I already said as much, no point harking back to the halcyon days, we are shit again and will be for a while. I have accepted it.

[s1ty m]

If The Champions League is the priority, we have a real problem. City look poor enough to finish about 7th, in my opinion. I have seen nothing to suggest top 4 is nailed on as it has been in the last 3 seasons. Nothing at all. If that happens, which I firmly believe it will, we'll not be even in The Champions League next season. Every club should target its own domestic league before anything else, it's utter madness not to.

There are some positives, as some have mentioned, but to not be concerned by what we are all seeing is really a bit odd. This team is so far away from what we had 2 years ago, it defies belief.

So, in response to the thread title, yes, very concerned. I don't think it's knee jerk, we've been poor for a while now, certainly 12 months. The away Derby last season aside, there have been very few games where I can look back and remember excellence. Newcastle at home this season, the cup semi for 70 minutes, not a lot more.

[sheblue]

Yes be concerned for this season, it seems pelligrini needs time to learn a little,about the league and implement the characteristics of his regime. It's very very hard to see this team winning prem, but rags and Chelsea are dodgy too, so lets hope he gets it soon.

[Blue Since 76]

I already said as much, no point harking back to the halcyon days, we are shit again and will be for a while. I have accepted it.

Problem is, we were poor last season and it's continuing. Some focus has to go onto the players as well for not performing for two different managers over the last 12 months.

I can live with a season of not winning anything as long as we don't drop out of the top 4 and there is a clear vision of what we're trying to achieve. But considering all the purchases this season were in their late twenties, we're not building for the future. Big week coming.

[CuteMancs]

I already said as much, no point harking back to the halcyon days, we are shit again and will be for a while. I have accepted it.

Problem is, we were poor last season and it's continuing. Some focus has to go onto the players as well for not performing for two different managers over the last 12 months.

I can live with a season of not winning anything as long as we don't drop out of the top 4 and there is a clear vision of what we're trying to achieve. But considering all the purchases this season were in their late twenties, we're not building for the future. Big week coming.

This, exactly.....this week is massive. I suggest we regroup next Sunday evening and then panic !

[Crossie]

7 games on 21 days is exactly what we need. It will come good.

[Ted Hughes]

I do patience to a point where it almost becomes a coma...but for the life of me I cannot see what direction we are aiming in. Usually, at least you get a clue of what we're trying to do, even if we;re doing it badly. You could see what Stoke we're attempting. It may not have been done that well, but there was a hint of what they may be aiming at.
We may have the highest GD and scored the most...but against who? Newcastle, Cardiff,Hull and Stoke? I would expect we should have a pretty decent return from those fixtures.

Our defence was a disorganised shambles, our 2 central midfielders were overrun by Stokes 3. For much of the game, our passing game was inlittle tight knit triangles that were going nowhere nd only served to allow Stoke to crowd players into the tiny area we were operating in. At one point Aguero, who refused to pass the ball, had as many as eight Stoke defenders in close proximity.

Even with our stars out, we had enough quality on the field to despatch a Stoke side who also like us are undergoing changes.

Our defence was a shambles last season but kept getting clean sheets, so when I mentioned it had been totally shit & lucky, I got shouted down with statistics. When we played decent teams we were sometimes overrun & either conceded goals or had to rely on bad finishing/Joe Hart in order to survive. Early last season, Sothampton ran through us & scored goals, Liverpool scored two, Arsenal ran through us & kept missing, Bob tried Nastasic v Aston Villa; they put 4 past us with the worst defensive display I've seen since Sven was here, Real Madrid should have had 10 in the 1st half, Dortmund ran riot through us over & over again & kept missing, Ajax scored 3, then scored 2, the rags put 3 past us, Norwich put 3 past us, Liverpool battered fuck out of us on our own pitch & scored another 2, Southampton battered us for 3, Everton battered us for 2, Spurs battered us for 3.

We picked up some good results v Chelsea & one away at Arsenal, plus a good away performance at the rags.

That's it, for the season.
The rest of the time we occasionally battered shite (like we have just done with Newcastle) lost to shite (like we have just done at Cardiff) & drew with shite (like we just did at Stoke).

When someone mentioned this as being the case, almost everybody was content about not scoring v West Ham or QPR, or losing at Sunderland, & everything was fine.

Now those same kind of results are a disaster.

In reality, neither last season or this season so far, is anywhere near the standard City should be producing.

The biggest difference is that now it's ok to say so.