Mancini Debut....Thoughts?

[shawzy]

Some top posts and opinons...Wonder what them clunts on MOTD say about us tonight.
Im watchin the game again on SS1 and the back 4 and all the MF look so tight as a unit.
Petrov on the right worked his ass off tracking back and some of his crosses when he cut inside with his left foot were really good, especially the 1st half.
Great to see Bellers come on.The crowd went mad and its a shame his shot didnt go in.
The main thing was the clean sheet for me..9 goals in the last 3 games was shocking and im hopeful we can build on this now.
Well done Mancini.Keep it up.

[Beefymcfc]

Some top posts and opinons...Wonder what them clunts on MOTD say about us tonight.
Im watchin the game again on SS1 and the back 4 and all the MF look so tight as a unit.
Petrov on the right worked his ass off tracking back and some of his crosses when he cut inside with his left foot were really good, especially the 1st half.
Great to see Bellers come on.The crowd went mad and its a shame his shot didnt go in.
The main thing was the clean sheet for me..9 goals in the last 3 games was shocking and im hopeful we can build on this now.
Well done Mancini.Keep it up.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the crowd today. There was lots of booing when Mancio came out and I'm hoping it was the Stokies it was coming from. Furthermore, I thought we were a bit quiet at times, especially when we were 2 up, as if we were expecting another Fulham.

Anyone notice it?

[frannylee]

Some top posts and opinons...Wonder what them clunts on MOTD say about us tonight.
Im watchin the game again on SS1 and the back 4 and all the MF look so tight as a unit.
Petrov on the right worked his ass off tracking back and some of his crosses when he cut inside with his left foot were really good, especially the 1st half.
Great to see Bellers come on.The crowd went mad and its a shame his shot didnt go in.
The main thing was the clean sheet for me..9 goals in the last 3 games was shocking and im hopeful we can build on this now.
Well done Mancini.Keep it up.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the crowd today. There was lots of booing when Mancio came out and I'm hoping it was the Stokies it was coming from. Furthermore, I thought we were a bit quiet at times, especially when we were 2 up, as if we were expecting another Fulham.

Anyone notice it?

Was watching via the interweb and thought it was quiet at times but wasn't sure if it was the audio on the stream I was using (thought 47,000 + would have made a bit more noise ??)

[shawzy]

Some top posts and opinons...Wonder what them clunts on MOTD say about us tonight.
Im watchin the game again on SS1 and the back 4 and all the MF look so tight as a unit.
Petrov on the right worked his ass off tracking back and some of his crosses when he cut inside with his left foot were really good, especially the 1st half.
Great to see Bellers come on.The crowd went mad and its a shame his shot didnt go in.
The main thing was the clean sheet for me..9 goals in the last 3 games was shocking and im hopeful we can build on this now.
Well done Mancini.Keep it up.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the crowd today. There was lots of booing when Mancio came out and I'm hoping it was the Stokies it was coming from. Furthermore, I thought we were a bit quiet at times, especially when we were 2 up, as if we were expecting another Fulham.

Anyone notice it?

on SS1 The filming started right at kickoff so didnt show the booing inccident..Iv just read on the BBC website Mancini got a warm reception heres the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 423380.stm
Edit- I did hear the booing on my stream so think your right about it bein the Stoke fans bud

[10.Goater_Legend]

Some top posts and opinons...Wonder what them clunts on MOTD say about us tonight.
Im watchin the game again on SS1 and the back 4 and all the MF look so tight as a unit.
Petrov on the right worked his ass off tracking back and some of his crosses when he cut inside with his left foot were really good, especially the 1st half.
Great to see Bellers come on.The crowd went mad and its a shame his shot didnt go in.
The main thing was the clean sheet for me..9 goals in the last 3 games was shocking and im hopeful we can build on this now.
Well done Mancini.Keep it up.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the crowd today. There was lots of booing when Mancio came out and I'm hoping it was the Stokies it was coming from. Furthermore, I thought we were a bit quiet at times, especially when we were 2 up, as if we were expecting another Fulham.

Anyone notice it?

on SS1 The filming started right at kickoff so didnt show the booing inccident..Iv just read on the BBC website Mancini got a warm reception heres the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 423380.stm

It was the Stoke fans, my seasoncard is right next to the away end and everyone of the sad basterds boo'd as loud as they could when Mancio came out. All the City fans gave him a standing ovation.

[CityFanFromRome]

Defence looked 100x better, but the way we passed the ball around at the back but created fucl all reminded me of Sven and nearly put me to sleep. Hopefully we'll start to see some more attacking intent once everyone has got used to each other and worked out the new tactics

Keeping the ball and letting it move from side to side is the best way to control the game and try to create a gap in the opponent's defence, then you exploit that gap and score (or try to). It can be a bit boring at times, but if done well, it's surely effective as results go.

Anyway, I'm pretty satisfied with his debut, nothing spectacular up front, but we were much more solid at the back even if Shay had to do two great saves. And of course, the tactical changes which worked perfectly, at last someone who can read a game and try to change it before it's too late. Let's see what he does at Wolves before getting too ecstatic, though.

[lets all have a disco]

Lovely scarf and coat.

very nice.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Couldn't be happier. The main thing I wanted was a clean sheet and we got one and as a result 3 points , job done. Not the greatest performance but that's irrelevant.

Just to wander back to the move of Zabba to left full back. I still don't see that as a tactical masterstroke. Since when has putting a right footed player at left back been a tactical decision? It might have been a necessity as Silv was either injured or tired but a tactical masterstroke! If Silv had to go off it think it was the right decision for sure even if it very nearly went wrong inside a minute. Just a slice of what every manager needs and what Mancini hoimself says he wants most of , luck.

And that's nothing against Zabba as I love the guy.

As for calling Mancini by his proper name could somebody explain what it wrong with that. It's a habit I often have , calling somebody by their actual name. Surely the preferred option wouldn't be Bobby Manc would it as I can't think of anything worse personally.

[Florida Blue]

Couldn't be happier. The main thing I wanted was a clean sheet and we got one and as a result 3 points , job done. Not the greatest performance but that's irrelevant.

Just to wander back to the move of Zabba to left full back. I still don't see that as a tactical masterstroke. Since when has putting a right footed player at left back been a tactical decision? It might have been a necessity as Silv was either injured or tired but a tactical masterstroke! If Silv had to go off it think it was the right decision for sure even if it very nearly went wrong inside a minute. Just a slice of what every manager needs and what Mancini hoimself says he wants most of , luck.

And that's nothing against Zabba as I love the guy.

As for calling Mancini by his proper name could somebody explain what it wrong with that. It's a habit I often have , calling somebody by their actual name. Surely the preferred option wouldn't be Bobby Manc would it as I can't think of anything worse personally.

How about Manciti or Mancity...

[shawzy]

Couldn't be happier. The main thing I wanted was a clean sheet and we got one and as a result 3 points , job done. Not the greatest performance but that's irrelevant.

Just to wander back to the move of Zabba to left full back. I still don't see that as a tactical masterstroke. Since when has putting a right footed player at left back been a tactical decision? It might have been a necessity as Silv was either injured or tired but a tactical masterstroke! If Silv had to go off it think it was the right decision for sure even if it very nearly went wrong inside a minute. Just a slice of what every manager needs and what Mancini hoimself says he wants most of , luck.

And that's nothing against Zabba as I love the guy.

As for calling Mancini by his proper name could somebody explain what it wrong with that. It's a habit I often have , calling somebody by their actual name. Surely the preferred option wouldn't be Bobby Manc would it as I can't think of anything worse personally.

Sorry Doug.Perhaps i used the word masterstroke as a too stronger word..Ill try and explain why i said it.

It was obvious to the manager Silvia was struggling for whatever the reason may be..When he came off alot of managers would have slotted Barry at left back .as a safe option.Mancini instead brought Micah on and put Zabba at left back.It did not disrupt the team or make us weaker in any way and i commend Mancini for havin confidence in his players in such a short space of time to utilize them in positions there not used to.I like the versatilty thats all. It shows the gaffer is not narrowminded in anyway and is prepared to try new things and in this instance it certainly paid off.

[Kippax]

Yeah! A more than adequate performance in his first game in charge, in what could have been a banana skin game especially if Delap had been playing.

Was particularly impressed by the wearing of the scarf, if you are going to try and win over a bunch of supporters then that is a great first step to make. Was also VERY impressed by Brian Kidds contribution today, from where I sat I had a good view of the bench and he and Mancini were in constant dialogue.

Tactics I thought were pretty good, especially the switching of Zabba to left back at that time, I agree with you about the skinning Doug, but put that down to bedding in, and if anything thought that Vinnie should have been paying closer attention until Zabba found his feet on that side. Other than that I thought Vinnie had a very good game.

Ireland showed some good flashes, although you wouldn't say that he excelled, there were some signs of his old self, with some great runs and sublime pass attempts. I often think that Stevie is too far ahead of everyone else with his football brain sometimes and the more I think of it the more I wish I could have seen him and Kinky in the same team. But with a few others of a similar ability. lol.

Would probably have given the Man of the Match to Barry, who does seem to be back to his old self, and really seemed pretty comfortable as did De Jong. I just don't know what to say about Robbie, part of me wants to say get rid but another says keep him and wait and see. To be fair to him he did do quite a lot of running in the first half, without much end result. Unlike Petrov who was in the right place at the right time for the goal and seems full of confidence. May be a couple of goals for Robbie would get the Boo boys off his back and lift his confidence.

A couple of down sides for me today. As much as I welcome Tevez,s contribution and work rate in a game, thought he was exceptional again today, I just feel that he wastes too many good chances and gives the ball away a bit too easily when he has done all the hard work. I guess I'm saying he tries to complicate things too much.

The back four, it's long been a gripe of mine that when the back four are back tracking and pass back to Shay that they don't immediately spread out to give Shay more options of tapping it back to them, thereby keeping possession rather than have Shay lump it up field giving us a 70/30% chance of losing the ball. We seemed to employ this tactic a few games ago under hughes, but seemed to take a backward step today.

Someone has already pointed out that if Hughes had been winning games like this then he may still be in a job, but the fact is he is part of our history now, so it's forward with Roberto, let's hope we can build on this tomorrow at Wolves.

See you there.

Kippax.

.

[dazby]

I was too pissed and my stream was too shit for any analysis on the match. Glad we won though. Good to see spanish Gaz get a look in.

That is all.

[Colin the King]

Thrilled with the performance today- we've had the Keegan-esque excitement by the bucketload in recent weeks with 4-3 wins and 3-3 draws. It's entertaining but from the perspective of getting a Champions League place, what I really wanted to see was a solid, confident display with no major mishaps and a clean sheet to round it off- which is exactly what we were treated to.

I loved that Mancini emphasised keeping the ball on the ground and encouraged simplicity in our play. The defenders and midfielders were able to stroke the ball around calmly and orchestrate attacks patiently from deep, rather than trying to constantly counter-attack at pace. We looked in control of the game and everyone, bar perhaps Robinho, looked assured and confident.

What was really impressive too was that two of our underperformers in recent months- Touré and Barry- looked ten times better this afternoon. Touré's positioning, strength and composure were miles better and Barry's distribution, workrate and even pace were vastly improved. Those two in particular seem to have reacted positively to the managerial change. It's a fresh start for everyone and those two took the opportunity with both hands.

It's the first time in ages that I've felt confident that we'd hang onto a two goal lead, and we did. The organisation, awareness, positioning- it was all top notch. We pressed intelligently and in the right areas rather than just aimlessly trying to win the ball- we were the more intelligent side off the ball as much as on it, and anytime something wasn't exactly as the manager wanted it, he was on his feet, instructing players on how to improve.

If we can go to Wolves on Monday night and carve out another result to send us into the new year on a high I'll be delighted- and I really believe we can.

[MUS]

i think thats the first city match i have ever watched completely 100% sure and convinced we were going to win... i usually have that nagging bastard thought in the back of the mind saying we could easily screw this, but today i had absolutely no doubt whatsoever we would win comfortably...

i know its new manager syndrome and all but i don't remember feeling so convinced in any of our previous managers' debut matches.

Just a thought.

[M147WN]

I've cocked up again and started my own thread on the points below so on the advice of others I've now put this in here!
Hope its not all been done to death and I'm miles out! Dozy but with the best intensions!

Just a few things that caught my eye today and apologies if covered elsewhere!

1. Barry drifting to the left and covering Silvi every time stoke came down the right! can we rent the tardise and go back a week or so?

2. De jong! i'm a big fan! player always gives his all but is adding longer and more accurate passing to his game and for me is the best deep lying defensive midfielder in the prem.

3. No recognisd front man as a target or hold up player. Don't know if RSC was injured? But the long ball was binned big style and we looked a much better outfit for it!

4. Mancini made the right subs at the right time and you know when you see something that looks right but you really have no foundation for it? Well just watching the bloke, his appearance and enthusiasm ... well it looked impressive to me.

5. Micah Richards can still and never did forget how to jump more than 6 inches off the ground. Its just that he's somehow remembered how to do it!
Like a fuckin black salmon on acid today! Superb!

I know this is new manager syndrome but why should it be any different week in week out?
I'm not saying we've turned a corner as that will only be proved in the long term but for me a much better performance from players who have been told exactly what their job descriptions consist of and carried them out well.

I, like many others, do not know enough about our new manager and its very early days but he seems a very self assured fella and the difference in the way we played today has paid dividends and suggests we may have a someone capable of taking us on to the next level. As I said, a happy bunny tonight and plenty of chemic has dissapeared since an early start today but a good solid, professional performance in my eyes and amongst 60 odd of us going home on the coach tonight most shared the above opinions!

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy!
M147WN
Alfie Haaland's Knee

Posts: 852
Joined: 20 Jul 2007 07:28
Location: Poynton
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[M147WN]

I think the sub tactic says at all. Can anyone of you remember a time when MH made a tactical substitution and you said "brilliant?"

Never in my mind.

The switch of Zaba to left back (which if I recall was only the 2nd time he has played there for us) was good use of the players he had. Surely he could have moved Barry back there or brought Garrido in sooner. But remember the Tevez goal came from a Zaba cross fomr the left when Sylvinho and Zaba had briefly switched roles. So it wasn't like he hadn't been there for some time as it was.

Now, as for the Garrido switch, I was not 100% sure if the move was tactical or a reason to allow Tevez to walk out to deservedly proper standing ovation. Regardless, it was a good move. 6 minutes or not Garrido left little doubt that Stoke would do anything.

Lastly, did we just find the stabilizer in the central defense in Kompany (and CARL, you can leave my spelling alone, I know...)?

And lastly, lastly, what about the selection of two academy/reserve center backs on the bench?? Says he is willing to get the youth salivating...

FB I really didn't know about who was on the bench (as we're pissing it up intil the last minute) who was it mate?

[Slim]

Too early, but it was a solid win and a clean sheet. I am a happy camper tonight.

Too early to talk about his debut? that's fine. We'll wait for you. Yr like 18 hours ahead of us or something? i'll get a chair. Sit down. Make a bag of popcorn. etc. As the earth rotates we'll catch up with you and you can weigh in. No worries.

I'm a happy camper too fwiw. Just seemed like a very professional job, loved seeing Mancini working the subs and chatting with Kidd. And all the hugging and the scarf! Loved the scarf. Va bene.

and as Slim has said, it's too early to tell what we might expect from Mancini this season of course...once we get through the next the next 3 matches tho i think we'll have a better idea.

cheers

It was 2 fucking am FFS, I put it into the other thread, damn impatient yanks.

[RodneyRodney]

Quietly confident. Our best defensive game for some time (- we kept a clean sheet - pass me the champagne !) , we managed to actually beat one of the teams we are expected to beat. Micah looked good - I had a feeling Mancini would get him playing again - Barry - best game for several weeks , Robinho, honestly not that bad , I think he DID mean to lay on Petrov's goal .
Some encouraging signs , on the whole

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Quietly confident. Our best defensive game for some time (- we kept a clean sheet - pass me the champagne !) , we managed to actually beat one of the teams we are expected to beat. Micah looked good - I had a feeling Mancini would get him playing again - Barry - best game for several weeks , Robinho, honestly not that bad , I think he DID mean to lay on Petrov's goal .
Some encouraging signs , on the whole

He meant to lay it on for Petrov now that really is wearing Robinho tinted glasses:) Not in a million years

[Original Dub]

I'm delighted with the win. We were a lot more cautious, but I expected that when he had stated that the priority was to stop the goals conceded.

I certainly liked the way he switched players from one flank to the other to confuse and upset the opposition and it worked IMO, so that's the biggest positive I took from his debut.

That said, it was stoke and we beat them 3 nil last season, so lets see how we get on against Wolves and how he operates in the window...

I hope to God he's the man for us and all of his games go as well because he ticks all the boxes for a long stay with us.