Mancini Debut....Thoughts?

[eastlandsblue]

Got his tactics spot on, and kept his defenders on their toes with instrutions from the sidelines

[john@staustell]

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

Ha ha fuck me Rodders stay off that Xmas spirit!!

I was pleased that I noticed a difference. As we were 2-0 up all the defensive line was kept well in tact, no charging upfield making ourselves exposed. A simple thing but one which seemed beyond Les, time after time. Lots & lots of short passing and much less hoofing too.

Stoke are not a team to be taken lightly, and if the ref had given Bellers his penalty it would've been 3-0 and thanks very much. All with a makeshift team too.

I have to say after only one week's work I am very impressed.

[s1ty m]

Impressive tactics, changes and game plan. It's what the best managers do, most of the time. Mancini deserves a lot of credit for yesterday, not least his movement of players from flank to flank, switching things about.

And Micah has decided he wants to leap high again! Welcome back Micah, thought you were superb when you came on, another tactical spot from Mancio beacuse he sussed that the modest threat of etherington down the left might lead to something. Threat stopped. 2-0. Nice!

[carl_feedthegoat]

Impressive tactics, changes and game plan. It's what the best managers do, most of the time. Mancini deserves a lot of credit for yesterday, not least his movement of players from flank to flank, switching things about.

And Micah has decided he wants to leap high again! Welcome back Micah, thought you were superb when you came on, another tactical spot from Mancio beacuse he sussed that the modest threat of etherington down the left might lead to something. Threat stopped. 2-0. Nice!

AND THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT ALL UP.

WOLVES NEXT AND I IMAGINE THE WOLVES IN THE SKY CESS PIT WILL BE WAITING FOR US TO FUCK UP SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR BILE VENDETTA AGAINST OUR CLUB.

[ronk]

It was nice to see someone put their foot on top of the ball a few times when we were breaking but the move wasn't going anywhere. Instead we went for a patient build-up. I'm all for taking risks on the break when there's something on, but you don't go further down a cul-de-sac if you want to get out.

I wouldn't call it tactically perfect by any means, but what was impressive was that we fixed the issues quickly during the game. It makes us much harder to play against if we adapt effectively.

Don't want to read too much into a single performance though.

[ronk]

Poor old Johnson really got injured at a bad time. When he came back he was mostly on the bench for Hughes and not really used. He could have flourished under Mancini.

[Florida Blue]

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?

The bench included Taylor, Bellers, Garrido, Richards, Weiss, Javan Vidal and Dedryck Boyata. The last 3 are all 20 or under.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Just a thought on tactics , even though it's been mentioned before but the key one ( after switching to the formation he should have started with ) was to control the attacking of the full backs.They virtually didn't get forward and that left good defensive shape when we lost the ball with Nigel patrolling just in front. That works well as long as the rest of the team can create and score enough. At 2 nil it was game over.

And just to go back to the Zaba switch to left full back ( sorry to keep going back to it) but having watched the match again just now it seemed to me the tactical aspects were ( even assuming Silvinho wasn't fit enough to carry on) to actually take Zaba away from Etherington because he was causing him some trouble and he was close to getting a booking ( he was lucky not to have already)and get him to the right wing where Stoke didn't really have anybody. At the same time get Micah on to sort Ethers out AND give us that extra height in the middle when the high ball was lumped in. How come nobody suggested that as it would have made more tactical sense:)

[Bingo Lewis]

good start. still needs improvement, but i'm sure it'll come.

[Dingus McDouchey]

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

i thought robbie meant it too.

[MaineRoadMemories]

very professional and impressive start but I expected a clean sheet against Stoke seen as though they have only scored 4 away goals all season and they had both Beatie and Fuller on the bench. Without Delap they offer nothing attacking wise.

Worrying to me was when Beatie came on Toure started flapping around again and losing out. Granted Beatie is a beast of a man but our centrebacks need to be stronger.

Most encouraging was Mancini knew he got his tactics wrong but changing them very quickly after 20mins. That is such a good sign for the future.

[Socrates]

very professional and impressive start but I expected a clean sheet against Stoke seen as though they have only scored 4 away goals all season and they had both Beatie and Fuller on the bench. Without Delap they offer nothing attacking wise.

Worrying to me was when Beatie came on Toure started flapping around again and losing out. Granted Beatie is a beast of a man but our centrebacks need to be stronger.

Most encouraging was Mancini knew he got his tactics wrong but changing them very quickly after 20mins. That is such a good sign for the future.

For similar reasons, I expected a clean sheet against Burnley too...

[gillie]

very professional and impressive start but I expected a clean sheet against Stoke seen as though they have only scored 4 away goals all season and they had both Beatie and Fuller on the bench. Without Delap they offer nothing attacking wise.

Worrying to me was when Beatie came on Toure started flapping around again and losing out. Granted Beatie is a beast of a man but our centrebacks need to be stronger.

Most encouraging was Mancini knew he got his tactics wrong but changing them very quickly after 20mins. That is such a good sign for the future.

For similar reasons, I expected a clean sheet against Burnley too...

But with a much stronger defence against Burnley we let 3 in why?.

[Socrates]

very professional and impressive start but I expected a clean sheet against Stoke seen as though they have only scored 4 away goals all season and they had both Beatie and Fuller on the bench. Without Delap they offer nothing attacking wise.

Worrying to me was when Beatie came on Toure started flapping around again and losing out. Granted Beatie is a beast of a man but our centrebacks need to be stronger.

Most encouraging was Mancini knew he got his tactics wrong but changing them very quickly after 20mins. That is such a good sign for the future.

For similar reasons, I expected a clean sheet against Burnley too...

But with a much stronger defence against Burnley we let 3 in why?.

Someone who can coach defence and attack at the same time?

[gillie]

very professional and impressive start but I expected a clean sheet against Stoke seen as though they have only scored 4 away goals all season and they had both Beatie and Fuller on the bench. Without Delap they offer nothing attacking wise.

Worrying to me was when Beatie came on Toure started flapping around again and losing out. Granted Beatie is a beast of a man but our centrebacks need to be stronger.

Most encouraging was Mancini knew he got his tactics wrong but changing them very quickly after 20mins. That is such a good sign for the future.

For similar reasons, I expected a clean sheet against Burnley too...

But with a much stronger defence against Burnley we let 3 in why?.

Someone who can coach defence and attack at the same time?

HA HA Jon i knew you would reply sorry i was being mischevious i know Mancio is your champion i honestly hope he cuts the mustard mate.I was impressed when he made subs yesterday as he seemed to make all of them aware of what he wanted whilst they were waiting to get on the pitch.