IS Bobby Mancini THE MAN?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I like the "top 4 this year champions next year" attitude.

He's out to make a mark. He knows he has the rest of the season to do something and he's determined to succeed.

I can't be doing with this "well, it'll be a struggle to get into the the top 4 bollox, which lowers expectations, which in turn can develop a comfort zone. Roberto is saying " I have great players who are going to win things". Now the players know what's expected of them. Perhaps he believes hat the barrier to getting into the CL places is. to a large extent, psychological as footballing.

I fully agree with this. I mean, he took over mid-season and all and finishing fifth or sixth considering circumstances wouldn't be catastrophe but why aim lower? Target has been set and everyone knows we need to win games to achieve it. Losses can not be tolerated. I like that attitude. We will lose some games for sure but at least everyone knows we've failed in something when we do that.

[Ted Hughes]

Ibrahimovic seems to think so :-$

Ibra hails tough Mancini
Striker says former boss has what it takes to make City a success

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Roberto Mancini's tough tactics will see him successful at Manchester City.

The Swedish striker, who won two Serie A titles under Mancini at Inter Milan, has likened his former boss to Jose Mourinho.

He claims the new City boss has enough, if not more than the experience and managerial strength it takes to ensure the Blues achieve their targets this term.

Whilst heaping praise on the Italian's tough-guy approach, he said former City boss Mark Hughes lacked the 'big team' experience it takes to manage such high-profile players.
Weakness

"Only the big managers can handle the big players," Ibrahimovic said in The People. "If those players spot a weakness in a manager who has not been at a top club they may take liberties.

"That is what possibly happened at City.

"It's no disrespect to Mark Hughes, but City now have a coach that knows how to manage big players and big teams."

Ibrahimovic believes the players will have more respect for Mancini knowing how much he has achieved elsewhere.

"City want to become a big team, and in order to do that you need a manager who knows how to run one," he said.

"I think City have already learned that you don't become Barcelona or Inter Milan overnight.

"It takes a lot of time, but it also takes the right man in charge.

"Roberto will change the mentality of the club overnight, he is a big manager and the players will learn that very quickly."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 35,00.html

First sensible thing I've ever heard this fella say.

This proves Mancini is the man to get the best out of Ade and Robi for me, if he could get Adriano and Ibra playing like superstars he should have no problem with our boys.

Just a detail but I thought Adriano ended up a fat, crap, drunken, drugged up, mental case? Not Mancini's fault but not the best example!

What Mancini needs is a nice run of successful games right now, with plenty of wins (not too many draws) to get some momentum going. If he can do that, which is possible with the fixtures we have, then I've no doubt he can get us into the top 4. The problem he's got, obviously, is the defence. It's cost Hughes his job & if Mancini doesn't sort it quickly, top 4 will slip away along with the cups & he'll be a dead man walking 'til the end of the season. The fact that Stoke didn't score is no indication as they didn't put one decent ball in. Tonight & Saturday will give us a better idea.

[CityFanFromRome]

Just a detail but I thought Adriano ended up a fat, crap, drunken, drugged up, mental case? Not Mancini's fault but not the best example!

What Mancini needs is a nice run of successful games right now, with plenty of wins (not too many draws) to get some momentum going. If he can do that, which is possible with the fixtures we have, then I've no doubt he can get us into the top 4. The problem he's got, obviously, is the defence. It's cost Hughes his job & if Mancini doesn't sort it quickly, top 4 will slip away along with the cups & he'll be a dead man walking 'til the end of the season. The fact that Stoke didn't score is no indication as they didn't put one decent ball in. Tonight & Saturday will give us a better idea.

True, but only partly. He did, but at least under Mancini he put in some kind of effort, which he definitely didn't under Mourinho, until he finally left for Brazil as his real problem was that he was home sick, and he's up to being a good forward again now that he's back there. He still has a love for parties I think, but I guess it's much more tolerated there so you don't constantly hear about it in the press.

[Blue Jam]

I've always been a Hughes-Iite.

I've gone from NO to Not sure on my own personal IsMancTheManOmeter. I know that one swallow does not make a Summer but I'm fairly optimistic.

[Slim]

I've always been a Hughes-Iite.

I've gone from NO to Not sure on my own personal IsMancTheManOmeter. I know that one swallow does not make a Summer but I'm fairly optimistic.

Two swallows makes an early spring with the chance of a shower?

[King Kev]

Just changed my vote

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

Just changed my vote

We won the first four league games and were the last team to be unbeaten at the start of the season. It is too early to say.

[edge275]

Remember, this is the manager that got record number of points in one season than out of all teams in the top leagues of all time.

97 points!

30 wins, 7 draws and 1 loss.

As for Arsenal's 'unbeatables' season they had 26 wins and 12 draws. This gave them 90 points. Still 7 short of Mancini's.

He set a record of 17 wins consecutively!

11 away wins consecutively.

This guy is the man for us.

[blues-clues]

two games in and he already has my vote. Can change his system, can spot a problem and fix it, has sorted our defence.

Still to do

Work out what to do with Ireland and Robinho to get them ticking again
Show that zonal marking works against a decent attack


Other than that I am very impressed. I really didn't think that such a big difference could be achieved in such a short space of time but I think that is a reflection on the quality of the players as well as the direction they are now being given

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

two games in and he already has my vote. Can change his system, can spot a problem and fix it, has sorted our defence.

Still to do

Work out what to do with Ireland and Robinho to get them ticking again
Show that zonal marking works against a decent attack


Other than that I am very impressed. I really didn't think that such a big difference could be achieved in such a short space of time but I think that is a reflection on the quality of the players as well as the direction they are now being given

to be fair, that's two assists in two games for Robinho and I believe he actually meant to pass to Petrov against Stoke.

Ireland has been bad in first two games though. That said, he is always poor on the right.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Just changed my vote from not sure and my answer now is: Of course he is !

[Swales4ever]

Just a detail but I thought Adriano ended up a fat, crap, drunken, drugged up, mental case? Not Mancini's fault but not the best example!

What Mancini needs is a nice run of successful games right now, with plenty of wins (not too many draws) to get some momentum going. If he can do that, which is possible with the fixtures we have, then I've no doubt he can get us into the top 4. The problem he's got, obviously, is the defence. It's cost Hughes his job & if Mancini doesn't sort it quickly, top 4 will slip away along with the cups & he'll be a dead man walking 'til the end of the season. The fact that Stoke didn't score is no indication as they didn't put one decent ball in. Tonight & Saturday will give us a better idea.

True, but only partly. He did, but at least under Mancini he put in some kind of effort, which he definitely didn't under Mourinho, until he finally left for Brazil as his real problem was that he was home sick, and he's up to being a good forward again now that he's back there. He still has a love for parties I think, but I guess it's much more tolerated there so you don't constantly hear about it in the press.

Agree in full, from the same part of the theater.
But still, as a normal worker, fail to understand how the hell is posssible that people who had the bad luck to born in the very worse part of the social stair, even maybe suffering starvation in the childhood, once got wealthy by football proves unable to sustain what, however, still remain a pleasant job with plenty of free time and satisfaction!!!
It does not pass a season on the fucking italian league that I do not feel if I was a club owner I would love to send some players to work a couple of week in afactory at a normal worker's wage: what a worth training it will be!!!
Indeed U.K. based players are different.

[Swales4ever]

two games in and he already has my vote. Can change his system, can spot a problem and fix it, has sorted our defence.

Still to do

Work out what to do with Ireland and Robinho to get them ticking again
Show that zonal marking works against a decent attack


Other than that I am very impressed. I really didn't think that such a big difference could be achieved in such a short space of time but I think that is a reflection on the quality of the players as well as the direction they are now being given

I'm the last who's want to size down Roberto's work and even less I want to kindle sterile polemics, but it is easy to seem Usain Bolt when you are compared with a wheelchair runner.
The work is just started and surely we will face some troubled days, speccially if the market cannot provide for a solid high jumping CB being possibly even fast running in covering (has proven money can't but all and top players hardly move fm big clubs during the season).
Furthermore, in order to separate love and objectivity, I would agree with those who want to await for big matchups prior to fire up their: it is very logical.
HOWEVER I am sure: ROBERTO MANCINI IS THE MAN WHO SHALL GET OLD IN MANCHESTER, SHALL WIN AT LEAST 5 TITLES AND 3 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS, AND EVEN LEARN TO SPEAK A PROPER ENGLISH.

Tonight I feel great in my heart... :-) Thanks MANCHESTER CITY!

[JonnyAsh]

I am more convinced with every day that Roberto can succeed where others have failed. My only and big worry is that our 'trigger happy' board may never be satisfied, and even if we say scrape 4th, someone else may be lurking in the background. For me, if we continue to improve with Roberto, we should keep him EVEN if Mourinho becomes available. We will only see the best if Mancini is given time to gell for a second season.

Can any City fan say for certain that if we make 4th this year, Mancini will be here next year ? I hope so, but until this wonderful club of ours gets some stability, i will never rest on my laurels. If Mancini makes it to 3 1/2 years, he will only be the second manager since Tony Book 1974-1979 to do so, the other being KK

[10.Goater_Legend]

As I voted about a week ago... YES Roberto is the fucking man! I'm convinced the class and tactical nouse of this man will deliever success in the near future.

[Swales4ever]

I am more convinced with every day that Roberto can succeed where others have failed. My only and big worry is that our 'trigger happy' board may never be satisfied, and even if we say scrape 4th, someone else may be lurking in the background. For me, if we continue to improve with Roberto, we should keep him EVEN if Mourinho becomes available. We will only see the best if Mancini is given time to gell for a second season.

Can any City fan say for certain that if we make 4th this year, Mancini will be here next year ? I hope so, but until this wonderful club of ours gets some stability, i will never rest on my laurels. If Mancini makes it to 3 1/2 years, he will only be the second manager since Tony Book 1974-1979 to do so, the other being KK

I understand that history has always to be regarded as the best teacher to learn from, and having had 30 years of trouble on broken promises it quite logical to set up an unconfident mood.
Nevertheless I would stress the following points:
- Owner is in charge since less than 2 years
- Mancini is his/theirs first own pick
- 4th is a turning points either for business plan and much more for the ambitions they carry.

taking in due account the above facts I have never seen in my life a Tycoon to be stupid.

On my opinion the answer to the question is: DEFINITELY YES.

[CityFanFromRome]

Can any City fan say for certain that if we make 4th this year, Mancini will be here next year ? I hope so, but until this wonderful club of ours gets some stability, i will never rest on my laurels. If Mancini makes it to 3 1/2 years, he will only be the second manager since Tony Book 1974-1979 to do so, the other being KK

I guess if he gets fourth and is sacked we have a board of idiots as that was the aim before the season so they'd look hypocritical if they sacked him even if he got a CL spot.

[Renato_CTID]

The more of Inter Milan fans are angry with their chairman Moratti when he replaced Mancio with Mourinho. Could we make the same mistake of Inter Milan replacing a number 1 with that Portuguese twat or anybody else? It'd be unbelievable for me!

[Socrates]

I think the board will already be seeing the same difference we are and will be keen to wrap up the long term contract very very soon. They would only want to change again if he really flopped. Soworry not folks, Mancio is for life not just for Christmas :O)

[john68]

Two games against poor opposition is not really any measure of greatness in the longer term...and with the experience of so many managers travelling through the City revolving doors over the years, I am still in the don't know camp.

I have believed for a long time that what we need is stability and if Mancini is the man to nail our hats on then I'm more than happy to go with it.
I am impressed with what he done with the defence, even a makeshift one. I am very impressed with the fact that he seems quite comfortable to up the pressure on himself and the team by increasing the expectation and ambition of the club. His tactical and strategis changes were spot on. His past record speaks for itself. The thing that impresses me the most is the manner in which we got the points. In both games, we 1st won the arm wrestle and the battle, then went on to win the game. He does have much sterner tests to come against far better teams than Stoke and Wolves.