TonyM wrote:There is no problem with Ireland's attitude. All this talk of him sorting out his head is bollox. Mancini was a foolish IMO to say such at the end of last season as it has only served to be a stick for all the numpties to beat him with. Like Bellamy he has a reputation now but everytime I see an interview or see a clip of him he looks and sounds like a nice quite lad (who has an unfortunate taste in music and style). So off the pitch and in trining his head is fine. Do people mean that his head is screwed up on the pitch? I don't think it is -If I was him I'd be gone mental by know - playing with players who can't seem to string a couple of passes together unless it's playing tippy tappy around the back 4.
Every single time I see him play I see him backpass because no one is making space or make fantastic runs that noone choses to pass into. When Elano, Petrov and Robinho played with him he was deadly. When Barry, DeJong and Johnson play with him he's crap. IMO we need to fix our core issue - we play shit football. We need to see some emphasis on pass and move. We need to see some movement. I'm hoping the new arrivals will bring this. It they do Ireland will fit in perfectly... without any mental adjustment. If we continue to huff and puff we'll go nowhere and Ireland leaving will be the least of our issues.
I have to admit to being more and more nervous about Mancini. I see a lot of faith in the guy from others but I've yet to be convinced. I really hope to see signs that he's making us a better team. the arrivals are positive but just as important will be who he lets go. The next few months are vital. If things do not go swimingly I can see a lot of tormoil. People are talking about uis winning the title.... it's crazy talk unless we get off to an abolute flyer over the next month or 2. the transition that is required is almost as much as when Sven came in or Hughes came in. Though he had a better squad there is a mountain of changes required to get us up to the next level.
I agree with some of that but not the idea that his lack of creative passing is because of the other players, it's because he's not very good at it & often misses the opportunity to do it. When he played with the players you mention, he was mostly the player receiving the ball not the player making the pass. How many goals can you remember us scoring from brilliant Ireland through balls? His assists often came from crosses when in loads of space or short passes. Robinho, Elano & Petrov were the ones making the passes, he did the running. In recent times he's suddenly had his role changed (at least in his head) from midfield runner to football genius playmaker & he's completely crap at it & can do hardly any of the things genuine playmakers do.
He needs to get back to being the hard working but classy midfield runner that he became during Hughes' 1st season rather than the bloke with a feather up his arse he turned into.
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