*** Saints v City - Official Match Thread ***

[Ted Hughes]

Sagna and MDM will be a good CB pairing. Certainly enough for the likes of Sunderland.

I don't think 'good' would how I would describe that. Makeshift yes but good no.

Terrifying but probably better than the other options is how I would describe it.

I wonder if Carl can think of a player we could have kept at the club for this kind of situation. It's on the tip of my tongue..

Danny Mills? Petrov? Elano?

cheers

Jerome Boateng perhaps

Just imagine if Jerome Boateng was coming into the team v Sunnerlnd. He would drop bollocks all over the place, we would lose & he would be at the heart of it, yet he plays for Bayern Munich, & Germany.

Funny old game.

[getdressedmctavish]

full marks to the team, and the count eventually got it right. I cant see what Nasri and Navas contribute at the moment going forwards though the latter did a lot of defensive work. Keeps missing sitters though. Thin Frank looks in a different class, check how he held back on his run for his goal, but probably correct he wouldn't have had enough for 90 mins. And surely Milner's power is central to this team.They have got ten days to work on a CB partnership which should be enough. and there's an agenda against me. Wife again put too much milk in my cereals. Its not the first time either.

[aaron bond]

full marks to the team, and the count eventually got it right. I cant see what Nasri and Navas contribute at the moment going forwards though the latter did a lot of defensive work. Keeps missing sitters though. Thin Frank looks in a different class, check how he held back on his run for his goal, but probably correct he wouldn't have had enough for 90 mins. And surely Milner's power is central to this team.They have got ten days to work on a CB partnership which should be enough. and there's an agenda against me. Wife again put too much milk in my cereals. Its not the first time either.

Ten days???

[Dameerto]

I'm lactose intolerant and yet I'm a breast man - life can be cruel.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Superb from the team today. Completely outplayed Southampton and bossed the game. And that in the face of yet another shameful refereeing performance. Onwards and upwards now as we're looking more like ourselves.

[freshie]

Neil Ashton gives Mangala 1/10. Bollocks.

That just proves how little he knows about football. Or that he hates us

[aaron bond]

Neil Ashton gives Mangala 1/10. Bollocks.

That just proves how little he knows about football. Or that he hates us

I thought Mangala had a very good game today. He won plenty of challenges, was not afraid to get stuck in, and did his best to pass and carry the ball out of defence when possible. Furthermore, he was keen to get involved in as much of the play as possible.

For the sending off, he was put into an awkward situation by Yaya, did his best to get back, and ultimately took one for the team. I don't blame him for that.

He occasionally looked a little rusty, but considering we were playing away to one of the most in-form teams in the league, his performance today was solid.

It will take time for him to regularly produce his best football, but based on what we've seen so far, I think he has the attributes to form a strong partnership with Kompany.

[phips]

They have got ten days to work on a CB partnership which should be enough

Try 3 days.

[South Stand Balti]

I don't see why Toure can't play centre half on Wednesday. I know we will miss his influence in midfield but this may sort that out:
Joe
Zaba Toure MDM Clichy
Fern 1 Fern 2
Milner Frank Nasri
Aguero

Job done?

[freshie]

Neil Ashton gives Mangala 1/10. Bollocks.

That just proves how little he knows about football. Or that he hates us

I thought Mangala had a very good game today. He won plenty of challenges, was not afraid to get stuck in, and did his best to pass and carry the ball out of defence when possible. Furthermore, he was keen to get involved in as much of the play as possible.

For the sending off, he was put into an awkward situation by Yaya, did his best to get back, and ultimately took one for the team. I don't blame him for that.

He occasionally looked a little rusty, but considering we were playing away to one of the most in-form teams in the league, his performance today was solid.

It will take time for him to regularly produce his best football, but based on what we've seen so far, I think he has the attributes to form a strong partnership with Kompany.

I agree with you and think that he's improving with every game. I really think he'll become an excellent player for us

[mr_nool]

Giving one of the centre backs a 1/10 when the team keeps a clean sheet is beyond stupid.

Didhe give Vinnie a 10/10 for cleaning up after the supposed mess Mangala left? No, didn't think so.

[Ted Hughes]

Giving one of the centre backs a 1/10 when the team keeps a clean sheet is beyond stupid.

Didhe give Vinnie a 10/10 for cleaning up after the supposed mess Mangala left? No, didn't think so.

It's not a considered opinion, it's pure nastiness on his part.

[failsworthblue]

Giving one of the centre backs a 1/10 when the team keeps a clean sheet is beyond stupid.

Didhe give Vinnie a 10/10 for cleaning up after the supposed mess Mangala left? No, didn't think so.

He is going to be one of the best Centre Backs in the world , easy target for the scum loving media.

Imagine if we had to look forward to Jones and Smalling PMSL!!

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Giving one of the centre backs a 1/10 when the team keeps a clean sheet is beyond stupid.

Didhe give Vinnie a 10/10 for cleaning up after the supposed mess Mangala left? No, didn't think so.

He is going to be one of the best Centre Backs in the world , easy target for the scum loving media.

Imagine if we had to look forward to Jones and Smalling PMSL!!

Agreed. The media are trying to turn him into some kind of hate figure. But in time he'll be fucking superb, I reckon, and the rags will still be fucking shit.

[Ted Hughes]

Giving one of the centre backs a 1/10 when the team keeps a clean sheet is beyond stupid.

Didhe give Vinnie a 10/10 for cleaning up after the supposed mess Mangala left? No, didn't think so.

He is going to be one of the best Centre Backs in the world , easy target for the scum loving media.

Imagine if we had to look forward to Jones and Smalling PMSL!!

Agreed. The media are trying to turn him into some kind of hate figure. But in time he'll be fucking superb, I reckon, and the rags will still be fucking shit.

If you look at how Demichelis was diving into challenges this time last year, or failing to pick up players, passing to the opposition in his own half; he is a multi title winning, hugely experienced defender. Kompany played midfield & had time to get used to the pace, then got disembowled by Peter Crouch as soon as he played at cb. Lescott struggled like fuck.

What they all have in common, is that they have showed they can defend, & do the hard stuff. Mangala is not some flakey fucker like Nastasic or Savic, he's a rock hard fucker, like VK, JL, & Demichelis. He just needs to calm down a bit & get used to the pace.

Even the most experienced can get caugt out or make bad decisions, as Yaya & Gareth Barry both showed today.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Anyone know how long Mangala will be suspended for? Obviously 1 game for the red but his second yellow today was his fifth of the season, does this mean he'll get another game ban for that?

[sheblue]

The media puppets trying to put man gala down all the time is boring wish they woul piss off and talk about someone else for a while, parrots all repeating the same old shit all the time.

[Nigels Tackle]

city are back

[Herb]

IMO a great all-round display from the lads today except for shakey Hart parrying when catching would be better (think up Joe) and generally distributing badly, as is his way. I admit that I had fears about going to Southampton but we were working well as a unit today - we played like the champions that we are and it looks like we're on the rise again!

[freshie]

Anyone know how long Mangala will be suspended for? Obviously 1 game for the red but his second yellow today was his fifth of the season, does this mean he'll get another game ban for that?

Good question. I think (hope) it will still be a 1 match ban but knowing our luck he'll end up with a 2 match ban. Is this an unprecedented case?