IS Bobby Mancini THE MAN?

[johnny crossan]

This thread is like twelve bald men arguing over a comb.

You mean we don't need a manager then?

We've got a great one. I know Manchester City fans are genetically incapable of supporting a manager but let Mancio be the new Les McDowall or even better Wilf Wild.

[Original Dub]

This thread is like twelve bald men arguing over a comb.

You mean we don't need a manager then?

We've got a great one. I know Manchester City fans are genetically incapable of supporting a manager but let Mancio be the new Les McDowall or even better Wilf Wild.

You see that's where I fall short.

I don't think he's proven enough to be hailed as GREAT. Don't get me wrong, he could well do so, but I've seen about half and half so far. That said, its early days and I certainly don't want to see another manager sacked because I've serious pain in my arse with the boss getting the boot at the drop of a hat.... and like I said half the time I've seen nice football, so I'm a happy bunny as long as that continues and we get fourth spot!

However, once we get fourth spot and Mancini gets to buy the players he wants and play the football his way next season, then maybe a title challenge will make me feel he is a great manager, but I definitely need to see more than I have done so far to draw such a conclusion!

[johnny crossan]

This thread is like twelve bald men arguing over a comb.

You mean we don't need a manager then?

We've got a great one. I know Manchester City fans are genetically incapable of supporting a manager but let Mancio be the new Les McDowall or even better Wilf Wild.

You see that's where I fall short.

I don't think he's proven enough to be hailed as GREAT. Don't get me wrong, he could well do so, but I've seen about half and half so far. That said, its early days and I certainly don't want to see another manager sacked because I've serious pain in my arse with the boss getting the boot at the drop of a hat.... and like I said half the time I've seen nice football, so I'm a happy bunny as long as that continues and we get fourth spot!

However, once we get fourth spot and Mancini gets to buy the players he wants and play the football his way next season, then maybe a title challenge will make me feel he is a great manager, but I definitely need to see more than I have done so far to draw such a conclusion!

When I became a blue Les McDowall was in charge and had been for thirteen years. But starting with George Poyser, every City manager since then, apart from Joe Mercer, has sooner or later (usually sooner) been slaughtered by the fans. And Joe was slaughtered by Peter Swales. It's time we had a few years off from the carnage. Mancini is undeniably a great manager already, get behind him and he'll be a great one for City too.

and if you don't believe me surely you'll believe Garry!

[youtube]dTyJnY20QD0[/youtube]

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Is there anybody saying a categorical no? Nobody that I know of.

58 people it seems.

On a sidenote, yes votes have gone DOWN since yesterday. Hilarious!

Glad you were amused. I had completely forgotten about the poll part of this thread as that was so long ago and as Beefy sayi it's likely many of those who voted no at the start havent come back. I also assume it isn't possible to change the vote. Bit pointless having a poll if you can keep voting.

So back to the point I made I am not aware of anybody saying that Mancini is categorically NOT the man. Plenty in the unsure camp and feeling there are still questions to be answered but nobody , as with the previous manager , saying he is definitely not the manager for the job.Profuse apologies if I am wrong but no doubt you will enlighten me.

[john68]

Johnny Crossan,
We started watching city around the same era and you are correct in what you say about every manager ultimately being slaughtered by the fans (except Mercer and remember that Sven also had some support from fans at the end too).

I disagree with your assertion that Mancini is undeniably a great manager...not yet anyhow, not for City. It is far too early to make such a definitive judgement. He hasn't held the post long enough, nor has he proven his worth sufficiently at City, nor in the Prem for him to deserve that accolade as yet. Though time will tell and at some point, he may well do so. I sincerely hope so.

Personally, I still hold the view that we need a long period of stability at the club. A time when the whole club can pull together in the same direction. We have needed that for a long time. I was supportive of Hughes because I thought he would improve us. I was unsure if he could have finished the job, but i felt that he still needed more time to push us on. Now that he has gone, I am supportive of Mancini.
I sincerely hope he is given the time to take City to the heights, not only in England but also in Europe. We live in hope.

[Beefymcfc]

My very personal opinion, Beefy Mate, is a big YES about Your question.
Providing that next year's Team will be fed with a very top deep-lying box-to box (just name a younger Vieira, a Xavi Alonso clone or the original one, in my biggest dream) and a stably effective playmaker (sadly the occasion to get W. Snejider for few money went too early - I'd like to have a worth try with the Lyon's Pjanic).
I have a feeling You are not far to agree with me... :-)

You're not far wrong my friend. I think our biggest failing this season was not to get cover for Stevie and the now far-away Elano. We miss that creative/incisive midfield player who changes defence into attack. However, it's not just that area that needs strengthning. For a few years now we have struggled with the back 4 due to players in and out of the squad, ie. a settled back 4, so I think it is a priority to either get this sorted with the current players or moreover, bring some top quality robust ones in. That would negate the need to play 2 DMs.

Oh, and yes, Pjanic is a good shout but in my eyes he is just a little too young for the role and from a far inferior league; not enough games under his belt to really show himself as yet.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Is there anybody saying a categorical no? Nobody that I know of.

58 people it seems.

On a sidenote, yes votes have gone DOWN since yesterday. Hilarious!

That's probably 58 people who have forgotten this thread, can't be arsed changing there vote or don't visit the site no more. But why hilarious with change? We've only lost 1 in the last 10, beaten Chelsea, Fulham and Burnley comprehensively away from home and overcome some of our previous bogey teams. The downsides are some of the manner of performances, losing in the cup games and losing to Everton at home.

I think many realise that the cups were a bonus but the main priority was 4th position. We are in that position now and the performances are gradualy getting better, and that is good reason for people to change their views.

With Mancio, there doesn't seem to be a vendetta going on, unlike under our previous manager.

err.. It's hilarious because for all the reasons you mentioned you'd expect Yes votes to go UP rather than DOWN right.

Oh, and there was definite vendetta going on, just read this topic through, it's just that Mancini is starting to prove them wrong and people are wisely backing down.

Wow

You think people have a VENDETTA AGAINST MANCINI?!!!! Holy fuck! Because of our deep hatred for the teams he played for or because it is widely known he's an evil bastard??

You're honestly getting stranger and stranger mate, its bizzarre at this stage! Since this appointment you've gotten even more bitter and twisted - still looking to divide the camp and it makes no sense.

No matter how many times people try to explain to you why they are unsure about Mancini, you don't reply... instead you wander into another thread and insinuate that those who question the manager are happy when we lose. The only people who are happy when we lose are rags, so its not a very nice thing to say.

Since Mancini's appointment, you have never mentioned anything negative about our play. Now either you have loved absolutely everything that you've seen (which is highly unlikely) or you've changed your tune BIG TIME, because you couldn't shut up with the negativity under the last guy.

I can't speak for everyone else, but I'll try and break it down for you:

When Mancini arrived, I felt the football we started to play was negative and boring. I hate negative and boring football so when it began to culminate in poor performances AND so so results, my vote was no. It stayed there after stoke drew with us at home and then knocked us out of the FA Cup. After we beat Chelsea and Fulham and a decent draw at Sunderland I was in the "not sure" camp, because I felt that in those games we played "half and half" football - half shite and half nice. We then got our arses handed to us on a plate for the second time by Everton, on our own turf and my vote stayed in "not sure" but leaning towards "no".

My vote looked to be heading towards "no" for over an hour against Wigan because once again we were negative and damn lucky not to be losing to Wigan, again on our own turf. However, Tevez had an excellent 20 mins and my vote stayed there.

The last game was a fucking joy to behold and I agree if it wasn't for the rain, it could easily have been double figures. I loved every minute of it. So needless to say my vote is still "not sure" and will be until I see consistantly good PERFORMANCES. I'm not gonna change my vote because we lose or because we win because that happens to nearly every team.... I'll change it if I feel the reason we underperformed was because the manager put the shackles back on and I've seen this many times with how he sends the team out.

If he does it again and we fuck up against Birmingham I will have no trouble saying that's how I feel and I'd appreciate it if you didn't accuse me of having a vendetta against the manager of the team I fucking love, because only selfish people who love nothing more than an "I told you so" put themselves and their agendas before the manager of manchester city.

I think Mancini is a very likeable bloke and he has shown that half the time we can play really nice and effective football. If he can make that "nearly all the time" I'll put myself firmly in the "yes" camp. But don't think for one second that because you and others "knew he was THE MAN" since the day he walked in, it makes you wiser than the rest of us mere mortals... because what some of us did was wait and see if there was a sufficient enough improvement in ALL areas of our football to justify kicking the last guy out.

As far as I can see, everyone on this board is right behind the manager - the rest is in your head. The thing is, people will take you a bit more serious if you stop trying to put them in boxes and speak objectively after each match... say what you liked and what you didn't like. That's all I've done since he has arrived, yet you say I only come on when I've something negative to say.

I hope now I have gone someway to showing your accusations simply aren't true.

No, I said there WAS vendetta going on. Don't be a fool, you know it yourself..... loads of people who were disappointed to see Hughes go. You yourself were questioning owners who had done so much for the club for their decision. That wasn't even nearly as bizarre as that time when you claimed Jim Cassell hadn't really done that much for the club.

[symiblue]

Anyone with even a modicum of intelligence would recognise that there has been no vendetta against Mancini. There have been people who felt that the decision to sack Hughes was wrong, some who felt that Mancini's appointment was wrong and others who felt his tactics have been wrong at times. This does not mean they are conducting a vendetta against him.

I voted no for Mancini, not because of any particular feelings about him, but because the vendetta against the previous manager from one or two of our celebrity posters on here pushed me in that direction. Since that I haven't bothered to change my vote because it is immaterial. Mancini is here and, so far, has done a half decent job and he has my full support.

[Swales4ever]

My very personal opinion, Beefy Mate, is a big YES about Your question.
Providing that next year's Team will be fed with a very top deep-lying box-to box (just name a younger Vieira, a Xavi Alonso clone or the original one, in my biggest dream) and a stably effective playmaker (sadly the occasion to get W. Snejider for few money went too early - I'd like to have a worth try with the Lyon's Pjanic).
I have a feeling You are not far to agree with me... :-)

You're not far wrong my friend. I think our biggest failing this season was not to get cover for Stevie and the now far-away Elano. We miss that creative/incisive midfield player who changes defence into attack. However, it's not just that area that needs strengthning. For a few years now we have struggled with the back 4 due to players in and out of the squad, ie. a settled back 4, so I think it is a priority to either get this sorted with the current players or moreover, bring some top quality robust ones in. That would negate the need to play 2 DMs.

Oh, and yes, Pjanic is a good shout but in my eyes he is just a little too young for the role and from a far inferior league; not enough games under his belt to really show himself as yet.

Sorry Beefy, I disagree re. back four to be a priority issue.
Imo, we have already the 2 best starting CBs of the whole league in Vinnie/Joleon and whereas Kolo might sometime result a little unsure for the top sake I won't trade him with none of the England Int.nals just to say. Plus Boyatta is young and need to learn but he's already more than a very good prospect, as the Club was wise and quick to acknowledge with the new deal.
Slightly different area is FBs, where I may agree we are not currently already at the top and the reason why we still struggle sometimes as an overall defensive system: I do rate Micah's potential very very high and I fully expect Mancini to do his best as a good coach to sort him out. On the left Wayne is second best of the league and occasionally Joleon might be a luxury spare where, on the opposite route I'd like to see and test Kolo who might result impressive.
So, I do agree we need to get some good inforcements in the wake of a new season of different challanges, but I'll be perfectly confortable to start any CL game with a back of say Micha/Kolo - Vinnie - Joleon - Wayne.

I do insist the very priority in order to step City further is the possibility to line a very top deep-lying alongside GB who can sustain a pace PV has not more, while dictating whether to rise tempo with deep passing or tiring opponents with a proper ball circulation and possession.
Then, I may even agree that the final finished product might provide for only one holding midfielder + 2 wingers and a playmaker, but It might only come after a long trail of strenghtening (tactical/confidence/self believe/seniority) of the whole package that shall last for a couple of seasons.

[Beefymcfc]

Anyone with even a modicum of intelligence would recognise that there has been no vendetta against Mancini. There have been people who felt that the decision to sack Hughes was wrong, some who felt that Mancini's appointment was wrong and others who felt his tactics have been wrong at times. This does not mean they are conducting a vendetta against him.

I voted no for Mancini, not because of any particular feelings about him, but because the vendetta against the previous manager from one or two of our celebrity posters on here pushed me in that direction. Since that I haven't bothered to change my vote because it is immaterial. Mancini is here and, so far, has done a half decent job and he has my full support.

Hmmmmmmm. probably answers your question fully Antti?

[Beefymcfc]

My very personal opinion, Beefy Mate, is a big YES about Your question.
Providing that next year's Team will be fed with a very top deep-lying box-to box (just name a younger Vieira, a Xavi Alonso clone or the original one, in my biggest dream) and a stably effective playmaker (sadly the occasion to get W. Snejider for few money went too early - I'd like to have a worth try with the Lyon's Pjanic).
I have a feeling You are not far to agree with me... :-)

You're not far wrong my friend. I think our biggest failing this season was not to get cover for Stevie and the now far-away Elano. We miss that creative/incisive midfield player who changes defence into attack. However, it's not just that area that needs strengthning. For a few years now we have struggled with the back 4 due to players in and out of the squad, ie. a settled back 4, so I think it is a priority to either get this sorted with the current players or moreover, bring some top quality robust ones in. That would negate the need to play 2 DMs.

Oh, and yes, Pjanic is a good shout but in my eyes he is just a little too young for the role and from a far inferior league; not enough games under his belt to really show himself as yet.

Sorry Beefy, I disagree re. back four to be a priority issue.
Imo, we have already the 2 best starting CBs of the whole league in Vinnie/Joleon and whereas Kolo might sometime result a little unsure for the top sake I won't trade him with none of the England Int.nals just to say. Plus Boyatta is young and need to learn but he's already more than a very good prospect, as the Club was wise and quick to acknowledge with the new deal.
Slightly different area is FBs, where I may agree we are not currently already at the top and the reason why we still struggle sometimes as an overall defensive system: I do rate Micah's potential very very high and I fully expect Mancini to do his best as a good coach to sort him out. On the left Wayne is second best of the league and occasionally Joleon might be a luxury spare where, on the opposite route I'd like to see and test Kolo who might result impressive.
So, I do agree we need to get some good inforcements in the wake of a new season of different challanges, but I'll be perfectly confortable to start any CL game with a back of say Micha/Kolo - Vinnie - Joleon - Wayne.

I do insist the very priority in order to step City further is the possibility to line a very top deep-lying alongside GB who can sustain a pace PV has not more, while dictating whether to rise tempo with deep passing or tiring opponents with a proper ball circulation and possession.
Then, I may even agree that the final finished product might provide for only one holding midfielder + 2 wingers and a playmaker, but It might only come after a long trail of strenghtening (tactical/confidence/self believe/seniority) of the whole package that shall last for a couple of seasons.

Like I said mate, we have to sort our current back or bring some more robust players in. Don't get me wrong, I think we have sorted most of it, we just haven't got the combination right as yet. But you are right, we miss that AM who forces the play, especially with the players we have up front.

[Original Dub]

No, I said there WAS vendetta going on. Don't be a fool, you know it yourself..... loads of people who were disappointed to see Hughes go. You yourself were questioning owners who had done so much for the club for their decision. That wasn't even nearly as bizarre as that time when you claimed Jim Cassell hadn't really done that much for the club.

Mr Pants you've turned into a right little lying cock lately, you really have.

You know well what I said was that IMO the manager of a football club is more important than the academy director. I DO respect what Jim Cassell has done for the club, I just wouldn't jump down to lick his helmet cheese off like you would. Fucking "Jim Cassell appreciation thread" because you got sore that people didn't agree with you when you said he was "the best in the world!". That thread went down a treat didn't it?

And you have no sense of humour because this is the third time I've had to explain to you that my saying "I wish the owners would leave and we could bring Mark Hughes back" was a FUCKING JOKE.

Now you want BIZARRE? I'll give you bizarre - what about the endless shite we had to listen to from you because we signed Craig Bellamy? What about the endless shite we had to listen to from you because we went after Carlos Tevez? What about all the fucking whinging we had to listen to from you the WHOLE time Hughes was in charge? What about all the anti-rag shit you go on about like you were born and raised in Manchester?

You like pushing my buttons Antti, I'll give you that, but when the dust settles, its you who cries the most and 9 times out of 10 its over something stupid like wanting De Jong to "fuck off to where he came from" or protesting against the signings of what turned out to be our two best players at the whole club.

You actually find it difficult to analyse a game of football and that is clear as day now. Since Mancini took over all you've seen is fantastic football and anyone who says they didn't enjoy part of the game is ridiculed.

People aren't allowed to show discontent in certain areas of our play anymore without you insinuating that they want City to lose FFS.

Questioning fellow fans' support of the club they love is disgraceful and uncalled for IMO. I don't know what mission you're on - I'm pretty sure it involves you trying to be able to say "I told you so".... as usual - but its getting a bit boring, because there is no vendetta against Mancini, there was merely concerns at how boring we were playing.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

No, I said there WAS vendetta going on. Don't be a fool, you know it yourself..... loads of people who were disappointed to see Hughes go. You yourself were questioning owners who had done so much for the club for their decision. That wasn't even nearly as bizarre as that time when you claimed Jim Cassell hadn't really done that much for the club.

Mr Pants you've turned into a right little lying cock lately, you really have.

You know well what I said was that IMO the manager of a football club is more important than the academy director. I DO respect what Jim Cassell has done for the club, I just wouldn't jump down to lick his helmet cheese off like you would. Fucking "Jim Cassell appreciation thread" because you got sore that people didn't agree with you when you said he was "the best in the world!". That thread went down a treat didn't it?

And you have no sense of humour because this is the third time I've had to explain to you that my saying "I wish the owners would leave and we could bring Mark Hughes back" was a FUCKING JOKE.

Now you want BIZARRE? I'll give you bizarre - what about the endless shite we had to listen to from you because we signed Craig Bellamy? What about the endless shite we had to listen to from you because we went after Carlos Tevez? What about all the fucking whinging we had to listen to from you the WHOLE time Hughes was in charge? What about all the anti-rag shit you go on about like you were born and raised in Manchester?

You like pushing my buttons Antti, I'll give you that, but when the dust settles, its you who cries the most and 9 times out of 10 its over something stupid like wanting De Jong to "fuck off to where he came from" or protesting against the signings of what turned out to be our two best players at the whole club.

You actually find it difficult to analyse a game of football and that is clear as day now. Since Mancini took over all you've seen is fantastic football and anyone who says they didn't enjoy part of the game is ridiculed.

People aren't allowed to show discontent in certain areas of our play anymore without you insinuating that they want City to lose FFS.

Questioning fellow fans' support of the club they love is disgraceful and uncalled for IMO. I don't know what mission you're on - I'm pretty sure it involves you trying to be able to say "I told you so".... as usual - but its getting a bit boring, because there is no vendetta against Mancini, there was merely concerns at how boring we were playing.

Come on mate. You were exaggarating stuff yourself. I was just pulling your leg and playing your game as usual.

Bellamy you are right abou and no I didn't want Tevez because he had just sank us in Derby. I was wrong about both. De Jong on the aftermath of the derby and he deserved it.

And yes, I am gutted that Jim Cassell hasn't been receiving applauds for, in my opinion, saving this club from god knows what with the players he has produced. Hughes did nothing like that for the club.... just spend money and got (below last season) average results.

I haven't said that everything has been fine and dandy under Mancini but we've seen improvement and statement to that we are 4th in the table after one of the best first half performances I've EVER seen from City...... about an hour after you had slagged off manager fairly harshly for not producing. Be a man and take it on cheek.

[Original Dub]

Fair enough, apologies- I'm a bit stressed today - first day in a new job!

The only reason I started showing concern about Mancini was when I saw us get more and more negative, so I won't take that on the cheek as you say.

What I will take on the cheek (for now) is that one or two on here were convinced that he would change us to a more attacking side before the end of the season and I couldn't see signs of it for a long time. Everton let me down big time, but Burnley gave me amazing hope and I don't care who they were, I think we'd have beaten the scum's all time record win had it not pelted down, so I'm fucked if I'm not gonna take my hat off the Bobby for that. He got it BANG fucking ON. It reminded me of the Pompey 6-0 game and I hope to God we win even by a one goal margin this weekend... once we show the same fearlessness.

The only problem I've ever had, even in the games we won, was how we set our stall out. I honestly believe it gave the opposition hope in almost every case and I believe it was working against us. It was even the case as recent as Wigan, but certainly not against Burnley.

I'm behind the guy I really am, I was just getting very frustrated but I'll hold my hand up and say he seems to be slowly turning us into an organised unit who are now to beginning to get the goals flowing.

And fucking long may it continue!

[DoomMerchant]

rarely poke my head in here to see what this thread is about. Now i know why.

you two should get married.

cheers

[carl_feedthegoat]

I hate it when people make up.

[Beefymcfc]

I hate it when people make up.

Shame, it's gone a little 'Darren Day' now!

[Original Dub]

rarely poke my head in here to see what this thread is about. Now i know why.

you two should get married.

cheers

Aye and you could be be my mistress and lick me out.

Queers

[DoomMerchant]

rarely poke my head in here to see what this thread is about. Now i know why.

you two should get married.

cheers

Aye and you could be be my mistress and lick me out.

Queers

that's wishful thinking. you'd be in a gimp suit within an hour of meeting me if i skewed that way.

cheers

[Original Dub]

rarely poke my head in here to see what this thread is about. Now i know why.

you two should get married.

cheers

Aye and you could be be my mistress and lick me out.

Queers

that's wishful thinking. you'd be in a gimp suit within an hour of meeting me if i skewed that way.

cheers

Not if I was in one already.