Douglas Higginbottom wrote:It is an interesting scenario and maybe this is close to the real issue.
"We have debated this ad infinitum and it seems to me some people dont have the faintest clue what Mancini is about. Not the faintest"
Close but I would extend the comment to suggest that ,so far, the players also haven't had much of a clue. Certainly last year with our scoreless performances against LPool,Arse,Everton,Scum,Spurs where we played the cautious game it was clear our ability to control games and score goals was very worrying. We must believe that, with more time working with the players and a new group of key players added, we will start to perform better in these games and look like we can win.
In the Spurs game on Saturday we looked lost in the first half and Joe saved us but in the 2nd half there were some good signs of understanding and an ability to control the game.We kept possession better which meant the defence wasn't under seige. I know we didn't threaten to score very often but that will come as the players get used to each other more and confidence grows.
Yes they certainly need time, and the 0-0 was a bonus with so little training. But the expectations are too much. How many times have we seen Scum get coshed away from home only to come through later in the game, because when they got the chance they had the quality to take it? Dozens and dozens. In this case SWP fluffed his lines badly for example, whereas Tevez, Ade, Silva or others may not have. You dont really go to Spurs and dominate, you keep them out and then pick them off. But the team wasn't ready to pick them off (and only just kept them out - but they did!)
When SCUM get hammered then come through 1-0, all the talk is of another brilliant away win.