Ratings v Chelsea?

[Arjan Van Schotte]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

agreed. as someone said - lets put a great "box" striker in there and then play through the middle. top tactics

[The Original Special One]

Dzeko and Balotelli are far worse than one Craig Bellamy, yet we are around 50 million worse off.

Zero for the pair of them today. As usual. At least Balotelli didn't boot anyone.

Where will we be in two years if Mancini stays in charge? Mid-table with even more cast-offs other clubs don't want? The man seems determined to destroy us. Fans are staying away from big matches in droves, not because of expensive tickets but because we are predictable and boring. If I was Mansour, I'd be wondering if we were a basket case incapable of turning around. All because of Mancini.

on the evidence to date its certainly true in the case of Dzeko

But in the case of Balotelli, its like putting a ticking time bomb on the pitch: you don't if he's going to go off,....or when!

[The Original Special One]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

His first touch is dreadful. You simply can't be a top striker with a touch as bad as he has. To play against there defences teh ability to control the ball first time is vital, Dzeko always needs a secodn and third touch, I really have seen nothing from him to suggest he'll be any decent.
And no, a couple of goals against Notts County doesn't do it I'm afraid.

How many times have you seen a ball which my granny could have controlled with aplomb, rebound off the toe of his boot??
Pub League quality
(surely we should have been extra wary after Crocky Santa's Cruise?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

His first touch is dreadful. You simply can't be a top striker with a touch as bad as he has. To play against there defences teh ability to control the ball first time is vital, Dzeko always needs a secodn and third touch, I really have seen nothing from him to suggest he'll be any decent.
And no, a couple of goals against Notts County doesn't do it I'm afraid.

How many times have you seen a ball which my granny could have controlled with aplomb, rebound off the toe of his boot??
Pub League quality
(surely we should have been extra wary after Crocky Santa's Cruise?

Exactly, people say Dzeko's main asset is his aerial prowess. If that were the case we may as well of kept Santa Cruz and Adebayor.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

Dzeko will be a top City player but it is looking like it won't be till after this season.

[Ted Hughes]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

Dzeko will be a top City player but it is looking like it won't be till after this season.

Agree but that was always a possibility for the reasons above so, baring in mind we didn't want Ade & had dumped RSC & Bellamy & Balotelli is a certified nutcase, we should have also signed someone more likely to fit in & do a job if Tevez gets injured or knackered. Not doing so is incompetent imo. Bob asked for trouble & he got it.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

Dzeko will be a top City player but it is looking like it won't be till after this season.

Agree but that was always a possibility for the reasons above so, baring in mind we didn't want Ade & had dumped RSC & Bellamy & Balotelli is a certified nutcase, we should have also signed someone more likely to fit in & do a job if Tevez gets injured or knackered. Not doing so is incompetent imo. Bob asked for trouble & he got it.

Agree with that Ted. It's the fitting in bit that is so strange.As I understand it Mancini wanted dzeko in the summer and just missed out but had the deal ready for January. Surely he must know what he is all about and had a plan for how he would fit him in.Other "experts" have indicated that Dzeko is a top class striker and will fit in well in the premiership but so far we haven't seen much to give us that belief.What we have seen is a team playing with Tevez on his own up front , scoring plenty of goals (Tevez I mean) and looking quite good suddenly become a team which looks less fluent even in winning games .Winning though is only happening at home and even then it can be a struggle but away from home there is almost nothing.

He asked for trouble and got it but what do you think his plan was to use Dzeko. Even harder is, what is his plan in trying to get all 3 of them in the same team?

[Ted Hughes]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

To be fair many posters like myself were saying that Dzeko is a striker that does not fit in with our current way of playing and we would need to change our approach in the final third to get the best out of him.

His movement inside the box is superb. His ability to peel away off the shoulder of a centre-back and find that half a yard to stick the ball in the net is unquestioned.

The problem is we do not put enough balls into the box or balls in front of him to run into. We play the ball to him on the half way line with no support (ocassionally Silva or Toure will be within 15 yards) and expect him to "do a Tevez". No wonder he's looking poor at the moment.

Dzeko will be a top City player but it is looking like it won't be till after this season.

Agree but that was always a possibility for the reasons above so, baring in mind we didn't want Ade & had dumped RSC & Bellamy & Balotelli is a certified nutcase, we should have also signed someone more likely to fit in & do a job if Tevez gets injured or knackered. Not doing so is incompetent imo. Bob asked for trouble & he got it.

Agree with that Ted. It's the fitting in bit that is so strange.As I understand it Mancini wanted dzeko in the summer and just missed out but had the deal ready for January. Surely he must know what he is all about and had a plan for how he would fit him in.Other "experts" have indicated that Dzeko is a top class striker and will fit in well in the premiership but so far we haven't seen much to give us that belief.What we have seen is a team playing with Tevez on his own up front , scoring plenty of goals (Tevez I mean) and looking quite good suddenly become a team which looks less fluent even in winning games .Winning though is only happening at home and even then it can be a struggle but away from home there is almost nothing.

He asked for trouble and got it but what do you think his plan was to use Dzeko. Even harder is, what is his plan in trying to get all 3 of them in the same team?

I can't see a plan behind anything he's done regarding the attacking side other than pinning all his hopes on Kolarov & Boateng to provide width. How he planned to work it with Balotelli, Dzeko & Tevez I don't know but I do know that neither of them, nor Jo, is a replacement for Tevez. Nobody can replace Johnson but I don't know where he figured in that plan & nobody can replace Silva. How he plans to use Dzeko in the future I just don't know. None of it seems to make any sense. It's like square pegs in round holes.


The most cohesive plan I saw from Bob was in the 1st game of the pre season tour, v Arkansas Lumberjacks (or whatever the hell they were called) when he had Bellamy & Adebayor playing the system we play now & went smoothly through several tactical changes (instructions directed by Bellamy) & it looked like a masterplan was being built. Then he dumped Bellamy & replaced him with that Brazilian cretin & I've struggled to figure out what the hell he's aiming for ever since.

Everyone told me not to worry as it was just fitness training but in actual fact it was Jo training to take Bellamy's job, presumably because we thought Dzeko was coming but where would he have played then?

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Doug I just don't see it. I had never seen Dzeko play before he came to City and I bet most people on here hadn't, but everyone hyped him up so much and claimed he was such a wonderful player. I was excited to see him play but he's shown nothing to suggest he is anywhere near as good as people made out.

It's not just a fitness thing, he's had enought time now, it's his ability. His first touch is dreadful. Yesterday he had two one on ones with Luiz and he got dominated, you just knew there was zero chance of him beating Luiz. People will say we're not playing him the right way but I'm sorry, when all of you lot banged on about what a wondeful player he was, you can't of been suggesting he's only good in the air?

Drogba's fantatsic in the air too but he has a magnifficent touch and control of the ball.

I hope he proves me wrong, but right now we'd of been better of keeping Ade.

[aaron bond]

Doug I just don't see it. I had never seen Dzeko play before he came to City and I bet msot people on here hadn't, but everyone hyped him up so much and claimed he was such a wonderful player. I was excited to see him play but he's shown nothing to suggest he is anywhere near as good as people made out.

It's not just a fitness thing, he's had enought time now, it's his ability. His first touch is dreadful. Yesterday he had two one on ones with Luiz and he got dominated, you just knew there was zero chance of him beating Luiz. People wills ay we're not playing him the right way but I'm sorry, when all of you lot banged on about what a wondeful player he was, you can't of been suggesting he's only good in the air?

Drogba's fantatsic in the air too but he has a magnifficent touch and control of the ball.

I hope he proves me wrong, but right now we'd of been better of keeping Ade.

Drogba got a lot of stick in his first 2 years in England, not just for his theatrics but many people were saying he was a waste of money. I think he scored 10 goals in the league in his first season.

He has been fantastic since though.

I agree that Dzeko hasn't looked amazing since he's been here, but players do take time to settle and we should give him that chance. We do need to deliver the ball into the box more as I think that will utilise his strengths but our team seems to have a severe dislike for crossing the ball!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Doug I just don't see it. I had never seen Dzeko play before he came to City and I bet msot people on here hadn't, but everyone hyped him up so much and claimed he was such a wonderful player. I was excited to see him play but he's shown nothing to suggest he is anywhere near as good as people made out.

It's not just a fitness thing, he's had enought time now, it's his ability. His first touch is dreadful. Yesterday he had two one on ones with Luiz and he got dominated, you just knew there was zero chance of him beating Luiz. People wills ay we're not playing him the right way but I'm sorry, when all of you lot banged on about what a wondeful player he was, you can't of been suggesting he's only good in the air?

Drogba's fantatsic in the air too but he has a magnifficent touch and control of the ball.

I hope he proves me wrong, but right now we'd of been better of keeping Ade.

Drogba got a lot of stick in his first 2 years in England, not just for his theatrics but many people were saying he was a waste of money. I think he scored 10 goals in the league in his first season.

He has been fantastic since though.

I agree that Dzeko hasn't looked amazing since he's been here, but players do take time to settle and we should give him that chance. We do need to deliver the ball into the box more as I think that will utilise his strengths but our team seems to have a severe dislike for crossing the ball!

As AB says.. I can't disguise that he hasnt been great so far and his first touch has been generally lacking but I believe it is there in him. I think the 2 situations against Luiz is a little unfair although I do remember thinking if only that had been Tevez.Running at and past people isnt his game.I believe he is all about what happens in the box and not outside it.

[Original Dub]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

Jesus CHRIST will you stop going on about it... or at least grasp what was really said.

Suarez is not better than Silva or Tevez and it is those players who he would be replacing if he came. Not fucking Dzeko and certainly not Patrick fucking Vieira as you suggested.

They are very different strikers with very different attributes and Dzeko is doing about as well as Surez would in a team that doesn't play to his strengths. Kind of like if you put Suarez into a side that kept giving high crosses into the box... if you get what I mean.

Time will tell who the most potent striker of the two will be, but Dzeko was not bought instead of Suarez, nor should Tevez or Silva ever be sold to be replaced with Suarez.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

Jesus CHRIST will you stop going on about it... or at least grasp what was really said.

Suarez is not better than Silva or Tevez and it is those players who he would be replacing if he came. Not fucking Dzeko and certainly not Patrick fucking Vieira as you suggested.

They are very different strikers with very different attributes and Dzeko is doing about as well as Surez would in a team that doesn't play to his strengths. Kind of like if you put Suarez into a side that kept giving high crosses into the box... if you get what I mean.

Time will tell who the most potent striker of the two will be, but Dzeko was not bought instead of Suarez, nor should Tevez or Silva ever be sold to be replaced with Suarez.

Who says Suarez couldn't play alongside Tevez and Silva? Infact he'd look good playing the role Bellamy operated.
Can you honestly say Dzeko has been better than Suarez so far? Suarez absolutely took United to the sword, something I've not seen anyone in the league do this season.
Any striker that costs 30 odd million and was hyped us so much has to have more than one aspect to his game.

What are Dzeko's strengths? His aerial ability? Well in that case we may aswell of kept Santa Cruz or Adebayor who are both good in the air and better on the ground ( well maybe not Santa Cruz).
It can't be fitness, he's been here nearly 3 months now.
And besides if his main asset is strength and heading why did we buy him considering we don't have a single out and out winger.

[Alioune DVToure]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

Jesus CHRIST will you stop going on about it... or at least grasp what was really said.

Suarez is not better than Silva or Tevez and it is those players who he would be replacing if he came. Not fucking Dzeko and certainly not Patrick fucking Vieira as you suggested.

They are very different strikers with very different attributes and Dzeko is doing about as well as Surez would in a team that doesn't play to his strengths. Kind of like if you put Suarez into a side that kept giving high crosses into the box... if you get what I mean.

Time will tell who the most potent striker of the two will be, but Dzeko was not bought instead of Suarez, nor should Tevez or Silva ever be sold to be replaced with Suarez.

Who says Suarez couldn't play alongside Tevez and Silva? Infact he'd look good playing the role Bellamy operated.
Can you honestly say Dzeko has been better than Suarez so far? Suarez absolutely took United to the sword, something I've not seen anyone in the league do this season.
Any striker that costs 30 odd million and was hyped us so much has to have more than one aspect to his game.

What are Dzeko's strengths? His aerial ability? Well in that case we may aswell of kept Santa Cruz or Adebayor who are both good in the air and better on the ground ( well maybe not Santa Cruz).
It can't be fitness, he's been here nearly 3 months now.
And besides if his main asset is strength and heading why did we buy him considering we don't have a single out and out winger.

Your point that Dzeko hasn't yet played as well as Adebayor sometimes did is a fair one.

However, Adebayor certainly was NOT good in the air. I think he scored perhaps 3 headers for us in his 18 months (I can think of Poznan (h), Liverpool (a) and Arsenal (h)) but he won nothing in the air otherwise.

Yes he was tall, but he was never a targetman for us. Too much time fannying about out wide.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

Jesus CHRIST will you stop going on about it... or at least grasp what was really said.

Suarez is not better than Silva or Tevez and it is those players who he would be replacing if he came. Not fucking Dzeko and certainly not Patrick fucking Vieira as you suggested.

They are very different strikers with very different attributes and Dzeko is doing about as well as Surez would in a team that doesn't play to his strengths. Kind of like if you put Suarez into a side that kept giving high crosses into the box... if you get what I mean.

Time will tell who the most potent striker of the two will be, but Dzeko was not bought instead of Suarez, nor should Tevez or Silva ever be sold to be replaced with Suarez.

Who says Suarez couldn't play alongside Tevez and Silva? Infact he'd look good playing the role Bellamy operated.
Can you honestly say Dzeko has been better than Suarez so far? Suarez absolutely took United to the sword, something I've not seen anyone in the league do this season.
Any striker that costs 30 odd million and was hyped us so much has to have more than one aspect to his game.

What are Dzeko's strengths? His aerial ability? Well in that case we may aswell of kept Santa Cruz or Adebayor who are both good in the air and better on the ground ( well maybe not Santa Cruz).
It can't be fitness, he's been here nearly 3 months now.
And besides if his main asset is strength and heading why did we buy him considering we don't have a single out and out winger.

Your point that Dzeko hasn't yet played as well as Adebayor sometimes did is a fair one.

However, Adebayor certainly was NOT good in the air. I think he scored perhaps 3 headers for us in his 18 months (I can think of Poznan (h), Liverpool (a) and Arsenal (h)) but he won nothing in the air otherwise.

Yes he was tall, but he was never a targetman for us. Too much time fannying about out wide.

Wasnt there a beauty against Portsmouth away?

[Slim]

In the league : 5 starts, 3 subs appearances...ZERO GOALS.

It took Bernardo Corradi 12 league appearances to get his first(and second) and we are fast approaching this.

[Original Dub]

In the league : 5 starts, 3 subs appearances...ZERO GOALS.

It took Bernardo Corradi 12 league appearances to get his first(and second) and we are fast approaching this.

Yes but what is YOUR opinion on him? Do you think he's a top striker or will be?

[Slim]

In the league : 5 starts, 3 subs appearances...ZERO GOALS.

It took Bernardo Corradi 12 league appearances to get his first(and second) and we are fast approaching this.

Yes but what is YOUR opinion on him? Do you think he's a top striker or will be?

Bernardo? He's got a nice wag but that's about it I think.

[Alioune DVToure]

Dzeko really is shite. Whoever said we were better signing him than Suarez really needs their head checking.

Jesus CHRIST will you stop going on about it... or at least grasp what was really said.

Suarez is not better than Silva or Tevez and it is those players who he would be replacing if he came. Not fucking Dzeko and certainly not Patrick fucking Vieira as you suggested.

They are very different strikers with very different attributes and Dzeko is doing about as well as Surez would in a team that doesn't play to his strengths. Kind of like if you put Suarez into a side that kept giving high crosses into the box... if you get what I mean.

Time will tell who the most potent striker of the two will be, but Dzeko was not bought instead of Suarez, nor should Tevez or Silva ever be sold to be replaced with Suarez.

Who says Suarez couldn't play alongside Tevez and Silva? Infact he'd look good playing the role Bellamy operated.
Can you honestly say Dzeko has been better than Suarez so far? Suarez absolutely took United to the sword, something I've not seen anyone in the league do this season.
Any striker that costs 30 odd million and was hyped us so much has to have more than one aspect to his game.

What are Dzeko's strengths? His aerial ability? Well in that case we may aswell of kept Santa Cruz or Adebayor who are both good in the air and better on the ground ( well maybe not Santa Cruz).
It can't be fitness, he's been here nearly 3 months now.
And besides if his main asset is strength and heading why did we buy him considering we don't have a single out and out winger.

Your point that Dzeko hasn't yet played as well as Adebayor sometimes did is a fair one.

However, Adebayor certainly was NOT good in the air. I think he scored perhaps 3 headers for us in his 18 months (I can think of Poznan (h), Liverpool (a) and Arsenal (h)) but he won nothing in the air otherwise.

Yes he was tall, but he was never a targetman for us. Too much time fannying about out wide.

Wasnt there a beauty against Portsmouth away?

Can't picture it. You're probably right though.

I was at Anfield the day he bagged a lovely header from a corner there.

Ireland played that day and Tevez was on the bench. Seems like a lifetime ago.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Adebayor was decent in the air though. Not a world beater but certainly a threat. Also he is far better with teh ball at feet than Dzeko.
It's amazing, he's good enough for Real Madrid but not for us.