*** City v Everton match thread ***

[Beefymcfc]

Just a point on the booing the subs, if fans can boo anything MCFC then FUCK IT THE LOONS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ETIHAD.

Very strange mindset. It's always been there but I find it quite strange just because we make a sub.

On the positive, all those who boo'd like girlies at a pantomime must've forgiven Carlos then.

[City64]

Always , always a horrible fixture versus Everton for us . We could play fuckin fantastic against them and still end up losing lol. Could be a decent point at the end of the season . We move on ......... Stretford could be as dogged as Everton and proper park the bus ........ bobby manc needs to come up with some answers for that epic !

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Always , always a horrible fixture versus Everton for us . We could play fuckin fantastic against them and still end up losing lol. Could be a decent point at the end of the season . We move on ......... Stretford could be as dogged as Everton and proper park the bus ........ bobby manc needs to come up with some answers for that epic !

They tried that last year and look what it got them! But I am sure they will play a 4 .5.1 with Shrek behind RVP and then 4 with lots of energy to try and shut us down as quickly as they can.

[dazby]

Everton is always a tough game but too many of our players were poor today.

Yaya and Dzeko put in 2 of the worst performances I've seen in years from a City player. Just dreadful.

Dzeko is a sub at best. He's had plenty of chances and he's shit every time he starts. No idea why Tevez was subbed instead of him.

Yaya has to be dropped. He was simply awful today. His passing was all over the place but the thing that annoys me the most about him is the sheer lack of effort at times. When Everton counter-attacked, he just simply walked back or maybe there was a slight jog. Other players sprint back but he just can't be arsed. He's done that ever since he's been here and it really pisses me off.

I really hope Milner is back soon. We need his energy in the middle as that's where Everton won many of the battles today.

I can remember 3 clear occasions where we lost our shape and Everton got a break simply because Yaya was ambling back and losing his position.

He's just not at the races at the moment.

[Ted Hughes]

For what it's worth, I thought Everton played really well yesterday & I have been a huge critic of them, and Moyes, in the past but slowly & surely he is changing their style from a hump it team to a passing, counter attacking, team & I take my hat off to him for producing that, with such a limited budget.

They were better organised as a team than us & better organised than Real Madrid.

It would be interesting to see what Moyes could do with either set of those players, compared to Mancini or Mourinho.

I think he is putting in a big challenge for the rags job.

City meanwhile, are not bad at all but are uninspired & uninspiring to watch. We may win the league, in fact I make us still favourites if we win next week, but it's not been great so far this season, however we butter it up. Barring v Fulham & West Brom, we are playing like a side of 30 somethings hanging on to past glories for one last season, rather than a progressing side who is about to storm Europe in the near future.

Something is missing & I'm not enjoying watching City very much at all . We need a spark from somewhere & I no longer care whare that comes from.

[KippaxBlue]

pics and comments on the Everton game are now online at
http://www.rtfract.com/citdec12.htm

[clawbaggio]

At first I liked the way we started trying to get the ball forward more quickly, but we just kept over-hitting it and it was too easy for Everton.
2nd half we looked quite busy but no penetration at all. The midfield was poor. I feel sorry for Silva. The weight of expectation is all on his shoulders as the others don't look capable. Ya Ya is a bag of shit at the moment and Nasri still not stepped up to the plate.
The ref gave them everything as well (although I suppose he did give us a pen)

[getdressedmctavish]

WELL DONE TED FOR DARING TO SAY THE UNTHINKABLE. WHAT WOULD ANOTHER MANAGER DO, SOMEONE FAR LESS GLAMOROUS BUT WHO MOTIVATES AS WELL AS ORGANISES? yEH, WE ARE STILL IN THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHIN A FAT BLOKE TRYING TO UNBLOCK A DRAIN.IF COPPEL WAS THE FUCKIN MANAGER HE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE HIS TEAM CAME OUT AND MATCHED EVERTON'S WORK RATE. AND ONCE WE FAILED TO MAKE ANY CHANCES, SURELY HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME MORE PACE DOWN THE WINGS. BUT OFCOURSE, A MORE ATTACKING MANAGER MIGHT HAVE LOST. FOR ME THE KEY ISSUE THIS SEASON WILL BE, WHO WINS MORE AND DRAWS LEAST BETWEEN US AND THE RAGS(SORRY BOUT CAPS)

[Swales4ever]

WELL DONE TED FOR DARING TO SAY THE UNTHINKABLE. WHAT WOULD ANOTHER MANAGER DO, SOMEONE FAR LESS GLAMOROUS BUT WHO MOTIVATES AS WELL AS ORGANISES? yEH, WE ARE STILL IN THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHIN A FAT BLOKE TRYING TO UNBLOCK A DRAIN.IF COPPEL WAS THE FUCKIN MANAGER HE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE HIS TEAM CAME OUT AND MATCHED EVERTON'S WORK RATE. AND ONCE WE FAILED TO MAKE ANY CHANCES, SURELY HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME MORE PACE DOWN THE WINGS. BUT OFCOURSE, A MORE ATTACKING MANAGER MIGHT HAVE LOST. FOR ME THE KEY ISSUE THIS SEASON WILL BE, WHO WINS MORE AND DRAWS LEAST BETWEEN US AND THE RAGS(SORRY BOUT CAPS)

Let's sack the manager, then!
What's next to have fun?

[Ted Hughes]

WELL DONE TED FOR DARING TO SAY THE UNTHINKABLE. WHAT WOULD ANOTHER MANAGER DO, SOMEONE FAR LESS GLAMOROUS BUT WHO MOTIVATES AS WELL AS ORGANISES? yEH, WE ARE STILL IN THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHIN A FAT BLOKE TRYING TO UNBLOCK A DRAIN.IF COPPEL WAS THE FUCKIN MANAGER HE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE HIS TEAM CAME OUT AND MATCHED EVERTON'S WORK RATE. AND ONCE WE FAILED TO MAKE ANY CHANCES, SURELY HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME MORE PACE DOWN THE WINGS. BUT OFCOURSE, A MORE ATTACKING MANAGER MIGHT HAVE LOST. FOR ME THE KEY ISSUE THIS SEASON WILL BE, WHO WINS MORE AND DRAWS LEAST BETWEEN US AND THE RAGS(SORRY BOUT CAPS)

Let's sack the manager, then!
What's next to have fun?

Why not discuss the points raised rather than just laughing at it ?

[Swales4ever]

WELL DONE TED FOR DARING TO SAY THE UNTHINKABLE. WHAT WOULD ANOTHER MANAGER DO, SOMEONE FAR LESS GLAMOROUS BUT WHO MOTIVATES AS WELL AS ORGANISES? yEH, WE ARE STILL IN THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHIN A FAT BLOKE TRYING TO UNBLOCK A DRAIN.IF COPPEL WAS THE FUCKIN MANAGER HE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE HIS TEAM CAME OUT AND MATCHED EVERTON'S WORK RATE. AND ONCE WE FAILED TO MAKE ANY CHANCES, SURELY HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME MORE PACE DOWN THE WINGS. BUT OFCOURSE, A MORE ATTACKING MANAGER MIGHT HAVE LOST. FOR ME THE KEY ISSUE THIS SEASON WILL BE, WHO WINS MORE AND DRAWS LEAST BETWEEN US AND THE RAGS(SORRY BOUT CAPS)

Let's sack the manager, then!
What's next to have fun?

Why not discuss the points raised rather than just laughing at it ?

I thought it was a well established tradition of the forum.... laughing at b*ll*x.
I seem to have debated the question wide and plain... since day one.
May I just have some fun at tabloid's echoes?

[Ted Hughes]

WELL DONE TED FOR DARING TO SAY THE UNTHINKABLE. WHAT WOULD ANOTHER MANAGER DO, SOMEONE FAR LESS GLAMOROUS BUT WHO MOTIVATES AS WELL AS ORGANISES? yEH, WE ARE STILL IN THERE, BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHIN A FAT BLOKE TRYING TO UNBLOCK A DRAIN.IF COPPEL WAS THE FUCKIN MANAGER HE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE HIS TEAM CAME OUT AND MATCHED EVERTON'S WORK RATE. AND ONCE WE FAILED TO MAKE ANY CHANCES, SURELY HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME MORE PACE DOWN THE WINGS. BUT OFCOURSE, A MORE ATTACKING MANAGER MIGHT HAVE LOST. FOR ME THE KEY ISSUE THIS SEASON WILL BE, WHO WINS MORE AND DRAWS LEAST BETWEEN US AND THE RAGS(SORRY BOUT CAPS)

Let's sack the manager, then!
What's next to have fun?

Why not discuss the points raised rather than just laughing at it ?

I thought it was a well established tradition of the forum.... laughing at b*ll*x.
I seem to have debated the question wide and plain... since day one.
May I just have some fun at tabloid's echoes?

Personally I think McTavish often makes perfectly good arguments whether I agree with him or not.

There seems to be a general theme that it's ok to ask comfortable questions of Mancini but certain questions are taboo.

I don't agree personally that City were lacking work rate, but we are certainly lacking a lot of basics that Everton got right. Why for instance were we hitting long balls in the 1st 20 mins yet had no plan of runners getting on the end of them ?

This wasn't a case of the much maligned Lescott hoofing under pressure, this was people like Maicon, who was Mancini's player, clearly exercising a plan, so why the fuck were City not actually able to carry this out when Royle or Coppel etc were capable of it, why were there not runners in the right position to take advantage if it had it worked & why the fuck did Bob think this was a good idea in the first place ?

Were Dzeko's ridiculous lay offs in the box his idea rather than going for goal, or was he playing to instruction & there should have been a player running in to get on the end of them ? Who is responsible for it ? Dzeko or Bob ?

[Swales4ever]

Ted,
I have nothing against an healthy debate on football.
Neither I have an issue with people genuinely wondering whether a different manager would take City higher and faster, while entertaining us more.
I may personally - being a Mancini licker - have few doubts about it, but that's just my own opinion, counting just for one vote.
You should also have read several questions and rants I raised over Bob's choices, so that I think You may credit me of not being an uncritical happy clapper.... You certainly cannot mention a single football topic, in which I refused to engage myself with sensible and open minded posters like You and many others... I reserve my rights to laugh when I keep listening the same broken tune, mainly sung by people who stand silently when City run riots, entertain or deliver trophies but are always quick to sing it again at any average spell of form.
Right or wrong, obviously... and always targeting that famous benefit of stability that You - many times - have advocated, in the full awareness that's the main reason of the Rags Success lasted over two decades.

[Ted Hughes]

Ted,
I have nothing against an healthy debate on football.
Neither I have an issue with people genuinely wondering whether a different manager would take City higher and faster, while entertaining us more.
I may personally - being a Mancini licker - have few doubts about it, but that's just my own opinion, counting just for one vote.
You should also have read several questions and rants I raised over Bob's choices, so that I think You may credit me of not being an uncritical happy clapper.... You certainly cannot mention a single football topic, in which I refused to engage myself with sensible and open minded posters like You and many others... I reserve my rights to laugh when I keep listening the same broken tune, mainly sung by people who stand silently when City run riots, entertain or deliver trophies but are always quick to sing it again at any average spell of form.
Right or wrong, obviously... and always targeting that famous benefit of stability that You - many times - have advocated, in the full awareness that's the main reason of the Rags Success lasted over two decades.

Again, you're just dismissing people's questions on football matters & defending Mancini. I have not once asked for the manager to be sacked, I am discussing what he is doing now & in previous games & waiting for anyone to explain why in any of these instances, he is right to do what he's doing. Half the time the response is 'lol' or 'rant' or some other bollocks rather than an actual reason behind the points raised.

It's more like questioning the existence of God rather than talking football: 'Mancini works in mysterious ways, it is not ours to ask why he does what he does '.

[getdressedmctavish]

lol Ted. We even get to the point where one of my mates has given up Catholicism for Mancinism!Here's another question. I know feck all so I'm probably completely wrong that Jason Roberts and his ilk used to have great success against Distin by roughing him up a bit and getting him turning. That must be the most comfortable afternnon he's had in years as we kindly played to his strengths.Those Everton players are complete coonts. Why didn't Fellaini mark Lescott instead of towering over Zab at the far post. Not fair at all.And so to Dortmund. Another team who cheated us by doing a bit of homework. Bert ought to try it. It beats playing the same way regardless time after time or coming up with plans worked out on the back of a San Carlo napkin in between the starters and the main course.

[Swales4ever]

Ted,
I have nothing against an healthy debate on football.
Neither I have an issue with people genuinely wondering whether a different manager would take City higher and faster, while entertaining us more.
I may personally - being a Mancini licker - have few doubts about it, but that's just my own opinion, counting just for one vote.
You should also have read several questions and rants I raised over Bob's choices, so that I think You may credit me of not being an uncritical happy clapper.... You certainly cannot mention a single football topic, in which I refused to engage myself with sensible and open minded posters like You and many others... I reserve my rights to laugh when I keep listening the same broken tune, mainly sung by people who stand silently when City run riots, entertain or deliver trophies but are always quick to sing it again at any average spell of form.
Right or wrong, obviously... and always targeting that famous benefit of stability that You - many times - have advocated, in the full awareness that's the main reason of the Rags Success lasted over two decades.

Again, you're just dismissing people's questions on football matters & defending Mancini. I have not once asked for the manager to be sacked, I am discussing what he is doing now & in previous games & waiting for anyone to explain why in any of these instances, he is right to do what he's doing. Half the time the response is 'lol' or 'rant' or some other bollocks rather than an actual reason behind the points raised.

It's more like questioning the existence of God rather than talking football: 'Mancini works in mysterious ways, it is not ours to ask why he does what he does '.

Hahaha... You know Mate, this is one of those that make me soooooo desperate to shake hands and look into Your eyes! I really wish You were a partner of our small firm, if we could afford.
Let's call it lost in translation, once again.
I don't believe in anything other than human good will and hard work, why should I believe in presumed "Mancini's mysterious ways, not to be questioned"?
Please go to that "advanced search" tool, upright the page and browse my posts from current season.
You are not required to show off: just find confirmation that:
a) I never intended nor implied that You are asking for the manager's sack;
b) Whether I fully agree on single footballing points of Yours or not, I always tend to presume You better placed, on the ground stands each and every game, to see and smell the proceedings of our football development;
c) since last season Arsenal away, I started two if not three threads, deemed to debate whether Bob's got it all what needed to take stronghold of the Team and, consequently, bring us up to the ultimate Top, where we aim to arrive..... progressively.
It' s my reasoned opinion that, football wise, Mancini has nothing to learn from other top managers, which obviously does not mean that there are not others as fit as him for the City job.

as it stands now, re what seems to be a momentary involution of City game, I think the below quote sums quite fairly my current idea, which I do not think is that much different from Yours.

I don't think Mancini wants us to play that way though personally. I think he is, so far, unable to change it.

If I thought it was part of a plan, I'd be more comfortable tbh, because it would mean that all we need is a change of plan.

I think You may well be right there and that's is almost the same understanding I have of it, when also drawn into consideration the right decision to add additional competence (3-5-2/plan B), stubbornly taken at the wrong time.

I think we both share the full agreement on that managers and players are human beings, under silly wages as they were Gods, but still human beings, hence subject to mistakes (managers) and adverse physio and mental conditions (players). Neither I think that You disagree with me on considering that it's not easy to run riots on decent oppositions, tightly locked and whose managers had carefully studied and understood strengths and weaknesses of your side.

I also have great hopes and expectations for the next season, which shall follow a normal pre-season with all the key players fully involved, and more IMPORTANTLY, the first summer transfer window whereas Roberto Mancini will be backed by the combined performance of a Senior CEO and a Senior SPORTING DIRECTOR.

and for what's worth, my feelings during and in the aftermath of Everton games, were about a certain frustration on our front pack's current form, disappointment at realizing start after start that Dzeko is probably half what I expected from him, but in all honesty I felt quite entertained, particularly at watching how professionally we seemed to cope with a very decent Everton's rushing array, orchestrated by a very good (but despicable) manager, that we both agree would deserve upper challenges.

For the records: provided it's not The Clown, I'll be fine if City should happen to be managed by another top manager: my favourite options being Jürgen Klopp (still stunned by the incredibly well organized high pressing game he has shown and sustained all game long, during the 1st CL game at us. also quite proven at upper level in a pacey major league), Pep Guardiola, an humble, gentle and clever footballer which I much rate or, with bigger question marks on his overall career Frank Rijkaard.
I don't think it will actually happen, honestly, but if it will, I will continue to plead for stability on the next incumbent and make laugh on knee-jerk reactions upon every average spell of form and/or single managerial mistake.

Last, but not least, try and figure me as I wasn't as fair and transparent (to the board) as I've been in choosing my nickname: just figure me out as I had called myself "ColinGoldenBoot" or "TrautyBraveNeck".

Ciao Tony, Ti voglio bene!
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