Mancini in the Press!

[Cocacolajojo1]

There hasn't been that much talk of how his insistence on playing the strongst eleven in every game has left us winded and injury-stricken in a vital phase of the season. I'm not gonna start that thread but someone should. Apologies if someone has.

To be fair mate, the key injuries have been freakishly unlucky. Sergio appeared to be fit, Nasri was cynically done, and Fernandinho was injured in training.

Personally think he has switched it around plenty, especially in defence, even rotating yaya and Fernandinho recently, as he was doing with silva and nasri. The only possible criticism is with Aguero, but that injury just looked unlucky........if it turns out he wasn't fit to start with, that of course is a different matter entirely, but I think he played Aguero out of choice rather than necessity, particularly the way the other strikers were playing then, he had an embarrassment of riches.

Some great responses!

Perhaps it is the case that he rotated a lot in the beginning of the season and I've forgotten that. In that case the argument could be made that he tried a more "liberal" rotating policy and it failed. I just feel that he could have perhaps tried playing Milner more for example, perhaps a kid or two in a cup game. I don't know. If we're gonna compare Pellegrini with the game mentioned in the OP I think the count is much better at making everyone feel included even if not everyone gets the same amount of playing time... but I think.... there could have been more rotation. It's all easy for me to say in hindsight though.

If he played a weak team and we lost, imagine the reaction...
We could have gone out the League Cup and the Fa Cup had we not played strong teams as it stands we have a very good chance of winning at least one of those two.
It was also really refreshing to see a manager taking these competitions seriously.

You're right, but I wouldn't have been too unhappy if it had meant that we lost out of the League Cup because of having had the courage and belief in a couple of EDS players. It's all very counter factual though, I mean I'm absolutely thrilled that we're going to Wembley again so soon. I think that perhaps my post was a discussion equivalent of a white elephant.

I think early on, he rotated too much. If we had a CL game and a league game against a team he hadn't heard of, the changes would be made for the league game.

Mancini seemed to be getting it wrong the year we won the title - made changes in games we struggled in, but ultimately (as ultimately as it could be), he was proven right. At about this stage of that season, we were without Kompany and Aguero through injury and Silva looked like he was carrying Yaya on his back. The return of them and Tevez made all the difference. The three this season will do the same - let's just hope it's soon enough to give us a chance in the cups, too

Mmm... Let's hope so. I still think the squad looks much happier and have more of a chance to bounce back than the year we won the title. The competition on the other hand seems to be much sharper this year. I guess everything's set for a thrilling run-in.

----

I am pretty pap at being a devil's advocate.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Ha ha ha. Now, let's not have anything said about Pellers now, some people may start to cry ;-)

And if classed as a 'Licker' for supporting the bloke who brought those glorious days to us is a crime, then bring it on fucker. Lick the fuck away.

In all seriousness, how long would you have allowed his behaviour to eat away at the squad before you changed your mind? Would it always have been the players who were at fault for you, even if these were also the players who won the league?

Not fishing with that btw, I'm genuinely interested to know

In all seriousness, it was time for him to go when he went. In fact, I was at that point when the incident with Mario happened. I never really took to Mancini, right from the start, mainly due to his type of play. However, I did say I'd have to 'Suck it up' as he was now in-charge and then began to win games with his defensive style.

You state that my gripe is with the players and that I'd back them over Mancini. Well, that must be an opinion as it's clearly not true. However, what I saw at the end of last season didn't sit well with me and those who decided they couldn't be arsed can rightly get fucked in my book. Crying like fucking babies because 'Big Bad Bobby' wouldn't speak to them or wouldn't give them a game. Fuck me, everybody was backing Hart last season but this season saying he's not up to the job, and never was.

I think the difference here is that I don't have any qualms about saying that Mancini brought us some great moments and that he'll always be regarded in great esteem by me. Others want to downgrade his/our acheivements, and that's their choice, but not for me mate. Those were the greatest and most emotional days in my whole City supporting life which was brought by all at the club, not just Mancini. Pellers is the next evolution and while he is still getting there I will debate his acheivements all I want, just as I did Mancini, and every other manager we've had.

What I find funny is the 'Protect at all costs' we now have on the forum for Pellers. Mention his name in anything other than 'He's fucking brilliant' and there seems to be a very sensitive element who go into meltdown mode - 'Please don't call my Uncle Pellers, otherwise I'll cry' or the opposite 'You fucking Mancini Licker' for those who definately don't want to debate it.

Pellers is good for me and could go onto bigger greatness than I hold Mancini in, but he's got to prove it. Nothing more, nothing less.

I think that's an excellent post Beefy but the only thing I would add is that our fans double standards have worked both ways.
It's definitely true as you say that certain fans get very annoyed when Pellegrini is questioned but were all too happy to label others as Mancini lickers. But it also works the other way round. There were plenty who would defend Mancini to the death over everything, whether it be the bust up with Mario, saying some of poorer signings 'weren't his signings', blaming other teams for sitting back against us rather than our own failures to score, constantly, constantly going on about not signing Van Persie, despite us having four quality strikers already, yet these fans suddenly found it much easier to point out Pellegrini's shortcomings.
Both managers have their strengths and weaknesses.
Mancini in my eyes did fantastic things here and he'll always be the man who ended the years of hurt. But as you've alluded to, it was time for him to go when he did. I personally think the days of long serving managers are over and we'll start to see managers at a club for 3-4 years to perform a particular role for the club. Pellegrini is the 11th longest serving manager in the Pl ffs!

Having said all that, Mancini needs to do both himself and us a favor and stop going on about us to the press.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Is normal

[Ted Hughes]

There hasn't been that much talk of how his insistence on playing the strongst eleven in every game has left us winded and injury-stricken in a vital phase of the season. I'm not gonna start that thread but someone should. Apologies if someone has.

To be fair mate, the key injuries have been freakishly unlucky. Sergio appeared to be fit, Nasri was cynically done, and Fernandinho was injured in training.

Personally think he has switched it around plenty, especially in defence, even rotating yaya and Fernandinho recently, as he was doing with silva and nasri. The only possible criticism is with Aguero, but that injury just looked unlucky........if it turns out he wasn't fit to start with, that of course is a different matter entirely, but I think he played Aguero out of choice rather than necessity, particularly the way the other strikers were playing then, he had an embarrassment of riches.

Some great responses!

Perhaps it is the case that he rotated a lot in the beginning of the season and I've forgotten that. In that case the argument could be made that he tried a more "liberal" rotating policy and it failed. I just feel that he could have perhaps tried playing Milner more for example, perhaps a kid or two in a cup game. I don't know. If we're gonna compare Pellegrini with the game mentioned in the OP I think the count is much better at making everyone feel included even if not everyone gets the same amount of playing time... but I think.... there could have been more rotation. It's all easy for me to say in hindsight though.

If he played a weak team and we lost, imagine the reaction...
We could have gone out the League Cup and the Fa Cup had we not played strong teams as it stands we have a very good chance of winning at least one of those two.
It was also really refreshing to see a manager taking these competitions seriously.

You're right, but I wouldn't have been too unhappy if it had meant that we lost out of the League Cup because of having had the courage and belief in a couple of EDS players. It's all very counter factual though, I mean I'm absolutely thrilled that we're going to Wembley again so soon. I think that perhaps my post was a discussion equivalent of a white elephant.

I think early on, he rotated too much. If we had a CL game and a league game against a team he hadn't heard of, the changes would be made for the league game.

Mancini seemed to be getting it wrong the year we won the title - made changes in games we struggled in, but ultimately (as ultimately as it could be), he was proven right. At about this stage of that season, we were without Kompany and Aguero through injury and Silva looked like he was carrying Yaya on his back. The return of them and Tevez made all the difference. The three this season will do the same - let's just hope it's soon enough to give us a chance in the cups, too

Mmm... Let's hope so. I still think the squad looks much happier and have more of a chance to bounce back than the year we won the title. The competition on the other hand seems to be much sharper this year. I guess everything's set for a thrilling run-in.

----

I am pretty pap at being a devil's advocate.

He has been resting players. My only complaint was when he got Zabba injured v Leicester.

He has been resting Fernandinho, playing him for half games, took off Negredo/Jovetic v Norwich, only used Dzeko for 30 mins due to injury, he's rotated Vinny, Yaya, Lescott etc, tried Micah for Zabba, Kolarov/Clichy, Rodwell, Lopes.

Trouble is we found ourselves 2-0 down v Watford.

[PeterParker]

Just found this in a bookstore near my workplace

[Ted Hughes]

Just found this in a bookstore near my workplace

Is he dead ?

[PeterParker]

Is he dead ?

Just for some. Still he has the skyblue scarf on the cover.

[Slim]

There hasn't been that much talk of how his insistence on playing the strongst eleven in every game has left us winded and injury-stricken in a vital phase of the season. I'm not gonna start that thread but someone should. Apologies if someone has.

I think early on, he rotated too much. If we had a CL game and a league game against a team he hadn't heard of, the changes would be made for the league game.

Mancini seemed to be getting it wrong the year we won the title - made changes in games we struggled in, but ultimately (as ultimately as it could be), he was proven right. At about this stage of that season, we were without Kompany and Aguero through injury and Silva looked like he was carrying Yaya on his back. The return of them and Tevez made all the difference. The three this season will do the same - let's just hope it's soon enough to give us a chance in the cups, too

I think the other point is, without Nasri or Aguero we can use the other to cover the position, but both at once was harsh. How come when we lose someone it's always someone vital? Or are all our players vital now? Except Rodwell, but I deny his existence thrice.

[Blue Since 76]

I think the other point is, without Nasri or Aguero we can use the other to cover the position, but both at once was harsh. How come when we lose someone it's always someone vital? Or are all our players vital now? Except Rodwell, but I deny his existence thrice.

They were always going to be a big loss, but it's been compounded by injuries to Negredo, Garcia and Fernandinho at the same time. I'm expecting another long winning run once they're back at the weekend

[Chinners]

Just found this in a bookstore near my workplace

A book with an actual interview with the subject itself ... how novel

[phips]

and now he's claiming credit for Jose winning the treble with Inter. the guy is unbelievable.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

and now he's claiming credit for Jose winning the treble with Inter. the guy is unbelievable.

No he's not, just like he wasn't claiming credit for how well City are doing, he is simply saying he built the teams which is true. He took groups of players in both cases and turned them into teams. Why do you buy so easily into the bullshit angle the press put on these quotes?

[Original Dub]

No he's not, just like he wasn't claiming credit for how well City are doing, he is simply saying he built the teams which is true. He took groups of players in both cases and turned them into teams. Why do you buy so easily into the bullshit angle the press put on these quotes?

Do you really have to ask that question??

[Foreverinbluedreams]

No he's not, just like he wasn't claiming credit for how well City are doing, he is simply saying he built the teams which is true. He took groups of players in both cases and turned them into teams. Why do you buy so easily into the bullshit angle the press put on these quotes?

Do you really have to ask that question??

Good point.

[phips]

and now he's claiming credit for Jose winning the treble with Inter. the guy is unbelievable.

No he's not, just like he wasn't claiming credit for how well City are doing, he is simply saying he built the teams which is true. He took groups of players in both cases and turned them into teams. Why do you buy so easily into the bullshit angle the press put on these quotes?

because theyre not bullshit angles

[Foreverinbluedreams]

and now he's claiming credit for Jose winning the treble with Inter. the guy is unbelievable.

No he's not, just like he wasn't claiming credit for how well City are doing, he is simply saying he built the teams which is true. He took groups of players in both cases and turned them into teams. Why do you buy so easily into the bullshit angle the press put on these quotes?

because theyre not bullshit angles

Go on enlighten me then, show me these quotes where he claims the credit.

[Original Dub]

and now he's claiming credit for Jose winning the treble with Inter. the guy is unbelievable.

No he's not, just like he wasn't claiming credit for how well City are doing, he is simply saying he built the teams which is true. He took groups of players in both cases and turned them into teams. Why do you buy so easily into the bullshit angle the press put on these quotes?

because theyre not bullshit angles

Go on enlighten me then, show me these quotes where he claims the credit.

He bangs on like the media is gospel in every case.

[kennyboy]

He still loves us, i like him.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25833097

[Beefymcfc]

Didn't Galatasaray win this weekend? That'll put them well in the top 3 and realised yesterday (another thread) that Fenerbahce, who are top, have been banned from next years CL meaning that whoever finishes 2nd or 3rd automatically qualify for the CL.

Not bad really after where they were when he joined. He really is the bloke to get teams where they want to be. Whether he could take them further is a different matter but inspite of that, I'm glad he turned up at the CoMS.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Really hope he stuffs Chelsea tonight.