IS Bobby Mancini THE MAN?

[Lev Bronstein]

Is Bobby the Man? Well the next few weeks will tell us.

The true test of a manager is how he recovers from setbacks. Hughes problem was, that in the end faith was lost in his ability to do just that. Despite good results the feeling persisted that the team was not improving - a feeling shared by many on here as well as the owners.

Bobby is in a strong position to impose himself. He's proved by substituting Rob that he can take hard decisions. An interesting pointer might be how he deals with Petrov and others.

He will also have a clearer idea about who is up for the battle and who isn't, who has been flattered by performances against "easier" teams and who can perform against the best.

First he has to show that he can get the best out of the existing squad, then he will be able to be convincing when he identifies players who will improve the squad and of course the results.

In a funny sort of way, if he causes howls of protest by getting rid of many fans favourite players to bring in those who he thinks will improve things - then I'll be convinced that we have a strong, clear sighted, determined man in charge. Then Bobby might well be the Man.

[BlueinBosnia]

Oh, how I wished I'd taken enough notice of this poll before tonight's match.

For posterity (post Everton), it currently stands at:

Yes: 48
No: 10
Not Sure: 42

For the record, had we won by 3 goals tonight, I'd have changed to 'Not Sure'.

[CityFanFromRome]

Oh, how I wished I'd taken enough notice of this poll before tonight's match.

For posterity (post Everton), it currently stands at:

Yes: 48
No: 10
Not Sure: 42

For the record, had we won by 3 goals tonight, I'd have changed to 'Not Sure'.

So you are amongst those thinking he isn't the man, right? Sorry if I missed it, but out of curiosity, why do you think so?

[Grob]

Hope so

[10.Goater_Legend]

I've got one, considering Sven was Mancio's mentor, who is the better manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson or Roberto Mancini?.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I've got one, considering Sven was Mancio's mentor, who is the better manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson or Roberto Mancini?.

Sven so far but Mancini has all the tools to surpass his mentor.

I have to say though that Mancini's career can never be compared to Sven's as Sven REALLY worked his way up from the so bottom of the ladder you can get (Swedish third division amateur football) to very top, in almost unprecented manner. Mancini started from near top. Sven has also absolutely stunnning record of getting the best and little more out of sides he managed.

[BlueinBosnia]

Oh, how I wished I'd taken enough notice of this poll before tonight's match.

For posterity (post Everton), it currently stands at:

Yes: 48
No: 10
Not Sure: 42

For the record, had we won by 3 goals tonight, I'd have changed to 'Not Sure'.

So you are amongst those thinking he isn't the man, right? Sorry if I missed it, but out of curiosity, why do you think so?

No, I don't. Largely because he's only managed in Italian football previously, the polar opposite of the English game. During the whole Calciopolli scandal times, which meant the league was weakened for one of his championships, and another of them was won after Juve were stripped of their title.

Regardless of how much he states he enjoys the English game, his contract at Leicester was cancelled by mutual consent after 5 appearances, and his 'love' for the English game stinks of Cook-esque spin.

However, having said that, he gets my full support as manager, and I hope my doubts regarding his credentials to manage in the PL are proven wrong.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

[Wonderwall]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

I agree with tactic of switching the sides for the wingers if they have a half decent weaker foot to swing a cross or two in from time to time. Petrov only uses his right leg for standing on and is very one dimensional on the opposite side of the park. Crazy tactics as we done have the personnel to make this work to our advantage IMO.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

I agree with tactic of switching the sides for the wingers if they have a half decent weaker foot to swing a cross or two in from time to time. Petrov only uses his right leg for standing on and is very one dimensional on the opposite side of the park. Crazy tactics as we done have the personnel to make this work to our advantage IMO.

That said, he can only work with what he has got, right? How many genuinely two footed players are there? Robinho, who is suffering from shit form. Joe Cole springs to mind. Ashley Young is pretty handy with either left or right foot.

There are three options here. 1) Play them on their natural sides and have them swinging crosses to midgets 2) Play them on opposite sides and have shots at goals. 3) Play midfield diamond (something Mancini has history of doing), we don't have enough central midfielders to do it.

Well see what happens in summer but I wouldn't be surprised to see option three next season with bit of a midfield revamp during the summer.

EDIT. Ashley YOUNG, not Ashley bleeding Cole.

[Alex Sapphire]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

I agree with tactic of switching the sides for the wingers if they have a half decent weaker foot to swing a cross or two in from time to time. Petrov only uses his right leg for standing on and is very one dimensional on the opposite side of the park. Crazy tactics as we done have the personnel to make this work to our advantage IMO.

it just means that every time we attack on the break, the whole thing stops in the last third while Martin readjusts and tries to get it on his left.
He did try one right footed cross a couple of weeks ago. crap.
And he seems always to come inside so far out that a shot isn't on anyway.

[Wonderwall]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

I agree with tactic of switching the sides for the wingers if they have a half decent weaker foot to swing a cross or two in from time to time. Petrov only uses his right leg for standing on and is very one dimensional on the opposite side of the park. Crazy tactics as we done have the personnel to make this work to our advantage IMO.

That said, he can only work with what he has got, right? How many genuinely two footed players are there? Robinho, who is suffering from shit form. Joe Cole springs to mind. Ashley Cole is pretty handy with either left or right foot.

There are three options here. 1) Play them on their natural sides and have them swinging crosses to midgets 2) Play them on opposite sides and have shots at goals. 3) Play midfield diamond (something Mancini has history of doing), we don't have enough central midfielders to do it.

Well see what happens in summer but I wouldn't be surprised to see option three next season with bit of a midfield revamp during the summer.

4. practice crossing with the weaker foot? I know its radical but it might work!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

I agree with tactic of switching the sides for the wingers if they have a half decent weaker foot to swing a cross or two in from time to time. Petrov only uses his right leg for standing on and is very one dimensional on the opposite side of the park. Crazy tactics as we done have the personnel to make this work to our advantage IMO.

That said, he can only work with what he has got, right? How many genuinely two footed players are there? Robinho, who is suffering from shit form. Joe Cole springs to mind. Ashley Cole is pretty handy with either left or right foot.

There are three options here. 1) Play them on their natural sides and have them swinging crosses to midgets 2) Play them on opposite sides and have shots at goals. 3) Play midfield diamond (something Mancini has history of doing), we don't have enough central midfielders to do it.

Well see what happens in summer but I wouldn't be surprised to see option three next season with bit of a midfield revamp during the summer.

4. practice crossing with the weaker foot? I know its radical but it might work!

Come on mate, you know that practising your weaker foot takes YEARS, if you can do it at all. I'm as rightfooted as they come and as a youngster desperately tried to train my left foot for years. And it worked in training but in game situation I just automatically turn it to right foot instinctively. And I don't claim to be priofessional footballer, but they do suffer from it at top level as well. It's certainly not going to happen in a week or a month that's for sure.

[Wonderwall]

Come on mate, you know that practising your weaker foot takes YEARS, if you can do it at all. I'm as rightfooted as they come and as a youngster desperately tried to train my left foot for years. And it worked in training but in game situation I just automatically turn it to right foot instinctively. And I don't claim to be priofessional footballer, but they do suffer from it at top level as well. It's certainly not going to happen in a week or a month that's for sure.

any professional that cannot put in decent crossed wit their weaker foot should be shot. I am no world beater but I can cross with my weaker foot and can shoot just as hard with each foot and I dont train every day of my life. Dont make excuses for them Antti, there really are none.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Come on mate, you know that practising your weaker foot takes YEARS, if you can do it at all. I'm as rightfooted as they come and as a youngster desperately tried to train my left foot for years. And it worked in training but in game situation I just automatically turn it to right foot instinctively. And I don't claim to be priofessional footballer, but they do suffer from it at top level as well. It's certainly not going to happen in a week or a month that's for sure.

any professional that cannot put in decent crossed wit their weaker foot should be shot. I am no world beater but I can cross with my weaker foot and can shoot just as hard with each foot and I dont train every day of my life. Dont make excuses for them Antti, there really are none.

Like I said, at this stage he can only operate with what he has got. Should we have bought one footed wingers in first place is a whole another argument (and no, that is not Hughes post at all).

[Wonderwall]

Come on mate, you know that practising your weaker foot takes YEARS, if you can do it at all. I'm as rightfooted as they come and as a youngster desperately tried to train my left foot for years. And it worked in training but in game situation I just automatically turn it to right foot instinctively. And I don't claim to be priofessional footballer, but they do suffer from it at top level as well. It's certainly not going to happen in a week or a month that's for sure.

any professional that cannot put in decent crossed wit their weaker foot should be shot. I am no world beater but I can cross with my weaker foot and can shoot just as hard with each foot and I dont train every day of my life. Dont make excuses for them Antti, there really are none.

Like I said, at this stage he can only operate with what he has got. Should we have bought one footed wingers in first place is a whole another argument (and no, that is not Hughes post at all).

Which is what I am saying, petrov should play to his strengths on the left, hit the byline and cut the ball back or cut inside and shoot. He looks awkward on the right and doesnt seem to run at pace? or is it just me?

[john@staustell]

Personally I think our injury/Africa/Robinho-bein-a-cunt crisis has meant that he has to use squad players like Garrido, Petrov, Benjani etc. I dont think this is some miraculous vision. All the more remarkable what he achieved in the first 4 matches with such dubious material. I do not believe Hughes would've got those results, there would've been draws in amongst and probably an FA cup exit.

Even when we have a full squad to choose from there are doubts about most of the defenders being of the required quality when we're discussing top 4 or winning the league.

So I dont see the match against Jeckyll-and-Hyde Everton - who after all outplayed Arsenal at the Emirates - being of much significance except to underline our need for better players in some areas. Whether these will be forthcoming this window I doubt.

So I think Bobby Manc is going in the right direction and hope he gets some better players to work with sooner rather than later.

[Original Dub]

I said this in the other thread and I know he's trying to find out who his best players are and where to play them.

But playing right wingers on the left and left wingers on the right when they're both around the 30 years old mark is not going to uncover a gem that should have been played there all along.

SWP is a right winger that CAN be played in the middle if need be. Petrov is a left winger.

I hope this is sorted for tuesday I really do. I want Mancini to be with us for 20 years because that'll mean we're dominating.

But if we lose in the same manner on Tuesday its going to be hard to justify why Hughes was replaced.

That's not as a "hughes lover", because if you read above I'm now a Mancini lover... its just rational thinking.

Fingers crossed!

I don't think that's the point at all. We have midgets up front. Having Petrov for instance on the left throwing crosses in to the box would be pointless. Instead he can cut in and have a shot at goal. Like against Blackburn in our only decent shot at goal.

Yeah mate, I get the whole "midgets upfront" thing, but just because you put a left winger on the right and a right winger on the left doesn't automatically mean they will keep cutting inside because its not always possible to do that and when you're made hug the line, as a left footer on the right and vice versa, you're left with nowhere to go!

On the flip side, SWP and Petrov are just as likely to cut inside when in their real position.... it just means that they ALSO have the option of crossing when pushed into a corner.

I don't mind seeing wingers switch if its clear as day that where they are isn't working, but to start Petrov on the right and to bring on SWP (for the first time) on the left is not the right thing to do IMO.

I'm sure there was more to our loss at Everton than just this, but I feel if we'd have started SWP on the right and Petrov on the left, there would have been more space for the likes of Robinho to play off Tevez when he came on.

I felt we were narrow as fuck and when your cenrtral midfield isn't on top form, narrow is nothing.

[Rag_hater]

I dont think he is the man if he carries on doing stupid things like taking Robbie off to stroke his ego.
Hopefully he can sort out the boo boo he has made.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I dont think he is the man if he carries on doing stupid things like taking Robbie off to stroke his ego.
Hopefully he can sort out the boo boo he has made.

That is absolutely ridiculous. There have been some well justified critism on his tactics on saturday but one thing he certainly DID make right was to take Robinho off. I love his mercurial talent as much as the next man but he was completely and absolutely fucking useless against Everton.

In fact, many people in match thread were saying that he should've thrown Benjani in instead of Robinho. He efectively noticed his mistakes and more or less did what people were asking for.