IS Bobby Mancini THE MAN?

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

THE man!

Stop prematurely ejaculating.

Well any manager who can win us the Derby will always have special place in my heart.

You didn't count the Hamburg 2nd/Home leg as a win - You were explicit in saying that we lost - In fact you were pretty much the lone negative voice after one of the best games I've ever been to. So, pursuant to your logic, we haven't won yet. You're premming. For what it's worth I'm still baffled by most of what Il Mancho did in that game - formation, tactics, subs etc. - we'll not win many playing like that without mammoth performances, which thankfully some of the players provided.

[Renato_CTID]

Of course I'm happy for a simple reason: we won against a very strong squad!
But I don't understand Mancio's way of playing yesterday, really! It was an effective 5-4-1 and I feared all the game thinking why Superman or Petrov should have stayed watching all the game from the bench!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

THE man!

Stop prematurely ejaculating.

Well any manager who can win us the Derby will always have special place in my heart.

You didn't count the Hamburg 2nd/Home leg as a win - You were explicit in saying that we lost - In fact you were pretty much the lone negative voice after one of the best games I've ever been to. So, pursuant to your logic, we haven't won yet. You're premming. For what it's worth I'm still baffled by most of what Il Mancho did in that game - formation, tactics, subs etc. - we'll not win many playing like that without mammoth performances, which thankfully some of the players provided.

Yes, I was saddened by the fact that we didn't get through and lost the tie. I don't think I ever said we didn't play well on second leg. It's still different thing. Derby is ALWAYS different.

And the fact that you aren't impressed by 5 wins and a loss is worrying. This is the team that beat us 4-3 earlier in the season.

[Original Dub]

THE man!

Stop prematurely ejaculating.

Well any manager who can win us the Derby will always have special place in my heart.

You didn't count the Hamburg 2nd/Home leg as a win - You were explicit in saying that we lost - In fact you were pretty much the lone negative voice after one of the best games I've ever been to. So, pursuant to your logic, we haven't won yet. You're premming. For what it's worth I'm still baffled by most of what Il Mancho did in that game - formation, tactics, subs etc. - we'll not win many playing like that without mammoth performances, which thankfully some of the players provided.

Yes, I was saddened by the fact that we didn't get through and lost the tie. I don't think I ever said we didn't play well on second leg. It's still different thing. Derby is ALWAYS different.

And the fact that you aren't impressed by 5 wins and a loss is worrying. This is the team that beat us 4-3 earlier in the season.

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Well any manager who can win us the Derby will always have special place in my heart.

You didn't count the Hamburg 2nd/Home leg as a win - You were explicit in saying that we lost - In fact you were pretty much the lone negative voice after one of the best games I've ever been to. So, pursuant to your logic, we haven't won yet. You're premming. For what it's worth I'm still baffled by most of what Il Mancho did in that game - formation, tactics, subs etc. - we'll not win many playing like that without mammoth performances, which thankfully some of the players provided.

Yes, I was saddened by the fact that we didn't get through and lost the tie. I don't think I ever said we didn't play well on second leg. It's still different thing. Derby is ALWAYS different.

And the fact that you aren't impressed by 5 wins and a loss is worrying. This is the team that beat us 4-3 earlier in the season.

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

Not surprised to see you two agreeing with each other.

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

Well any manager who can win us the Derby will always have special place in my heart.

You didn't count the Hamburg 2nd/Home leg as a win - You were explicit in saying that we lost - In fact you were pretty much the lone negative voice after one of the best games I've ever been to. So, pursuant to your logic, we haven't won yet. You're premming. For what it's worth I'm still baffled by most of what Il Mancho did in that game - formation, tactics, subs etc. - we'll not win many playing like that without mammoth performances, which thankfully some of the players provided.

Yes, I was saddened by the fact that we didn't get through and lost the tie. I don't think I ever said we didn't play well on second leg. It's still different thing. Derby is ALWAYS different.

And the fact that you aren't impressed by 5 wins and a loss is worrying. This is the team that beat us 4-3 earlier in the season.

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

Not surprised to see you two agreeing with each other.

who typically agrees with you?

[john@staustell]

What isn't really being taken into account is some of the material that he has to work with here. When their tails are up the Scum are still just about the best in the land. And yet because of injuries, African stuff and lack of squad depth/quality we have to field the likes of Garrido, Benjani and an untried novice centre-back (of unknown quality as yet). Maybe he reckoned that if we played higher up the pitch we'd get crucified? Whereas Garrido cant really get done for pace in such a small area.

Considering these things I think it's miraculous the results that have been achieved. But I have no doubt he will park the bus at OT, maybe for these very same reasons. Scum fans are slating their team for not being able to score at present. I'm sure we will park the bus and we will score on the break.

Needs Bobby-style 100% concentration of course.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

who typically agrees with you?

I don't think anyone typically agrees with me. Some agree about some things and others about other things. I say what I think, regardless of other people think. It's not popularity contest.

There are posters though I constantly find myself agreeing with. Colin the King and Socrates are two. Whether they agree with me is completely different thing. I don't post here to get people patting my back. How about you?

[carl_feedthegoat]

I HAVE TO ADD THAT IM STILL MIFFED AS TO WHY YOU WOULD TAKE TEVEZ OFF FOR BENJANI.??
BENJANI OFFERED US NOTHING AND I DONT AGREE WITH SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE "BALL NEVER GOT TO HIM" ,AS IT DID GET TO HIM BUT HE DID FUCKALL WITH IT.HE CHASED NOTHING AND HE ADDED NOTHING.......THE SCUM BACKLINE WERE RELIEVED TEVEZ WENT OFF AND I FEEL IT WAS A FUCKING WEIRD TIME TO SUB TEVEZ AS HE WAS CAPABLE OF BREAKING AWAY WITH BELLERS AND ADDING A 3RD GOAL WHEREAS BENJANI WAS CAPABLE OF NOT EVEN WORRYING THE SCUM DEFENSE.

BUT ON THE WHOLE I CANNOT COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS TACTICS AS WE WON...EVEN THE SUBBING OF BOYATA WAS DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME AS NED SAVED US FROM GOING 2-2......I CANNOT WORK MANCINI OUT...THERE AGAIN IF WE CONTINUE TO WIN I DONT CARE.

[john68]

I am amazed that anyone is baffled by the way Mancio set the team up last night. Forget all talk about taggart playing the kids. City had to make do and mend with what they had on offer.
No Toure,Lescott or Bridge at the back,
No Ireland or Johnson in the middle.
No Adebayour or Santa Cruz up front.

There weren't a lot of choices left to Mancini. He did what he had to do with the players available and it is quite obvious that our stars that were left HAD to have a mega game to help carry us through...which thankfully they did.
Tactically, if score 2 and then defend your own goal line was necessary...all well and good. I don't suppose when he has better players available he will adopt quite the same approach.

Well done Mancio and each and every player last night.

[Original Dub]

Well any manager who can win us the Derby will always have special place in my heart.

You didn't count the Hamburg 2nd/Home leg as a win - You were explicit in saying that we lost - In fact you were pretty much the lone negative voice after one of the best games I've ever been to. So, pursuant to your logic, we haven't won yet. You're premming. For what it's worth I'm still baffled by most of what Il Mancho did in that game - formation, tactics, subs etc. - we'll not win many playing like that without mammoth performances, which thankfully some of the players provided.

Yes, I was saddened by the fact that we didn't get through and lost the tie. I don't think I ever said we didn't play well on second leg. It's still different thing. Derby is ALWAYS different.

And the fact that you aren't impressed by 5 wins and a loss is worrying. This is the team that beat us 4-3 earlier in the season.

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

Not surprised to see you two agreeing with each other.

Could you please list which parts of my post you don't agree with at all?
Or indeed which parts of my post were unfair to Mancini? You obviusoly feel I'm being unfair, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this fabulous one-liner.

As usual, you'll probably ignore my questions altogether... shame you're turning into such a WUM these days. We used to be able to debate football and I thought I raised some fair and decent points there, but you chose to leave a snidey remark...

Shame.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I am amazed that anyone is baffled by the way Mancio set the team up last night. Forget all talk about taggart playing the kids. City had to make do and mend with what they had on offer.
No Toure,Lescott or Bridge at the back,
No Ireland or Johnson in the middle.
No Adebayour or Santa Cruz up front.

There weren't a lot of choices left to Mancini. He did what he had to do with the players available and it is quite obvious that our stars that were left HAD to have a mega game to help carry us through...which thankfully they did.
Tactically, if score 2 and then defend your own goal line was necessary...all well and good. I don't suppose when he has better players available he will adopt quite the same approach.

Well done Mancio and each and every player last night.

Well, I agree 100% with this post.

[john@staustell]

I am amazed that anyone is baffled by the way Mancio set the team up last night. Forget all talk about taggart playing the kids. City had to make do and mend with what they had on offer.
No Toure,Lescott or Bridge at the back,
No Ireland or Johnson in the middle.
No Adebayour or Santa Cruz up front.

There weren't a lot of choices left to Mancini. He did what he had to do with the players available and it is quite obvious that our stars that were left HAD to have a mega game to help carry us through...which thankfully they did.
Tactically, if score 2 and then defend your own goal line was necessary...all well and good. I don't suppose when he has better players available he will adopt quite the same approach.

Well done Mancio and each and every player last night.

My points exactly, well said.

Carl - Tevez was knackered mate. Hope we rest him Sunday.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

Not surprised to see you two agreeing with each other.

Could you please list which parts of my post you don't agree with at all?
Or indeed which parts of my post were unfair to Mancini? You obviusoly feel I'm being unfair, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this fabulous one-liner.

As usual, you'll probably ignore my questions altogether... shame you're turning into such a WUM these days. We used to be able to debate football and I thought I raised some fair and decent points there, but you chose to leave a snidey remark...

Shame.

After constantly praising manager that took us tenth last season and lost ALL the Derbies he took us to , you don't think manager who has won 5 out of 6 and his first derby is "looking good".

Goes to show that you are only here for an argument. Talk about WUM.

[Original Dub]

I am amazed that anyone is baffled by the way Mancio set the team up last night. Forget all talk about taggart playing the kids. City had to make do and mend with what they had on offer.
No Toure,Lescott or Bridge at the back,
No Ireland or Johnson in the middle.
No Adebayour or Santa Cruz up front.

There weren't a lot of choices left to Mancini. He did what he had to do with the players available and it is quite obvious that our stars that were left HAD to have a mega game to help carry us through...which thankfully they did.
Tactically, if score 2 and then defend your own goal line was necessary...all well and good. I don't suppose when he has better players available he will adopt quite the same approach.

Well done Mancio and each and every player last night.

Good post John and I hope the line up was as it was because Mancini felt it was forced upon us through injury. I'd hate to think we'd set up like that at home with everyone available.

That said, his decisions to take off SWP and Tevez put us under the cosh for almost the whole of the last 15 mins. I wouldn't have been suprised to see united equalise. Neither would anyone on this board, in the ground or watching on TV because our goal was getting HAMMERED.

We got through it and I, like everyone else, was delighted to hear the final whistle... but I don't think I'm being unfair when I say that as a direct result of those decisions, we lost all momentum in going forward and it was a dangerous game to play.

Also, I don't think I'm being unfair when I say if the same decisions are made at OT, I worry about us reaching the final.

We may have had injuries, but so did they and we were at home.

[Original Dub]

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

Not surprised to see you two agreeing with each other.

Could you please list which parts of my post you don't agree with at all?
Or indeed which parts of my post were unfair to Mancini? You obviusoly feel I'm being unfair, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this fabulous one-liner.

As usual, you'll probably ignore my questions altogether... shame you're turning into such a WUM these days. We used to be able to debate football and I thought I raised some fair and decent points there, but you chose to leave a snidey remark...

Shame.

After constantly praising manager that took us tenth last season and lost ALL the Derbies he took us to , you don't think manager who has won 5 out of 6 and his first derby is "looking good".

Goes to show that you are only here for an argument. Talk about WUM.

I'm not here for any ONE argument, I gave my thoughts on the match and you chose to ignore the points.

If you'd read my other posts in this thread, I said he had impressed me greatly in his first few games and I'll analyse after each performance. Your analysis of his performance last night was "The man!".

Well done, thanks for sharing that with us, you really do read the game well.

You also say I constantly praised our last manager, but that's simply not true, I showed consistant support for him, just like I will this time.

You are spending you whole time trying to keep divisions on this board and you made a fucking disgrace out of yourself spending the whole day trying to do so the other day.

If you want to do that, fire away, but I'm sick of you trying to put me in a box and give me labels, when the only "lover" or "licker" I am is for Manchester City.

So I'm asking you now to please stop doing that. Have a bit of respect for the fact that we are all City fans for fuck sake and let Mark Hughes go.

You've caused enough bollox on this board and it hasn't stoped since he left.

Fucking WUM.

[Wonderwall]

There were a few decisions that had me a little baffled.

Having Zabba as wide left when Petrov was on the bench.
Moving Zabba to wide right and moving SWP inside when their best moments were being provided down the flanks. SWP would have a much better chance of countering Evra's pace than Zabba IMO. Zabba supporting NDJ and Barry in the centre would have made more sense to me.

Replacing Boyata was the right move, however, having said that, I thought the lad did brilliant in such a massive game. Well done son, you should be proud of your performance.

----------------------Given-----------------------
---------------------------------------------------
--Richards---Onuoha---Kompany---Garrido--
---------------------------------------------------
--Zabba----SWP----NDJ----Barry----Bellamy--
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------Tevez------------------------

Bringing Sylvinho on was a little baffling?


----------------------Given-----------------------
----------------------------------------------------
--Richards---Onuoha---Kompany---Garrido--
----------------------------------------------------
--Zabba---Barry---NDJ---Sylvinho---Bellamy--
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------Tevez------------------------

The benjani Sub was a target man which I can understand, but it didnt work, the gap between Benjnai and the 5 man midfield was MASSIVE

----------------------Given-----------------------
--Richards---Onuoha---Kompany---Garrido--
--Zabba---Barry---NDJ---Sylvinho---Bellamy--
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------Benjani----------------------


IMO Sylvinho was not a right call. Maybe Petrov for SWP to keep up the energy levels and move Bellmay into SWP's role and keep Petrov wide left as an outlet, asking Barry to help out more with Valencia.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

You've caused enough bollox on this board and it hasn't stoped since he left.

Fucking WUM.

You've been involved every time.

Fucking WUM.

[Mike J]

1. At Old Trafford
2. By cheating

I'd have fancies us beating them at our place one way or the other, but I completely agree with DHTP - I was absolutely baffled by the line up and how defensive we were set up at home. That is the line-up I would have expected at OT once we'd had a 2 or 3 goal lead going into it.

IMO if we set our stall out the same as we did last night, we will not be in the final.

I'm delighted we won but I couldn't wait for the final whistle to go because we were getting hammered straight after he took off SWP and Tevez. Hammered.

Based on that game I wouldn't be quick to say he is the man, happy as I am.

If he pulls this off at OT I'll hold my hand up and say he's looking good, because a final is a final and I'll be over the moon.

But TBH, the job at OT is tougher than I hoped it would be.

good post.

if we set up like that again at OT we will get fucking nailed. no if's buts or maybe's about it.

sadly i fully expect that will happen. utd have proved on numerous occasions this season that they hate teams going at them. they are fucking weak at the back lets just get at them!

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

There were a few decisions that had me a little baffled.

Having Zabba as wide left when Petrov was on the bench.
Moving Zabba to wide right and moving SWP inside when their best moments were being provided down the flanks. SWP would have a much better chance of countering Evra's pace than Zabba IMO. Zabba supporting NDJ and Barry in the centre would have made more sense to me.

Replacing Boyata was the right move, however, having said that, I thought the lad did brilliant in such a massive game. Well done son, you should be proud of your performance.

----------------------Given-----------------------
---------------------------------------------------
--Richards---Onuoha---Kompany---Garrido--
---------------------------------------------------
--Zabba----SWP----NDJ----Barry----Bellamy--
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------Tevez------------------------

Bringing Sylvinho on was a little baffling?


----------------------Given-----------------------
----------------------------------------------------
--Richards---Onuoha---Kompany---Garrido--
----------------------------------------------------
--Zabba---Barry---NDJ---Sylvinho---Bellamy--
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------Tevez------------------------

The benjani Sub was a target man which I can understand, but it didnt work, the gap between Benjnai and the 5 man midfield was MASSIVE

----------------------Given-----------------------
--Richards---Onuoha---Kompany---Garrido--
--Zabba---Barry---NDJ---Sylvinho---Bellamy--
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
--------------------Benjani----------------------


IMO Sylvinho was not a right call. Maybe Petrov for SWP to keep up the energy levels and move Bellmay into SWP's role and keep Petrov wide left as an outlet, asking Barry to help out more with Valencia.

I'm assuming that Ireland wasn't ready/match fit - I think he could have done a job at various times last night.
Sylvinho doesn't give us much imo - hopefully we'll be in a position where Il Mancho won't think him necessary next time. That said, Petrov really does not have any defensive instincts, not sure that would've been the move either.

I'd line up like this for the next one (assuming fitness of everyone on the bench, but no returners):

Given
Richards Onuoha Kompany Garrido
de Jong Barry
Ireland
SWP Bellamy
Tevez