IS Bobby Mancini THE MAN?

[Im_Spartacus]

seeing as the Hughes vs Mancini thread was locked due to Edge's rape allegation, I wanted to pick up on a post from Kladze.

Aside from the fact that this thread is 100% ridiculous, there are some interesting points coming out of it. One of which is how fucking arrogant some of us are becoming now "we have loadsa money".

We almost expect that any player we so desire to make a bid for either will come or, at the very least, should come - if he doesn't he's some sort of moron.

And now we talk of Jose Mourhinho, self-proclaimed 'special one', being more than willing to leave the serie A champions elect at the drop of a hat to take over from a man who has only been in the job for 5 weeks; of whom it is far too early to make a judgement about; who hasn't, to my knowledge, been sacked yet; for whom there is no suggestion at all from elsewhere, not even the so called 'Man City hating press' that he's under even the most remote threat or pressure.

Yes Mourinho will come ... no doubt whatsoever. Arrogant fookers!

Mancini out ! ;-)

I think fundamental to the Mourinho issue, which you are overlooking, is why do we have a 6 month clause with Mancini. Given that Mourinho himself has said he is pretty hacked off in Italy, and that Mourinho was sounded out for the job ahead of Mancini, this makes such speculation entirely valid. You are right, he probably wouldn't leave the champions electCL quarter finalists mid season, which is the precise reason he isnt here now, and I suspect one of the reasons for the 6 months clause.

But the noises are getting louder that he wouldnt give a second thought on walking out in the summer if someone is willing to buy out his contract. If the figure of 5.5m is true (sounds a bit low imo), it would present a problem to Liverpool to pay £4m to fuck Benitez off on top, therefore in the absence of Ferguson dying, Guardiola has signed a new contract, so again not arrogance there would not many clubs in the market for him who could either afford him or give him the opportunity.

Thats not arrogance, and its nothing absolutely nothing to do with making a judgement on a manager who has only been here a short while. In reality, what other purpose is there to having a 6 month clause?

[Original Dub]

seeing as the Hughes vs Mancini thread was locked due to Edge's rape allegation, I wanted to pick up on a post from Kladze.

Aside from the fact that this thread is 100% ridiculous, there are some interesting points coming out of it. One of which is how fucking arrogant some of us are becoming now "we have loadsa money".

We almost expect that any player we so desire to make a bid for either will come or, at the very least, should come - if he doesn't he's some sort of moron.

And now we talk of Jose Mourhinho, self-proclaimed 'special one', being more than willing to leave the serie A champions elect at the drop of a hat to take over from a man who has only been in the job for 5 weeks; of whom it is far too early to make a judgement about; who hasn't, to my knowledge, been sacked yet; for whom there is no suggestion at all from elsewhere, not even the so called 'Man City hating press' that he's under even the most remote threat or pressure.

Yes Mourinho will come ... no doubt whatsoever. Arrogant fookers!

Mancini out ! ;-)

I think fundamental to the Mourinho issue, which you are overlooking, is why do we have a 6 month clause with Mancini. Given that Mourinho himself has said he is pretty hacked off in Italy, and that Mourinho was sounded out for the job ahead of Mancini, this makes such speculation entirely valid. You are right, he probably wouldn't leave the champions electCL quarter finalists mid season, which is the precise reason he isnt here now, and I suspect one of the reasons for the 6 months clause.

But the noises are getting louder that he wouldnt give a second thought on walking out in the summer if someone is willing to buy out his contract. If the figure of 5.5m is true (sounds a bit low imo), it would present a problem to Liverpool to pay £4m to fuck Benitez off on top, therefore in the absence of Ferguson dying, Guardiola has signed a new contract, so again not arrogance there would not many clubs in the market for him who could either afford him or give him the opportunity.

Thats not arrogance, and its nothing absolutely nothing to do with making a judgement on a manager who has only been here a short while. In reality, what other purpose is there to having a 6 month clause?

Yeah, that was STRANGE! Rape allegations on cityfans.net. Its not been heard since the days of chip poker or whatever that thick's name was!!

Mancini is without a doubt on a six month mission to get us into the top four or get the boot. I also think that Mourinho is making all the noises about being ready to return to England in light of this. As you say, its nto going to be liverpool he goes to when they haven't got a pot to piss in. Unlikely it'll be Chelsea, especially if they win the league as I expect. Fergie's not dead yet and they also don't have a pot to piss in....

He wants the city job and I don't want him to have it. If we think our football is dross at the minute, wait until Jose gets a hold of us. Then again, at least we'd be winning ugly instead of losing ugly.

I just hope Mancini sets us up more attack minded and gets away from this Sven/Pearce shit starting tomorrow. Let the flair players loose on those bolton cunts and it will set us up for a bit of a run going into some very important games.

Finish top four with a bit of attacking flair and leave bobby where he is and tell Jose to fuck off and take the Mourinho circus somewhere else.

[Im_Spartacus]

seeing as the Hughes vs Mancini thread was locked due to Edge's rape allegation, I wanted to pick up on a post from Kladze.

Aside from the fact that this thread is 100% ridiculous, there are some interesting points coming out of it. One of which is how fucking arrogant some of us are becoming now "we have loadsa money".

We almost expect that any player we so desire to make a bid for either will come or, at the very least, should come - if he doesn't he's some sort of moron.

And now we talk of Jose Mourhinho, self-proclaimed 'special one', being more than willing to leave the serie A champions elect at the drop of a hat to take over from a man who has only been in the job for 5 weeks; of whom it is far too early to make a judgement about; who hasn't, to my knowledge, been sacked yet; for whom there is no suggestion at all from elsewhere, not even the so called 'Man City hating press' that he's under even the most remote threat or pressure.

Yes Mourinho will come ... no doubt whatsoever. Arrogant fookers!

Mancini out ! ;-)

I think fundamental to the Mourinho issue, which you are overlooking, is why do we have a 6 month clause with Mancini. Given that Mourinho himself has said he is pretty hacked off in Italy, and that Mourinho was sounded out for the job ahead of Mancini, this makes such speculation entirely valid. You are right, he probably wouldn't leave the champions electCL quarter finalists mid season, which is the precise reason he isnt here now, and I suspect one of the reasons for the 6 months clause.

But the noises are getting louder that he wouldnt give a second thought on walking out in the summer if someone is willing to buy out his contract. If the figure of 5.5m is true (sounds a bit low imo), it would present a problem to Liverpool to pay £4m to fuck Benitez off on top, therefore in the absence of Ferguson dying, Guardiola has signed a new contract, so again not arrogance there would not many clubs in the market for him who could either afford him or give him the opportunity.

Thats not arrogance, and its nothing absolutely nothing to do with making a judgement on a manager who has only been here a short while. In reality, what other purpose is there to having a 6 month clause?

Yeah, that was STRANGE! Rape allegations on cityfans.net. Its not been heard since the days of chip poker or whatever that thick's name was!!

Mancini is without a doubt on a six month mission to get us into the top four or get the boot. I also think that Mourinho is making all the noises about being ready to return to England in light of this. As you say, its nto going to be liverpool he goes to when they haven't got a pot to piss in. Unlikely it'll be Chelsea, especially if they win the league as I expect. Fergie's not dead yet and they also don't have a pot to piss in....

He wants the city job and I don't want him to have it. If we think our football is dross at the minute, wait until Jose gets a hold of us. Then again, at least we'd be winning ugly instead of losing ugly.

I just hope Mancini sets us up more attack minded and gets away from this Sven/Pearce shit starting tomorrow. Let the flair players loose on those bolton cunts and it will set us up for a bit of a run going into some very important games.

Finish top four with a bit of attacking flair and leave bobby where he is and tell Jose to fuck off and take the Mourinho circus somewhere else.

Maybe my mind is obscured over time, but in each season he was in charge, they were either top scorers or 2nd top.

I know its not all about scoring goals, but that would suggest they weren't actually that bad? My recollection was that they would grind a team down which would bore you to tears as a neutral, then they would pop in a free kick or long range goal then usually a couple more quickly followed. Almost as we did with Wolves incidentally.

But yes, I would like to see something not necessarily different tomorrow, but more effective going forwards, because we have to get our shit together before the spuds/scouse/chelsea game, or it will be all academic about Mancini staying.

[Original Dub]

seeing as the Hughes vs Mancini thread was locked due to Edge's rape allegation, I wanted to pick up on a post from Kladze.

Aside from the fact that this thread is 100% ridiculous, there are some interesting points coming out of it. One of which is how fucking arrogant some of us are becoming now "we have loadsa money".

We almost expect that any player we so desire to make a bid for either will come or, at the very least, should come - if he doesn't he's some sort of moron.

And now we talk of Jose Mourhinho, self-proclaimed 'special one', being more than willing to leave the serie A champions elect at the drop of a hat to take over from a man who has only been in the job for 5 weeks; of whom it is far too early to make a judgement about; who hasn't, to my knowledge, been sacked yet; for whom there is no suggestion at all from elsewhere, not even the so called 'Man City hating press' that he's under even the most remote threat or pressure.

Yes Mourinho will come ... no doubt whatsoever. Arrogant fookers!

Mancini out ! ;-)

I think fundamental to the Mourinho issue, which you are overlooking, is why do we have a 6 month clause with Mancini. Given that Mourinho himself has said he is pretty hacked off in Italy, and that Mourinho was sounded out for the job ahead of Mancini, this makes such speculation entirely valid. You are right, he probably wouldn't leave the champions electCL quarter finalists mid season, which is the precise reason he isnt here now, and I suspect one of the reasons for the 6 months clause.

But the noises are getting louder that he wouldnt give a second thought on walking out in the summer if someone is willing to buy out his contract. If the figure of 5.5m is true (sounds a bit low imo), it would present a problem to Liverpool to pay £4m to fuck Benitez off on top, therefore in the absence of Ferguson dying, Guardiola has signed a new contract, so again not arrogance there would not many clubs in the market for him who could either afford him or give him the opportunity.

Thats not arrogance, and its nothing absolutely nothing to do with making a judgement on a manager who has only been here a short while. In reality, what other purpose is there to having a 6 month clause?

Yeah, that was STRANGE! Rape allegations on cityfans.net. Its not been heard since the days of chip poker or whatever that thick's name was!!

Mancini is without a doubt on a six month mission to get us into the top four or get the boot. I also think that Mourinho is making all the noises about being ready to return to England in light of this. As you say, its nto going to be liverpool he goes to when they haven't got a pot to piss in. Unlikely it'll be Chelsea, especially if they win the league as I expect. Fergie's not dead yet and they also don't have a pot to piss in....

He wants the city job and I don't want him to have it. If we think our football is dross at the minute, wait until Jose gets a hold of us. Then again, at least we'd be winning ugly instead of losing ugly.

I just hope Mancini sets us up more attack minded and gets away from this Sven/Pearce shit starting tomorrow. Let the flair players loose on those bolton cunts and it will set us up for a bit of a run going into some very important games.

Finish top four with a bit of attacking flair and leave bobby where he is and tell Jose to fuck off and take the Mourinho circus somewhere else.

Maybe my mind is obscured over time, but in each season he was in charge, they were either top scorers or 2nd top.

I know its not all about scoring goals, but that would suggest they weren't actually that bad? My recollection was that they would grind a team down which would bore you to tears as a neutral, then they would pop in a free kick or long range goal then usually a couple more quickly followed. Almost as we did with Wolves incidentally.

But yes, I would like to see something not necessarily different tomorrow, but more effective going forwards, because we have to get our shit together before the spuds/scouse/chelsea game, or it will be all academic about Mancini staying.

Well that's what its all about mate, playing with flair and passion that gets the fans really going. In turn, this breeds confidence in the players and team as a whole and we'll need that when we play our main rivals for 4th.

Its all well and good going out and beating bolton 1 nil and don't get me wrong, I'm first and foremost for 3 points, but its so important that we get to looking like a team that can knock shit out of lesser opposition with class.

[Wonderwall]

I hate to say it about the game from the weekend against Hull, but that is the type of game that Hughes would not have lost, even at 1-2 down, I would have been confident of getting a point.

[aaron bond]

I hate to say it about the game from the weekend against Hull, but that is the type of game that Hughes would not have lost, even at 1-2 down, I would have been confident of getting a point.

That may well be true. But with Hughes it got to the point where we drawing all of our games at the expense of a win. In those 8 games on the trot that we drew, we may not have lost, but we may as well have won 3 and lost 5 and would still have ended up with more points.

With regards to Mancini though, I think it is too early to tell yet whether he is the man in the long run but I'm definitely less frustrated each week than I was with the previous manager.

He did get the tactics wrong on Saturday, but he's changed the game tactically and made great use of substitutions already in his short time here in previous games, something Hughes didn't do once in 18 months. I've seen enough already to believe he could do the job, but he needs at least 6 months in the job to show us whether he can bring success in the long term.

[Wonderwall]

I hate to say it about the game from the weekend against Hull, but that is the type of game that Hughes would not have lost, even at 1-2 down, I would have been confident of getting a point.

That may well be true. But with Hughes it got to the point where we drawing all of our games at the expense of a win. In those 8 games on the trot that we drew, we may not have lost, but we may as well have won 3 and lost 5 and would still have ended up with more points.

With regards to Mancini though, I think it is too early to tell yet whether he is the man in the long run but I'm definitely less frustrated each week than I was with the previous manager.

He did get the tactics wrong on Saturday, but he's changed the game tactically and made great use of substitutions already in his short time here in previous games, something Hughes didn't do once in 18 months. I've seen enough already to believe he could do the job, but he needs at least 6 months in the job to show us whether he can bring success in the long term.

Its frustrating watching the game when you can see the players are blatantly playing in wrong positions and look like fish out of water. I believe Mancini has a way of playing and he needs to find his best team and formation and SOON, or we are going to completely blow this season. We have a great chance due to the type of season it is turning out to be. I dont want to sit there and watch Liverpool play shite and still get 4th ahead of us due to stupid decisions.

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

I dont want to sit there and watch Liverpool play shite and still get 4th ahead of us due to stupid decisions.

you should probably close your eyes then mate.

[Alex Sapphire]

that must be what the scarves are for

[Colin the King]

I might be oversimplifying things, but this is how I see it-

There are two vital ingredients for success, as a manager, in the Premier League (and that's the crucial bit).

1. A doggedness, a determined attitude. The spirit and self-belief to come back again and again if necessary and never see yourself as beaten until the final whistle has blown. Under Hughes, we had that in abundance- as illustrated by the character we showed in coming back twice at Anfield, three times at Old Trafford, three times at the Reebok and three times against Burnley. There were other occasions, like against Sunderland, where every time they hit us we hit them back twice as hard- clinically and instantly. Against Arsenal, they equalised and started to dominate- we terrorised them on the counter attack and within minutes found ourselves 4-1 in front. This season, I never felt we were beaten. There was always a willingness to fight on.

Ultimately, the inability to close a game out professionally was Hughes' undoing. It's well and good to instill a fighting belief in the side, but if their concentration levels are so low that it constantly requires a comeback, you're on a dangerous path. Which brings me onto...

2. An understanding, throughout the squad, of the tactics being implemented, how to defend properly, how to attack responsibly- essentially, how to be functional in the pursuit of three points. Mancini has very quickly sought to introduce those characteristics. Ideal when you're a goal or two in front- not so when you find yourself behind. Against Wolves, Stoke, Blackburn and Portsmouth we looked effective and well disciplined, thanks to taking the lead early on and being able to retain possession and sit back. Against Everton, Hull and the rags at Old Trafford, we conceded first and looked devoid of ideas. Devoid of the spirit or even the willingness to claw our way back into the game. When we take the initiative we look menacing- the problem is that we're not taking the initiative. We're inviting our opponents to do that a lot of the time.

What we need is a balance of both ingredients- an aggression and determination, with a side serving of defensive solidity and functionality when it's required. We've gone from one extreme to the other and ultimately, neither will be 100% effective. Until we find that balance I don't think we'll be genuine contenders.

I'm behind Mancini and genuinely want him to succeed- but time isn't really on his side. If Hughes was sacked for what the board perceived to be an inability to get us into the Champions League, it would hypocritical in the extreme to then keep Mancini in a job if he fails to deliver (I want him to stay regardless- we can't keep sacking managers, but it's still a fair point). As it stands, we've won 4 and lost 2 League games since he's come to the club- hardly disastrous, but a closer look at the performances behind the results is maybe a cause for concern.

All we can do is wait and see what happens- despite the disappointment of our last three performances, I'm hoping we begin to pick up- that the players start to accept Mancini's influence and ideas, and put them to good use. Tomorrow night is a perfect opportunity to hit back immediately, and if we manage to win by three clear goals, we'll find ourselves 4th for the evening. And that, rather than the manner of how it's achieved, is probably the most important thing for the club.

[dazby]

I still haven't voted. I'm just not sure. I reckon the next couple of weeks will bare all for us.

[MaineRoadMemories]

Just out of interest, how many people have changed their vote to NO in the past couple of weeks?

Im still sat on the NOT SURE fence.

It was sat at about 21/22 a week ago and is now up to 30. If we win well tonight I predict it will drop down to 25.

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

I have not voted - I will not vote - but fuck me he's turning me right off at the moment. could hardly be less interested.

[Wonderwall]

back to back prearce like performances, but we won and that is what counts.

its not exactly entertaining, but time is on his side. He needs to sort out the away performances and rapid.

[Slim]

back to back prearce like performances, but we won and that is what counts.

its not exactly entertaining, but time is on his side. He needs to sort out the away performances and rapid.

I think three in a row, but unlike Pearce he has managed to get four home goals and two wins.

[Wonderwall]

back to back prearce like performances, but we won and that is what counts.

its not exactly entertaining, but time is on his side. He needs to sort out the away performances and rapid.

I think three in a row, but unlike Pearce he has managed to get four home goals and two wins.

wins are what we need, but pearce had samaras!

I want mancini to succeed but his style is boring as shit and to think that some people said Mourinho would be boring!!!

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

back to back prearce like performances, but we won and that is what counts.

its not exactly entertaining, but time is on his side. He needs to sort out the away performances and rapid.

I think three in a row, but unlike Pearce he has managed to get four home goals and two wins.

it's not like we ever lose at home anyway.
so far we've traded a guy who saw his arse against the small teams (without ever losing to them) but got us up for the big ones/cup, for a guy who can grind (fucking grind) out results against shit teams at home but has yet to get us up for a big game at all, whatsoever.
In the league, have we even scored an equaliser under Mancini? We've certainly never equalised and gone on to win (have we?). And that is how every game feels - we score first we'll probably close it out (although Bolton had more chances than us tonight), we concede and we're fucked.

[Slim]

back to back prearce like performances, but we won and that is what counts.

its not exactly entertaining, but time is on his side. He needs to sort out the away performances and rapid.

I think three in a row, but unlike Pearce he has managed to get four home goals and two wins.

it's not like we ever lose at home anyway.
so far we've traded a guy who saw his arse against the small teams (without ever losing to them) but got us up for the big ones/cup, for a guy who can grind (fucking grind) out results against shit teams at home but has yet to get us up for a big game at all, whatsoever.
In the league, have we even scored an equaliser under Mancini? We've certainly never equalised and gone on to win (have we?). And that is how every game feels - we score first we'll probably close it out (although Bolton had more chances than us tonight), we concede and we're fucked.

First leg of the league cup semi-final.

[Dunne's Half-Time Pint]

back to back prearce like performances, but we won and that is what counts.

its not exactly entertaining, but time is on his side. He needs to sort out the away performances and rapid.

I think three in a row, but unlike Pearce he has managed to get four home goals and two wins.

it's not like we ever lose at home anyway.
so far we've traded a guy who saw his arse against the small teams (without ever losing to them) but got us up for the big ones/cup, for a guy who can grind (fucking grind) out results against shit teams at home but has yet to get us up for a big game at all, whatsoever.
In the league, have we even scored an equaliser under Mancini? We've certainly never equalised and gone on to win (have we?). And that is how every game feels - we score first we'll probably close it out (although Bolton had more chances than us tonight), we concede and we're fucked.

First leg of the league cup semi-final.

If you were with me at Old Trafford for the second leg you'd know how little that means.
Making out that that first leg was a good result is an epic red herring and utter bollocks - as many of us said immediately afterwards.

Also, the question was predicated with "In the league..."

[carl_feedthegoat]

ALL MANCINI HAD TO DO WAS SORT OUT THE DEFENSE..............THE REST OF THE PITCH WAS FINE..ACTUALLY OUR ATTACKING PLAY WAS ELECTRIC.

NOW IT,S NOT.

IM HAPPY WITH 3 POINTS LIKE ANYONE ELSE IS BUT IM 100% NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY WE PLAY...ACTUALLY WE PLAYED SHITE BORING FOOTBALL TODAY...JUST LIKE WE DID AGAINST POMPEY.

WHEN I COMPARE SPURS VILLA ARS..SCUM,BINDIPPERS(LATELY) AND CHELSEA...WE WILL NEVER WIN WITH THAT CRAP KIND OF PERFORMANCE....PROBABLY GET A DRAW AT THE MOST.