Saturday
Soriani
in trouble in Barcelona and Mancini’s
job under threat by the Malaga manager, apparently. Usual anti City/Mancini
article by bitter Liverpool fan Brian Reade in the manumirror as apparently the
Community Shield doesn’t now class as a trophy, and all the “you can’t buy
success” and “teams need time to gel” type articles by this type of pillock are
replaced by the exact opposite.
Good interview with Mancini in
the Guardian by Daniel Taylor where Nasri, in particular, and Joe to an extent,
come in for some stick.
Chelsea tomorrow and here’s the It’s a fix extract :
27)
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24TH : CHELSEA (HOME) KO 1.30 PM
Last promotion was in 1989 (with us) since then
they’ve won the lot Including the Chimps league and the FA Cup
last season. 136th league meeting. Recent connection was Danny
Sturridge.
This
season so far : They’re in 3rd place with 49 points (4 behind us) from
26 games and 7 wins 3 draws and 3 losses away from home.
At
the Bridge in November it was that 0-0 draw, when we failed to
take advantage of the Rafa out situation. Crowd was 41,972 with 3,167 Blues.
In
the Capital One Cup they lost the first leg of the semi-final 2-0 at home
to Swansea, and drew 0-0 at The Liberty stadium where Hazard was red carded for
trying to get the ball off the time wasting and spoilt brat ballboy.
In
the FA Cup after beating Saints 5-1 away in the third
round they drew 2-2 at Uwe’s Brentford
away in the 4th, but won the replay 4-0 comfortably and face ‘Boro away in the 5th rd. before
knocking the rags out at O/T in the 6th, hopefully.
In
Europe they lost the World club game, went out of the
Chimps league, dropped into Europa and have just scraped through against Sparta
Prague in the knockout stage, with a last minute Hazard goal, when we were
hoping it would go to extra time.
Form
at home to Chelsea : Last season it was a 2-1 win for City. Cahill opened
(60) Aguero equalised (78 pen) then Nasri clinched it (85). Crowd was 46,324
with 929 Chelsea. That was our third consecutive home win
Prior to those it was 4 losses and a win which
halted 6 losses and a draw.
For
City : WWWLLLLW
Comment
: Benitez looked to be steadying the ship despite
brutal fan pressure, but they’ve faltered in recent weeks particularly losing
the COCup semi final to Swansea and he could soon be on his way, though he was
only interim manager anyway. Mourinho lurks and a return is a possibility. It’s
now an absolutely must win crunch game, as a loss will put Chelsea only 1 point
behind us.
WWTWTWShite
: Averaged 12,672 in 1982/83 and this season it’s 41,365
The Sun's story this morning was based on the "foul mouthed rant" by Mancini at the press conference. You know, the one that's there for all to see on the City web site where after being asked about his future, Mancini jokingly replied, F***ing Hell, not again and everyone in the room laughed. Including the cnut who was there reporting for the Sun, I suspect. When are the club going to do something about all this negative press?
ReplyDeletePretty poor comment Tony. This is Britain and the press can write what they like. You can't run home to your mum every time the big kids laugh at you. I suspect you've written your post after seeing the rags go 15 points clear. You're not happy, I'm not happy too. Mancini has had a nightmare 9 months since last May. Ridiculous team selections and tactics. Quite the worst £ for £ value buys in my lifetime,(51yrs) as a City fan, were made last summer. FPP about to kick in. We've missed a big chance to kick on and leave Chelsea, Spuds and Arse way behind us. Instead lose tomorrow and they'll all think they can catch us.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder he's losing it and taking potshots at everyone. His ridiculous over assessment of his abilities is making him, and us, a laughing stock. The rags are even using the 6-1 to take the piss out of us now. It was one game, LAST season.
Of course Mancini's not too bothered cos it's a very very nice payoff and a top job in Italy guaranteed if we sack him.
Toughen up Tony, and smell the coffee.
Micky, you might think that the first comment was poor but the point made is still valid.
ReplyDeleteAs for the poor buys I think most people realise that Brian Marwood was responsible for the summer transfer business.
Mancini has certainly made mistakes - his early season tinkering with formations - but whereas the likes of Yoonited, Chelsea and Spurs improved, our transfer business made us poorer.
The point I was trying to make Micky was about the anti City bias in the media. It sounds like you don't like Mancini, but if you think things will be any different if we appoint Mourinho, Hiddink, Capello or Uncle Tom Cobley, think again. Don't you remember the type of stuff that was printed when Sven was our boss? In a press conference Mancini correctly pointed out that in the last fifteen months he is the best manager because he's has won more trophies than any other manager, the Sun decided to quote him but leaving out "in the last fifteen months" making his statement sound arrogant and questionable. As Tony C points out, Mancini more or less pointed the finger at Marwood as being responsible for the signings we made last summer and I believe him. No one will ever convince me that he wanted Rodwell or Sinclair. But you are right we missed a great chance to cement our advantage over the others, the difference between us is that you blame Mancini and I blame Marwood. As for the press being able to write what they like, at present that's correct, but if the government has their way that will soon end too - except when printing stories about Manchester City. I actually wrote the post long before United's win, but that's irrelevant as I have already conceded the title, what I haven't conceded though is second place and if we end up second in the league, win the cup (having knocked United out and prevented them winning the double) and qualifying for the CL, I will be happy.
ReplyDeleteRather decent performance against Chelsea and, despite initial concerns re our line up, relatively comfortable as well. We edged the first half despite no huge threat, but none at all from Chelsea. The game certainly turned on the Chelsea penalty, when they visibly wilted and we grew. Rodwell put in a very encouraging hour, Zab and Nasty good. Kolo was very good except for getting caught out for the penalty. Garcia solid and YaYa clearly more comfortable, Milner very good again, Serge ran himself into the ground with no luck at all. Lovely finish from Carlos, more please!
ReplyDeleteSo second place, or at least C/L, looking a lot more secure, let's hope that Wham can, at least, avoid defeat to Spuds. The title is clearly gone, but it's essential that we build on the last 2 results to finish well and, hopefully, lift the FA cup again.
Mancini no more secure than last week probably, but it will depend on who's available and interested. But some bloke at Malaga from Chile does not seem terribly forward thinking for me!
Agreed Dave and in a strange way I rate today's performance as one of the best under Mancini. After the poor display against Southampton and United running away in the league, there was a little niggle of doubt entering my mind that we were going to implode and it was vital we hit back and what better way than against the club chasing us. As you say everything changed when Hart saved the penalty, which by the way when looked at from the side angle, wasn't a penalty in my eyes. But did you see the look on Hart's face when Lampard strolled up? He was determined to save it, possible due to the stick he took following the recent England games.
ReplyDeleteIs Micky REALLY at ease with the coverage City get from certain sections of the press? I don't know any other blue that is.
ReplyDeleteGlyn, Micky reckons our summer buys were the worst £ for £ in 51 years. He must have slept through Frank Clarke's reign.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, who could ever forget Tony Vaughn, Paul Beesley, Ged Brannon and of course Lee Bradbury. I'll let him off Kevin Horlock as he was a half decent player.
ReplyDeleteThought Rodwell and Garcia played well yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree Neil and I owe Rodwell an apology because I told a mate that he was a complete waste of money, but on yesterday's performance, there may be hope yet. I still think Sinclair was a waste of cash though. I see the united fans are still avoiding bragging, presumably after last season, they are keeping schtum until they have won it. Does anyone else have to keep putting in the characters even though they are logged in?
ReplyDeleteThe Sinclair signing remains a puzzle, but it's not the reason why City have struggled at times this season.
ReplyDeleteRodwell needs an injury-free run of games, but yesterday he looked a genuine box to box midfielder with a bit of nastiness. Similarly Garcia has struggled to adapt to the pace of the English game, but he is improving with every performance.
Nastasic looks a player of great promise, but whether we needed to replace Lescot so quickly is debatable.
As stated on a previous thread I think City have drifted this season and Mancini has rotated without purpose. Dzeko in particular struggles after a run of games on the bench.
Yesterday we looked strong and assertive and we might even beat Everton with that formation.
Then again......
I thought Nastasic had come in to replace Savic. Lescott has at least a couple of good years left in him, but you get the impression that Mancini plans to offload him and I wonder if that was why Moyes was there yesterday. Does anyone agree that Kolo deserves another years contract and if so why not keep the four we have with nastasic and Kompany as first choice C/B's, Lescott third and Kolo 4th choice.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I always think Kolo is a penalty waiting to happen with his hands permanently on his opponent’s back. He was okay yesterday, but his wages are too high for a reserve.
ReplyDeleteI think he’ll be offloaded in the summer as part of our FFP contribution. I suspect that Lescot might go for the same reason.
I keep reading about City’s academy infrastructure, but somewhere along the line some youngsters will need to be blooded into the first team.
Helan has impressed at Sheffield Wednesday and apparently Rekik had a mixed game at Blackburn last Saturday.
Is Guidetti injured again?
As many of you know, I can be highly critical of Mancini as I think he can be too predictable in his tactics & that far too often we lack natural width & pace. That said, the pairing of Rodwell & Garcia was key. It freed YaYa of defensive responsibility, allowed a place for Milner, who gives City more pace & width &also forms a tasty partnership with Zab. In fact I think Garcia gave an under the radar performance, screening the centerbacks so well that it allowed Rodwell to play as a box to box mf. More importantly, the tempo & pace was much improved, which has been a huge issue this season. I still need to see how Mancini responds when we have to chase a game or when the opposition apply high pressure a la Borussia Dortmund/ Southhampton, but this was a small step in the right direction.I'm happy to eat crow if RM continues to prove me wrong, especially if we can make some ground on Man Utd before the derby & make them sweat some more. (Maybe we can get lucky & RVP can aggravate his hip injury shagging a 5 star escort recommended to him by Rooney, oh I kid, but a man can dream can't he).
ReplyDeleteHe certainly can - and you should see some of my dreams!! One united poster reckons it will be sweet to win the title at Old Trafford after beating us. I think it would be great to go to O/T, beat them 3-1 leaving them say five points ahead of us with six games to play. The chemists around Trafford will soon sell out of imodium.
ReplyDeleteTony P, yes the not a robot thing still infuriates me - especially as the characters are often so ridiculously difficult to read. In fact just completing this comment box drives me mad as the letters keep sticking/missing. I now have to compose on a word document and copy & paste it onto here. This blog is the only place I have such difficulties.
ReplyDeleteThought Rodwell, Garcia, Kolo and Nastasic were terrific Sunday. When I 1st saw the team I had no confidence at all but Mancini proved me wrong too. My only reservation being that Chelsea didn't seem interested in testing us.
As far as bragging Manu fans goes, I wish the ones I know were all as quiet! I find them unbelievably presumptuous. So much so that I would be uncharacteristically merciless this time round if we should manage to overhaul them.
Now, let's see hat thse cracters ar.
I think the ones that I known are just keeping their powder dry, I'm certain it will be normal service once they confirm their 20th championship. This letter business only started in thye last few days, don't understand why as I'm logged in.
ReplyDeletePuzzled by that as I've had it for months and always logged in
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMystery solved, I was logged in with my google account and not the hotmail account I'm registered with KK
ReplyDeleteAh I only have te one1
ReplyDelete