A Very Very Bad Day at the Office

Well I certainly wasn’t expecting that then. I was expecting a controlled performance where City weather the storm and go on to win the game. How wrong I was.

I accept City haven’t played like champions or most if the season but we have showed desire and committment but lady night was just so un expected. Whatever people think about the City players, over paid over priced possibly but never ever ever would I have accused them of giving up.

I’ve thought long and hard over night about if this is capitulation or is this a bad day at the office?? I haven’t concluded anything definitive yet as I think we will only know this after the next few games but I hope they haven’t thrown the towel in, we need CL football and we must not let second place go, if the title has gone.

Under normal circumstances the players should be smarting with embarrassment after the game and should be desperate to get back on the pitch and show everyone that this was a blip.

In some ways the next game, against Leeds in the FA Cup, is perfect as they will definately be up for the game and will press and press in the way that we faced yesterday. That’s not to say that Southampton didn’t show lots of skill with the determination.

None of the so called big players stood up at all yesterday and even the usual “steady eddies” of the team had less than steady games. The whole thing looked laboured, slow, completely unstructured d just down right poor.

For me the problems start at the back and the while team looks nervous that something is going to go wrong at the back and this just leaves the back four very nervy and the building blocks for the team isn’t there.

Maybe the choice of Garcia in the back four was wrong, he’s not quick enough on the turn but you can’t blame him on his own. Kolo Toure should have played, he’s an experienced CB and that should be at the front of selection criteria. Lescott plays well next to a comfortable partner and always looks nervous when pressured with the ball at his feet.

The biggest disappointment was Yaya Toure (of the outfield players) he didn’t get a grip in midfield and spent most of his time jogging around not getting any real tackles in, he is better much further forward in my view!!

I note in this morning papers that Mancini has criticised Joe Hart for his lapse and I would agree whole heartedly with that, he is under no pressure in the squad and consequently has come complacent. My missus has said this for weeks that he isn’t anywhere near what he was like last season, he needs to take a long hard look at him self and get back the mojo that he’s in danger of losing, penalty save or not!!

For all those calling for the managers head, you need to give your head a wobble. How many times do I have to say it that long term success is built on stability in the managers office. Selection and tactics mean nothing when the players put in such an abject display as yesterday.

I’m aware that a lot if City fans are saying they preferred the days when City where in the lower leagues, well I don’t buy that at all. The support should be the same where the team players and whatever the division. There where days when the team didn’t try even in the “dark” days and people conveniently forget this. The support at St Mary’s yesterday was amazing and sang all the way through the game and I take my hat of to all blues there yesterday.

Keep the faith blues, this is a blip, we’ve got good things to come this season and beyond.

As always Forza Mancini….

The Long Trek To Southampton

After the hiatus of the transfer window closing and the realities of being 9 points being rags starts to bite, City have to get back ok the saddle with a win at Southampton today.

Some weird old happenings going on in football at the moment, and the management changes at Southampton are in that category. I thought Nigel Adkins was doing a decent enough job but clearly the owner had other ideas. But we know what changing managers regularly is like don’t we!!

Last week against Liverpool I took heart from actually watching a decent game with two sides wanting to win and going for it, and im expecting a bit more of the same today. It’s fair to say that at this point in the season both teams need the points.

I thought we looked very nervy last weekend by the pace and trickery of both Sturridge and Suarez, and with Kompany not being fit to play the defence was hesitant and this was evident throughout the team as a whole. This isn’t to say that any of the defenders had bad games, they just looked collectively nervous.

The word on the street is that Kompany is fit and I’m sure he will play if fit, alongside Nastasic if hrs fully fit as well. The threat from Southampton isn’t quite the same as the scousers but should not be underestimated. Zab and Clichy make up the other defenders, the best team must play every week for me.

Upfront we should start with Aguero, whose sublime goal against Liverpool was a joy to witness and his goal in midweek might start him off on one of his goal scoring runs. His partner upfront for me should be Džeko.

It was sad news for Yaya Toure that he still hasn’t managed to win the ACON but his loss is City’s gain as he now comes back into contention and boy did we miss him last week. His class was missed big time against Liverpool and I do expect him to come back into the team if recovered from the travelling. A shoe in must be Garth Barry alongside YT in central positions with Milner starting wide on the right and maybe even making a midfield 3 with David Silva floating and weaving his magic. Nasri should be on the bench as he has been so so disappointing this season, and needs to get his head right. This is hard on Javi Garcia I know but someone has to make way.

My final thoughts for today are around these new regulations that have been passed, if ever this was turkeys voting for Christmas this is it. For years and years the teams voting for this have a used the transfer market with absolutely no thought for any fucker else. These rules make no thought or attempt to deal with the rape and pillage of the “debt” clubs, no attempt to curtail the amount if cash being taken out of football by the I called too clubs, fuck off this is self serving elitism under a thinly veiled banner of good governance. Ill rant about this alot in the future I think.

As always Forza Mancini….

City versus the Scousers – We need a win and some goals.

Well if we needed any reminding the game against the scoucers is a big game, yes a big game. I think ill go as far as saying that all the games are big games. Do I think the that league is lost now with the gap at 10 points, absolutely fucking not!!!!

I do not subscribe to the “chucking the towel in” and I will always be positive that City can win the title until its mathematically possible or we lift the trophy for ourselves again. I do believe that we will do it again, I honestly do. Yes some would say it’s blind faith, I don’t know why I feel that way I just do.

I think over the last few weeks we’ve seen the best and the worst of the scousers, they got turned over in the FA Cup at Oldham, should have won at Arsenal, but I still feel they are a ways a way from being anything like a team that will challenge for the title again. Yes they strengthened upfront and Sturridge is a good, if greedy, player and of course the human bottle opener is a decent player even though he’s a cheating bastard.

The problems with Liverpool are in the defence part of their game, and as both games I mentioned above proved, they leak goals and don’t look like stopping anytime soon. Whilst we do have lots of potency upfront I do believe that we will start to score goals and the Liverpool defence will not stop the goals tommorrow.

In the aftermath of the QPR game I do feel oddly positive about that game, yes we failed to notch but we created a good number of chances and on another day we could have had a couple of goals. Liverpool will not play anything like the same way or formation as QPR and the game will have a more open feel than in the week. This is where we thrive lately and the more open games mean mo room for the strikers and hopefully more goals.

Aguero is the diamond in our team but he seems to be suffering a little bit at the moment but he’s class and will come good. Tevez is playing in a deeper lying role than in seasons gone by and that is blunting his strikers instinct for goals. Edin Dżeko continues to play in his own style and has notched the most goals of the strikers. I expect that we start with Aguero and Tevez upfront tomorrow.

The news that VK is still injured and with MN still carrying a knock we may have to resort to playing Javi Garcia at CB. He played well enough but wasnt really stretched and if he does play in the back four tommorrow he will get a much sterner test than he got at Loftus Road. Joleom Lescott is solid enough and is getting back to his defensive standard of last term, but the question mark is always over his distribution, but he will let no one down. I, am however, hopefull that Nastasic is fit and both he and JL are the starting CBs. The full backs take care of themselves with the warrior ( and stand in captain) Zaballetta, who is slowing playing himself into contention for player of the season at City and possibly beyond. Clichy makes up the rest of the back four.

We are the home team against Liverpool and as such the onus is on City to be the more agressive team, which leads me to the midfield. Should we play slightly no cautiously or should we be a bit more attacking. What I’m trying to say here is do we play Nasri and or Sinclair, or do we go with Barry, Milner and Javi Garcia supplemented by David Silva. I thought David Silva was immense in recent weeks and his ability to find space is wonderful and something that young players should look at to see who you play the game.

If we where playing a team like a Reading or Fulham, who parked the bus I would be advocating the more offensive players with Nasri and Sinclair providing what is plan b and that’s width. I really think that Mancini does not fully trust Sinclair yet and we have missed the thrusts from the wings that Adam Johnson used to give us in those tight games. Of course Liverpool won’t be a parked bus so we should look to be a bit more solid in midfield ourselves, and so on this basis I would opt for the GB, JM, JG with David Silva as the midfield quartet. We do of course have Rodwell to throw into this mix as well as he is greeting back to fitness but I do believe that he is still learning how City play and his long layoff takes it toll on match fitness, but how better to get fitness than playing matches. But he’ll get a place on the bench for me. Equally part of the cover at LB is Kolorov, but he has also played on the left of midfield and again I think he will find himself on the bench.

So that’s the team that I’d start with tommorrow, but what should the formation be, we did have lots of success last season with the 4-2-3-1 formation and this can be much mo offensive if you have attacking players in the 3-1 bit of that formation, and we would have Aguero, Tevez, Silva possibly in some of those positions. I’ve been thinking this for a while now and especially after the blank we drew in the week. I think we are better off playing the 4-4-2 again tommorrow but the flexible approach adopted by the players means that it does move around during the course of the game.

So Mario has gone, and I’m sad about that, but we have to deal with it and move on, but I fear some blues will still be bashing their teeth about this in months and even years to come. Please let’s move on and lets support the players we have not the ones we haven’t.

I’d like to see John Guidetti given a chance and if the twitter postings from various people are to be believed he is likely to be in the first team squad when he is fully fit after his illness. This for me is a good move as I do believe the lads got talent and can play at first team level and I think the management feel this as well, hence him not going out on loan again. It would be good if he could step up and notch a few goals and show that Acadamy recruits can score through and get into the team, if they are good enough.

A number of twitter postings where questioning the longer term position of the manager given the lack of business in the transfer window this time. In my mind these two things are not connected, City have said (and now I do think this is true) that we will only buy the players we want and are available, and will not just buy a player because he is available. For me this is faith in the squad and the manager with the further strengthening coming in the summer if the right players come available. Who these players are is anyone’s guess and I’m not one to speculate but whoever they are have to be top quality to dislodge the players we have now. I hate the transfer window it’s all rumour and speculation, good riddance I say.

So a tough game tommorrow but one that I feel City can and will win, maybe 1 or 2 goals will be the difference and frankly I’m not bothered as its all about the result at this stage of the season.

As always Forza Mancini…………

Lack Lustre City Can’t Move the Bus – City at QPR

QPR 0 City 0

This wasn’t quite what I thought it would be, I expected QPR to at least come and have a go at City but instead we saw the old twitcher parking about 3 buses in front of goal and just for good measure put a goalie in net who played out of his skin. On another day City could have had at least 2 goals if not more, but that is the way of it with City in front of goal recently. Trying to hard to score rather than allowing the natural talent to take over and score the sublime goals we saw last season, it will come, I’m convinced of that.

It wasn’t the best day for City to sell one of the strikers even if he was perceived by some sections of the City faithful as being a little to much off and not enough on field action. Aguero had a really good game, in terms of link up and threat but he never quite managed to fashion the chance that will surely kick start his glorious run of great goals. Tevez looks equally to be trying to hard and his role in the deeper lying strikers role means that sometimes this blunts his strikers instinct, but again a good thumping finish will change this around I’m sure. It really doesn’t help when the parked bus lies so deep you good mine for ficking coal!!!!

When Dżeko came on I did feel that he added a little bit of variety to out attacks and also helped to carve out a couple of good chances most notably for Sliva, which the goalie saved really well.

I still can’t help feeling that in games like these that width and pace is the key and we have Scott Sinclair on the bench. He isn’t a bad winger and I’m sure he could have added something of a plan b, but 5 minutes is not enough to transform a game. What does this say either Mancini doesn’t rate Sinclair or he believes that we will carve out opportunities through the normal game, and if I’m honest I think it’s a bit of both.

In games like this one you need the players with some guile to stand up and perform in the way that we all know they can, it these games for me, that the flair players need to step up to the plate, and with Nasri and Sliva in the team we should have had far to much guile, but as it turned out only Silva really contributed anything significant for City. Maybe it’s lack of matches but Nasri was poor for me and tends to hide when he is hounded by the defenders. He needs to get a grip of the game and show that he is a real talent that we all know he can be, but stand up he must or he will find himself sat on the bench more and more.

I was mightily impressed by James Milner last night who played the box to box role really well and was equally at home prompting going forward as well as putting in great challenges going back towards the City goal. I never felt that QPR really took any control of any part of this game and that was due to midfield of Milner and Barry. GB had his usual style of un fussy and uncluttered display but he clearly got frustrated with the QPR midfielders who sat back and out numbered him and Milner throughout the game. I don’t buy the criticism he got from some City fans on twitter last night, and he to could have scored a goal had the goalie not made another fine save.

I was worried about the CBs last night but I needn’t have worried as both Lescott and Garcia played well to snuff out the limited threat that QPR posed. Garcia is getting better and better for me and his versatility will be useful to City as we move on through the season, and beyond. He is definitely getting used to the pace and hurly burly of the premier league and he’s accepting of the physical side the game with relish. Some a much improved player we now have on our hands, which is good in my book.

Both Clichy and Zaba didn’t really get threatened to often down the flanks but did the defensive side of their job diligently in the usual manner. The narrower confines of the Loftus Road pitch for me means that there is less room for the wider players to weave their magic and I think this is what happened last night. Coupled with the massed ranks of the QPR defence and midfield space was at premium and City weren’t able to get any joy and when they did they found a keeper in to form.

Joe Hart for me proved why he is the best keeper in the league as he pulled off a tremendous saved having had bolloxed all to do most of the game but when called upon made a tremendous save and stopped QPR from netting a most under served goal. Lets not mention the shampoo advert shall we?

It was good to see Rodwell back on the pitch but it’s like having a completely new player in the team who is learning the ropes of style of play and approach, and I feel he’s got a lot to learn about that yet before he becomes a regular in the centre of City’s midfield. He’s got all the attributes and with the standard of coaching we have at City will develop him into a top class midfielder, for City and I’m sure England at some point in the future.

So overall not quite what we all had planned but we still haven’t conceded a goal in January and that means alot. For those with short memories the January month last season was dreadful with City picking up only a few points on offer. Not this season, unbeaten and no goals conceded. Lesson learned from last year so lets move on please.

On a topical note ill be sorry to see Balotelli move onto to Milan but it seems that this was inevitable after the recent spats between manager and player dispute the public shows of unity on both their parts, I’m personally that get on but as player and manager it’s best they part. I won’t here any of this bollox that Mario didn’t contribute at City and those who think that need to go back and look at the DVDs and add up the goals assists and general great play. Yes there was some hiccups and some fucking major cook ups, but on balance there where many more positives than negatives and of course he is a legend amongst the generality of the City faithful. I can’t forget how well he played in the Cup Final and of course the various t shirts and goal celebrations that he brought to the team. Some people would say, and ill probably agree, that football needs characters and Mario was definitely one of those. It’s easy to pillory him but go watch the DVDs and then tell me he didn’t do anything for City. Good luck big fella, just don’t come back to haunt us in big European games in the future.

I hate the transfer window and particularly all the speculation, self opinion, and general bollox that ages around at this time of the year. For me City as a club have adopted spoiling tactics with no official statements made and when the manager or coaching staff speak they don’t tell the whole truth, maybe this is the right approach given the hysteria that the press whips up whenever anything near a transfer takes place. Rumours of David Villa where doing the rounds this morning but that seems to have died down this evening, but I do feel he could do a job until we can bring in the new “big” signing that only usually come off in the summer breaks. So roll on Thursday night.

As always Forza Mancini………….

Pics courtesy of @vicskyblue thanks hun

City Away at QPR – A Decent Win?

The game tonight could be billed as a much win game for City but in all honesty all the games to the end of the season are must win games. We’ve got a great chance to put some more pressure on the rags, who play tommorrow, and bagging the points is a must.

It won’t be easy tonight as QPR are scrapping for their survival and Redknapp will have his team full of vim and vigour particularly after the defeat in the FA Cup at weekend. They do have some quality players but for me lack a team pattern and a cohesion that I’m sure the twitcher will install into the team, but it does take time. I do expect them to come out quick at City tonight and try to get in our faces, and get the crowd on their side early. The tight ground suits that type of play but City need to win the fight before we can win the game.

I’m massively encouraged about the defensive side of the game of late, as we haven’t conceded a goal this calendar year. Tonight we are without Kompany who is a huge loss.

I won’t predict the team as this is a late posting and I’ve just copied the team from the City twitter feed and this is it.

TEAM NEWS: Hart, Zabaleta (C), Garcia, Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Aguero, Silva, Tevez.

We are down to the bare bones in the back four with Kompany, and Nastasic injured and Toure away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Add to this the long term injury to Micah Richards and this ad up to a bit of a selection problem for Mancini, but on the evidence of the game at Stoke on Saturday then Garcia played well in the CB role, as he’s tall and can get his foot in and with the play all being in front of him then this should be ok, but clearly the opposition should try to unsettle him and target that area for some special attention.

The whole back four and defensive side of midfield are now working more and more to nullify the opposition attacks particularly the higher balls and set plays, which to be fair we have been poor at defending in the early part of this season. It looks like City will be going for the win with the choice of Nasri in midfield which in my mind means that Barry and Milner will be in the centre of midfield. Which I like as tis adds a bit of solidity defensively, but allows both Silva and Nasri to weave their magic going forward. Having said that Silva gets his foot in a lot and does his defensive duties well and never hides, lets hope that Nasri doesn’t duck tonight!!!!

I’m a bit surprised that Dżeko is on the bench tonight as he’s been playing well recently and him and Tevez have done a decent job. It’s hard to look beyond Aguero though as he is real class. Maybe it’s me but I think Aguero is trying to hard in front of goal and he’s trying to score certain goals rather than shooting from longer ranges like he did last year, and he scored his fair share of goals from distance. The majority of his goals this term have been close range efforts but I’m not complaining as he always puts a shift in regardless of his form in front of goal.

So I’m expecting City to win but it will be a tight game and I’m expecting goals, we need to get the goal difference up and get ahead on that, as we all know that that can count for an awful lot.

It’s a shame that Balotelli is on his way, I feel he’s a quality striker and he will get better when he realises what’s what on the field but that won’t be with City going forward. He’s contributed his fair share to the City cause and I for one will not join the slagging session that seems to be on twitter, most people need to give their head a wobble and actually watch the games rather than just knee jerk react to everything.

A always Forza Mancini………

FA Cup Fever – City versus Stoke

Well FA Cup Fever is upon us again, and we have a tricky trip down the M6 to Stoke, some might say that City and Stoke are at the opposite ends of the footballing ethosometer, if there is such a word. City are all style and skill and Stoke are up and at em and hoofing it! Maybe that’s unfair but that’s how it feels whenever we play them. They have been by meek whenever we have played them at home of late, but in their own ground I’m sure it will be a different kettle of fish.

I think I said this before the Watford game but I fancy another cup run and I think with a fair wind it’s a realistic prospect for city to have a go for the league and cup double. Now I’m not under estimating what that will mean and how tough that will be but for a team and squad that City have nowadays it’s not beyond the level of expectation of the owners and fans alike. Oh we all love a good trip to Wembley don’t we!!!

If i’m honest the team selection is very straight forward for me tommorrow, we should pretty much play the same team as beat Fulham last week, with maybe just one change and that would be to put Lescott as starting Centre Back, for no other reason than you always expect and arial battle against Stoke and Lescott does heave the knack Of getting his head of the end of things in a game that is very attritional. Having said that though, I wouldn’t be worried if Nastasic was in the starting line up as he’s a real quality player for me.

I hope Zaba is back and fully fit as his battling qualities will come in handy at Stoke and he is slowly but surely making the RB slot his own. Although with injuries to Micah Ricahrds and Maicon we’ve been short of cover and Zaba has been our only real full back that’s anything like fit, although I’m sure Milner could fill in if he had to but he’s wasted at RB for the whole game. I have a sneaking suspicion we may see Kolorov back in the team tommorrow, not sure why I feel like that but it’s in my bones lol.

The midfield should be as started last week, Javi Garcia, Barry and Milner, with Silva buzzing about wherever the mood takes him. I have a feeling that we will be in for a bit of a battle in midfield to start with so all hands to the pump, which means no place in the starting 11 for Nasri, but tomorrows game is not the time or place for another ducking out of the way in a wall or shitting out of tackles.

For me Carlos Tevez should be the first striker on the teams sheet tommorrow, as this is his sort of game and he’s has all the tools for this sort of game, craft, guile and work rate. The other striker if we whe being fair should be Dżeko on except form as he’s bagged a few goals of late, but with the potent force that is Aguero back to fitness it’s hard to look elsewhere. I don’t know hat you think but I’m not sure he’s in the best of form in front of goal, yes he’s scored a few but mainly tap ins. I can’t really remember him notching one of those fizzes from outside the box like he did last season, but that’s form and the injuries haven’t helped that. I think he’s trying to hard when he gets a sight of goal, and maybe the events in his life off field are playing on his mind, I know it would with me, so I’m cutting him some slack!!

It’s conceivable (in my mo off the wall moments) to think that Balotelli will start a game soon, as the manager continues to talk him up and the transfer down, and why would he do this if not to put him in the team at some point. Maybe this is a way of keeping the valuation high in the transfer market, but in all honesty I believe that Balotelli will be a city player come February 1st. Some of these clubs just take the piss with their transfer dealings as if we are going to sell him cheap and on the tick ffs!!!!

It was interesting to look at the Deloitte report on the richest clubs with City making a big move up the charts to (I think) 7th place, and this for me is really good in that it’s not based on club asset values or owners worth, or debt, but purely on turnover, and that is what is required under the French twats Financial (un) Fair Play rules, backed of course by the rags and the scoucers, elitism at it’s worst in my book. The owners and management team are making a real fist of getting city within the rules and starting to generate turnover that will sustain under the rules whatever they are and however white they may be, so keep up the good work behind the scenes.

So a tomorrow will be a tough game but one that we can win if we apply ourselves properly and play properly and leave the tippy tappy stuff for when we are in front, and play properly and get a lead and then turn on the style.

As always Forza Mancini………

Three Points is All that Mattered – City v Fulham

City 2 Fulham 0

At the end of the day it’s the result that matter and City got the three points after what if describe as a very uncitylike display.

For me there was just to many misplaced passes and breakdown in communication between the players, which is unusual, but at the end of the game City won and that’s what mattered.

Fulham had more players in midfield than I think I’ve ever seen at Eastlands and at some points through the game it looked like a 4-6-0 formation was being deployed. They worked hard and played pretty patterns but they ultimately lacked the thrust or goal threat to worry Joe Hart, who was more bothered about chants about his hair than shots on his goal.

On the way to the game my mate suggested that an early goal would be good as it would force Fulham to come out and have to play, but the goal after 90 seconds was perhaps a touch early as the Fulham tactics where the same, men behind the ball.

The lack of cohesion with the passing meant for a scrappy first half and City got increasingly frustrated as the half wore on and resorted to long shots miles off target.

This lack of ball retention meant that no concerted pressure could be built but City had the lions share of possession and a territorial advantage as you’d expect at home against Fulham.

The goal it’s self was a peach of a finish from David Silva, who followed up a long range shot by Džeko which the keeper partied, with Silva running in to fire across the keeper for a great goal and a good start.

The second half was marginally better in terms of team cohesion and to be fair at the end of the day City should have scored at least 2 more goals, with Silva, Aguero and Džeko all missing easy chances. We all know how important gold difference is don’t we!!!

David Silva was a class apart in the game yesterday, his ability on the ball is really amazing and his starting body position as the ball approaches is something you are born with, any young lads looking to make their way in the game should watch David Silva.

His second goal was a great move up the left wing between Clichy and Tevez, who flicked a lovely pass into Silva’s path, for him to stride into the box through the inside left channel, to them dunk a sumptuous little chip over the keeper and in off the post. Game over!!

I was convinced he’d get a hatrick not long after when he found himself clean through in the same spot but scuffed the chip this time and the ball rolled wide.

The only downside of the game was the injury to Zaba, whose warrior like committment ended up with him on the ground trying to get on the end of a City attack. I hope he’s ok for next week as we are short on right backs.

It’s hard to single out anyone of the team for the first half display as they where all guilty of poor passing and control. On the positive side I thought Garcia continues to learn the English game and I agree he’s git stuff to learn, mainly about positioning but he was solid enough again.

For me Nastasic had a superb game, he made a couple of timely interventions across the back line, got his head on things and tackled well but the lad has a great eye (and foot) for a pass. Long range or shirt range he rarely gives it away. He played at least 3 long passes across the field that landed precisely where he intended them to go and I’m sure this I’d the difference that Mancini sees I’m him over Lescott.

So as I write we are only 4 points behind the rags who have a tricky game away to Spuds today. I hope that they can get something out if the game but I fear they had their luck at the Theatre of Shite earlier on in the season, but who knows, lets see later on.

The team is starting to click again and we aren’t suffering the problems we had last January so this is a clear sign that the Management team are learning the lessons of last season. Not quite flowing football but ill take the results which is what matters.

JH – 6

PZ – 6, VK – 6, MN – 8, GK – 7

JM – 7, GB – 7, JG – 6, DS – 8

CT – 7, ED – 6

As always Forza Mancini……..

It’s Fucking Freezing, I Wanna Go Home – City v Fulham

“We wanna go home, it’s fucking freezing and we wanna go home” that was the piss funny chant from the Fulham fans last year. I’m sure neither them or us would have imagined that the corresponding game this season would be played in the same weather conditions. Looks like it’s gonna be though, and I’m hoping that the over night weather leaves Manchester without any snow and we can watch the mighty blues, hopefully, add 3 more points in the quest to retain the league title.

The City form certainly seem to be on the up of late, and I was mightily impressed with the display at Arsenal and we came away with a much deserved victory. I think we will see a similar midfield tommorrow although it could be the time to give a run out to Scott Sinclair, he’s warmed the bench often enough and maybe news the time to give him a run. We should see the return of Nasri, if my maths is right, he’s available after his suspension and should be in contention for a place in the side.

It’s hard to think about changes to the team when it plays well and gets a good result but we do have large squad and players need to play. For me though the midfield should have Barry and Milner in there somewhere, with a combination of Silva, Nasri and maybe even Sinclair. It’s interesting to see that the more game time that Javi Garcia is getting is allowing him to gain confidence and game time which has improved his performances considerably in my view. I think it would be overkill to have him in the midfield with Milner and Barry so perhaps he’ll get a spot on the bench tomorrow. So for me the midfield should be Barry, Milner, Silva and Nasri, lets get a grip of the game.

Defensively we have good options, with Vinnie winning the appeal against the red card, we can mix and match the CBs, but I suspect Kompany will play and Lescott will come back into the team, to give him game time, with Nastasic coming back in for the bigger games later in the campaign. It’s a no brainier at full back with Zaba and Clichy a shoein, but I have a feeling that Kolorov will get a run out tomorrow, as he hasn’t played much recently and this is an ideal game for him to get a run out.

Upfront I think it’s steady as she goes for me with Dżeko and Tevez getting the starts but I have a sneaking suspicion that Mancini will want to give Baoltelli a start sometime soon, and again the game against Fulham is a chance to do this, and save the others for the battles to come. It was great to see John Guidetti back in action for the EDS in the week as he is a top quality player and will have a big future at City if he can stay free from injury and illness, I rate this lad a lot. The club know what they are doing with the youngsters and I’m sure they also know they have real talent on their hands.

Clearly the club are building for the future with the acadamy and this will bear fruit in futu as I’m sure we will see some real talent emerge into the first team over the next few years, this is part of the strategy around compliance with the French twats rules, if they are as they are in the future, or will the rags get their elitist way and only let the current “biggest” stay the biggest. Lets see, I’m not getting my blood pressure to worked up just yet.

We need to nail the three points tomorrow, without underestimating Fulham, as the could well be a shock or two this weekend, and lets hope that the rags lose out at Tottenham on Sunday. With Arsenal and Chelsea also playing each other, we could really put even more distance between us and them, whilst making up some ground on the rags, lets hope eh.

I hope the news that Guadiola is going to Munich might just quieten the chatter about Mancini and let him get on with plotting the league and cup double. Yes you heard it here first, I’m sticking my neck out and hoping we can do well in the cup, as I’m convinced we can do well in the league again this year. We do have the little task of Stoke away, which won’t be easy I know, but a disciplined display should get us the result.

The transfer window stays open but there’s little sign of City doing any business even though we are linked with every player under the sun and every in the know fan will tell you otherwise, unless a stellar play comes available I don’t think City will be doin much business this window.

Before I finish I just want to wish Michael Johnson all the best in whatever he decides to do next, that lad was a real talent, good luck lad, ill remember that youth cup final for the rest of my life and wishing you well in the car par afterwards, take care son.

As always Forza Mancini…………….

Another Hoodoo Smashed – City at Arsenal

Arsenal 0 City 2

The result was all important yesterday but I have to say the manner in which City recorded the first win away to Arsenal was impressive. True we played against 10 men for about 65 minutes but we where well on top in the first 10 minutes and but for some profligate finishing the game would have been over before Kompany was (wrongly) sent off.

The team was pretty much as I suspected it would be with the midfield having a defensive feel to it but that’s not the way City started off and Barry, Milner and Javi Garcia all showing the way forward with some decent interplay with the strikers and each other. David Silva continues to get back to his best form of last year but he put a shift in tracking back and won the ball off the opposition on a good number of occasions, so much so that he was probably top of that stat at the end of the game.

I’ve no complaints with any of the team, they all did their jobs well, stuck to the task and played with no little skill and courage at an opposition that City haven’t won against since 1975 (in the league) and we’ve hardly scored shed fills of goals in the odd cup visit. I’m sure the Arsenal would say that they had one man less for a large part if the game but I suspect that City would have dominated possession whatever the numbers on the field.

There where good performances all over the pitch, the defenders standing up well to the pace and trickery of the Arsenal strikers, as well as fending off the thrusts through the middle of the field by Wilshire and latterly Ramsey. The team does have a look of determination about it and with the workfare of Barry, Milner in the engine room we are always going to be combative and hard to break down.

In the wide defensive positions we have two excellent full backs in Zaba and Clichy, both who had great games, both getting up and down the wings and both putting in strong and fair challenges all the way through the game. For me the buy of this season for City has to be Nastasic, for one so young he is composure personified and he continues to stand up to the hurly burly of premier league football. First half I though Kompany was very wasteful with his passing and this seem to affect the whole team for a patch in the first half where the passing was decidedly dodgy but thankfully Arsenal didn’t capitalise.

Joe Hart made a couple of fine saves and kept his concentration for the whole match and but for a buffeting at the odd set piece and one shot from Walcott, that Lescott got ack to save on the line, he had a steady game.

City continue to crate a dearth of chances but yet again seem hell bent on walking the ball into the net, but this was after Milners thunderbolt and Dżeko tap in. The whole offensive part of City’s game seem to want, sometimes, to have the perfect opening before letting fly, but with Milner out wide we are getting more ball flashing across the goal, which the strikers should Pre empt. This is what Tevez did for the second goal, driving into the box and sliding in to force the ball towards the goal only for the keeper to spill it directly into Dżeko who had a simple tap in. Milners goal was fabulous build up with a sweet pass from Tevez smashed into the goals by Milner, it’s good to see him get a concerted run in the team and contributing goals.

Both strikers played well with Tevez his usual graft and guile with Dżeko holding the ball up well and making himself a nuisance to the Arsenal defence. It was Dżeko who was upended (rugby tackled) in the box that gave City the penalty, even if he deliver the worst spot kick in years. The decision for me was correct with the red card being brandished for a clear foul and the denial of a goal scoring opportunity. I don’t buy into the argument that this is the same every game, as clearly the defender hauled down Dżeko with two arms wrapped wholly round the strikers body enough said. This was the correct decision by mike dean who had a generally good game.

The only blot on the referrees copy book was the sending off of Vincent Kompany for a tackle that at worst was clumsy and at best was a clean tackle. For me Wilshere had run the ball slightly out of his control and Kompany got the ball first with his leading leg, with his trailing leg being tucked underneath his body. Kompany has done this sort of tackle before and maybe needs to think a little about the timing of them as this is the second red he’s had for this type of challenge. I don’t think that he should change wholesale his approach but maybe have a little re-think before he dives into that sort of challenge. This will be the case more and mo as referrees will be looking for it bows it’s happened and been highlighted from every conceivable angle. In my view the wrong decision, but lets hope the appeal proves successful and the red card is either demented sufficient punishment or it’s overturned altogether.

So the result was right, tho romance was right and City stay on the coat tails of the rags at the head of the league table. Some would say that the manager had little part to play in this result and it was all about the referee but I would disagree with that, in that the team went out to dominate possession and this is what happened. The team can only play against the opposition that is on ten field against it and cannot legislate for the opposition or decisions taken by the officials.

The fans should take a bow as we could hear them loud and proud throughout the game, and the 900 or so tickets returned didn’t alter the tremendous support that the team received from the travelling blues.

As always Forza Mancini

PS. The pics are courtesy of my mate @torafriel (thanks hun)

A Big Weekend In the League Title Race – City at Arsenal

Well this is a really big game for City and Arsenal this Sunday, both sides will want to win this game, but for different reasons. City are desperate for the three points to keep on the coat tails of the rags, and Arsenal need to beat a top team to prove they are not a team in decline despite the handsome wins they have this last few weeks although admittedly against lesser opposition.

If I’m completely honest I’ve thought that Arsenal are a team in decline, despite the new stadium and the stubbornness of the manager I’m not convinced that the fans are happy that they haven’t won anything for so long, having won so many things in the recent history. But I don’t speak for them but I suspect in their heart of hearts the fans believe that as well.

We could find ourselves 10 points behind the rags by the time we kick off on Sunday, as the rags and the dippers play before we do and a rags win means ten points behind. For me this shouldn’t change the mind set of the manager 10 points behind means a win to stay in touch, but 7 points behind means we will pick up real ground and get back to only 4 points behind. For me there is absolutely no choice we have to go and win, end of!!!!

It’s been slim pickings in the league for City at Arsenal over recent years and we must forget this and go out there and show why we are champions. An imperious display and a win would send a real message out to the whole league.

I have a feeling that the rags won’t have it all their own way against the dippers and it should hopefully mean that the dippers can get something at the Theatre of Shite, lets hope shall we.

I, not sure I would do much to the staring 11 that played against Watford, as having Milner, Barry and Javi Garcia all in the midfield I think will be needed to combat the Arsenal approach. For me James Milner was fantastic against Watford and I’m sure he sees this as his chance to cement a place in the City midfield and show the a management that he can play in their in the really big games. We all know what we get from Gareth Barry and he’s a must in the team each week.

My one concern is Javi Garcia, yes he’s new to the premier league and he must be given time to adjust, but he needs to start adjusting and quick. I’m sure that he finds the English game much quicker than he was used to and that does take time to get used to, but he needs to start making sure he isn’t caught in possession as much, and he will be pressured by the quick Arsenal midfielders, lets hope he steps up to the plate.

The final midfield slot has to be for David Silva, who provides the guile that we require in the absence of the other creative players with Nasri still suspended and Yaya Toure away in Africa. Well it’s clear to me now that Mancini doesn’t rate Scott Sinclair and therefore he won’t be trusted in these really big games for City.

It will be interesting who Mancini plays at CB on Sunday, as I have a feeling that Nastasic will come back into the back four, as I’m sure Mancini feels that Nastasic is a better ball player than Lescott who can hold onto the ball and distribute more effectively than the cultured hoof that sometimes is adopted by Lescott. It was interesting to watch Lescott against Watford as he was very very careful when passing the ball forward and he and Kompany swapped places very deliberately on a few occasions so he was playing right CB, I’m sure this was part of the game plan to give Lescott the chance to play right CB just in case he needs to.
The right back spot is getting more and more nailed down with Zaba being the player of the month for December. He’s slowly becoming one of the City legends and he plays the game with passion, commitment and no little skill, keep on keeping on Zaba.

We hear from Mancini’s press conference that Kolorov is back to fitness but I think he will get a spot on the bench, if Clichy is fit. It’s obvious to me that he is probably one of, if not the best, left back in the premier league. There are some good ones Baines and Cole but Clichy is up there with the best of them.

The strikers will be as per the Watford game, even if Mario is training hard and has his new blonde hair style. For me it would be a gamble if he played from the start but a place on the bench is ok as he can come on and have an impact if needs be later in the game. One thing he does bring to the team is pace, as I feel without Aguero we don’t really have much pace with Tevez and Dżeko upfront.

If I’m honest I feel it’s the one short coming of the City team at the moment and that is pace. It’s a double edged sword is pace in that teams who have it, can become one dimensional in that it’s a ball over the top all the time, where as a team with pace and guile have the best of both worlds and can mix it up as required. If there are some new faces into the City team in the near future, we need to add pace to the team, but pace with skill, not pace for pace sake.

We need to be strong against this Arsenal team, but if we get on top I’m sure we can come away with all three points, they are in my view vulnerable at the back and have lots of lights weight players in midfield so if City can capitalise on this maybe we can win but also win well, and send out the statement that we all want, and let the rags know that we will not give up without a fight. Afterall that’s why we’re champions.

Forza Mancini.