Firstly when the dust settles I think mancini will be disappointed with a point from Brittanica.Yes we know how hard they make things and none of the big teams came away with 3 points last season but this is by all means a poor Stoke side.Its hard to figure out how Pulis will move this team to the next level.The amount of grass deliberately left to stiffle Citys passing game was just an embarassment to the league.I pray they go down.Arsenal should have taken 3 and so should have City.
I notice City fans like PPL and friends have had a go at Marios performance some calling it awful.Really was he awful?Just because he didnt score a goal does not mean he was awful?Did Tevez score? I think if you want awful you might want to start with Nasri who I will come to in a second.How can a city fan say Dzeko should submit a transfer request because he cant get a run in the team?Mancini made it clear to his players that City is a huge club and players should not expect to play all the time.Thats why Johnson left.
If you check even as an Inter coach he always rotated certain positions and thats why Maicon was bought & he will continue to do so until he is sacked or leaves whichever comes 1st.Dzeko could submit a transfer request all he wants but he isnt Pele.Im sure Bobby wouldnt mind if he could get Falcao in instead.
Yes it may appear unfair but some of Dzekos performances dont deserve a starting place, he may have scored but most in home games where he still fails to impose himself.City is a huge club and some fans still seem to be stuck in league 1.
I dont get the arguement that Mancini must feel sorry for players or give them an extended run even when they fail to do the basics.Same arguement was brought up for James Milner but seriously!!!!!
Sentiment is the problem that got Wenger into trouble placing faith in limited players hence Arsenal have either been stuck in the same position or regressed.Mancini has the right ruthless streak to manage a club like City.Only 4 players are not rotatable and thats Yaya,Hart,Kompany and Aguero.
Better players than Dzeko have failed to even get sub appearances at big clubs ask Berbatov.Truth is I also feel sorry for Milner who I thought played well at the beginning of last season but Mancini is looking for a certain level for this City team and players like him and Dzeko are just supporting cast full stop.
If you think a player like Mario is poor just look over to other clubs with players like Giroud, Borini or Hernandez.
Mario did well except score a goal.I thought Nasri was poor and with Garcia looking like an excellent signing with goals and Barry back to fitness I see Yaya being pushed forward and Nasri will soon start games on the bench.
Nasri is one player who has failed to take his opportunities since Milner was benched and I think City might feel they should have let united have him and gone for Hazard instead.
I thought Maicon was poor, lucky at times but what I like about Maicon and will help City a lot especially in europe is his endeavour to get into attacking positions.He is very good at it and is like an extra attacker.His experience will also be crucial and he has goals in him, but defensively looks all over the place.
Garcia looks like a good signing, hard in the tackle with goals aswell.I think Yaya will start his 1st game behind the strikers against Real Madrid partnered by Silva. It looks like it will be 2 achor man like the season before last although Garcia looks like a deep lying playmaker.
By the way Yaya is such a good player.He is the signing that moved your club to a new level.Merlin maybe great but replaceable but Yaya is vital.
The Dzeko Situation
posted on 16/9/12
It was actually me who suggested he put in a transfer request. Dzeko relies heavily on confidence, to get the best from him he needs an extended run in the team something he certainly isn't going to get at City under Mancini.
posted on 16/9/12
Dzeko is a strong guy and will score goals wherever he ends up.Competition at City is immense for all positions-that's how it should be at the PL champions and CL contenders. The players who want to play regularly will have to perform week in week out. One bad game can and will see you benched.....if you don't like that you should move on. The plans for your youth set-up show that your owners, unlike other foreign investors, understand that money is important, but there is only long term success in football for those who know that big money signings come and go, youth is the future. Good luck.
posted on 16/9/12
I'll wait until after Tuesday night before I pass judgement.
As I see it (though I'm usually wrong) is that Dzeko will start with Tevez against RM which is why Bobby wouldn't risk him against a loutish Stoke side, it also gave him a chance to use Balo in a full game following his eye surgery.
I didn't think Mario was any worse than usual but the fact he didn't have a single serious goal attempt on target highlights the reason he's 4th choice striker.
posted on 16/9/12
PPL is one of those fans still stuck in the past.Mario does throw himself to ground in some games but not once yesterday and the guy who elbowed him is reoportedly likely to be charged by the FA tomorrow.
He had some decent turns and contrary to what Boris said he had more shots than Tevez.
posted on 16/9/12
Taking your match of the day opinion scrummy is not one worth a salt.
I was at the game and in my opinion can give a much more relevant view,whether it's stuck in the past whatever that means or not.
The difference between Tevez,Aguero & yaya when he plays further forward,is that they stay on their feet and are much more of a threat than Balotelli.
Having seen the 3min MOTD highlights it doesn't show the constant leaning on a defender then throwing himself to the ground which Clattenberg and the majority of the ground found increasingly tiresome,which probably accounted for the boy who cried wolf elbow in his chops not being given.
The biggest problem I have with him is when he's running at the defence and throws himself to the ground is it gives the opposition all the time in the world to get back and regroup
Yesterday Mario was awful
posted on 16/9/12
I doubt you know what awful is PPL and most of your fellow fans including Boris didnt think he was awful.Nasri yes he was awful but I guess given Marios profile he must tick you off since you seem to prefer the Paul Dickovs or James Milners of the world rather than rough raw talent that can be nutured to give match winning performances.
Anyway Im not going to get into this.
I was watching the early 90s united team, Ince,Cantona,Keane and Hughes.Those were 4 fiery characters but Fergie managed to get the best out of them all on the same team.
Im not a big fan of purple nose but as a man manager I now concede he is the best I have ever seen.Mourinho doesnt even come close.
posted on 16/9/12
We saw in the euros what he can do playing up top and he was a million miles from that
posted on 16/9/12
PPL I dont dispute that Marios game is a touch off, I think he hasnt got a goal in 3-4 games now but some of the stick he gets is unwarranted for a talented player.
The thing is I almost get the feeling you have given up on the kid such that u almost want him to do something aweful so that the club can get rid of him.
What I find annoying is Mario has had 2 starts just like Dzeko but it almost appears as if people think Mario is being favoured.Mario is given the away games.Dzeko gets the home games.simple.Thats what mancini believes is best and Dzeko seems to understand it.
Dzeko might score goals but other aspects of his game lack and yes we all know he is a confidence player but he is playing for City now, not a mid table club were he can get a run of 8 games to get his engine warmed up.
If Mancini looks at Marios perfprmance he will be happy that for all the provocation he went through he mainatained his cool and kept running even in the 2nd half.
Its easier to see where Marios game can improve, but its hard to see where Dzeko's game can improve.He is a bosnian Kevin Phillips, good when the going is easy thats why he gets home games and awful when its tough.
But Iets agree to disagree.I hope Dzeko starts and we can see what he can do against Madrid.
posted on 16/9/12
Mario was on for 90 minutes and didn't have a shot on target. Dzeko was on for 3 minutes and a shot cleared off the line - That's the difference. Dzeko isn't as popular with non City fans because he doesn't wear daft hats and isn't in the papers on a daily basis because he's done something 'crazy'.
posted on 16/9/12
I don't think Dzeko will ever be a success without a decent supply from out wide,which is only ever going to be a plan b as Mancini clearly prefers playing narrow
We look a different team with Tevez & Aguero
Hopefully they will start together in Madrid