....at City's European struggles?
Yes they are Champions of England but their style and the effectiveness of it is over-hyped.
City are doing fine in the Premier League, they're not coasting but no one is. The main problem which no one else seems to notice is City's weak central midfield and it's shown up in Europe.
As far as i'm concerned, at the highest level the midfield needs to provide security, ability to control games, ability to create chances or some combination of the three.
When looking at European level, City's midfield is a nothing midfield barring the occasional burst forward or piece of magic from Yaya Toure, they don't protect the defence well, have been dominated by any good European side they've run into and lack creativity.
I don't know how much Garcia, Barry, Milner and Rodwell cost between them but it was a waste of money.
City are strong in most departments but are also over-rated defensively (Hart having to make a ton of saves) and have found that their style of play is nothing special with other sides on the continent producing better.
People say that they're trying to adjust in Europe but for me unless City buy quality in central midfield they'll need much easier groups than the one they got this season to advance any further (to be fair they got a very bad draw), and they won't get much further.
Also I think the threat of City running away with things domestically isn't that strong unless they get that quality in central midfield. For me Mourinho's Chelsea are by far the biggest problem Sir Alex has had to deal with since his first title with United.
Why is everyone so surprised...
posted on 12/11/12
we play possession based football these days. In essence we do what barca do, keep the ball as much as possible against 10 man defences.
Even thhe mighty barca look shaky at the back conceding lots of goals.
posted on 12/11/12
People keep creaming over Dortmund but are forgetting that Arsenal beat them with ease.
------------------------------------------------
Dortmund's performances in Europe this season are on a completely different level to last season.
They could potentially win the competition.
posted on 12/11/12
Everyone in the competition has a chance. Dortmund will do well to get to the quarters
posted on 12/11/12
Everyone in the competition has a chance. Dortmund will do well to get to the quarters
-------------------------------------------------
I reckon one of Barca, Real, Dortmund or Bayern will win. United and Chelsea also have a chance, would be shocked if any other team even got to the final.
posted on 13/11/12
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 30 minutes ago
People keep creaming over Dortmund but are forgetting that Arsenal beat them with ease. Madrid are also very good but I fancy our chances against them.
....................
arsenal did not win with ease. In both games dortmund didn't do much wrong, just that arsenal were extremely efficient just like celtic were against barcelona over 2 games.
posted on 13/11/12
"they are the only team I know currently that can play so little attacking football and win."
Begs belief we'd win a title by scoring more goals than anyone else then doesn't it.
posted on 13/11/12
Citys problem is Mancini, why he started messing around with a strong squad and formations after winning the league is beyond me. Selling De Jong was a huge mistake, Johnson fair enough, but Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell are mid-table players and not even good enough to be effective squad players at City in my opinion.
Also, Mancinis record as manager looks good on paper but when you pick through the bones of it he's been involved in a few unique circumstances during his career, the match fixing scandal, Inters two main title rivals being deducted points and relegated, QPR taking the unprecedented step (in English football) of giving up when they knew they were safe, i like Mancini as a person and loved him as a player but the longer he stays at City, the better for United and Chelsea.
posted on 13/11/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 13/11/12
agreed bruce&p
Mancini isn't the one who is responsible for city's success
he more rides it
posted on 13/11/12
I dont think you can blame cities midfield. If you compare Arsenal's and Cities midfield you'll know which midfield is better yet arsenal continue to qualify out of their group. I know we struggled vs schalke but i think we'll still qualify.
I blame it on Mancini's tactics. I dont think he quite knows how to play in the CL. Maybe im wrong who knows but there has to be a reason. A team of cities quality should be qualifying and if they are not you have to look at the way they are set out to play in these games. if they are not performing the blame goes to what the manager is instructing his players to play like