Your scaring me and my team doesn't even have to face you.

No doubt, class manager.

Still not sure about Garcia and Navas yet Wensdi, think its a little early to tell. His main problem will be when he has 4 fit strikers rather than 1 injured one and one being eased in gently to save his Hams. We definitely need 4 strikers because of injury as proven last season but having 4 fit strikers may prove problematic.

Calm assured professionalism.

I'm charmed.

Squad does look more united (no pun intended) than I can remember it being for a long time - despite the birthday cake nonsense. Watch tunnel cam and Vinny leading them out shouting 'come on boys come boys out!' Pel is clearly doing something right.

I love tunnel cam, makes you realise the affection that former players are still held in by some and that there are a lot of friendships that cross clubs.

Fully agree Wensdi, we are looking very happy at the minute. Humble and hungry is what he has said he wants to be this season, sounds good to me.

There seems a steely determination to do well, an even half decent CL draw and we could do well, not going to win it yet but we must be in the next tier behind Real/Barca/Bayern. We have a great squad, with very few weak links now amongst those who are likely to get game time beyond the CoC. It is a fantastic time to be a City supporter, we are very fortunate.

We have the Charming man and down the road they have the Charmless man.

MP's methods and principles seems to be embraced by much of the team and long may it bear fruit.

With regards to the tunnelcam, is it me or did MP have to keep Toure in check just before he came out for the 2nd half?

Noticed that too Manc, looked like a tactical instruction chat to me which Pellegrini won!

Only yesterday I mentioned elsewhere on this site that one of the things I think Pell's underappreciated for is for getting the best out of unheralded players, something he alreay achieved at Villarreal and Malaga.

Lee - Navas had a great pre-season - and looked sharp on Monday night - his pass to Aguero was excellent. Garcia has gone - but towards the end of the season even he had won over the crowd.

Navas did put in a great pass but the problem last season in full competitive matches was when he played or started the full 90 mins. Like Dzeko before him he is a great option to bring on when other teams are tired but still not convinced he is a regular starter in the PL. Hope I'm proven wrong though as when he does get it right he can case real problems. I think our problems with Garcia and to a point with DM was that Kompany was sill carrying an injury for the first part of the season, when he was fit he was able to do the covering work he has always done well and that he was excellent again on Monday. That meant tat Garcia could relax and play though I think Fernando is a far better player.

I see Navas as a better Adam Johnson - I prefer to see them coming off the bench for the last half hour.

I was a bit perplexed with Pel during his first 2 months - We were playing some great football but he was underestimating some of our opponents and seemed to lack a Plan B. I suppose that's because he was used to the duopoly of La Liga.

As the season progressed, his managerial style became evident, the players seemed happy, the football was brilliant and we developed a fear factor based on ruthless displays against the likes of Spurs and Arsenal.

You know we've progressed as a club when we come back from behind to win at Goodison and a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford looked routine.

It may be some time before we learn the full story about the transfers brought in during the previous season but all of Pel's signings have been a resounding success so far (imo), let's hope Mangala lives up to his price tag.

City is a happy place to be at the moment, how often have we been able to say that over the last 3 decades?

Long may it continue.

comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 6 hours, 25 minutes ago
There seems a steely determination to do well, an even half decent CL draw and we could do well, not going to win it yet but we must be in the next tier behind Real/Barca/Bayern. We have a great squad, with very few weak links now amongst those who are likely to get game time beyond the CoC. It is a fantastic time to be a City supporter, we are very fortunate.
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i expect you to make the semis and it has surprised me that you haven't made it very far in your first few European campaigns. European success (minimum semis) should be an expectation of Pellegrini this season.

I am curious to see how you cope as well because your team has not yet had to deal with a deep run in Europe alongside a title run yet

It's better to talk about the CL tommorrow when we've seen the draw, it's been very unkind to us over the last 3 seasons but we've never been hammered.

He dealt pretty well with Nasri, Dzeko, Yaya and brought the best out of them. They are the players with potential internal/spirit issues, Nasri/Dzeko were on the verge of transferring out and so many City fans were complaining about their attitude when playing under Mancini...

Now all doing well and signed long term contract.

Pel must be among the most respected managers in PL history for personality, and with style and success. --> he himself can be the best City's transfer last few years.