ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- Mancini loses the plot

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 04/12/2011

There's a saying "never drive when angry." To add my own Poulter twist I try to make a point of never writing when angry. Hence a 24-hour cool down before I started even thinking about the Liverpool game. The sheer utter ineptitude was staggering and more importantly it flew in the face of everything Mancini has been trying to do with City all year.

The overriding priority this season has been qualifying for the Champions League. It has seen the club bow out of the League Cup by playing a second string, it has seen Mancini park the bus at Arsenal and play for a draw at home against Manchester United. It has been a mind numbing boring pursuit in search of the top four. Nothing else matters. Not the Europa League nor the FA Cup.

And Monday, Mancini stood that all on its head by sending out a formation and team selection that was so stupendously wrong that it boggles the mind. Carlos Tevez is neither City’s best player nor its most important. Those are David Silva and Nigel de Jong. Silva is fast becoming the best player ever to wear a City shirt and his vision is crucial to any success that City will have this year. Nigel de Jong is the most important because he not only plays well, but his positioning and tenacity force clubs to play to Vincent Kompany’s strengths turning the Belgian into a force in that back. But only when de Jong plays. City’s weakness is that it cannot, with the current personnel, play a straight back four. City could have, should have, parked the bus against Liverpool and played for a point.

Instead City set up in a 4-4-2 with Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry in the middle and James Milner and Adam Johnson on the outside. Regardless of other tactical nuance, this is a complete waste of Milner and particularly so in this game where Liverpool had a debutant right full-back in John Flanagan. Johnson’s direct dribbling runs are the stuff of nightmares for a full-back so why on earth wasn’t Johnson on the left and Milner on the right if Milner must play on a wing? As has been evident in about a half a dozen games this season, City could kill for the inclusion of Craig Bellamy in a match day squad at the moment. But regardless against the likes of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez playing without de Jong was capitulation. You could play this game a thousand times with that team and formation and City would lose every single time.

What is so, so frustrating about this is that reports indicate that neither Silva nor de Jong were injured. They were rested ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against United. I’d love for City to win the FA Cup, and to beat United along the way would make it sweeter. Indeed I may be in the minority of club supporters in that given a choice I’d rather win the FA Cup than qualify for the Champions League. But you don’t spend the entire season managing with a singularity of purpose to then suddenly be dazzled by the bright lights of the FA Cup. Getting a point from Liverpool was more important that having Silva and de Jong at their best for the game against United. At that crucial season defining moment, Mancini lost the plot.

The irony is that Mancini is doing a phenomenal job at the moment. You don’t under any circumstances, regardless of how much money is involved, throw a team together and have instant success. City usually start five players who weren’t with the club this time last year. To have the club in the top four at this point in the season is an incredible accomplishment. We won’t see the team actually work as a team for another year. If Blackpool stay up, Ian Holloway is the Manager of the Year, hands down. Mancini is a close second for getting this squad into position one year ahead of any reasonable schedule. But Monday night was a shocker. Wrong players, wrong tactics, and wrong formation; in any circumstances, but with the fight for Champions League places becoming tighter by the game this was not the time…

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Comments

Posted by mike parker on 04/12/2011

Agree with your points Wallace and will look an even more stupid selection if we lose on Saturday!

Posted by kingkev on 04/12/2011

Its ADAM Johnson

Wallace Reply In my defense I'd like to point out I was reading an article about Fulham qualifying for the Europa League via the Fair Play Index on another screen at the time! Nicely caught... and changed!

Posted by hankinsohl on 04/12/2011

Agree 100% with your points about the weak lineup and about missing the plot.

Wallace, what's your take on Barry? He seems to start virtually every game, but I've yet to see him do anything impressive.

Wallace Reply I like Barry, a lot. I think the midfield duo of Yaya Toure and Barry compliment de Jong well. However it does seem that he's lost a step in the past year. Milner is the "obvious" long term replacement, but for at least another year we'll see Barry as the starter. What I'd like to see is City get to the point where the team is settled.

Posted by EdmSpurs on 04/12/2011

Despite my allegiance I thoroughly enjoy reading your blogs. It is interesting watching the Man City experiment unfold. Do you believe there is any truth to Joey Barton's antagonism of Gareth Barry. Surely de Jong is a better tackler, and Toure (Yaya) is a better midfield marshall. Is he that much of a leader?

Wallace Reply Barton and Barry are different players in terms of their midfield play. Barton is much more of an engine room/pushing forward type while Barry doesn't tend to get forward as much. Find the right system and they both excel. England's problem at international level is that both Gerrard and Lampard play the engine room/pushing forward type and there's only room for one of those in a team. Barton is not blocked by Barry, he's blocked by Gerrard and Lampard. England don't have the equivalent of de Jong and Barry is the best alternative at the moment. Pains me to say, but that's the Scholes role that England miss.

Posted by Martin Bennett on 04/12/2011

Wallace
Longest blog I have ever read.
But absolutely spot on in every respect.
Well said.

Posted by Nathan on 04/12/2011

Couldn't agree more about Silva, he seemed to move across the ground without touching it. Poetry in motion. As a Liverpool fan watching from the kop I was outraged by the attitude of Balotelli. If ever a player performed for himself at the expense of his team it is Balotelli. If there is anyone in Italy who will take him on the basis of past performances then City should do business now before they are left paying his wages whilst he takes the piss out of the club. As for Edin Dzeko he looks like James Beattie with a higher scrabble value.

Posted by Ben on 04/12/2011

I find it sad that so many so-called City fans are choosing this moment to pile on Mancini. He clearly, and by his own admission, made a terrible mistake Monday. The real question is what does he do from here, especially now that Tevez seems to be down for a possibly extended period of time.

It was painful watching the ineffectiveness of our offensive play. It was painful watching such talented players play as individuals. It was painful and continues to be so watching Dzeko rendered ineffective by our teams apparent inability to take advantage of a more traditional striker.

Here's hope we get this all worked out by Saturday!

Wallace Reply Dzeko needs time to work with Silva, probably the summer, before he clicks. Similarly if the club are going to use overlapping fullbacks with Kolarov and Boateng then their crossing ability needs to be worked on.

Posted by Paul Moores on 04/12/2011

Great article and despite myself not being a tactical expert everything raised in it, did make plane sense.

Posted by Sean on 04/13/2011

Mancini mistake number 1: team line up
number 2: not puttn silva on when tevez came off
2 huge mistakes that had me shoutn at ma tv
I love mario i think hes gna b awesome in the years to come but rite now hes not interestd. hopefully next season he will b.
Boyota is a great youngster but no right back.
Y not xmas tree formation 4-1-2-3
de jong with yaya and silva/milner in front with combination of tevez/silva/mario/dzeko/johnson filln the front 3

Wallace how bout we go 2 Porto and get Hulk ? big strong fast takes set pieces can play wide or up front...perfect ?

Wallace Reply My admiration for Elano not withstanding I'd avoid Brazilians like the plague until more than a couple have shown that they can play in the Premier League. For whatever reason, it just doesn't seem to work.

Posted by Wilbur on 04/13/2011

Spot on, Mancini lost the plot. It is befuddling to me that we wouldn't simply start the same team we did against Sunderland. That seemed to be our best team or very close to it. Maybe Barry could replace Balotelli from the Sunderland line up. But that's the team to start.

We don't need to rest players as we are no longer playing every three days which was the concern before our Europa League exit. They are playing once a week now and should all be fit.

Mancini is spot on when he says he made a mistake. Unfortunately this mistake may cost him his job. Hopefully not because I think he is a fantastic coach, but lack of champions league qualification seems to herald another host of player movement in the summer.

If reports are true with Tevez leaving in the summer to Inter, we should only be willing to take Eto'o or Maicon in exchange plus cash? What are your thoughts on possible player movements in the summer?

Wallace Reply In the summer the club needs a strong central defender and backups for de Jong and Silva (or to develop players on the current squad to play their roles effectively). I actually want to see a Balotelli-Dzeko partnership after a summer getting use to Silva. I think that could be very interesting.

Posted by micky-2-times on 04/13/2011

Hi Wallace,
What a disaster against Liverpool. Mancini hasn't got a clue? Check the form of the team for the last number of games, except for Sunderland (and Barry wasn't playing) you need to go back to the Villa game to see any kind of form. Any other manager would be sacked with such inconsistancy! Manager of the year, no chance, he deserves the sack. I would get rid of Barry asap as well.
Whats the point of getting champions league if we play such rubbish. Did you see United last night, though I hate to say it, they were excellent. Now thats a team. Can you see us compete in CL next season, if we can finish 4th? Whats the point of formations and tactics if the basics, how to play as a team, is ignored? I am seriously worried about United on the weekend and only that Spurs have a more difficult run in (remember they did last year as well) this season could end as a disaster. Silva is KING!

Wallace Reply I disagree that Mancini needs to go. There's a tendency to think that just because a player costs a huge amount of money that they will play well immediately. On the contrary, it is very rare that a foreign player comes to the English game and does well his first year... Say what you will about Hughes, but his decision to buy players with Premier League experience was designed to reduce the time it would take for the team to play together. When you bring in six new players, five of whom are from outside the UK, then struggles will occur. Mancini is one year ahead of where he should be with this team, but the occasional tactical blunder such as against Liverpool doesn't help.

Posted by sam on 04/13/2011

Interesting article Wallace. Mancini admitted he made a mistake straight after the match, he was pretty annoyed at himself by the looks. He obviously knew the risk he was playing with that formation and it backfired spectacularly.
That said things have gone pretty well for City this season, aside from the odd setback. I think it will take a couple of seasons before they are really settled. They will need to get rid of a few players and add a couple this year and hopefully settle on a core group.The worst thing for them will be to bring in new coaches every season.
As for the Hughes/Mancini transfer business, I think Hughes just didnt have the knowledge off hand to assess foreign talent and therefore got players from England he knew. Big flaw in my opinion.
Also it wouldnt suprise me to see Ibra at Man City next year. Mancini loves him and Milan are not guaranteed to sign him. Would be a great addition imo, he can be lazy but he is a class player.

Wallace Reply Hughes has shown with his transfer dealings that he really understands who in the Bundesliga can make it in the Premier League.

Posted by Abdallah Muhammed on 04/13/2011

I wonder what prompts a man to change a team that won 5-0 in its previous match, in my personal opinion the squad against Sunderland is the best opinion, De Jong guarding the formidable backline, Yaya roaming and being strong at the middle, Johnson at the wing with Balotelli at the other side and Tevez or Dzeko at CF, with this squad theirs no need to be cautious against any team, its not barcelona ur playing every week...

Posted by don on 04/13/2011

great blog. mancini is very inconsistent and coachs like he were still in Italy. If we can get Jose this summer sack Mancini but if not give him some time next season. City has a great team and should not be fighting for 4th but for 1st, 2nd or 3rd. I believe Barry and Milner has to be sold. They look like the odd men out. I would give Mario one more season and see if he has matured. I think he is good but needs time. Lets go City

Wallace Reply I'd like to see Milner at City for a long time. One of my favourites.

Posted by Oliver on 04/13/2011

I would like to add a few points to this post.
First of all Mancini has had more time than the special one and spent more cash.
Not that I'm a Chelsea just putting it out there that Jose did get to champions league and won the premier league a couple of times and the FA cup. So that Roberto needs more time is bull.
hes a kid in a candy store with parents that are spoiling him. The city i saw with Sven coaching it with a quarter of the clubs payroll looked more like a team anyways.
So how about this, maybe fifty million pounds and a few balotelli scandals later city could win the premier league, don't see it happening.
In all your respect Manchester City came to a club that for one is on a drug called king kenny.
Liverpool on the day its like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to get.\
I forget to mention that the game was also at Anfield.....
So stop whining about new multi million superstars that need time to adjust thats chelsea's tune.

Wallace Reply Mourinho had a foundation to build on at Chelsea. City have essentially created three new teams because of their switches in Manager. And sorry, I'll disagree with you on that last point. The vast majority of foreign players take 18 months before they get used to the English game. It's rare that a Torres or a Hernandez is very good straight away.

Posted by ben on 04/13/2011

W-I think Mancini has taken you-and everyone for a ride on Monday. He played a team he knew will most likely LOSE to surprise United. Tevez is NOT hurt and will play and everything is one HUGE plot to gain advantage over United. That said-It is hard to imagine a worse time to play United-True-Rooney will be out but the team looks like the 1999 team in the way the simply brush everyone aside-I recall thinking about the FA Cup Final in 1999 and there was NEVER any doubt about the result. City will play very well on Saturday-Will it be enough?

Posted by Zhau on 04/13/2011

Hi Wallace?

What do you say about the fact that maybe Mancini was not all at fault here and that Liverpool played them out of the Park. Surely, Manchester United, Chelsea could not have lost the plot as well. Liverpool players play like the players of a fiercely proud club. While players in Man City played just for the sake of it.

Silva's comment that he left Valencia cause club was in crisis , Balotellis lack of commitment , etc. could be the reason. The difference between Manchester City and Manchester United last match was Rooneys commitment for United. Luiz desperation to show for Chelsea.

If I believe what you write, Mancini may be a year ahead in time, but you have got to admit that hes dumbstruck when it comes to man management skills?

Wallace Reply Interesting point. Mancini was, apparently, beloved by his teams in Italy. I do think he could be better from a man-management side of things, but then I also think we were spoiled by seeing Mourinho at work. Best man-manager I've seen... ever.

Posted by maqbool on 04/13/2011

wallace do u suffer from short memory??? Forgot morinho with his chelsea team in 2005.team work n instant success.

Wallace Reply Apples and Oranges. Mourinho had a solid foundation on which to build and tinkered. Mancini has made wholesale changes. That being said, Mourinho would have more points at this point than Mancini has.

Posted by KP on 04/13/2011

I agree, tactics, formation was wrong. However I would also add desire and hunger was badly absent.

Every 50/50 ball, every header was contested and won by LFC and you could visibly see they wanted it more.

This has to highlight the desire and motives of the players. Why are they at City? To play for a prestigious club? No. To play for a club that elevates their profile? No. To play for trophies? Not on Monday's showing. For money? Many would say so.

Ballotelli typifies the mercenary stereotype that is strongly being associated with City.

And to state that Mancini deserves a top 2 finish for manager of the year is in my opinion totally wrong. When City have spent the amount of money they have over the last three years, they need to be contending for the title - no question. To be scraping into the Champions League, and possibly not winning any trophy this season - I would consider that a massive failure.

Manager of the season? I wouldn't be surprised to see him get the sack.

Wallace Reply A good observation about the lack of desire. I know people go on about the money spent but to a certain extent it's a red herring. Sven's signings are gone, so are most of Hughes. And more importantly Mancini plays a specific system, the Inter Diamond, and didn't have the players for that until this summer. So as hard as it is to put all of those signings and millions spent you have to if you want to do an evaluation of City and Mancini.

Posted by Freddie on 04/13/2011

I know City fans are desperate as well as blinkered when it comes to their neighbours but if, perchance, United were to do the double or triple, should not SAF be considered for Manager of the year ahead of both Holloway and (stifling a giggle) Mancini? Just asking.

Wallace Reply Indeed. Especially given that at the start of the season you had numerous predictions from pundits that United might even struggle to qualify for the Champions League. I was, and as a City fan no less, something of a lone voice in the wind in predicting that United would win the league. To me, Manager of the Year is performance relative to expectation. My expectation was that Blackpool would go down and anchor the table or season. They haven't. Similarly my expectation was that City would be seventh, specifically because it is essentially a rebuilt team (for the third time in three years). I expected Ferguson and United to win the league. But as you say, the Treble would be rather impressive.

Posted by Lo Sconosciuto on 04/13/2011

Just some observations, not necessarily just about this game:

1. For all the money spent and names brought in, this Man City team is not as deep as many seem to believe. Mancini is not one of those believers, but he can't come out and say "I don't have the proper parts."

2. Despite what Macca said, I don't think Mancini wanted to turn Barry into a stay-at-home DM, he was trying to create a box-to-box all-action CM. It just didn't work out, nor did it work with Milner.

3. Edin Dzeko should send a thank you text to Fernando Torres every week for taking all the negative publicity, because he has been just as disappointing. He appears to be lost, even afraid, when he's been out there.

4. Macca was right about one of Mancini's more ridiculous moves: if you're holding out Silva to save him for the weekend, why put him in when you're 3-nil down and 25 minutes to play? Just eat the loss.

Posted by chris on 04/13/2011

Gareth Barry is useless and has been useless from day one. We have all been kidding ourselves that he is not. He's slow and honestly he does nothing. I'm sure he works really hard and thats great but so did Craig Bellamy. They need to drop Ya Ya back remove Barry completely.

Wallace Reply I'd like to see Milner replace Barry within the Inter Diamond and see how that works...

Posted by Matthew on 04/13/2011

Now for starters i want to say that i am actually a manchester united fan. Now that i got that out of the way, i must say watching this man city experiment from the outside is quite enjoyable. The biggest mistake, in my opinion, was city firing hughes. Any good team has a consistent manager( ferguson, wenger, etc.) but since hes been fired, Mancini has been a great manager bar the last result. firing him would be a huge mistake. I strongly agree with your point that if blackpool do not stay up then he deserves to be the manager of the season. Hopefully city will pass up chelsea on the way to CL qualification. As for this weekend, best of luck.

Wallace Reply Hughes lost me with the whole Elano debacle. And I agree City should keep Mancini. The club can't keep doing this chopping and changing.

Posted by Sean on 04/13/2011

Mancini has 2 stay. Sacking him would mean we start all over again.
U been following Elano in Brazil Wallace ? hes still the man
Strong central defender how bout Raul Albiol ? hes awesome and not 1st choice at Real Madrid

Wallace Reply Yes, the whole Elano saga still kills me... sigh. I'm starting to look over central defenders. City need one as a priority.

Posted by Don-X on 04/13/2011

Mon Cher Wallace,

Indeed ! - Manciny lost the plot ... in this scene ... but the journey is not over yet ! I read the various comments and your replies; many comments were very interresting ! For the rest of the season ... I hope Mancini takes notice that Milner should never be chosen in place of Jhonson... nor Viera .. nor Toure .. nor Silva ( for sure ),nor Barry ( when fit ! ). Milner has not impress so far, sometimes he works hard .. but .. but he is simply not as efficient on the field as people want to make him ! .. As for Dzeko ! I will be a bit patient with him ! ...As for Balotelli ! well ... I hope he steps up now, like very soon, while Tevez is not available. As for next season, Man City definitely needs an additional strong defender with Midfield knowledge ( someone similar to Busquets from Barcelona ) and a very creative midfielder with an attacking flair ( I just hope that Gay Assulin is the guy for this job .. even if he is a bit small in stature .. a bit like Silva)

Posted by jeremy morris on 04/13/2011

I think Mancini's been putting out the wrong system all season with the personnel he has. Playing a 4-2-3-1 is fine but to do it well you need your holding midfielders to be excellent distributors of the ball (not just 5 yard sideways passes) and your attacking central midfielder to be a flair player of great ability. Other than De Jong we don't have it. The result is that we sit far too deep and rarely threaten.

Plus I really don't see the need for two holding midfield players in any case. When Mancini got rid of it against Sunderland, De Jong had a fantastic game - amazing distribution - and we were much more compact. The rumors about Wilshire make a lot of sense. And boy what we would give for a Schneider at the club. Bye bye Yaya, Barry and Vieira.

Posted by James W. on 04/14/2011

Hey Wallace, give me your thoughts on what the lineup should look like and why against Man U Saturday. I really hope Boyata isn't included as he will get shredded apart by Giggs and Nani. Thanks!

Wallace Reply I expect to see an Inter Diamond with both Dzeko and Balotelli up front. Zabaleta to play right back. Barry, de Jong and Yaya in the middle. Johnson and Milner on the bench to start.

Posted by jasonwilcox on 04/14/2011

great article Wallace....interesting to know what you would have written in anger. article followed by good retort from the blogs faithful too.

the only point i disagree with is Balotelli. he is wrong for the team, wrong for the club, wrong for the EPL...and certainly a polar opposite to what Mancini looks for in his players. Roberto should move him on at the first opportunity.
foreign players do generally take time to adjust....no secret there and not surprising if you look into why. every faith in dzeko making the grade next season.
mario's problems run much deeper than an adjustment to a leagues pace, team mates, environment.
if ever there was an example of someones personality, beliefs, and attitude to life on obvious show in their work...Mario takes first prize..!

Posted by Adam on 04/14/2011

Maybe it's because I live in the States and don't get to see half of the city games... but I have yet to see a game where at the final whistle I thought, "Milner and/or Barry played well." Maybe I am just missing something but I just don't see any consistency. I really wish Bellamy was back as well to play opposite of Johnson with Silva in an attacking role and de Jong holding. And can Balotelli's attitude ever be fixed? It was annoying to watch Silva chase down Reina and make him pick up the ball because Balotelli was too lazy.

Posted by Jason on 04/14/2011

Hi Wallace, It's interesting reading your thoughts on City's current situation. As a Blues fan since my Dad took me and my Brother to see them play Liverpool in a night game in 1976, I am thinking we are a wee bit overdue on the silverware front! I don't personally understand why people such as yourself whom I respect, seem willing to allow players so much time to settle into teams. Surely, top level players (professionals) who command insane amounts of money should be able to adapt to conditions, tactics and other players much quicker than they appear to be able to do. After all, Football is not rocket science. In many other professions you wouldn't be allowed the time players seem to get be granted. I agree with your sentiment re the FA cup and would rather win that and beat Man U on the way than get the spot in the CL. Also, City too focussed on CL instead of just fighting for win each game. City need players like Craig Bellamy with heart and commitment not Ballotelli!

Wallace Reply It's just been a historical "fact" for as long as the English top flight have had foreigners coming into the league that it takes them time to settle. It's a different pace of game than Spain, Italy or Germany.

Posted by Vyom on 04/14/2011

Hi Wallace,

I am a United fan. I went through your article and a couple of things really interested me. I wanted to get a city perspective on it. In your article you criticize the 4-4-2 system Mancini played(which he also did) also you go as far as to say that you should have parked a bus. City is a team in the building process, there is a lot of money that is going to be pumped in and that is going to happen for years, finishing 5th for a few seasons isn't going to change that. As a city fan wouldn't you much rather have a team with some attacking flavour and style to it, become a team ppl like to see play and be successful at the same time or be another Chelsea? Tottenham got hammered at Real, but then that happens. And a defensive mindset doesn't change, look at Chelsea they got the best coaches and still play the same. There is no shortage of funds and players, why not back ur manager if he believes that he can outplay a Liverpool? Y ask a repeat of games against Arsenal & United?

Wallace Reply I don't like the style of play that Mancini has brought to the club. I'd much prefer an attacking style. However I appreciate that this year is all about CL qualification. That's the focus and as such I look at it in that context. Parking the bus against Arsenal got City a point. If that's the difference between qualifying for the CL or not then you can't argue with it, as much as I would like to.

Posted by John Ram on 04/14/2011

Tevez is neither their best player nor their most important? I always sense that Englishmen always tried to underrate him. This is just another proof. Why don't you English people try not to be biased and always think Rooney is the best, Tevez is not the best and Fergie is always right? Typical English.

Silva struggled at first. During that time I read that some journalists even said that he could be a flop playing in England, due to his size and slower speed. But suddenly he looks like playing good. Do you know why? It was Tevez who HELPED him a lot. Silva said this several times already. Silva is creative. But Tevez is the only one that can make thing happen. Not Silva.

Plus Mancini loves negative football. Negative football means overly-cautious and aggressiveness sacrificed. Which means his tactics are easier for players like Kompany and De Jong, harder for strikers like Tevez and Edin. If not because of this stupid negative football, Tevez could have played even far better.

Wallace Reply I rate Tevez very highly. Very. But when all is said and done I think Silva will be considered the best play in the Premier League, not just for City. Individually Tevez is a "better" player than de Jong, but de Jong is crucial to the success of City's defense. Without him they get slaughtered through the middle.

Posted by John Ram on 04/14/2011

By the way, your mentality is exactly like that of Mancini - should have parked the bus against Liverpool and played for a point.

A really good manager should always attack, attack, attack, and think about how to play aggressively with a solid enough defense. Aggressive first, back up by solid defense. Fergie did this successfully.

But Mancini only thinks about defense, defense, defense. He is willing to sacrifice aggressiveness just to play for a draw. He hopes for "miracle" from Tevez or Balotelli to win the games for him while he sets the team negatively. This naive thinking is a loser mentality.

He is too cautious because he fears losing, just to protect his own job. If a manager is scared of losing, his mentality reflected on the team as well - low team spirit.

No one in EPL plays negative football except Mancini. And no one is stupid enough to make mistake against Liverpool. These 2 reasons are enough for him to get the sack. It is a "miracle" he is still here as manager.

Wallace Reply Actually I much prefer to attack. What I'm saying is that given the way Mancini has conducted his campaign this season then the logical decision was to park the bus and win a point.

Posted by John Ram on 04/14/2011

Mancini's records against the top 7 teams so far:

Everton - lost all 3 games.
Tottenham - 1 luck draw. 1 loss.
Man Utd - beat them once, thanks to Tevez as Tevez was determined to beat them. 1 draw. 3 losses.
Arsenal - 2 draws. 1 loss.
Liverpool - beat them once, because Hogson had problems. 1 draw. 1 lame loss.
Chelsea - beat them 3 times, again, largely thanks to Tevez's determination to beat Terry's team (LOL). Lost lamely once without Tevez.

Spacky's "partial" 2009/2010 records (somewhat distant for me, can't remember them all)
Arsenal - beat them convincingly. Adebayor scored.
Man Utd - 1 loss. But fight bravely, defense failed him.
Tottenham - 1 loss. Defense failed him.
8 draws in a row. 2 losses only (ManU and Spurs) be4 the sack.

If not defense failure, Sparky should have been given more time, like Tevez said. Sparky is brave, willing to fight. Mancini loves to chicken-out, played lamely without a fight.

All these, are enough proof Mancini should be sacked.

Posted by Henry on 04/14/2011

Tevez scored and assisted 25 league goals for your team. Man City have 50 league goals currently. So Tevez alone contributed 50% of the goals.
David Silva once said, Tevez helped him a lot to settle in England. Silva even said he had learned a lot from Tevez.
De Jong, Kompany and other defenders' jobs made easier by Mancini's negative tactics which overly focus on defense. In turn it made the strikers' job like Tevez harder as less support up-front, more support on the back. Tevez still contributed 25 goals out of unhappiness with these tactics.
David Silva is a creative force. But creativity is not enough to win you games. You need someone who has the talent to push the team forward - Tevez.
Joe Hart once said, Tevez is the best player he ever played with. Don't forget Joe Hart played with English International teammates as well.

With all these, if Tevez is not your team's best player, don't know who else could be. Perhaps he need to contribute 35 goals to be regarded the best.

Posted by Grommit on 04/14/2011

I became linked with City during 1996. Since then it has mostly been upsetting to put any hopes on the success of this club. There is something basically wrong in the club. They all think they are a big club but I don't think they are. You can't live by dreaming of the past. You have to develop new ideas, clever ideas to become and stay a top club. Buying players because they are promissing on their own is rubbish. You have to be able to build a TEAM out of very good players and buy following a strategy. That's what's missing here. Look at Ferguson and ManU. Over decade(s) they have been at the top. And City officials and City supporters should learn from it and not ignore it just because it's ManU. Well, look at Chelsea, when the Assistant manager was sacked they went downhill. He obviously had a big influence on the team which wasn't appreciated enough. So : Everybody stop dreaming!!! Get real and stop pampering the socalled City superstars (Balotelli?!?!)What a waste of time....

Posted by Peter Petrelli on 04/14/2011

I am in agreement with your post. When I saw the line-up on monday, a great fear clutched my heart. De Jong is a must, Silva adding much-needed creativity up front. Continue your good work Sir.

And if God wills, give us the consolation of beating the scum on saturday.

Peace.

Posted by Durk on 04/14/2011

I don't disagree too much with what is written here. I have trouble accepting that Boateng and Kolarov are the wing backs City have to have. Kolarov is far too inflexible and gets beaten regularly. His wing is City's weak link, he has no right foot. I much prefer Bridge, and you are spot on about Bellamy, he is badly missed.
James Milner's game has been ruined in just one season.
I'm sorry, I think a majority of City's losses have been on the selection table.

Posted by Jake E Neva on 04/14/2011

Well Wallace youre post do make sense but I disagree about Mancini in general.

His football philosophy is lets not lose instead of we are goin to win it!
At he beginning of the season our defence looked solid and didnt panic no matter what. Now we make those panic clarenses right to the opposition and the preasure never eases.

Kidd and co tell us that he is so passionate about his job and getting it right for us. Well can somebody plaeas tell me WHY isnt that passion shown in our team?? Only few players play with their heart out. Team wise we look like lambs and you know what you get with that in PL.

Mancinis signings have been mostly rubbish. Kolarov is a DEFENDER and Bis complete big time charlie and tit. Remember how he did against Everton and Carrolls second goal, he is many times floored and looks just helpless against anyone with physical approach.
Boateng well dont get me started. Balotelli is raw and he could turn out great in 5 years time loan him out or sell him.

Posted by Ronald Carter on 04/14/2011

personally, im not a big fan of city. However, Wallace keeps saying that its impossible to have a team bundled together with money 'achieve' what city have. Correct me if i am, but isnt that exactly what chelsea achieved after Romans takeover in 2003? in 2005 they won the premier league WITH a change in manager! All your replies, wallace, are based on false logic - that strikers who havent played in the premier league dont perform in time. Look at Uniteds Hernandez? Liverpools Suarez, Arsenal's Chamak (before he lost it). Pavluchenko? I could keep going on and on!
Finally - how the hell is city going to achive success when they play 3 defensive midfielders in the same team? no wonder they havent been scoring goals - their only supplier is silva. You see the problem with city is they do what Real Madrid do, WITHOUT tactics. They buy the most sought-after players in the world.. Look out Neymar - you're going to a team that has no idea what it's plans are! lol at 'mancini a good manager'!

Posted by Mark on 04/14/2011

Wallace, you are not just on of the best commentators on Man City, but one of the best on the whole of the premier league. ESPN should start paying you to write a weekly column. Keep up the good work.

Wallace Reply I appreciate the kind thoughts.

Posted by alen on 04/15/2011

if ur coach is negative and fearfull. the players would come out n play negative and afraid. i have a suggestion. fire mancini n bring in bielsa. if ur coach has no fear. the team will come out with no fear and attack. i do not care about the results against strong teams. but playin defensivly and loosing or tieng to teams we shud dismantle is not accepted.

Wallace Reply Now that's an interesting perspective. You think how Blackpool seem to mirror the "crazy" spirit of their manager...

Posted by Hari on 04/15/2011

can u give a Prediction for the fa cup match,wallace?

Wallace Reply Really depends on the lineups... And less City's, more what United plays and how they plan to play in midfield.

Posted by HonestJohn on 04/15/2011

Given the impact money has made at City, would you be supportive of a salary cap? Also, I'm more impressed with Harry Redknapp than anyone else. True, this Spurs side has been playing together a while, but he found some very, very good deals (Gallas and VDV) and has brought them as close to the upper echelons of football as Spurs will ever get.
A point on Brazilians: completely agree about them in the Prem, and actually the majority of South Americans don't work out in England. Same goes for English players abroad; Hargreaves is about the only player in recent memory to have played his best football in a foreign country. I think English players aren't good enough technically for Spain and Italy, but I don't know why most South Americans don't work out in England. One exception (besides Elano): Anderson. Tough lad whose really turned a corner. He battered Arsenal's "playmakers" back when the sides met in the league at Old Trafford.

Wallace Reply Anderson, and Nasri and Nani are examples of what is the norm when it comes to foreign imports. Any of the three could have been sent packing their first year, but have now settled. The latter two could be given serious consideration for Player of the Year.

I suspect that Mourinho's recent comments and posturing has more than a little to do with Redknapp. The general consensus is that Mourinho wants the Manchester United gig when Ferguson retires. Mourinho also wants to return to the Premier League before then. At the moment, and there's the court case to take into account, but at the moment 'arry would be considered the favourite to take the England job. Which would leave the one job from a money, location and player standpoint that makes sense for Mourinho...

And re a salary cap. No, I'm not in favour of that. I am in favour of a "better" distribution of Premier League and European revenue...

Posted by Weng Kit on 04/15/2011

Coming from all angles, I really think that these few managers did fantastic job. Sir Alex, Arsene Wenger and Mancini.

Alex learns his mistakes fast. Many moons back, Man U used to start slow in picking up points. Then Mour came and started the campaign strongly and targeted on points and squad deep. Later on size them down. As it was becoming unmanageable to him.

Alex did the same by increase of squad quality and depth. Copy Arsenal by buying young players. while continuing what works for them. Like buying established players and playing style with grit.

Every managers made fare share of mistakes. It cost the team. Working within those constraints I sincerely believe. AW, SAF, and Mancini did hell of a great job! Not to forget HR in Totenham.

I agree with you that Mancini should stay. He has brought City players in which are strong at every department. Integrating them and created a style of playing which are more consistence than Sparky.

Mancini did not gave excuses. Kudos!

Posted by AARON MARK HENDRIX on 04/15/2011

Intresting then ehh Wallace that the loss to them scousers should be followed up with a match against the "Loud Noisy Neighbours".City have played well in patches, dissapeared in some BIG and some SMALL games, and really flattered to deceive when you thought they would smash all and sundry,just like the game against Sunderland.A lotta money has been spent, wisely and not so wisely.but after all is said and done, no throphies, and not even in the hunt for any bar one,THE FA CUP.is this make or break for the season?Doubt it,Mancini should survive the sack if the owners had any sense,contuinity is needed,not a new gaffer.Against United,as you have rightly pointed out,it really depends who we play,as you have to play your strongest lineup i feel.Expect a mid of Scholes,Anderson,Valencia and Nani..though Flecth might get a game someone said..Funny thing is,on paper,City look to have the better players,but cant seem to translate that into results,whereas we've been scraping thru the season..

Wallace Reply City do have the better players which just goes to show it isn't about how many "great" players you have it is how you construct a team.

Posted by djlocco03 on 04/15/2011

wallace, now days profesional footballers is well paid...mancini should understand he need to satisfy the hunger of man city fans..time is not at his side..he must work wark set a suitable system before he can expand the system.

Posted by Sean on 04/15/2011

Salery cap would never be accepted and would never work. football is a trillion doller game now. Inter want Tevez ? Im sure not long ago Chelsea did..thn Madrid..and Barca..and that all worked out didnt it ?
Speaking of better players and team players if you had 2 pick a joint Manchester side who would make the cut...

Wallace Reply Right now I'd have Hart in goal. Evra at left back, Vidic and Kompany in the middle, anyone but Rafael at right back... Now from here it gets tricky because it depends on formation. Scholes and de Jong (what a combination!) in the middle of the park in some fashion. If you played a standard 4-4-2 then I'd have Silva on the left wing and Nani on the right (yes he's obnoxious, but his play this season would warrant the inclusion) with Hernandez and Tevez up front. Yes, Hernandez over Rooney based on their form this year. If it was an Inter Diamond then I'd play Fletcher, who I rate highly, with Scholes and de Jong with Silva at the top of the diamond and the same two up front.

Posted by Ben on 04/15/2011

Wallace-

At some point above, you said that City need to find backups for Silva and De Jong. Did you had any certain players in mind, or was that just a general statement?

Also, as far as Tevez goes, I know City lose a lot if he goes over the summer, but I have this little nagging feeling that as much of a loss as his goals would be, he might not be as sorely missed as most people anticipate.

As a final thought, what's your idea as far as transfer policy for the next three seasons or so? From my view of the squad, most of the biggest pieces are in place (although they do need the above-mentioned backups for Silva and De Jong). I would think that with the addition of one more excellent center back, we're in pretty good shape. Any glaring holes that I'm missing here?

Wallace Reply City need a back up left back who is a stay at home defender who can play in occasional games, such as against United this weekend. A back up goalkeeper as Given should be allowed to play first team football elsewhere. A stud centre-back is a must. City also need to decide on back ups for Dzeko and Balotelli.

Posted by Kemo on 04/15/2011

great blog Wallace. i think youre right on the money about the adam johnson positioning problems. the main reason is that i used to closely follow Dzeko at wolfsburg and he is more of a classical striker, ones that gets on the end of crosses. Mancini plays right footers on the left and vice versa and this clearly impacts on the number of crosses that come in to Dzeko..which in turn affects his confidence and positioning.

It is not uncommon to see Dzeko going deep into midfield and making tackles for man city and this was something that he NEVER did for wolfsburg..now that is great but im sure any manager who buys a striker wants him scoring not tackling, but im afraid this is exactly what mancini asks of dzeko, which in turn affects his positioning, instinct, awareness etc..im afraid im just a bit over Mancini's tactics..he is getting about 50% effectiveness from his team with the current tactics, if he stays i hope he develops a more natural system over summer!

Posted by romeo on 04/15/2011

its just like i've written this blog. Everything I've been saying since that game. Tevez fair enough top man top player, but Silva is the glue. De Jong is the reason for the best defensive record up and till Xmas. Balotelli has lots of potential, Dzeko needs time and wingers (plus he is talismanic against man united). Johnson is a step up man, drop Barry pick Milner, Milner squad player and is willing to graft, point him in the right direction he can be the City's Lampard.

Wallace; We had Manu did we really need Dzeko?

Wallace Reply Adebayor is the foremost example that I know of what I call a "confidence player." When everything is going right, the team is playing well, the goals are flowing then he is pretty nigh unstoppable. However when a team struggles he goes into a shell. It's not a matter of graft, I've seen Adebayor work hard. It's that he needs basic success on which to build. Real Madrid is a perfect location for the player.

Posted by Erin on 04/15/2011

"You don’t under any circumstances, regardless of how much money is involved, throw a team together and have instant success."

Except a team called Chelsea, with a manger named Mourinho. Mancini doesn't quite match up, does he?

Wallace Poulter Mourinho had the foundation in place before he joined. Different situation.

Posted by efosa on 04/18/2011

good point which was well elaborated am so happy mancini took the blame for it dis time a i like fact dact yo said silva is city main player not tevez he may be vital but i fink silva and de jong should be mancini first pick nxt time

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