tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858389158764090793.post8152718914580797629..comments2024-02-22T10:38:01.587+00:00Comments on The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll: City 0 - 0 UnitedTLDORChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00821789505647637219noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858389158764090793.post-44709668304022386352010-11-11T23:27:45.612+00:002010-11-11T23:27:45.612+00:00Excrement. That's what I think of the argumen...Excrement. That's what I think of the arguments justifying the"playing not to lose" mentality. Winning football matches is not simply a matter of deploying the right tactics and part the reason I believe City are struggling is that Mancini places so much emphasis on tactics that it actually handcuffs the players. Tactics do have role play but so does passion and commitment and force of will. <br /><br />I also vehemently disagree with the comments that teams cannot win games simply through the sheer will to win. When you have two evenly matched teams like last nights derby, whose overly cautious tactics negate each other, than the result simply comes down to the simple question of which team wants it more. In short, a sheer determination or will to win.<br />Successful teams win games precisely because of this very quality. And it is this quality that Mancini's is failing to instill in this team. <br /><br />Let me be clear, I do rate Mancini quite highly as a manager, but it is also clear to me that he places too much emphasis on tactics and not enough on motivation. When I look at the body language of the players, while I do see commitment I also see hesitation (James Milner take a bow). What I don't see is full blooded ruthlessness and confidence, an "over my dead body" attitude, a belief that through sheer force of will they can win the game. Successful teams have this trait in abundance<br /><br />If City want to win trophies, want to qualify for the champions league, then they have to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win. Let the chips fall where they may but this team and this manager just aren't pulling their weight.pjdemershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13257292532463846582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858389158764090793.post-12092995032467603852010-11-11T12:54:41.937+00:002010-11-11T12:54:41.937+00:00I disagree. I think it's an opportunity missed...I disagree. I think it's an opportunity missed. Don't mind us drawing, just I would sooner us gamble a lot more.<br /><br />Had United been at full strength, maybe this would be a good result. But there was nothing in their line-up last night to really instill fear.<br /><br />I don't want to get on Mancini's back but most senseless was his decision to play less than 100 per cent fit Tevez on his own up front. <br />Surely Adebeyor could have played some role, on as sub if not starting the game. <br /><br />Really was pointless to see crosses going in and no chance of anyone getting on the end of them.<br /><br />All in all very cautious - and i don't believe ALL the media are on our back. There has been a vendetta, but neutrals seemed genuinely excited by the prospect of last night's game.<br /><br />And I can see the media's point about expecting entertaining football given the level of investment in the squad. <br /><br />So disappointed, but hopefully a springboard for far more attractive fare!StanMCFChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09296705209507907608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858389158764090793.post-83516589472985629442010-11-11T11:37:48.839+00:002010-11-11T11:37:48.839+00:00Concur completely. Losing the game would have open...Concur completely. Losing the game would have opened up the media frenzy box again and I think Mancini made the right moves.<br /><br />The need to build confidence, avoid another punishing defeat to the rivals against whom we are being measured was paramount. The media want us to fail and are disappointed when they can't drag out the 'look how the experiment is failing' articles ...... So they drop into criticising us for not taking risks.OxfordBluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06581339311785646425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858389158764090793.post-21301764375124775622010-11-11T10:45:13.611+00:002010-11-11T10:45:13.611+00:00I have to agree in entirety with your points, Jack...I have to agree in entirety with your points, Jack. <br /><br />We just couldn't afford to lose the match, and we didn't, it' as simple as that. It appeared ol' Fergie felt much the same.<br /><br />People seem to think that we can win a game just through the want to win, forgetting that there are 11 opposing players out there, who are capable of punishing us. <br /><br />It's the steady accumulation of points that'll see us get in the CL places this season - Not necessarily flamboyant displays of attacking football, only to be undone by the opposition.<br /><br />Crazily, Hughes got praise for losing a game by playing too open. That baffles me.Dominichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846988629480935911noreply@blogger.com