I have to stress how important it is right now to get the message through to my fellow City fans, be careful in Napoli and stay together. I am not saying you will find trouble, just to not forget that your in a country flush with racism, violence and football hooliganism.
With that said I also have to point out that Alex Ferguson has previously meddled in City matters when he has had the chance, how much influence he has had is unknown but he has a habit of contacting managers of other clubs when they face Manchester City. It seems strange that Aurelio De Laurentiis would visit Old Scaffold for just a simple tour, you could call me paranoid but I smell another stinking mud dweller over at the swamp.
We almost made a mess of the Napoli game and the word is that we were too nervous?, as far as I'm concerned our defense may have been nervous but. The reason we lost 2 points were solely down to an over rated Gareth Barry and I have lost my Patience with the midfielder.
As far as I am concerned I lost the same amount of patience with Joleon Lescott also but at least he mucks in with the odd few good performances, the same can not be said for Barry, always trying to make amends with the odd fluke goal or rare assist.
Some are saying we were sucker punched and shown a counter attacking master class by Napoli?, how they came to that conclusion beats me when Gareth Barry gave away possession with a stupid side foot trick and his back to Napoli's end along with no actual momentum from City going forward at that point.
Last season I thought to myself that we had the foundation to kick on with the elite but, I now have to admit I was wrong back then and believe it is only now that we have the foundation. Clearly Barry, Bridge, Lescott and Kolarov despite his dead ball skill are not up to the task, luckily for us we have some very bright young defensive prospects rising through the ranks.
Netherland's Karim Rekik and Switzerland's Frederic Veseli are two promising stand out defenders in our reserve team, That's our elite development squad for those not up to speed.
Clearly there is some improving to do in Europe after we were given a wake up call, I never thought I'd be thinking having Kolo Toure back soon could be just the answer.
Ill end this with one last thing, despite the silly Barry side foot fumble we did pretty well for our first Champions League encounter.
Couldn't agree more, Lescott & Barry are liabilites, I can't see us progressing if we have to rely on these two in the team. That said, putting Kolo back into the defence is a step backwards, and if we take off the blue-tinited glasses, Nedum simply isn't good enough for where we want to be heading. I was extremely frustrated we didn't buy a top drawer centre back to partner Vinnie & take some of the workload off our captain, but I'd like to see Savic given a go with Vinnie, against "lesser" clubs we need to be bedding him in, and we should have started with the Wigan match. So with that said, let's get the young lad in for the Fulham match. Barry needs taking out all together, he slows down the play and gives the ball away far too many times, Milner in until De Jong is back where Yaya can move further forward once the pitbull is back in the team.
ReplyDeleteSavic is a top draw center back and was brought in to partner Kompany, Mancini is just not ready to throw Savic to the wolves right now.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why Kolo Toure is a better option than Lescott, I think your being harsh on Nedum and hope it has nothing to do with the lack with Cook and his mother. Nedum deserves another crack at the whip and I hope he gets it, to say Nedum is not good enough and not point a finger at Richards is a joke, despite Richards improving he has cost us games far more than Nedum has and I rate Nedum higher than Richards.
Savic is a great player, but he needs to gain some solid experience. After seeing play, i think he has no confidence on the ball. He could be a disaster waiting to happen i a very important Game.
ReplyDeleteI never understood why Mancini always put in Barry.. It's clear he's not up to par to the rest of the city squad.. As for lescott, I really do think he's improving for us.. But yea, I would like to see the pairing of kompany and savic or even kolo.. Just get Barry off the field!!!
ReplyDeleteLescott had a better game than Kompany. Barry was outstanding except for that crucial mistake. Napoli was lucky not to concede in the first 20. This could easy been a different story.
ReplyDeleteBarry has, among others, started this season as a new and improved player compared to last season. Mancini and Capello have been proved right. Also had a chat with GB's former team mate Eirik Bakke (Villa) who told me that Barry is the best midfielder he's ever played with. Just check out who picks up all the loose balls at the midfield. To bad he’s not a sprinter, but every team need this kind of player. Chelsea got Lampard (Mikel), United - Carrick (Anderson), Liverpool - Lucas and I could go on all the way down to Fulham – Murphy.
The comment on Kolarov also shows that you did not learn anything the other evening. Looks like the author and some of you are stuck in last season! Kolarov was outstanding, and a lethal weapon when everything else has failed (again and again). Also improved and far better than last season. "But this is normal. Every player need to adjust to a new league and new players" (The one and only Roberto:).
No one is disputing that Barry is a good player and ok is never going to be a great stand out but he commits silly mistakes at the same time that costs us game.
ReplyDeleteConsidering a few years back I was on Richards case for his point crucial costing mistakes, id be a hypocrite not to hound Barry.
If he cut out the stupid errors that he need not do then maybe I will cut him some slack, Richard Dunne was a good player but like Barry made stupid mistakes to much and look where he is now.
P.s. Kolarov maybe outstanding in some games but he is no where near as good as Clichy FACT, I wont be swayed by the odd goal or assist when we need consistancy.
ReplyDeleteI think you will find more City fans disagreeing with you about Kolarov.
are you out of minds....barry is one of the hardworking midfielders...a pure defensive midfilder..his work rate in 100% with 100% commitment..i would like to point out that..whenevr our left backs go upfront..like kolorov did last year..it was barry who was covering up..we all kno kolorov is weak in defensive skills..last year..most number of cleen sheets...barry is was and will be unsung hero...!!!
ReplyDeleteas far lescott is concerned..he is more reliable than kolo toure....thats for sure..he is getting better and better...he is more relible thats the only season...he was picked against united last season in old trafford...kompany and lescott are the best defensive pair..with hart at back...no need to slag off any player..mistakes happen...against napoli..midfield was flooded with napoli players..something what our our epl boys are not used to....!!...thats the only reason we conceded the goal...!!!
ReplyDeleteAgain as I said before, no one is questioning that Barry is not a good player but lets face facts.
ReplyDeleteGareth Barry is not as good as Nigel Dejong, Barry commits to many silly errors and over the last two seasons were damn lucky not to pick up more yellows or the odd red even.
His errors have cost us as has Lescotts but Lescott is doing something Barry is not and that is improving in that aspect.
We have a better defensive mid in Dejong, Kolarov is exactly that, an attacking fullback and we have better in Clichy.
I think Toure is very lucky to be back, should of got a much longer ban.
ReplyDeleteWhat for weight loss water pills, your having a laugh for he should not have served a ban in the first place. Its the PFA that are to blame for it and should bring out a list of every banned substance for footballers which is updated monthly, its the PFA's job to protect footballers and they currently do a piss poor job at it while blaming club doctors.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should be banned from commenting before putting brain in gear.
As far as I know there is a list available to the medical staff at all football clubs in the premier league. Bendroflumethiazide is deemed prohibited by Wada as a "DIURETICS AND OTHER MASKING AGENTS" This means it's banned because it can hide traces of other drugs, social or preformance enhancing, in an athlete's urine sample.
ReplyDeleteYour deflecting by making that point. I didn't hear anyone from the Man City medical staff say that weren't informed that it was a banned. It wouldn't of mattered anyway, since Toure didn't consulted Them before he dicided to take someone else's pills.
The ban for taking that kind of substance is two years, he got 6 months, that is very lenient. Especially since he served half it in pre season. For some who take the same risk as Toure it's a death sentance. If you don't believe that just google the name Steve Bechler.
Your argument that he should not of been banned is nonsense. Somehow I don't think you were saying that when Rio Ferdinand (Who never tested positive) was banned for 8 months. Toure and Ferdinand were rightly banned because, to excuse what they did would of created a nasty legal precedent. If athlete was found guilty of taking a illegal substance, they would not be banned because their legal team would argue that others in the past have avoided punishment.
Rio Ferdinand refused to take two drug tests which admitted guilt of knowing he would fail and would be banned either way(minimising damage to his professional career), Kolo took the test not knowing he took a banned substance (HUGE DIFFERENCE).
ReplyDeleteI wasn't defending Rio, I was using his ban of an example of how there needs to be zero tolerence when it comes to drug testing.
ReplyDeleteI am of the opinion that some Man City fans are delusional. (Some being the ones that comment on this blog). Thinking that Toure shouldn't be banned is an example of that, or even believing that he did nothing wrong.
They seem to think that City will be powerful and sucessful even if the owner stops cancelling the debt at the end of each year. That is not true. Even with Champions league money City will still run into debt. You don't see Bayern Munich spending £100000000 each year and they have play a lot more than just 1 game in the Champions League.
When the funding stops City will seriously struggle.
"Kolo took the test not knowing he took a banned substance (HUGE DIFFERENCE)"
ReplyDeleteKnowingly or unknowingly what Toure did was wrong. There is a medical staff at City he could of consulted, everyone in the Premier League knows that some over the counter products are banned. That's why WADA make a list available to all premier league clubs. It's not good enough to plead ignorance on this issue and not expect to be punished.
You have to admit that taking someone else'e is a foolish thing to do, not just for premier league players but for any person.
So full of yourself you are, these City fans are fans that live in the real world like the rest of us being City fans.
ReplyDeleteYou bang on about Kolo Toure being used as an example to others, was Rio Ferdinand held up as an example?
The answer is a big fat NO, the league banned him because they had no choice due to the FACT he didnt turn up for two tests because he was guilty.
Instead his club did all they could to minimise the damage and, because he played for the mighty stuck up United was forgotten about a few weeks later.
And youre still insistant that Kolo Toure should have been hung, drawn and quartered for a mistake no matter how stupid.
Youre probably another one of the anti Dejong brigade who wanted him banned from football altogether, while supporting players like Roy Keane as hypocrites do.
Clearly youre anti City anyway so that wraps that up now doesnt it.
I'm not saying he should be hung, drawn and quartered, just the recomended 2 year ban.
ReplyDeleteThe Premier League should enfore their rules when there a clear breach, not just a slap on the wrist.
I just find it so disingenuous city fans think Toure did nothing wrong while believing Ferdinand is guilty.
I'll try to make it clear.
Toure : Guilty
Ferdinand : Guilty
Both got a leinent ban since the recomended ban is 2 years.
I guessing your a season ticket holder. That money went towards Toure's salary. Your the one that should be questioning Toure's conduct instead of showing blind faith
Also, it wasn't a "mistake", he knowingly took pills that belonged to someone else. He failed to do what every single Premier League player has to do (As harsh as it may seem) consult the club doctor before taking any medication.
ReplyDeleteAt this stage the truth has been well any truely buried, just don't be surprised when away fans start to boo him.
Ill have a problem with Toure or any other player if, IF they take real illegal drugs like recreational drugs or steriods and not some poncy water pills that help you lose weight and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteWhat has sports come too aye, having issues with players using prescription drugs to lose weight.
No im not a season ticket holder but some of my family are, despite that I actually understand that men in the mid 30s tend to gain more wieght faster than a lad in his 20s.