English Football Thread 2012/2013

[Epic]

That's pretty much the difference - United have invested heavily on world class players definitely bound to improve the squad and ones who're guaranteed to start in the XI, while Mancini's just invested heavily for spending's sake.

I mean - Scott Sinclair (7M), Jack Rodwell (15M), Javi Garcia (20M), Maicon (3.5M) have all barely even started for City this season! On hindsight, Matija Nastasic for 15M seems the only signing close to being solid, and even he's started only 12 league games this season!

Sounds similar to Brendan Rodgers' case in Liverpool, where Sahin, Assaidi have all been signed only to warm the benches. Joe Allen for 15M (needless to say) is overpriced, and Borini for 10M sounds no better.

Disagree that Mancini spent for spending sake, because we lost 3 bench players in that window and replaced them with 3 other bench players...

Johnson out, Sinclair in. (downgrade)
de Jong out, Rodwell in. (downgrade)
Savic out, Nastasic in. (upgrade)

Now let's look at the actual "improvements" to the squad. Javi Garcia, 3rd string target behind Javi overpriced Martinez and snub de Rossi. Maicon, worked with Mancini at Inter and for 3.5m he's a player worth having imo, he's different from all our other fullbacks, he's basically a wing back and I strongly believe Mancini brought him in to wreck havoc in that 3-5-2 system of his.

While I agree our signings haven't been good, they haven't been bad either and they got a real excuse they could play on you, injury. Maicon(still injured), Rodwell(still injured) and Garcia have all had their fair share of injuries(Maicon and Rodwell more so), it just hasn't been an easy switch for any of them.

 

[puddleduck]

The Scott Sinclair move was ridiculous, but not because City shouldn't have bought him, rather that he was a fool to move. Clearly enjoys spending his time sat on top 4 clubs benches more than actually playing during his most important years.

It's a bit of a bugbear of mine though that so many of the top clubs consistently buy up all the potential young talent and don't actually ever play them. The players themselves, and their money grabbing agents, need to start appreciating the importance of consistently competitive game time in situations which don't come laden with the pressure such environments are inevitably surrounded by.

 

[Lee1981]

If he was good enough he would be getting picked simple as that

He is not good enough for a top 4 club, having one good season in the top flight does not mean you are special,

Stupid move for both party's

Failed at Chelsea and looks like another one at city, another over hyped youngster.

Bit like Welbeck, even Fergie seems to have seen the light, 4th choice and no doubt a move away in a year or so to a lower club

 

[MasterBlaster76]

The Scott Sinclair move was ridiculous, but not because City shouldn't have bought him, rather that he was a fool to move. Clearly enjoys spending his time sat on top 4 clubs benches more than actually playing during his most important years.

.

Yep; imagine if you'd stayed with Swansea, Scott. Perhaps you'd actually get to kick the round white (or yellow as the case may be) thing occasionally.

 

[War]

Bit like Welbeck, even Fergie seems to have seen the light, 4th choice and no doubt a move away in a year or so to a lower club

I know you don't rate Welbeck much, but i doubt whether he will be out of OT in a year. I reckon Fergie has much time for him.

 

[puddleduck]

What it stems to is that it's tough for a young player to understand their own game, to revel in a role when they're surrounded by "superstars." Of course the very best will have an in-built self confidence that sees them flourish regardless, but players that develop more slowly will be stifled.

So many players in Germany, Spain, France etc cut their teeth at the clubs that give them a chance. They learn to excel as a big fish in a smaller pond, they understand what it takes to dictate tempos, lead defensive lines, and front up to challenges personally. Once they move to massive clubs, they seem to struggle to assert their own qualities. They slip into bad habits of relying on the exisiting big players. By the time they're stagnated for long enough to move on, they're normally nothing more than a squad player no matter where they go, because it almost seems ingrained on them.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

in defense of rodgers and mancini (and believe me, I'm not in the business of defending people affiliated with liverpool or city) they are just new in their jobs and are trying to improve their squad rather quickly, they have the money to throw around and just want it done. rodgers has come across a bit heavy handed though, mancini knows full well he can just play supermarket sweep in the transfer window and does.

if you already have a squads in your vision, you don't need to rush in and just go for anyone. you can afford to buy players with two seasons down the road in mind, or pass up a transfer target knowing you have players that can play that position anyway.

which is why along with ferguson, wenger and moyes are also generally pretty shrewd in the market.

got to say though, one manager that's really impressed has been villa boas. I was actually in the camp that thought he was over-rated and chelsea were right to sack him, but in a summer he actually ended up making about 10m (mostly down to modric granted) I thought he put together a pretty decent squad. 3rd does not flatter the way they've played.

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The Scott Sinclair move was ridiculous, but not because City shouldn't have bought him, rather that he was a fool to move. Clearly enjoys spending his time sat on top 4 clubs benches more than actually playing during his most important years.

It's a bit of a bugbear of mine though that so many of the top clubs consistently buy up all the potential young talent and don't actually ever play them. The players themselves, and their money grabbing agents, need to start appreciating the importance of consistently competitive game time in situations which don't come laden with the pressure such environments are inevitably surrounded by.

yeah, this really hacks me off as well. it's pretty disheartening to think that the reserve squads of most of the elite teams with money like madrid, man u, man city, chelsea etc are decent champions league teams on their own merit

you almost wonder whether perhaps these "you must have x number of under 21 year olds" rules help or make things worse.

 

[thedon5]

Mancini is such an average manager, end of story, can't touch Ferguson.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

lol there's no way in hell that Welbeck will be leaving any time soon. Obviously he's not gonna get gametime at the moment with Hernandez in such scoring form and RVP being RVP. He signed a a 4 year contract in the summer which just shows the faith Fergie has in him.

 

[Lee1981]

How long is he gonna stay at a club as 4th choice striker?

All 3 in front of him are better and have age on there side, even rvp is not exactly old so he will not get a look in

 

[Haarithan]

Not to mention Lewandowski might as well join United in the summer, making Welbeck their fifth choice striker....

 

[Dr. Pepper]

He's better than Hernandez and Rooney isn't exactly the most consistent striker in the world. He's also different from the other 3 forwards at the club. He'll get his chances, when Hernandez stops scoring he'll be getting starts again. If there's one thing Fergie knows it's how to rotate his players.

also the Lewandowski rumours are surely bullshit made up by his agent. Would make no sense to sign him.

 

[Bevab]

He isn't really better than Hernandez. He still has a long way to go for that.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

lawl

 

[thedon5]

He's better than Hernandez and Rooney isn't exactly the most consistent striker in the world. He's also different from the other 3 forwards at the club. He'll get his chances, when Hernandez stops scoring he'll be getting starts again. If there's one thing Fergie knows it's how to rotate his players.

also the Lewandowski rumours are surely bullshit made up by his agent. Would make no sense to sign him.

Thank you sir. You've said everything I was about to say.

Though Kagawa is better than him, if Rooney isn't playing it should be Kagawa playing behind the striker.