Joined: Dec 21 2004 Posts: 23178 Location: Greatness
Robbie Rotten wrote:I think we're yet to see the best of Robinho. Last year was his first season in a side that were majorly inconsistent, he's a top player but it's hard for him to arrive and become an instant match winner, especially when he's playing on the left wing so he isn't able to influence the game as much, especially when the side hasn't really been built around him like it was at United for Ronaldo.
IMO, Robinho is easily up there with your Ribery's and Messi's in terms of talent, he can do almost anything in the final third with the ball at his feet, he has skill, pace, shooting ability, the lot.
It's hard to find players who don't struggle in those kind of away games, they are generally very hard games unless you score early and they roll over. If Robinho was to turn up away at Stoke, playing alongside the likes of Barry, Ireland, Adebayor and Tevez, it's hard to figure out how a side like Stoke would shut all of those players down. Whereas last year, City were turning up with basically Ireland and Robinho as their main attacking players, they are now a much better team, expect Robinho to get better as those around him improve.
City obviously don't have a world class XI, but then if you look through Chelsea's title winning side, they weren't world class from 1-11 back then. Chelsea built a side that became world class.
Chelsea had a special manger, top off my head, how many world class?
Cech
Ferriera
Terry
Carvalho
Del Horno
Makele
Essien
Lampard
Robben
Duff
Drogba
Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 7121 Location: Warrington
MD7 wrote:Chelsea had a special manger, top off my head, how many world class?
Cech Ferriera Terry Carvalho Del Horno Makele Essien Lampard Robben Duff Drogba
At the time, it's hard to figure our how many of them were established world class players. I'd say the likes of Cech, Carvalho, Essien and Drogba were all signed as borderline, potentially world class players. Whilst I'd say only Makelele was a truly established world class player. The rest of those either became world class, or were never at any point.
Joined: Dec 21 2004 Posts: 23178 Location: Greatness
Robbie Rotten wrote:At the time, it's hard to figure our how many of them were established world class players. I'd say the likes of Cech, Carvalho, Essien and Drogba were all signed as borderline, potentially world class players. Whilst I'd say only Makelele was a truly established world class player. The rest of those either became world class, or were never at any point.
They also had Tiago I think, they were a "team" I know that sounds a bit gay but they had the right players in the right places willing to fight and help each other, also a manager who was a master in man management and motivation, helps like United now really as I wouldn't class many of our players as "world class" 3/4 of our defence is and could possibly argue Rooney and Berbatov can be on their day, signing names means fck all as I think EE alluded to earlier it;s about moulding them and getting the right combinations which we're yet to see if Hughes can do.
Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 7121 Location: Warrington
MD7 wrote:They also had Tiago I think, they were a "team" I know that sounds a bit gay but they had the right players in the right places willing to fight and help each other, also a manager who was a master in man management and motivation, helps like United now really as I wouldn't class many of our players as "world class" 3/4 of our defence is and could possibly argue Rooney and Berbatov can be on their day, signing names means fck all as I think EE alluded to earlier it;s about moulding them and getting the right combinations which we're yet to see if Hughes can do.
I agree. That has been my main reservation with City, ignoring their potential buys as they aren't done yet, I have my reservations with Hughes. Compared to the othet Top 4 managers, for me he isn't in their league YET, whether he can get there or not we're about to find out. Judging his signings, he looks like he knows what he's doing, he's not ignored any of City's weaknesses so far, it's just a matter of him commanding the dressing room and getting the best out of the players.
We will see how good of a manager Hughes is this season. You cant judge him and say hes not in the same league as any other manager in the top 4 (this is the firsdt full year he has had with money were the others have had 4-5 year) Dont think hes as good as the other 4 but you can take a proper gauge of hes progress and talent at the end of this season. And then judge him on the top 4
Mintball wrote:As has been explained before – the owners have made quite clear that our target for this upcoming season is a European spot. Not the title. Not the top 4. A European spot. We have the squad in place to achieve that. No – it's not a foregone conclusion by a long chalk. After all, we're still City – we can still muck it up (which might be part of the reason some of love this damned insane club).
When did he make that clear? If he did he's very sensible although if city sign Lescott and Toure, they'll certainly should be challenging the top 4, even if ultimately they fail.
FireWire wrote:Not seen any of City's games, but if I was them I was manager there I would line up in a Barcelona style 4-3-3:
Adebayor
Tevez Robinho
Ireland Barry
De Jong
Bridge Lescott Toure Richards
Given
Probably won't look anything like that once the season starts, and the two centre back signings yet to be confirmed. But whoever said they won't make the top 6 you'd be a brave man to lay that. A couple of decent centre backs and they're a definate top 6 side.
I'd bet money that will be our default system. Might be changes in personnel eg Zabaleta for Richards but it will generally be 4-3-3. For some away matches Zabaleta or Kompany might join De Jong as defensive midfielders with Robinho starting on the bench
Robbie Rotten wrote:I think we're yet to see the best of Robinho.
Robinho scored 14 goals last season in what was clearly a very inconsistent year. His away form was dreadful. Initially that was because City were unable to provide any sevice whatsoever, eventually he became resigned to the situation and just didnt turn up for away matches.
Next season we should be much stronger away from home. We should at least be capable of retaining possession in our opponents half. We will also have more options, meaning that he will not be marked as heavily. Most importantly I think that Barry, playing left of a midfield 3, is probably the ideal player to support Robinho.
If he stays fit he should easily score 20-25 goals.
Ian [77] wrote:When did he make that clear? If he did he's very sensible although if city sign Lescott and Toure, they'll certainly should be challenging the top 4, even if ultimately they fail.
I cannot be bothered picking out the relevant articles buyt as soon as the 2008/09 season finished, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, our Chairman and representative of Sheikh Mansour, stated that our target was to finish in the top 6. al-Mubarak added that he felt it unreasonable to expect overnight success. This was repeated by Sheikh Mansour a week or so later.
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