SEMTEX

Couldn't you argue that a poor strike force makes it necessary to play defensively? Not if you actually want to win things. They play defensively and don't score, it won't win them anything. If they want to play that way, they need a clinical striker, which they don't have. I mean, they can continue to play like this, pick up a bucket load of awful low scoring draws and occasional 1-0 victories, but it won't get them in the top 4 and they'll be nowhere near the title. Oh I agree, I just don't think they have a poor strike force. That formation above looks pretty bloody good to me, then they have hard workers like Milner to come in and shore it up and Jo, Balotelli or RSC to play the Adebayor role. Oh aye, it's definitely not poor, it's just not world class, and it needs to be, given Silva is the only one who is interested in any form of creative passing.

---------------------De Jong------Toure----------------------------- ---Silva---------------------Tevez--------------------------Johnson- ----------------------------Adebayor----------------------------------- Luckily for us their manager has no guts. The thing is, plenty of people would still class that as a perfectly normal, even defensive formation. Wingers/Tevez would drop back off the ball, 451 etc. But what Mancini goes for is so fucking defensive it's untrue.

Pretty much, though you could swap Milner with any one of those midfielders, depending on what you're looking to achieve.

Couldn't you argue that a poor strike force makes it necessary to play defensively? Not if you actually want to win things. They play defensively and don't score, it won't win them anything. If they want to play that way, they need a clinical striker, which they don't have. I mean, they can continue to play like this, pick up a bucket load of awful low scoring draws and occasional 1-0 victories, but it won't get them in the top 4 and they'll be nowhere near the title.

I really would like Mancini out of Man City. Their strike force is not good enough to justify playing so defensively. I have no issues with the system, if it worked, but it doesn't, because they don't have enough strength up front. They basically need a Torres/Villa/Eto'o etc in order to play how Mancini is playing, but they've got.. Jo.

I think this is just Karma's way of making up for his pug ugly gingerness.

If they want to be consistent top 4, they definitely do. They need rid of Keane and they need to replace him with a top striker. And then they need Crouch and Pav to be content with bit part roles. Though I'd say they needed quality at CB before a striker. May as well discount King/Woodgate from existence imo.

Does Gael Givet wear guyliner?

VDV & Bale at least. No?

How old is he? 24-25? Rated by most teams Who are his superiors in the league? Cole? Evra? Both 30+ Dont think its that outrageous! It's pretty outrageous.

Not even during his CRUNCHING tackles that show how much heart and passion he has? STEEL in the midfield?

Hasn't played in his natural position yet this season. I'll reserve judgement as to whether he can step up this season. I think this is the most sensible mentality about Guthrie, though I will say I've seen very few glimpses of quality to have any great faith that he'll become someone useful for NUFC. (well, in the long run, he's useful now because he's a midfielder who isn't Alan Smith).

I'd happily see us pay him millions of pounds to fuck off out of our squad tbh. Don't expect anyone to buy him, and even on a free they'd never pay his wages.

He did

Well this has been nice, but I'm off to chew through a bucket of paracetamol. See you on the other side.

Yey. Enrique is doing well too.

There's nobody else to pick from. Exactly. But we've shot ourselves in the foot with stupid fucking suspensions and Hughton needs to sort that out. It's Ashley's job to get in some decent players, but he won't. I hate this club sometimes. The squad is piss poor, but there is piss poor, and there is Alan Smith. We should just accept we don't have a 2nd DM and play differently when Tiote is out.

Lovenkrands puts away another chance, he's clinical! 4-2. Oh wait. He didn't. He hit it at the keeper. But at least he was in the right place to hit it straight at the keeper. Yeeey

I'd be up for a Smith/Lovenkrands swap.

Running alongside him, random swipe of arm. Stupidity.

HAHAHHAHA HE'S WEARING GLOVES. AAHAHAHAHAH WHAT A CUNT

Me too Smith is a cunt

Lovenkrands to pull the strings and bag a hattrick I reckon.

I don't think you're giving that rod enough credit. On todays showing I'd be tempted to pick the rod too http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gmPnOBaxFWk/S48MuVA5S1I/AAAAAAAABsA/q7mfyvVopLo/s400/carbon+rod.bmp

Jonas >>>>>>>>>>> inanimate carbon rod >>>>>>>>> Smith