Football (Soccer to those across the pond)

[Snowdog]

Tevez claims a misunderstanding, but - even given his poor English - I don't believe there can really have been a misunderstanding to that degree.

Tevez is a great player but he clearly doesn't want to be a City player. He let the fans down badly, whatever anyone thinks of Mancini's decisions. My view, given the finances of the club, tell him to train with the reserves and stay away from the first team until January, then sell him if anyone will buy him at a reasonable price. Corinthians still want him but will obviously offer less money now.

Manicini needs to stamp his authority on the players - some are clearly displaying signs of thinking that they are bigger than the club. Any such need to be sorted out or shipped out, whoever they are.

The club and the fans need to get behind Mancini 100%. Whether Manicni ultimately goes or stays, if he's not backed now he's finished and any new manager will be faced with the same problem.

By the way, I do hang out from time to time on football forums, including mcfc and I haven't seen a single post from any City fan supporting Tevez. Most views are unprintable here.

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by Mith

Just a question for all the City fans on here. How do you feel about the Tevez situation and the refusing to come off the bench against Bayern?

He's refused to play so they don't have to pay him, it's as simple as that. A few million saved until they sell him in January.

Alternatively he can apologise to the club, the manager and the fans, commit himself to the success of the team and wait for his turn to come off the bench again.

[Tillane]

The only problem with that, Mo, is that - from what I understand* - he's suspended on full pay at the moment. If that's the case, he's basically got two weeks off and nearly half a million in his pocket...for refusing to play.


*I should say here that this is simply what I've heard discussed on radio and TV, and may therefore be inaccurate.

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by Tillane

The only problem with that, Mo, is that - from what I understand* - he's suspended on full pay at the moment. If that's the case, he's basically got two weeks off and nearly half a million in his pocket...for refusing to play.


*I should say here that this is simply what I've heard discussed on radio and TV, and may therefore be inaccurate.

Yes, I heard that as well, Tillane. Strikes me as rather odd. It's probably the only job where you can refuse to work and still get paid.

[Tillane]

I assume that - if it's true - it's because the club are still "investigating" the circumstances of what happened and are, quite properly, following their own employment rules. It does seem rather odd, though.

[Tillane]

Wolves 1 - 2 Newcastle

Well, blimey. We didn't deserve that win, and I imagine Chopper won't be overly happy with Mark Halsey (and rightly so). Wolves should have had a penalty, they had a goal disallowed right at the death which was a dubious decision to say the least. I'm glad we've got the three points, don't get me wrong, but had the officials been on the ball then we'd have got none.

Sorry, Chop.

[Lenny]

Millwall 0 - 1 Burnley

After a fantastic 5-1 drubbing of Forest midweek, we got another good result against Millwall - what makes it great is that it's also our first clean sheet since March!

Scrappy game, with a green ref who didn't do too badly, considering the overly negative fans (so many boos and jeers. And what's with their incessant droning? That's not fans showing support at a football match, it's a swarm of locusts!) and dirty players. I'm glad, as always, to get this away fixture over and done with.

[mosaix]

So Rodwell gets sent off against Liverpool. Not seen the challenge but, in my view, it was a week too late. As Moyes says 'he did a job on Silva', well perhaps the ref heard him and was paying close attention this week.

Moyes says 'if that was a red card then I need to change the way I coach' - if only.

I'm not against 'hard men' in game (every team need a couple and City have one or two of their own) but I do dislike the individual targeting of skilful players especially when it's obviously a tactic that's been employed by the coach.

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by Tillane

The only problem with that, Mo, is that - from what I understand* - he's suspended on full pay at the moment. If that's the case, he's basically got two weeks off and nearly half a million in his pocket...for refusing to play.

Apparently, Tillane he's suspended on full pay for two weeks but been fines two weeks wages. The only difference I can see between that and him 'not being paid' is that the money goes to local charities - some windfall.

[Rangerton]

Originally Posted by mosaix

So Rodwell gets sent off against Liverpool. Not seen the challenge but, in my view, it was a week too late. As Moyes says 'he did a job on Silva', well perhaps the ref heard him and was paying close attention this week.

Moyes says 'if that was a red card then I need to change the way I coach' - if only.

I'm not against 'hard men' in game (every team need a couple and City have one or two of their own) but I do dislike the individual targeting of skilful players especially when it's obviously a tactic that's been employed by the coach.

Rodwell clearly won the ball yesterday and I think when Atkinson sees it again on tv he should be totally ashamed of his decision (but I doubt it)
I an accept that refs are human and make mistakes, but when he's only a couple of yards away?

As for the city game, I was dissapointed that we never played at least one striker up front. I do think you need to take off those sky blue tinted glasses once in a while mosaix . Maybe if we had your billions we could have given you a better game.

[mosaix]

Rangerton, Everton would have given us a better game if they'd decided to do so. Once City scored and Everton decided to play they played really well. The quality of the game was nothing to do with money but with attitude.

Three or four seasons back, before City had money to spend, Everton still played the same tactics at Eastlands. But that's all part of the game, so no complaints really.

But all fans should complain about the targeting of skillful players.

But being and Everton fan I'm sure your glasses are just as blue as mine.

[Rangerton]

I think targeting is a bit strong. We are not the first team to man mark a player who makes the opposition tick, and I'm sure we won't be the last. As I say our tactics were not great, but then again they almost worked. I agree that Moyes can be too negative at times, but I'm sorry it does come down to money. We have one of the smallest squads in the league, and have been out spent by clubs like Stoke, Norwich, Blackburn etc (no disrespect to the clubs mentioned) and for a club the size of Everton, who by the way are still the fourth most successful club in England, is not good enough. I don't blame your club for having money and mine not having any, in fact I wish you all the best, but money does, unfortunately, make a huge difference.

[Rangerton]

Originally Posted by mosaix

But being and Everton fan I'm sure your glasses are just as blue as mine.

Hahaha yes I'm sure they are at times

Maybe we should get the views of some nuetrals?

[mosaix]

Originally Posted by Rangerton

Maybe we should get the views of some nuetrals?

In football, Rangerton? No such thing!


Fulham 6 - 0 QPR

When was the last time Fulham scored 6?

[No One]

As a Chelsea fan (I know, I know, Roman Abramovich destroyed football ) I'm fairly neutral - I even enjoyed the intense rivalry with Liverpool in those annual champions league fixtures.

I've only seen the Rodwell challenge a couple of times, but I thought the red was unmerited.