Tomo

He has seemed to "bottle it" a bit with Ivan, but let's not rewrite his career history, before now Mourinho has never been afraid to axe previous favroites if his which makes this Ivan selection more surprising. At Madrid he kissed Pepe on the forehead when getting replaced, only for a few weeks later to ditch him for Varane, he came back here and Cole, Lampard and Essien, 3 of his previous favroites from the first spell, gone, and not to mention Carvalho, a rock for his Porto and Chelsea team's, basically told to fuck off or face isolation at Madrid in summer 2012.

Now, I'm not saying he isn't handicapped by having Cesc next to him, but that isn't an excuse for his poor form this season, and that is coming from a massive fan of his. Against Everton he had Mikel next to him and still had a shocker despite the wonder goal, Matic snapping out of this lull with go a long way to sorting the defense issues.

Well given the fact Carlo also choose Lopez (initially) and Rafa choose Navas doesnt that vindicate that particular choice?

Even if he recovers and plays, we can't be losing to Tim Sherwood sides.

I obviously won't be gutted about him not playing for a bit given his form, but I can't be happy that he is injured, he is a human being just like the rest of us.

Of course the managers need good players, but your making it sound like managers don't make much difference which is very false.

Well tbf as poor as Falcao is, I don't see how we can do much better as 3rd choice, I'm talking talent not factoring wages in. Many want Bamford but he really doesn't convince me, if people think Lukaku is shit unless he scores they will hyperventilate when they see Bamford.

He was better going forward I'll give him that, but honestly, I always felt he was a defensive liabilty from day one, his first away day at Wigan Palacios tore him a new one, and against United Evra bullied him to set up te first goal, and in The Bridge vs Arsenal he was culpable for the equalize (RVP was offside but it was his dreadful positioning that gave the linesman doubt).That's off the top off my head, I do vaguely remember other times we conceded and my reaction was Bosingwa should be doing better, I remember arguing till I was blue in the face to my mates who wanted him straight back in ahead of Ivan when he returned from injury, in fact at Christmas in his first season I wanted him dropped for Paulo. In my opinion he was overrated because of his speed, I felt the same about Kyle Walker, I kept saying he was crap even when he was hyped up as England's new sensation.

At the time I wanted him to stay (even created a detailed article as to why) but in hindsight I thibk we made the right choice, mainly because of his predictable tactics, I know that's the case with Jose right now, but for most of his career he has been pretty flexible tactically whereas Carlo has always looked lost in games that go wrong, so I'm clinging on to the fact he will find that side to him again. It's wierd tho, all his career he has made choices for the best of the team but is completely choking with Ivan and Cesc, same with LVG/Rooney.

That is why I said to Didierforever that dropping Ivan (as much as it should happen) will barely solve the defensive issue, from the little I've seen of Baba he is still very raw and isn't the best positionally, he will also get targeted just like Ivan is right now.What we need to work on is the spine, I mean take 05-06 for example, Del Horno was useless and every bit as bad as Ivanovic is right now, but we still ended the season with only 22 goals allowed because of the centre defence and centre midfield. I'm not for a second trying to defend Brana, but a solid CB partnership with an in form Matic (we already have two top keepers) and we would barely concede no matter how shit Ivanovic was playing.

To expand on my POV, I think the fact that run happened mid season (meaning our position in the table didn't look so disastrous) helps make that run look better but for me that is our worst run in the Roman era, probably our worse since the Zola, RDM, Vialli invasion. I read somewhere a while back that if the season started against Sunderland (0-3), we would have only got out of the relegation zone (ironically) after the 4-2 win at the Stadium of the light. Also 're Carlo I think it was a similar split to what's on here now 're Jose, some gave him some of the blame (like I do then and now), some layed it firmly on his door and others refused to blame him and targeted the players.

Well let's be honest Mourinho can be criticised for many things this season but lack of youth time is not one of them.Kennedy and RLC have been granted more than respectable minutes all things considered, if Pellegrini did the same there would be post after post on the English football thread raving about his youth integration.

Even at Villa Park we should win aslong as Sherwood is in charge, dropping points against a team under his control (past the initial honeymoon period) would be a new low even for us right now, I just can't see it happening.

I must be the only one that thinks Bosingwa didn't start well.

Van Gaal plays dull unimaginative football.

I honestly don't care about criticism and even people wanting him out, its going down the calling people fanboy route I don't like.

Yeah, which says a lot that will still beat Arsenal easily.

There is flaws in any system, would Pellegrini get more out of Hazard and Oscar? Probably, but he also has no idea how to coach defending and it holds City back, give Mou or even Mancini/Benitez Kompany, Mangala and Otemendi with Fernandinho protecting them and our only 15 goals conceded record would be in some danger.

I like him as an impact squad player but when he starts he can be awfully frustrating, this year he's got more frustrating, his decision making in the Shield and St James was Kalou lite, I never quite got the desperation for him to have his role furthered.

Why would he? Footballers don't feel sorry for themselves in the way fans feel sorry for them, they know they are signing up for a ruthless business world when they are young. If Betrand gets the chance to come back he will most likely jump at it especially if Mou left.

Even if he did succeed, could we justify splashing so much on a 30 year old forward? Especially as Costa is already here.

Not just this season at The Bridge, every game at our place since 09/10 bar the 5-3, which would have been the easiest 3 points off the season if AVB followed the blueprint instead if going all high line. I have never seen in19 years of following footy a big team so easy to outsmart and beat, especially at home, failure to beat Arse at home from anyone Swansea/Everton above is two/three points dropped.

Only because LVG has played into their hands. Fergie and even Moyes knew how to play Arsenal and they had a massive mental block playing United like they still do us, LVG has ripped that to pieces. Arsenal are the easiest team to outtactick, mindblowing why more manager'sDont use the same blueprint against them Fergie/Carlo did and Jose does.

Well regarding the youth, if Pellegrino gave City youth the game time so far Jose has given Kennedy andRLC the English footy thread would be full of posts praising him. And 're "fanboys" I mean its one thing the trolls going down this route but I'm disappointed you, lionsden and a few others go down that route to say the least, its one thing thinking he's not the right man to take us forward but its another thing not respecting the fact there will be supporters with the emotional attatchementthat can't let go that easy. Like I said yesterday, and for aslong as the fanboy route is used I'll keep repeating this, Liverpool fans were divided with Kenny in 2012, some thought he was lost in the modern game and wanted him to step down, others couldn't let go because of the impact he made for the club, but I was on an all footy forum at the time and the former group always remained respectful to the latter group, if they off all people can manage that, why manage it?

Because as diabolically crap has Cesc has been he was more likely to create something to give a chance of an equalize.