7 Sept 2012

'I'm staggered!' - Alan Hansen slams Boss's failed tactical 'ploy'...

Manchester City have struggled to assert the dominance in the Premier league in the first three games of the new season, and Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes that Robert Mancini's tactical mistakes are to blame, and he's warned that 'complacency' could become a 'serious danger' to City’s hopes of retaining the Premier League crown. Complacency.

Unlike Liverpool, City are unbeaten in the Premier League so far, but they don't look convincing, and Hansen believes that Mancini's ill-advised defensive tinkering is the problem. He told The Telegraph:

"I’m staggered a manager who won the title by playing with a consistent, flat back four has now opted to go for three at the back, with one of those – Pablo Zabaleta – not even a recognised centre half. City ought to have targeted escaping from the traps swiftly to push ahead of Manchester United".

City's defence is clearly not performing at the same level as last season right now:

* 5 goals conceded in 3 league games (No clean sheets)
* If you include the Charity Shield, it's 7 goals in 4 games.
* Start of last season: Took City 8 league games to concede more than 5 league goals.
* End of last season: Conceded only 3 goals in last 6 games.

Hansen went on to argue that 'there is no area of the team that can’t be improved', and even suggested that Mancini may have deliberately destabilised his defence in a bid to show City's Owners that the left-back position needed strengthening:

"The left side of City’s defence needs reinforcement, and perhaps the three at the back tactic was a ploy to highlight this".

Hansen concluded:

"While they possess some of the finest players in Europe, you can never rest on your laurels, otherwise it [the league victory] can become an isolated success"

Realistically, the title this season is a two-horse race between Man United and Man City, with Chelsea as outsiders for a challenge. With such a depressing set of circumstances, I'll be cheering on City. It's a bit like having to choose between being shot and stabbed, but anything to stop Ferguson from winning yet another title.

Jaimie Kanwar


43 comments:

  1. I think its a three horse race with Chelsea in the mix, but I'll go with you for City as the lesser of three evils.

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  2. What does Hansen know anyway?

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  3. what the fuck is tis about, Man City?

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  4. A lot of teams are conceding goals.... Look at utd defence conceded 5 goals in three games...

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  5. I don't give a rat's arse for what happens to city.

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  6. maybe, but its early days. United could capitalise on Mancinis tinkering. Although that would be hard to watch

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  7. Which is fine, because we don't give a rat's arse for your opinions.

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  8. im only interested in what liverpool are doing i don't give a toss if every other team is conceding 20 and scoring 50 its irrelevant

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  9. Good to see his beloved liverpool doing so well

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  10. Its all mind games to throw off opposition's pre-match setup and formation. If you think about it, teams this year are going to sit deep playing against the CHAMPS so you can understand why Mancini has gone for 3 in the back for a more attacking edge. You can also look at it as a sneaky ploy to get teams to open up vs the CHAMPS seeing that they have 3 in the back. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter because if players are closing down higher up the pitch and sniffing out runs then it shouldn't be a problem for City.

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  11. Have to agree with Hansen , City are least impressive of the 3 sides
    we have met this season, but its only Liverpool i am interested in.
    I hope & pray Brendan gets it right , it will be great for us & football.
    Just think if in 5 years we are top of the league, & our squad have
    all come thro`the system with not one big money signing.

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  12. I'm with you Jaimie, if the title is between united, city and chelsea i would root for city.
    cannot stand watching united win anything else, and makes me sick.

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  13. Every team in the premier raises its game first home game. The mid table shizz that you are now being served is your true level. I only licked on this to see an article of hansen slagging the penguin and see him having a pop at city six points ahead of you lot already and light years ahead as a club.

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  14. It's a shame he wasn't staggered when his MATE Dalglish paid 20 million for Downing, 18 Million for Henderson, 35 Million for Carroll.
    There's loyalty to your club and then there is dishonesty to your friends.
    I keep saying these pundits like Hansen, Houghton,Molby etc need to stop putting there Loyalty to Dalglish over there honest opinion about the LFC.
    DON't LISTEN TO THEM because if they had there way Dalglish would still be there and we would still have Hodgson as well.

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  15. Man Utd are the most deserving winners of the league based on the legitimate financial strength they built pre-Glazers.

    During the Glazers reign, over £500 million has been stripped from the club's coffers, redirected to the Glazer family; to service interest payments; and to pay legal fees.

    Imagine how strong they'd be now if the Glazers never arrived, wow!

    Man City and Chelsea have essentially robbed Man Utd of titles with the aid of financial doping. Celebrating these league wins just because it denies Alex Ferguson another title is as unforgivable as rejoicing in Lance Armstrong's drug induced triumphs.

    I find it ironic that Jaimie Kanwar doesn't take his holier than though attitude towards cheating and apply it where it matters.

    Man Utd are leading the charge towards a spending cap, because their illegitimate rivals will be crippled, and rightly so.

    The spending caps, if limited to a percentage of turnover etc, will allow the teams with stronger financials to spend more on salaries and player purchases, deservedly so in my opinion.

    Liverpool will then stand a fair chance at high league finishes.

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  16. Who cares what A H thinks , " you'll win nothing with kids " he knew nothing then he seems less knowledgable now . Great player all those years ago but wish him and his even thicker mate Lawro would just do one and take that welsh dancing fool with them , they must put more people off watching MOTD , talk for talks sake and you can tell their not in the least bit interested , and I'm not forgetting Geordie boy how thick ? Rant over

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  17. Correct me if I'm wrong, and gently, mind you! I don't recall Hansen criticising Dalglish's regime!
    I agree with JK the Etihad boys are the lesser of the two evils, remember the last few minutes of last season, Sir Alex went from red to pale white when Aguero scored!

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  18. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Liverpool-FC-Table-Football-/261092496738?pt=UK_Toys_Games_Games&hash=item3cca535562#ht_500wt_922

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  19. Staggered?

    They have just won the Cup & League in the last 2 seasons and we have had our worst season last year and worst start this year in living memory.
    We havent scored a goal from open play after 3 matches and he doesnt have an opinion cos KK was involved.

    I am staggered as well Alan. Staggered BBC still employ you. Get off the fence and write an article about us giving us an honest opinion!

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  20. What does Hansen know?? Excuse me, but are you for real?

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  21. I know he doesnt like Balotelli, but there again he is a bit like Marmite. You either love him or hate him. Hansen played with a few 'characters' in the good old days but people laugh at the old stories. The game needs characters. I remember Hansen getting arrested for running naked on Southport beach shortly after he signed for us. If Balotelli did that then Hansen would now have plenty to say about it.

    He is critisizing the Manager who has just won 2 major trophies in 2 years but doesnt have an opinion on his old club who are in decline.

    Time for a change BBC.

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  22. Where have you been for the past 20 years Simon?

    This is real life, no one has a right to monoploise the league. Sugar daddies have always existed. and have every right to do so. If you had a wish right now wouldnt you swop City and Chelsea riches for ours?

    United are championing fair play cos they are not the richest any longer! Its a no-brainer. When they could break the bank to stay on top they did with no mention of fair play.

    Its a cycle and right now we have fallen off ours. If you look at the fair play rules you will see that very few of the major clubs will comply. Initially clubs would be fined if they dont comply, which to super rich clubs I dont think this would hurt them too much. What happens in the long term is anyones bet, but by then the gap between us and them will be gigantic!

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  23. Their new boy Nastasic played quite a bit in a 3-man defence in Serie A and played on the left side of the 3. 3-man defence gets played quite a bit in Serie A, even Juve used it at times last season. Looks like it is a system that Mancini will use from time to time at least. It will take time but as Martinez's Wigan showed last season, it can work well in PL, especially if the opposition haven't really been exposed to a 3-man defence regularly before.

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  24. Yeah, his managerial & coaching record are second to none.

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  25. Still you bother to reply.

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  26. why do you hate city so much? i don't mind them at all. i'd probably barrack for them if liverpool didn't exist

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  27. O the irony of Liverpool Hansen fans! Hes a washed up ex pro without balls to do the job , instead hes a sniper at all managers except Liverpool!

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  28. EXTREMELY WELL DOCUMENTED THAT HANSEN IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ANTI MANCHESTER CITY BRIGADE.

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  29. ??? on everything you said. 'if,' 'pray,' 'hope,' lofao..

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  30. Total and utter crap. FFP should limit clubs' spending relative to their debt levels, not their income. THAT would be fair, and stop clubs doing a Pompey. Otherwise it's exactly as you've transparently stated. "Waahh...it's not fair....it used to be only united that could spend lots of money on the best players...and get all the Champs League money...and perpetuate our dominance........now 3 teams can....booohooo.....let's introduce some rules to not let them...." (g.f.y)

    and as an aside, why not let everyone take as many drugs as they want in sport? No cheating if it's a level playing field...

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  31. balotelli.....ageerrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..................i swear you'll never see anything like this ever again..........repeat ad infinitum......

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  32. ya boo hansen for doing his job who does he think he is

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  33. "Escaping from the traps....ahead of Man United..."

    Could have sworn we're above them just now?

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  34. He's the one who said "you win nothing with kids" referring to Alex Fergusons team selections. Them "Kids went on to dominate English football & ferguson became the most successful manager of all time (and I'm a City fan). So I wouldn't be too eager to take his managerial advice. He's a wanker.

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  35. Really. If it was United, Hansen would be saying that this was the mark of champions, not to play well but to pick up points, and that the draw at Liverpool - where we have a terrible record - was a sign of our never-say-die resilience.

    He really is a tired old hack. We have no TV, so happily, don't contribute to his ridiculous BBC salary. If the guy could hear himself...

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  36. Thanks. We're quite sweet really, and still a little dazed that Lady Luck, after pissing over us comprehensively for over two decades, often with our connivance, should have laid her gaze on us.

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  37. Hansen is so 1992. I'm sick of hearing him come out with the same hackneyed cliches. However Lawrenson & Shearer are even worth - completely braindead the lot of them.

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  38. Liverpool could go down this season , which would not be a bad thing

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  39. I always had a soft spot for them when Tueart and Power were there. I remember how gutted I felt when Ricky Villa scored THAT goal - especially as Steve MacKenzie had scored an absolute screamer earlier in the match.

    Funny how when you are kid you like other teams too.

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  40. I'm talking about the possibility of self imposed spending rules that the Prem League chairmen are discussing, they met last Thursday. There are similar limitations already in place in the lower leagues.

    These are apart from UEFA FFP rules.

    The point is that when United were on top that they DESERVED to be the top dogs financially, because their business was the richest.

    Yes, of course it would be fun to be buying Big name players in every transfer window, imagine who Rafa would have bought with the resources Mourinho had at Chelsea!!!

    But realistically, I would like a scenario were the league was more competitive by imposition of FFP and self imposed rules.

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  41. Clubs that overspend and have massive debt should be punished and will be, but I take your point, debt should be considered as much as income.

    Athletes who take drugs are usually doing damage to their bodies, and shortening their life expectancy in exchange for illegitimate glory and financial gain.

    To suggest this should be allowed and to force clean athletes to follow suit is naiive.

    Don't understand your Pompey reference. If rules had been in place to prevent them from overspending in the first place then they would never have run up the debt.....

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  42. wanna hear something technically blasphemous and outrageous? i used to support united. about 11 years ago when i was first gaining knowledge about the game, the only names i knew were beckham and ronaldo. i had a PC chamions league game and played for utd because i knew beckham was in there

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