State Of The Blue Nation Address

VMC's HansChristianClintonsen weighs up the situation at The Etihad Stadium and Carrington amid all the hack driven subterfuge surrounding Planet Blue right now...

The media conspiracy. Against all odds we won it last season and were lauded for it. We're now being shot at. The dross Alan Hansen wrote this week and that incomprehensible Taggart Suck Up James Lawton, were two amongst many popularist hysteria writers we need to simply ignore.

We need to harness both this and the sense of injustice alluded to on VMC this week. I had exactly the same feeling, 'we was robbed' and it was there for all to see.

Roberto Mancini needs to recognise the defensive strategy is not working. I applaud him for trying to transition the team into an attacking force over the course of three seasons. Never was that intent more prevalent against Ajax.

However, it's a step too far at the moment without Nigel de Jong air cover. Daniele De Rossi is an option Mancio is clearly keen on. I'd be worried about shelling out big money for his age, though.

I would however break the bank for Santos' Neymar, young and immensely gifted, he would fill our glaring void in the lack of width. Scott Sinclair doesn't seem to have made the step back up yet. From what I have seen of Neymar, he has it all in abundance. Get him bought regardless of the accusations. Things seem to have gone quiet on the buying the league front or stealing everyone else's best players since Robin van Persie has demonstrated his razor sharp skills at Old Trafford. Neymar would step us up another level without the histrionics of Mario Balotelli or Samir Nasri. RVP meanwhile is still made of glass so we'll see how long he carries the load for...

I think Nasri has been poor of late. I've seen enough to say he is an expensive understudy to David Silva. Things stall around his lack of pace or desire to stop and mess about. As too, I'm growing tired of Mario, although I'll persist in the hope he'll grow up and realise his talents. Impending fatherhood should be another catalyst, although that could easily become the problem. Still not convinced by two dimensional Aleksander Kolarov, either. I like team players with ability, heart and soul.

I still believe that there's plenty more to come from this team. The Champions League is still on for us, despite playing 11 v 16...as long as we remove the stricture of our current approach to defending.

In some strange way, I'm enjoying how this team sets up the drama. we have never made it easy for ourselves, Gillingham is in our DNA.
The optimist in me says we can do this.

Come May will we be lauding the plaudits? All the armchairs love a clear cut position. Clearly we have been really bad at times, but we can also be really good on our day.

We've lost the steel in our team. NDJ is proving a big miss if only to put pressure on the role. Poor decision on both parties there. I do have hope for Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia given time.

If we secure Europa or no Europa I'm disappointed, but fine. As long as we put in performances to defend our title. We have looked naive in Europe. Which is to be expected against quality. Our spine is learning and growing. Sporting gave us a lesson, as too Ajax, Napoli and Dortmund. The rest, well we've held our own in tough groups in these early learning years.

How the sham ethos of FFP are aligned to protectorate barriers to entry to the top table. Which serves to shine a light on Michel Platini's and, more accurately, Karl-Heinz Rummenige's, raison d'être.

We will claim our seat, we will not forget our roots, we will build our academy with long term investment from community minded owners, despite FFP validating leveraged risk taken out at the expense of souls who have given their all for their clubs for 100s of years. However, it will take time.

Be patient. Mancio has earned the right to learn in Europe. Ignore the hyperbole.

UPCOMING FIXTURES
all times East Manchester

Su 11 Nov 13h30 Spurs, The Etihad, PL
Sa 17 Nov 15h00 Aston Villa, The Etihad, PL
We 21 Nov 19h45 Real Madrid, The Etihad, CL
Su 25 Nov 16h00 Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, PL
We 28 Nov 20h00 Wigan, DW Stadium, PL
Sa 01Dec 15h00 Everton, The Etihad, PL
Tu 04Dec 19h45 B Dortmund, Signal Iduna Park, CL
Su 09Dec 13h30 The rags, The Etihad, PL
Sa 15Dec 12h45 Newcastle, St James' Park, PL
Sa 22Dec 15h00 Reading, The Etihad, PL
We 26Dec 15h00 Sunderland, Stadium of Light, PL
Sa 29Dec 15h00 Norwich, Carrow Road, PL

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