Newsletter #1653

Views tonight on the pre-season tournament in New York where City haven’t exactly lived up to expectations. We have a look at the team selection, the mini-tournament and remaining games. Of course it is pre-season and you can’t judge what lies ahead on these few games!

OPINION: WHAT’S THE PLAN ROBERTO?

I watched the two games in New York on TV and I can’t figure out what our illustrious manager has in mind for the team. We looked poor against Sporting Lisbon but better against New York Red Bulls (as we should).

Seven Academy players started against Red Bulls and Alex Nimely looked good in both games, as did Boyata. Jo must move on as must Bridge who was a liability throughout the match. Adebayor put in a decent shift against New York but our defence looked very brittle in both games.

My family and I are going to Baltimore next weekend and I hope we put out a competitive team.

OPINION: THE NEW YORK BLUES

The two games in New York were very disappointing.

I have always said it’s not the results in pre-season but getting the players fit, but on this occasion I felt that it was different: MCFC want to pick up more City fans in the USA but on the displays by the City teams I doubt that the New York games will have picked up many.

I guess Mancini was not interested in winning the “Barclays New York Challenge”; he just wanted to see his Academy players. Sporting Club of Lisbon won the trophy, whilst Spurs played some brilliant and entertaining football.

I feel sorry for the City fans from the Mad Hatter Pub in New York, for they never got to see many of the regular players play.

We all know that the World Cup players, including the new signings, have not joined the club in the USA. But we have not seen many of the other players, just the Academy players, which has got to be good for them.

The games was played in heat close to 100°F and using all the subs should have been the order of the day, as the friendly rules allow teams to use as many as you like. MCFC still have two more games in the USA, and I am wanting Mancini’s teams to go out and play some exciting football and win, so that America can see what a real Manchester club can produce.

The Evil Empire is also on tour in the USA, and have a large following, and are winning over new fans. City have had a great opportunity to impress, but so far have failed miserably.

MCFC deserve credit for great public relations off the pitch, as they helped some kids in New York with a roof top pitch for the kids to play in New York’s concrete jungle.

Sporting Lisbon beat City 2-0 with a deserved victory, and NY Red Bulls beat City 2-1. Not all Americans will know what players City had on the pitch, for the commentators never once referred to the young players being from the MCFC Academy; the commentators made references to MCFC being the richest club in the World.

Just hope that when City play Inter Milan, Mancini puts out a team to beat his old club. Our Academy players are match fit, now how about the others?

Come on you Blues!

OPINION: US TOUR

Yes, I agree they should be playing in sky blue for recognition, but it appears that Mancini is purely shopping the ones he no longer needs and trying out the rest. No really serious attempt to win. If playing foreign players weakens the national team how do you explain the resurgence of Spain, Germany and the occasional threat of Italy?

Let us all look forward to the new season and acknowledge that pre-season usually means nothing.

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The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.

Heidi Pickup, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: