Ahead of the first of our two semi-final clashes against Manchester City, Jack Pitt-Brooke from the popular City blog, The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll, has taken time out to have a quick chat. The last time we spoke was ahead of derby day in September, with Jack hopeful of a 1-1 draw. Things didn’t quite work out that way!
Things have changed quite considerably at City since then but will our matches pan out the same way…?
Scott the Red: Last time we spoke, we talked about Garry Cook’s dreadful handling of the Richard Dunne transfer, where he basically kicked your captain out of the club behind his back. What do you make of Cook’s handling of Mark Hughes’ sacking?
Jack Pitt-Brooke: I was not impressed. Regardless of the merits of the decision to sack Hughes (more on which next), it was very poorly done. To allow Mark Hughes to find out about his dismissal in the papers on the Saturday morning was bad enough, but for it to happen on a matchday – with 48,000 people all aware of what was about to happen after the game, was quite wrong. It shows a real lack of respect. And I did not think that Cook came across at all well in the press conference with Roberto Mancini on the Monday.
STR: There has been plenty of talk of “moving the goal posts”, given that Hughes had guided City to sixth place, the position he apparently needed to keep a hold of until May. Do you think it was time for Hughes to go?
J P-B: No. I thought that the sacking was a real overreaction to what was simply a bit of a blip. Our results had been a bit patchy, those three blown leads at home (Fulham, Burnley and Hull) were infuriating, and the performance at White Hart Lane was shameful. But after the Sunderland game we were six points off fourth with a game in hand, and with a League Cup semi-final around the corner. To suggest that our ‘trajectory of results’ were well off target is bizarre. And then there is the fundamental point that once a target has been set (whether it was fourth place, sixth place or 70 points, which is itself contested) it is only fair to allow the manager to complete the season. Sacking Hughes in the summer if we had failed to meet a target would have been fair. But to sack him mid-season, before Hughes can complete the challenge set is not. And to do it when we were more or less on track with those targets is just ludicrous.
STR: Chelsea, another new to money team, have behaved in very much the same way since sacking Jose Mourinho. You have to wonder about the long term merits of sacking a manager every season. If Mancini doesn’t make top four this season, will he be looking for a new job? Are your aspirations for this season now higher than the 6th place target given at the start of the season?
J P-B: Well if you ask Garry Cook the target was upgraded from sixth to fourth after the heavy spending in the summer. One of the frustrating things about our recent form was how attainable fourth place is this year, and I can see that the board might have thought that sacking Hughes was the way to increase our chances of finishing there. I’m not so sure. Changing managers mid-season can sometimes help failing teams to stay up (Bruce at Wigan, Allardyce at Blackburn, Hart at Portsmouth etc), but I’m not sure if it’s the best option for a team aiming for fourth place in the league and success in the domestic cups. Particularly when the new guy’s experience of English football is pretty limited.
STR: Mancini has paraded around in your scarf and has started off his City career with wins, before the humbling defeat against Everton. What are your first impressions of him?
J P-B: Pretty good. He seems smart, funny, astute and likeable. More importantly, and we’re working from a small data set here, he looks like a decent manager. Up until Saturday there had been a marked improvement in defensive organisation – only one conceded in four, and that was due to an uncharacteristic slip-up from Vincent Kompany. There had also been a welcome reluctance to throw too many bodies forward too much of the time. Hughes effectively played 4-2-4, with full-backs who were encouraged to attack, plus of course the occassional forward bursts of Gareth Barry or Stephen Ireland. So too many times teams were breaking with only the two centre backs and Nigel de Jong between them and Shay Given. So it’s been a relief to see us go ahead against Stoke, Wolves, ‘Boro and Blackburn and force them to break us down. All this is tempered, though, by the fact that we were dismal at Goodison Park on Saturday. All teams have off days, and we could do with resting some key players, but we were dire. It’s the worst possible prepartion for Tuesday.
STR: City’s defensive record had been dreadful. Looking at the individual back five players, City have one of the best defences in the league on paper. So what’s going wrong?
J P-B: I think it was to do with the Hughes system: four forwards, plus attacking full backs meant that we were just too open defensively. Roberto Mancini has set us up to put men behind the ball once we’ve gone ahead, which might be a bit dull but is a relief after conceding three at home to Burnley and Sunderland. Neither Kolo Touré nor Joleon Lescott have been playing particularly well, but that doesn’t quite explain the extent of our problems. But I still think that Mancini will try to buy a new centre-back in January – if not Chiellini then maybe Iván Córdoba.
STR: Mancini has remarkably claimed he is going to win 5 league titles in the next 10 years with City. Is he hoping the teams above him are involved in a match fixing scandal to allow this to happen, as was the case when he won the 2 league titles in Italy? Or do you think City genuinely have what it takes to win the league 5 times in the next 10 years?
J P-B: It’s good that he’s confident but I’d be surprised if we do that well. If the board continue to spend freely I’m sure we will win something eventually, but that itself depends on how long Sheikh Mansour maintains interest. And managerial stability is important too: unless we think that we can tempt Hiddink or Mourinho we really ought to stick with this guy for a while.
STR: Last time we talked, we spoke of the disgraceful City chant claiming Tevez hates “Munichs”. At the beginning of December, Tevez said he still had “a great deal of respect” for United fans and “respect for the club” and that he wouldn’t celebrate if he scored against us in the League Cup semi-final, your first in 28 years. Considering he is now a City player and United fans despise him, how do you feel about his obvious feelings of affection towards our club and fans?
J P-B: It sounds like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. Tévez has probably done his reputation with United fans terminal damage with his conduct in 2009. Ultimately this is an issue between Tévez and the United fans, though, which us City fans aren’t really part of. I’d quite like it if he did patch things up though – with Adebayor and Robinho we could do with someone re-dressing the balance.
STR: Don’t hold your breath! Before signing for City, he said he wouldn’t even talk to Liverpool out of respect for United fans… but then joined City! Your lot could pay him double what Liverpool would, so for his supposed “loyalty” to be bought is unforgivable. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have had anywhere near as much problem with him signing for our rivals if he hadn’t made out (and didn’t still make out) that he loves the club. Nobody told to him to grab our badge or say he wanted to stay at United forever, or that he was “United through and through” and would not join City, he chose to do those things himself. He was the one who actively created a relationship with our fans, which just makes him appear to be a real twat now. To then bare-faced lie about the manager sealed his fate as hated amongst our fans. He can expect more abuse over the next two legs! For both of these games, Sir Alex Ferguson had said he would play young players in the semi-final, as he has done throughout the competition so far. Would you rather play our first team (or the closest thing we have to it, given the injury problems we’ve been suffering with in defence) knowing that you were in for a tough time but would have the pride in knocking out our strongest team or would you rather an easier time against our younger players but not have the full bragging rights?
J P-B: It looks like Ferguson might actually play the full strength team. But if he did go with Gibson, Macheda, Welbeck etc I honestly wouldn’t mind. I can see that in the eyes of some it might be devalued, but after no silverware since 1976 – and no semi-finals since 1981 – I can’t afford to be fussy. To be very frank, I’d love him to play your under-15s if he’s willing to. But I fear it’s going to be Giggs, Fletcher, Rooney et al tomorrow evening.
STR: And that’s fair enough. You can only beat what is there in front of you and if it means reaching a cup final, who cares whether it’s the first team, Reserves or U-12′s! Finally, last time we spoke, you predicted a dull 1-1. The game that followed was probably the best derby day ever, with us winning 4-3 deep in to injury time. Predictions for both legs of the semi-final?
J P-B:Yes that was a pretty bad prediction wasn’t it. I’m really not confident about theses games – your defensive problems might be bad but at least you don’t have to play Micah Richards at right back. I think that we’ll nick it at Eastlands – maybe 2-1 – but lose by a few at Old Trafford. I just can’t be confident about the late stages of a knockout competition.
STR: After the couple of months we’ve had with injuries, I’d have been happy to have had anyone who called themselves a defender at right-back! Cheers Jack, enjoy the game… but not too much!
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Is it just me or does he have nothing good to say about his own club. I know citeh are shite but cmon!
United to win both legs, no problems!
Seems a decent guy. Answers are quite frank and cant be disputed
Yes I have no problem with his answers, they’re spot on!
Sensible guy. Especially his point about Sheikh MoneyMore mantaining interest, if he left Citeh would be hating life…and we would be LOVING life!
He comes across with some fair and balanced opinions.
Can’t fault him there. Which is in fact very refreshing.
As a City fan and seasoncard holder, can I just say how glad I am that I wont be sat next to this doom merchant tonight! I predict 2 very good games, but biased or not (I always try not to be) I do think we’ll beat you over 2 legs given our current teams – injuries taken fully into account.
So, here’s hoping for a good game tonight but Im sure you’ll understand if I don’t wish you luck!
CTID
Doesnt seem to be a bitter… knows his game.. and gives fair opinions/comments…
what if Sheik Mansour decided to shift that interest onto the other side of Manchester…?
A Bluenose that’s realistic instead of bitter? Now what’s that all about?
Is he really a City fan? Comes across as alright.
Decent enough interview. The reason they have not been conceding prior to Everton is nowt to do with Mancini. Wolves, Stoke and Blackburn were absolutely fucking shocking and didn’t have a single shot on goal all game.
King Eric – don’t you think that the failure of those teams to have a shot on goal could have been connected with City’s improved defense?
Shit team, chasing fake success while the list of players rejecting them is growing daily.
Depending on the team, draw tonight. 1-1.
I’m really excited for the match today, even if Sir Alex sends out a (mostly) secondary squad I think the lads have the belief for this one, it should be cracking either way.
http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5870270,00.html
I’m going to stop reading things like this as they put me into a murderous mood…..
The Views from the Enemy are my favorite articles on the blog
0-7
rooney 3 replaced by owen 2 diouf 2
Seems a decent and reasonable chap.
PS:Love the way Failsworth pops on here leaves a one line comment and goes off.
How you been, Failsworth?
A bit optimistic there ghtt, ill go for 2 1 win.
I will go with a 2-1 defeat. Hope I am wrong.
*GASP* Costa no
Ye of little faith costas.
@GHTT
Come on now fella – 7-0 ? Owen scored a hatrick last time he was given a run out and Diouf is well over due scoring a hattrick, this will be his chance.
Rooney is bound to score a hattrick if he puts in the effort.
So why on earth do you think we will win only 7-0 when it will be at least
9-0 !
I cannot stand those fans who are pessimistic and expect United to play defensive football away from home.
If Giggsy were playing he would get at least a couple.
7-0 ! You make me ashamed LOL !
@READ CAREFULLY WHAT I
Sorry it took me so long to reply my computer wouldnt work due to water damage, i cried so much it effected my key pad. im so disgusted with myself
About to leave college, so excited about tonight. Hopefully the players won’t bottle it like against Leeds. I think we could lose 2-1. I’d take a 1-1. But we’re United and capable of winning anywhere, also feel we’re due a performance. LUHG.
I will go out and say that we will win 3-1 with a defensive mixup causing our one goal…
Sorry guys. I am always a bit pessimistic. Usually it brings us luck.
If you can’t watch this game on the tv you can try free live streams(English commentary ofc)
It’s Polish site, just scroll down for the streams
Costa this is a semi final and united and the manager know how important semis are no matter who we play against
this is citys final something they dont play in that often and you seen how they acted at there last final , 6 minutes of wanting to sit on a draw even thou everything was going there way then give out about the ref afterwards.
speaking of derbys even thou city went down down again and missed 4(?) years o topflight football this ,if he plays, will be giggs 31st game against the bitters
Unreal
@GHTT
Yeah, it is phenomenal. I think it’s about 5 years in total that they spent in lower divisions while Giggs has been at United. I doubt we will see much of him tonight though.
It is an important game for us and the last thing Fergie wants to do is put a smile on Tevez’s face. I hope the team Fergie puts out there will be enough. Hopefully, this time we won’t gift them 3 goals.
dont start counting the chickens I always do that and we lose so i stopped.
I have a feeling that we can expect Fergie to tell them to go ahead and kill the tie tonight – ATTACK etc
None of the usual European two leg strategy tonight boys – I think we can expect a right old-fashioned ding-dong .
Come on the Reds !
Costas
agree with you predo.that would be a decent result for us.my heart says united will win but head says we will lose
VDS, Fabio, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Gibson, Fletcher, Nani, Owen & Rooney. Goes without saying that I’m excited about footie tonight. Really hope the players don’t bottle it like against Leeds. I can see us losing 2-1. I’d go for a 1-1 tonight, but if my 17 years of supporting United have taught me anything, it’s never to write us off. So 2-1 to United…I HOPE!
Answered the questions honestly and not a bitter at all. On their own turf With their own fans behind them the Mercinarys will be no pushovers. The fans I know are very over confident and thats what I like. C’mon Reds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xol0s4ENh_o&
@costas
hope you’re wrong! btw, anybody have a stat on united’s recent record when they go into a match us the underdog? i have a feeling that our record is quite good when we aren’t favored to win.
come on united!!!!!
@mr santos
is that the official starting xi, or is it what you’d like to see? where’s the youngsters?
I would like to see both twins out there tonight, but I also wouldn’t mind seeing Ctrl Alt Deleat get some action as well. Dont think it would be possible to accomplish both of those however… Also I think Project Pat is chomping at the bit to get at his mate Carlos so he will probably start, which then means one of the twins wont.
My word can you imagine being SAf and the selection headaches he must get??
Unfortunately Costas I share your pessimism… It just seems like whenever the fans are crying out for a performance the lads seem to let us down… Of course thats not entirely true and they occasionally stomp the gunners 3-1 at the emirates so wtf do I know…
I would also like to see Diouf get a start up front with Wayne playing in the hole behind him. Let Owen come on for Wayne around the 65 or 70th after he has 2 assists to his name….
Cant wait for this
I’m just not feeling it. We might be on the way to gifting Citeh the way to their first title in 34 years after all.
Our father who art in Manchester.
United be thy name.
Many cups won but none for the citeh scum,
at the Wastelands as well as Old Trafford.
Give them there pizza and there holy wine and lead them to destruction.
For UNITED is the giggs the rooney and the fergie foreverer and ever,
AreMan(United)
city might need the result more than we do given they never win anything for a long time and it is home game. we should not risk our few performing players.
Nice Q&A Scott, the Citeh lad seemed to speak some sense which was a pleasing change for a bitter!
LUGH
is this mancini taking the cocane from the arabs he will win 5 league titles in 10 years does he mean the game football manager, because in reality it wont happen. There is more of the TITANIC floating or C Ronaldo not sleeping any women for a month than shitty winning 5 league titles in 10 years, shitty winning the league once is a joke 5 league titles he is saying he would win is like saying if I was a wheel I would be a wagon.
anyone got the team news guys? cant waiiiittttt
Scott has been really busy these days. Didn’t manage to follow everything he has written today but i hope lads will shows us what United is all about.
Come on you reds!
One bit of team news, Rio won’t be playing. My neighbour saw him at Euston station in London earlier today, and had his photo taken with him to prove it. He was polite, friendly and posed for the photo, but wouldn’t be drawn on his fitness…
Thanks Giles. I am not surprised about Rio. I didn’t want his first game in 3 months to be such a big one.
Any news of the starting lineup? Hope SAF picks a stron-ish side, can’t stand the thought of another Leeds debacle.
BBC have posted Ando, Fletch, Giggs and Rafael in furst team but soon afterwards erased the lines.
van der sar
raf broen evans evra
valencia anderson fletch carrick giggs
rooney
subs
pig
nev
owen
park
scholes
fabio
diouf
Good fair team for today’s game
Beat the shit out of Shity!
I’m shocked at that team. But made up aswel. Looking forward to the game even more now. Come on boys.
That’s not a strongish team. That’s our strongest team at the moment.
No Berbatov? thats worrying, COME ON UNITED
That’s almost the exact team that played at the Bridge. Kick their ass!
Still no Vidic. Worried about him. But that’s our strongest team so I’m looking forward to the game. Let’s make those cunts drink their own bitch-water!
only messing thats not the first team
or
am i messing now
i cant remember
@Colbert
I am worried too. Sir Alex has been quite about his fitness recently. His injury was supposed to heal by the Burnley game. I don’t even remember seeing him among the squad that travelled to Qatar.
Disappointing team
no youngsters given a chance.Why was SAF on about youngsters being given a chance so much. Now that this is our strongest team we are under added pressure to win the game and i expect nothing less than a win now
Glad berbatove is not in the team; this is a men’s game and he has no place in such a would be intens game
whats the real team anybody?
any links guys ?
Unlike league games, Carling cup games don’t have the same internet coverage. I still can’t find the team.
Quite strong team that. Hope Ando is given freedom behind Rooney, or maybe interchanging with Giggsy between the left and the AM role.
The team is not out yet
Manchester City Manchester United
1 Shay Given (G) (G) E. van der Sar 1
33 Vincent Kompany (D) (D) Wes Brown 6
15 Javier Garrido (D) (D) Patrice Evra 3
2 Micah Richards (D) (D) Rafael 21
5 Pablo Zabaleta (D) (D) Jonathan Evans 23
44 Dedryck Boyata (D) (M) Michael Carrick 16
8 S. Wright-Phillips (M) (M) Ryan Giggs 11
18 Gareth Barry (M) (M) Darren Fletcher 24
34 Nigel De Jong (M) (M) Antonio Valencia 25
39 Craig Bellamy (ST) (M) Anderson 8
32 Carlos Tevez (ST) (ST) Wayne Rooney 10
GHTT wasn’t joking.
sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/6816
vds,brown,evra,evans,rafael,valencia,carrick,anderson,giggs,rooney
With both sides playing 3 CMs i think it will be very tight.
@Costas
Yeah, it’s troubling. For the last couple of months it seems like he’s played a couple matches, get injured, then play a few matches and get injured again. And now he has “nerve damage”? How many different injuries has he had this season? Worried about his general fitness, and if Rio really is crocked we should bring in a new centre back. Evans isn’t ready to boss the defence yet.
“From Shayan Tejani, Pakistan, via text on +44 7786200666: “Here’s a United fan with a soft spot for City, hoping for a United win but with Tevez scoring a screamer for the Blues. I ARE stupid right?”"
Twaaaat.
Excellent link, Corea.
Hahaha, who’s that chucklefucker who argumented with “he’s a nice looking man” in the case for Mancini?
Colbert
when fit Rio is the best defender in the world. Regarding Evans i don’t agree with you he is the closer to rio and i am confident in him.
Shocking. It is only Carling Cup////
come on lads
get in sir ryan!
fuck city!!!!!!!!!!!
Valencia you beauty!
Get stuck in lads
Yeah, Evans dived there. Fuck off Tevez
Fuckin training match. Carrick’s got all the time in the world. Rooney is turning the defenders with ease. Valencia’s pace is taking the piss.
Outsinging. Outplaying. They’re City. Were United.
Who cares that they scored. Who cares he scored. Keep his fucking actions to himself though or else he’ll get fuckin killed.
What did Rooney say to Tevez?
The twat put in the pen,
I can’t stand setanta’s commentator anymore..
bastard
@Corea
Seconded.
Setanta?
It’s on BBC. Take a draw. 2-2.
I am loving Valencia’s fire tonight!
I am going to smash the TV right now.
decent result really. Tevez has had his day in the sun now. He did play quite well though if i’m honest.
Although the twatty commentator didn’t think so, we were the much better team. After Owen came on we were brilliant.
Also it wasn’t a penalty. Roll on Hull.
Jack is a good lad who writes decent, balanced articles. Even if you’re an MU Rowdies fan, it’s well worth reading his and Danny’s (bitterandblue) blogs from time to time to check on how it is to support a team on the up!
See, I can’t help myself, so fair play to him!
Even if the Sheikh did lose interest in us then at least we would have no debt. Neither do our directors take out 1.67m each in loans and a potential to take out much more in the future.
Most city fans are sensible. Happy of course at the way things are going money wise and on pitch. I seem to recall that it took then Mr Ferguson a few years to get things going at United and this is just the start with us. To suggest that if we don’t win anything or make top 4 this year – as many Man Utd fans have done – is simply rubbish.
I read another article on here about the stats with Tevez n Berbatov – suggesting that Berbatov has had a better start overall !! Rather like money you can’t play stats and i know who i am happier that we got !!!!!!