by Spurge » Sun Oct 31, 2010 9:43 pm
To sack Mancini would be a mistake right now, recent history tells us the same - look at Hughes and SGE, neither were given much time to let their signings bond and make an impact on a consistent level, yet we saw signs of what City could be capable of under both. Neither were given long enough to see through what they were striving to achieve. In the modern game Rome really does need to be built in a day it seems.
Every time we sack a manager another comes in and after a short time, the rebuilding process begins, millions of pounds spent on bringing in 'his' players. Then 12 months or so down the line there's every chance he will either be dismissed or will leave by 'mutual consent' and so the cycle begins again - a cycle which must be broken in order for City to begin to progress as a football club, instead of becoming the richest team of non achievers in the history of the game.
You can throw in all the money you want, it won't guarantee success, it's a TEAM game requiring a TEAM ethic/mentality, and without this we will just be a 'team' of individuals.
Whats going on right now at City, who knows for sure, but it seems things are not good behind the scenes. Mancini seems to me to be professional in his approach on the outside, what goes on behind closed doors could be something altogether different. As for his tactical approach, well whilst I'm not excited about the way we play at times currently (playing a lone striker at home doesn't always inspire for example) I think he is moving in the right direction. First and foremost he's going to be judged on winning matches - home to Newcastle, not pretty but he changed the formation at the right time and we won. At Blackpool we started with 442 and again when he needed to, changed the formation and we went on to win (we would have lost both last season).
We can't play the same way each week, we need to be dynamic otherwise teams will suss us out, equally the likes of Wolves and Sunderland will approach games against us very differently to that of say Chelsea and Arsenal. Both the latter teams style of play is more suited to that of Mancini's, which in a way makes it easier to set up against. (I think 11 v 11 we would have beaten Arsenal).
So Mancini (as any Manager does) needs to work out his approach to each game, based on available players, home or away, style of opposition etc etc. Someone in this thread suggested he doesn't know his ' strongest starting 11' and thats right, he doesn't, as it will vary depending on whats required to beat who is in front of us. He has a pretty big 'squad' of quality players and intends to utilise fully those players within the squad throughout the season, depending on the opposition or indeed the competition we are playing in. Therfore he doesn't have a defined 'starting 11' as such.
The one thing achieving success requires is time to get it right, several players arrived in the summer, the likes of David Silva joined up with the squad at the 11th hour and we are only now beginning to see how good he can be - how many games have we played in the league to date? Just the 10.
The biggest problem might be managing the egos of the players and if some of the recent reports in the press are true then much of the fans frustration should lie with the players rather than the manager.
It's not good to hear of the likes of Yaya Toure clearing off at half time to 'avoid the traffic' after being subbed (irrespective of whether he and Milner had fallen out). Whatever the reason for leaving the ground, It's unacceptable that a player on a reported £200k a week decides that getting home early is preferable to sitting on the bench with his colleagues and supporting those on the pitch.
The recent footage of some City players out pissing it up again just a day after a defeat at home to Arsenal isn't good, this after the club had already read the players the riot act after similar behaviour, shows a total lack of respect and a complete disregard for their privileged position. Some may argue that they were only doing what all lads in their 20's want to do, and were just having a bit of fun, but if the club has laid out clear guidelines then they need to abide by these end of. If someone was going to pay me anything like the wages these guys are on and asked me to keep a low profile where drinking/partying was concerned it wouldn't be a hardship.
Adam Johnson is case in point - this lad has it all in my opinion and can go as far as he wants in the game, but is in danger of pissing it up the wall - I really hope he doesn't.
So I think Mancini is doing ok at this early stage, he has assembled a good squad with depth, from which he can vary the line up as required and we should continue to improve as the season moves on. But ultimately we need to move forward together as a team in order to progress.
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