From a strange source
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:57 pmhttp://clarkeonenil.co.uk/front-page/sn ... ester-city
interesting take from a Leeds fan
Garry Cook.
Well not so much the Chief Executive of Manchester City more what he represents in terms of the recent decision to offload Mark Hughes and replace with Roberto Mancini. Again the English press decide to denigrate a decision which has already paid off, within 2 games City are more solid at the back, have brought tactical change into the Eastlands equation, are winning away from home for the first time since August and now have a genuine outside shop at the PL title. It takes a certain ability to notice the gap between what a limited manager like Hughes can do with £200m and what a manager, like Mancini and his track record, can get out of the same group. Whilst for me the decision was a no-brainer, when you spend like Chelsea you expect Chelsea league positions, Cook and the club should get credit for making the decision.
The other criticism thrown around by the likes of the BBC’s Phil McNulty is around timing, well where I am standing the timing was perfect. City’s next 6 league games are Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Stoke City, Portsmouth, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers, if the first two games of the Mancini era are anything to go by, that’s another 18 points in the bag. Manchester City won’t just be breaking into the exclusive top 4; they will be making it a 4 way scrap for the title. Cook and co have made a decision that is not only brave but incisive, City have left the nearly club by seeing the potential beyond Blackburn Rovers second best ever manager and by giving Mancini the chance to show how to really add quality to a squad they have shoved one up the one-eyed pundits who can’t see beyond their occasional drinking buddies in managerial respect. I for one believe they have made a rational and decisive decision that will place Manchester City as not just a Top 4 club and not just the biggest club (in terms of finance and future success) in Manchester but also a CL contender for years to come.
If City fans can treat the League Cup semi-final as a no lose situation (win a Wembley final, lose and concentrate on the league whilst the other 3 clubs have CL to weary them) and the FA Cup equally it could be the next 4 months are about as good as they have ever imagined.
interesting take from a Leeds fan
Garry Cook.
Well not so much the Chief Executive of Manchester City more what he represents in terms of the recent decision to offload Mark Hughes and replace with Roberto Mancini. Again the English press decide to denigrate a decision which has already paid off, within 2 games City are more solid at the back, have brought tactical change into the Eastlands equation, are winning away from home for the first time since August and now have a genuine outside shop at the PL title. It takes a certain ability to notice the gap between what a limited manager like Hughes can do with £200m and what a manager, like Mancini and his track record, can get out of the same group. Whilst for me the decision was a no-brainer, when you spend like Chelsea you expect Chelsea league positions, Cook and the club should get credit for making the decision.
The other criticism thrown around by the likes of the BBC’s Phil McNulty is around timing, well where I am standing the timing was perfect. City’s next 6 league games are Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Stoke City, Portsmouth, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers, if the first two games of the Mancini era are anything to go by, that’s another 18 points in the bag. Manchester City won’t just be breaking into the exclusive top 4; they will be making it a 4 way scrap for the title. Cook and co have made a decision that is not only brave but incisive, City have left the nearly club by seeing the potential beyond Blackburn Rovers second best ever manager and by giving Mancini the chance to show how to really add quality to a squad they have shoved one up the one-eyed pundits who can’t see beyond their occasional drinking buddies in managerial respect. I for one believe they have made a rational and decisive decision that will place Manchester City as not just a Top 4 club and not just the biggest club (in terms of finance and future success) in Manchester but also a CL contender for years to come.
If City fans can treat the League Cup semi-final as a no lose situation (win a Wembley final, lose and concentrate on the league whilst the other 3 clubs have CL to weary them) and the FA Cup equally it could be the next 4 months are about as good as they have ever imagined.