Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini adamant he will still be in the Eastlands hot seat next season
Roberto Mancini maintains he will be around for Manchester City’s challenge for the Premier League title next season despite persistent rumours about his future.
Although City have fallen short of pushing United In the league, they are on course to finish fourth and have secured a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Former Inter Milan coach Mancini, who replaced Mark Hughes in Dec 2009, has two years remaining on his contract but will face serious questions if he fails to deliver Champions League football for the fourth season of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership.
Despite falling short of widely-held expectations, Mancini is adamant City are making progress and this period was a necessary background to a serious push for silverware next season.
“I’m very happy to be here because I think that in the last year we worked very well, we became a good team and now we have a chance to change our future,” Mancini said.
“After this year we can win something at the end of next season so why should I leave?
“I worked hard this year, very hard. It was the same when I went to Inter. The first two years were terrible because I changed their mentality and Inter was a top club that won everything in its past.
“After two years we won everything. So why should I leave the club at this moment? If we win the FA Cup and go into the Champions League, next year we can play for the title.”
Steve Bruce defends Roberto Mancini's safety-first approach
STEVE BRUCE reckons Man City fans will learn to love Roberto Mancini’s safety-first football – but only if it brings silverware to Eastlands.
Despite having more than £400m-worth of talent to call upon, City boss Mancini has attracted criticism for playing the kind of defensive football which is very common in his native Italy.
However, with City sitting in a Champions League qualification place and with an FA Cup semi-final against neighbours United to look forward to, former Sampdoria great Mancini can claim his approach brings results.
Asked if City fans will buy into Mancini’s tactics if it brings success, Bruce said: “Absolutely they will, 100%.
“I think they will accept it as long as they win something.
“Winning the first trophy is always the hardest, because you need to do that to develop the winning mentality - especially after being in the shadow of Manchester United for years.
“There is a new kid on the block and, make no mistake, with their wealth Manchester City will eventually mount a serious challenge – if not this year, then next.”
Bruce, though, is not so sure Sunderland fans would be so forgiving if he took a leaf out of Mancini’s tactics book.
He said: “We all play in different ways, and here I know that we have to play and entertain – that is part of the culture here in the North East.
“Mancini is from Italy and comes from a different footballing culture.
“It is about the system and being difficult to break down and hard to beat.
“That is the way football is played over there and that is the way the Italians have won things for years.
“It might not be the most entertaining - they are never going to be like Brazil or Argentina – but the Italians are very organised and don’t give much away,.
“I am sure that rubs off on Roberto, even though he was a fantastic flair player in his day.
“It will be interesting to see if he changes, but I doubt it.”
City have kept 13 clean sheets so far this season, which meant they went into the weekend level with Chelsea at the top of the table for Premier League shut-outs.
Sunderland will have to find a way through City’s tight defence this afternoon if the Black Cats are to end their 349-minute goal drought and halt their six-game winless streak.
Bruce said: “They are set up in a way that makes them difficult to break down.
“They are very good defensively, but we will do our utmost.”
Manchester City to fight Stephen Ireland's £1.5m claim
Manchester City will fight a £1.5million claim from former midfield player Stephen Ireland in front of a Premier League arbitration panel in May.
Ireland is alleging that City owe him the money as part of his pay-off when he joined Aston Villa last summer.
But the club say he is not entitled to it as he broke a confidentiality agreement.
Friend or foe?
It’s amazing how some players seem turn their backs on former clubs, if you believe what you read in the papers or see on the web regarding certain individuals that is.
Ex-Blue Robinho seems to have become an intermediary in any Brazilian considering a move to City over the past year or so, and he seems to be at it again.
The mercurial AC Milan striker has been attributed in the past with comments from his advice clinic about moving to City – and they are rarely upbeat it has to be said.
In the Ricco column in The Sunday Express this morning, Robi is quoted as telling young compatriot Neymar that the things that turned him off during his Manchester stay - the usual staples of the weather and the lifestyle – are not what Brazilian players like Neymar want when they travel overseas – and he should consider clubs in more luxurious surrounds.
“The climate and lifestyle in Italy would suit him better,” columnist John Richardson quotes him as saying.
Well, if City were interested, you’d hope that it would be for football reasons that Neymar would base his decision on rather than whether the sun was beating down each day and the restaurants and nightclubs were up to scratch.
Perhaps our erstwhile striker should take a leaf out of Pablo Zabaleta’s book. He left the same sort of lifestyle and weather behind in South America that Robinho did, but has only ever talked football combined with passion for the shirt while immersing himself in Manchester life.
That, Robi, is what makes a hero and wins the respect of the City fans. It’s also how players from abroad make a real success of their time in England.
If the Blues ever do move for Neymar, let's hope he speaks to Zaba and Carlos Tevez for advice rather than players who perhaps didn't quite make their mark in this country. Official ***club bollox***
Man City Forums On The Whole Are Dying say Vital Football
Quite a remarkable headline don't you think? But, having trawled through dozens of unofficial Manchester City forums, blogs and the like I have to say my research is startling to say the least.
During this article I will NOT mention any forum / site name and if I can help it I will try and avoid insinuating or pointing my finger at any one site. In addition, I will not make a leading statement about which site is better than any other.
Forums
On the 29 March 2011 one site administrator told their members they were seriously thinking about closing the forums down as the level of activity had almost come to a standstill. The plea was basically post a comment and support us or we close.
There are other forums which haven't had a post in weeks, if not months. And then there are others who seem to survive on a small handful of hardcore and loyal members. Of course it's not all doom and gloom as there is one City site which on average has around 500 registered members online throughout the peak period. Plus, if there is a huge breaking news story total viewers can easily reach four figures.
Have we spread ourselves too thin?
Its inevitable the bigger you become the greater risk of in-house fighting there will be. In the end the obvious happens and a splinter group creates their own site. I've seen it on at least four separate independent forums, including my very own Vital Manchester City.
Blogs
There were some very well known blogs who began their life with a bang and have now have crashed and in doing so died a slow and miserable death. What a shame especially when there are dozens of creative and innovative City writers out there.
I appreciate there are a small handful of blogs who publish an article every now and again but in the main there can't be more than half a dozen, if that who manage to keep their blog up to date.
Competition
The Internet is constantly evolving and I have to say since the advent of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook even my own forum stats have began to plummet. Now I'm not saying this is the whole cause but I think they have something to do with it.
The Future
I can envisage fewer unofficial Man City related forums / websites. Yes, some will close down, some will reinvent themselves and other will replace the ones who disappear. However, in the end there will only be a handful which will test the tide of time. Which ones will they be? If I knew that I would be trying my luck at tonight's National Lottery.
To every unofficial Manchester City network...cheers and good health.
WAG OF THE DAY
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United are keen to rebuild their midfield around Dutch star Wesley Sneijder this summer and will offer £40m for the Inter Milan star. caughtoffside.com
And United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is also desperate to beat Liverpool to the signature of Aston Villa's England winger Ashley Young. Sunday Mail
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is being targeted by MLS clubs in the United States with the Ivorian star yet to secure an improved contract extension at Stamford Bridge.
News of the World AC Milan are ready to make an offer for 23-year-old Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri. caughtoffside.com
Chelsea look set to join the race to sign QPR forward Adel Taarabt. The 21-year-old Morocco international has two years remaining on his contract with the Championship side. Sunday Mail
Leicester City are plotting a summer move for Manchester United striker Michael Owen. The former England star has overcome recent injuries at Old Trafford but has struggled to cement a first-team spot. Sunday Mirror
Steven Gerrard's season could be over after the Liverpool and England midfielder broke down in training with a recurrence of his groin injury. The Reds skipper underwent surgery on 11 March. News of the World (subscription required)
The future of boss David Moyes at Everton is under threat with the club chairman Bill Kenwright desperate to reduce the club's £45m debt. Sunday Mail
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has written off Tottenham's chances of causing an upset when they meet in their Champions League last-eight tie. Sunday Mirror
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has insisted that the midweek trip to the Bernabeu was not playing on his players' minds as they played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Wigan. Sunday Mirror
Rafael van der Vaart has pleaded with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp not to substitute him in the Champions League quarter-final clash with his former club Real Madrid. Sunday Mirror
England boss Fabio Capello has vowed to leave a lasting legacy. With the Italian standing down in the summer of 2012, he said: "I will be really happy when I look back and see young players like Joe Hart, Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere started with me and I helped them. They will be really important players when England win the World Cup." Sunday Express
Chelsea's recent good form against Manchester United is down to nothing more than luck, Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed. Sunday Mirror
David Moyes will consider quitting as Everton manager if star players like Jack Rodwell and Leighton Baines are sold. Sunday Mirror
Craven Cottage is set for a 'thriller' today for Blackpool's visit to the home of Fulham FC. The statue of Michael Jackson will be unveiled after being put there by club owner Mohamed Al Fayed as a tribute to the singing legend who died two years ago. Sunday Express
[/center]
[/center]
