Delight at chief executive's fall from grace not shared by City fans whose rights he championed
Garry Cook deserved to go. At least the two camps can agree on something. But when it comes to the assessment of Cook's time as chief executive at Eastlands the media and the fans make the red half and blue half of Manchester seem unified.
The sports channels and newspapers took an unmistakable delightin the City supremo's resignation after the Abu Dhabi owners virtually accused him of lying over the sending of an offensive email to a player's disgruntled mother. There was a good reason for such pleasure, which went way beyond the normal borders of schadenfreude.
Since assuming the role in 2008, Cook has been depicted as a buffoon, as the footballing equivalent of Prince Philip if you like. Garry Gaffes have been reprinted with something resembling euphoric zeal. "Richard Dunne doesn't roll off the tongue in Beijing," said Cook, when prioritising shirt-selling power over defensive power. Thaksin Shin-awatra, the former owner who doubled up as an enemy of human rights while prime minister of Thailand, was, said Cook, "a great guy to play golf with". And most numb-skullingly, he dared to confuse "City" with "United". Hilarious!
Yes, every journalist loves to batter a fool, particularly an arrogant fool whose hands happen to be on football's most golden purse strings. For some reason, sporting executives have become big news on sports pages, while the relevant aspects of this job are crying out for inclusion in the business sections.
Drench the blazer in sporting vernacular and the ridicule comes all too easily. The beauty with Cook, from a hack's standpoint, was he seemed such a willing accomplice in this real-life version of The Office.So why did the City support have such faith in him? Why are so many sad to see him depart? It is a question which hasn't been analysed fully and most probably won't be.
That's because of the sneering attitude which says that the fans' views don't count. They are biased; their one-eyed quality makes it impossible for them to view the big picture. They only admired Cook because he spent all that oil money on great players. Anybody could do that, laugh the intelligentsia. Why, Nick Leeson would have struggled to blow all that greenback. As would Fred the Shred. Stick a monkey in charge and he'd be a popular City CEO. Oh, hang about, they did.
Is any of this fair? Not to the director in the box or the fan in the stand. Cook might have been a disaster in PR terms and we all know the weight that carries nowadays. But in terms of connecting with the supporters, including them and representing their best wishes in the running of the club Cook should actually be remembered as a pioneer.
No doubt the sheikhs care about their popularity and gave Cook the go-ahead to keep ticket prices at an affordable level. They didn't have to; Cook didn't have to. Chelsea, of course, did not, despite having Roman Abramovich's billions in the vault.
Peter Kenyon – now there was a chief executive worthy of the scorn – declared the fans had to contribute to the revolution. If they wanted the superstars, they had to help pay for them. But why? They didn't ask for the Russian to take over the club they would support whatever the finances.
Cook seemed to understand this, just as he appreciated the importance of the history. Ex-players, the so-called legends, have not been overlooked in the overhaul. That much was plain to see at Wembley when so many of them were part of the party which celebrated their first trophy in four decades. And listen to this quote from an interview in The Independent with Uwe Rösler. "City are very interestedin keeping the tradition and history of the club," said the former Blues striker, who recently came back to England as manager of Brentford. "They looked after my family when we moved over, helped us out with schools – after all these years and with a lot of people in charge who never saw me play."
All this was done on Cook's watch. It probably doesn't matter what the outside world thinks of Manchester City as that was an unwinnable PR battle anyway. But what surely does matter is what the Manchester City supporters think of Manchester City. And they don't believe their club were hijacked merely to bolster the standingof an Emirate. They feel a part of it.
A lot of that was down to Cook and it shouldn't be forgotten. But it will be. That's football for you. Spare us this baffling trend to give executives, officials and administrators the same publicity as the superstars. If they did their job and only their job, the game would be a much better place. MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=40029
'Crazy' league fires up Mancini
Italian plans to cash in on striking riches as Manchester City make Champions' League debut
Lingering questions about Mancini's expensively acquired squad in the highest company centre on their defence
On the only previous occasion that Manchester City competed in the Continent's most prestigious club competition, their extrovert coach Malcolm Allison thundered that his English champions would "terrify Europe". In the first round, Fenerbahce of Turkey, boasting fanatical home support but hardly among the contemporary giants, knocked them out 2-1.
Different times, different personalities. On Wednesday, City return to what is now called the Champions' League not as England's sole flag-bearers but as one of the usual quartet of Premier League representatives. Their spokesman this time, whispering rather than thundering, is the softly spoken Roberto Mancini, and far from threatening to spread terror among what Allison called the "cowards" of the Continent, he will go only as far as suggesting that Group A, also including Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli, is open and that the Champions' League is such an unpredictable competition as to be regarded as "crazy".
His personal difficulties with it not only go back a long way, but also cost him his previous job – as, it is reasonable to assume, failing to qualify for it this season would have done at City. Wearing the blue of Sampdoria alongside Gianluca Vialli, he was a loser in the Wembley final of 1992 to Barcelona; more than 20 years later an otherwise successful period as the manager of Internazionale – three Serie A titles in a row – was marred by repeated Champions' League failure. When Liverpool beat Inter to reach the quarter-finalsin 2008, the writing was on the San Siro wall and it read arrivederci.
"The Champions' League is a difficult competition," he offered in mitigation on Friday. "You can have a top team like United last year or Inter for many years and not win. Champions' League depends if you are lucky after the draw. We want to go into the second stage and after that we're waiting for the draw."
Reminded that Bayern's Franck Ribéry apparently put his head in his hands when drawn with City, Mancini said: "We talk about a difficult group but it is difficult too for the other teams. Bayern is used to playing Champions' League. But in this group every team can win the group or you can arrive in fourth position. Champions' League is a crazy competition. For us it's important that we play well in the first group, go into the second stage and after that you must be lucky."
While he was speaking about City's prospects at the Carrington training ground, Sir Alex Ferguson just along the road was being either mischievous or sympatheticin assessing the draw. "That is a bloody difficult group," he said of City's section, "a 'glad you're not in it' kind of group. There are four teams in there capable of being in the top seven in this country."
Bayern were, unusually, out of the top two in the Bundesliga last season and responded by recruiting the young goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, City's Jérôme Boateng and the Brazilian defender Rafina, plus striker Nils Petersen from Cottbus; Dale Jennings from Tranmere Rovers, one of the summer's more unlikely signings, will not feature.
Villarreal finished fourth in Spain though in losing 5-0 to Barcelona when La Liga opened they looked highly vulnerable. Wednesday's visitors to Eastlands, Napoli, against whom Mancini played in their Maradona-inspired heyday, have attacking talent in the Slovakian Marek Hamsik and the South American pair Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) and Ezequiel Lavezzi (Argentina). They will be formidable in front of their own crowd and it is as well that City have home advantage first before visiting Bayern, which will be a real test.
Lingering questions about Mancini's expensively acquired squad in the highest company centre on their defence, so Joe Hart will be a key figure. The young England goalkeeper's appetite was whetted by last season's Europa League run, ended in the knockout stage by Dynamo Kiev after Mario Balotelli was sent off, and now he exudes genuine enthusiasm in talking about the prospect.
"It's exciting. As a club we're looking forward to it," Hart said. "As a group of fans and as a group of players, we can't wait. It's going to be a step up in class, but we've got quality. We knew it was going to be a tough group, we were seeded in the third pot, so we didn't expect anything less."
It is to be hoped that they persist with the far-from-Italianate approach, using their full attacking resources, that has been the most welcome aspect of the opening Premier League games. Holding on to Carlos Tevez has given them a formidable look going forward. Mancini said: "I think we have four top strikers and in the Champions' League it's important to have good players and a squad that when you go away plays to win, plays to create chances." That might have been Allison talking.
Manchester City v Napoli, Sky Sports 2, Wednesday, 7.45pm
Hammers want Bridge loan
West Ham are keen to bring Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge back to Upton Park.
The Hammers paid Bridge's £80,000-a-week wages when he spent the second-half of last season on loan in East London, but would not be willing to fork out as much this time around.
Sam Allardyce would welcome Bridge, 31, back to the club, but the Championship outfit would want City to subsidise the player's wages if he were to return.
The former England defender does not feature in Roberto Mancini's plans but failed to secure a move away from Eastlands before the transfer window closed. Now City want to off load him back to a Championship side on loan as their only immediate option.
A Hammers source told ESPNsoccernet: "The player may decide not to go. We shall have to wait and see. But West Ham actually paid all his wages last year. If he is not in their 25 man squad they'll take anything they can get for him now."
Aguero’s at the right club - Maradona
Argentina great Diego Maradona reckons son-in-law Sergio Aguero is playing for the perfect club after his compatriot's stunning start at English Premier League outfit Manchester City.
Dubai - Argentina great Diego Maradona reckons son-in-law Sergio Aguero is playing for the perfect club after his compatriot's stunning start at English Premier League outfit Manchester City.
Aguero, 23, scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 defeat of Wigan Athletic on Saturday to take his tally to six goals in four games, having joined City from Atletico Madrid in July for an estimated 45 million euros ($61.7 million).
“I said Aguero needed a team that would support him, so that Aguero can play in the Champions League, can play in very important championships,” Maradona told a news conference in Dubai on Sunday ahead of his first competitive game in charge of the city's Al Wasl F.C.
“It was not the case with Atletico Madrid. People from Atletico Madrid said I was a fool. I told them that foolish person wasn't me, because Aguero is now playing for a team - Manchester City - that will fight for everything. Now Aguero is playing in a place that he deserves.”
City have won all four league games this season and are second only to local rivals Manchester United on goal difference.
Maradona, who managed his nation at last year's World Cup, also found time to slam the Argentina Football Association.
“Football there is like a museum - the youngest person is 95 years old,” he said. “Stay at home with your grandchildren and allow young people to manage Argentinean football.”
He played down expectations he could lead Al Wasl to the United Arab Emirates league title at the first attempt.
In a city used to bombastic promises, Maradona would not predict how his team would fare with Al Wasl opening the season in a cup tie against league champions Al Jazira of Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
“We will be very careful against a team that we know a lot about,” Maradona said.
“They (Al Jazira) have the advantage that they have been playing together for longer than us. We have our tactics so can hurt them. We are not going to be totally defensive.”
Al Wasl finished a distant sixth, 22 points behind Al Jazira last term in the 12-team Etisalat Pro-League.
Maradona will be hoping new signings Uruguay's Juan Olivera and former Bari midfielder Mariano Donda can help them qualify for the Asian Champions League.
“We are not talking about being champions, we are talking about going step by step, improving day by day,” said the World Cup winner.
The ever colourful Maradona also warned he would try to protect his players from any rough tactics.
“I want everyone to treat me with respect. I am not a violent person, but if they want to have an issue with me... If you try to put a finger in my eye, I will put two fingers in your eyes,” he said.
“If you play tough, if you injure my players, I will complain. I will jump. This is how I am made and this is how I will die.”
Ghana's Asamoah Gyan joined Al Ain on loan from English Premier League outfit Sunderland on Saturday to become the latest high-profile player in the UAE league but Maradona thinks the UAE national side will continue to struggle.
“It is tough for them - after seeing them play, you don't feel confident,” he said. “I think that UAE ... is a team that has to improve a lot if they want to reach the World Cup finals.” – Reuters
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is being closely monitored by Real Madrid, who are planning a £35m move for him in the January transfer window, according to reports. Caughtoffside.com
Arsenal are planning a swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero in January.Inside Futbol
FA chiefs are hatching an emergency plan to install Harry Redknapp as England manager for the Euro 2012 finals. the People
Martin O'Neill is being lined up to make a sensational return to Leicester City. Sunday Mirror
Harry Redknapp says Ledley King's performance in Tottenham's 2-0 win at Wolves was "beyond belief" considering the Spurs skipper had not played in pre-season or the opening matches of the season. talkSHIT
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish says he will talk to the club's owners regarding his view that refereeing decisions are consistently going against the Reds. The Sun
Everton manager David Moyes hopes is side's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa gave some encouragement to the hundreds of fans who staged a protest about the club's lack of investment. talkSHIT
Arsenal are furious at England manager Fabio Capello's criticism of their medical staff following Jack Wilshere's injury problems. Sunday Mirror
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has slammed Asamoah Gyan for leaving the club on loan, having reportedly agreed to stay 48 hours earlier. talkSHIT
Ear-flicking - a game the Liverpool players have been spotted playing at the end of recent matches - "boosts players' morale", according to Reds defender Martin Kelly. Metro
Model Abbey Clancy has agreed to move to the Potteries area with Stoke's new signing Peter Crouch, despite initially being incensed having to leave London. Metro
STRICTLY BOLLOX
Robbie Savage reveals Man City boss 'will cheer him on during Strictly'
Former footballer turned Strictly Come Dancing star Robbie Savage has revealed Manchester City gaffer Roberto Mancini may be making a shock appearance to cheer him on during his ballroom debut.
Since signing up for the hit BBC show, Savage has set his heart set on winning the competition, and seems to be rallying support from some celebrity friends to boost his chances of victory.
Not only did the former Derby man reveal that Radio One DJ Chris Moyles will be in attendance but, in his mini name-dropping session, he also hinted at another pal showing up.
He said: 'Chris Moyles is going to come and Roberto Mancini might come as well.'
A front row seat watching Savage strut his stuff may come as a welcome break for Mancini, who will be challenging on four fronts for trophies this season with City.
However, Savage isn't banking on his VIP friends to get him over the line and has vowed to train '10 hours a day' in his bid to lift the crown.
'Success for me would be winning it.
'Now I'm in I'm going to train. You know, I wasn't the best footballer in the world but what I did was was I put 100% in.'
Let’s just hope that along with Mancini’s support, Savage can also turn the boos he received on the pitch into some cheers on the dance floor, and not forgetting those much-needed votes.
