Mancini, before today's game, again stated that even with all the money in the world it takes three years to build a title winning side from a mid-table side - which means he's talking about next season rather than this. The problem, as I see it, is that it could be a self fulfilling prophecy. As well as a few lazy arses, It also gives Roberto a bit of a "Get Out of Prison Free" card if all should crumble this month.
I can't be alone in being sometimes nonplussed by Mancini's comments to the media?
The question I raise now is this - are our second eleven (which is really something like a second five, plus "whoever") really as good as we were thinking when we were thrashing teams earlier in the season? Today, and in a variety of performances recently, plus in the Champions League, strongly suggests not.
I was thinking that we had just about weeded out all the mercenaries, but when I see the attitude of some players I think Mancini still has some way to go. Quite simply, we had upwards of four players involved today who clearly aren't good enough technically , or aren't good enough because they couldn't give a fuck.
You know who I mean.