IS Bobby Mancini THE MAN?

[CityFanFromRome]

OK, every regular here knows I am pro-mark hughes person. I think that today goes down as bad day in the clubs history. The owners took over and made a very bold statement that they are here for the long term. They backed mark Hughes and labelled the new regime as a 'project' and said they were aware that it would take time and that mark hughes was the man for the long term.

However:

We have lost one home game in 2009
We are in the semi finale of the carling cup
We have not been in a semi final for 28 years
We have only lost 2 games since august

AND THEY SACKED MARK HUGHES

THAT IS AN AMAZING STATISTIC, because, believe it or not, this is CITY, who have won FUCKALL FOREVER!!

This will be a long running poll to see how we go with our new appointement, ROBERTO MANCINI. I hope he wins everything in sight and sincerely hope he blows us away with his flair, tactics and of course his infamous Italian defence..... after all that is what they are famous for!

I voted not sure. Many know I wasn't Hughes' biggest fan, and imho despite the stats you listed, I never felt like he was really the man to bring us forward. Let's not forget the seven draws in a row, especially those of them against weaker opposition at home. When you're chasing the fourth spot, drawing at home with a side like Hull is almost a loss.

However, this said, I'm not sure Mancini is the man either as he never had such a challenge to face, he was either handed midtable teams with financial problems, which only asked to stay where they were, or a very big team against weakened domestic opposition. Nonetheless he managed Inter's big egos well enough to win three titles in a row, plus some domestic cups and supercups with all the three clubs he managed, so at the very least he has a biggest experience in both these aspects than Hughes.

If he will be up to the English football only time can tell.

Abaout the umptenth little dig at Italian football in your post, I don't agree that it is all what Italians are famous for, but even if we went by this (imho) wrong assumption, it would be exactly what we need right now. Sadly though, Mancini was never known here in Italy for playing only with defence in mind so I don't think that will be the only aspect he will focus on, Ranieri would probably have been better suited for that as his teams are know for having a tight defence.

[ant london]

Anyway, that's just my tuppence. I'm looking forward to welcoming him and will be full square behind him

twopenneth ant.
a tuppence is a lady front bottom.

haha twopenneth? i think that is from before my time!

thanks for the clarification though.....I'm still full square behind him in any event.

[Chopper]

Hughe was prob right to be sacked but imo only for hiidink or mourinho, obv they both said no(i fand it hard to believe they wouldnt have been aproached), as a result i would of stuck with Hughes, i dont think mancini is the asnwer but ill give him my supprt, wasnt he only linked with Notts county?from there to the best job in football(which it is at the moment, its like cheating at champ manager a squad full of world class players and unlimited transfer funds), its a funny old world

Ill wait and see how he does.

[CityFanFromRome]

Not really liking his style of football, the circumstances of his dismissal from the San Siro bear out the fact that the Inter faithful were also not exactly loving it

and

I think we could have gone for a more experienced and "bigger" manager than him if I'm honest. He's more experienced than Hughes but not massively so

On the first, I don't completely agree. I know Inter fans who liked his footy better than Jose's tbh. The real reason why he was sacked is that he couldn't do the business in the Champions League with Inter while winning that cup has been a club ambition for years now as the last time they did was 40 years ago. But so far Mourinho hasn't delivered the goods in that aspect either, and due to disappointing group stage results they are now facing Chelsea in the next round, which imho will lead to them being out once more and Mourinho being sacked at the end of the season.

On the second point I agree, also because of what I think will happen to Mourinho I think we could have endured another half season of Hughes and then go for Jose, but hey, Mancini is here now, let's see what he does and if he doesn't do well and Jose is available in the summer we can always go for him then.

[Chopper]

I get the feeling that this is the plan.

[Patrick]

I really dont know - but its another new chapter and I as usual remain full of hope

I am a fan of stability not hughes a concept that quite a few on here translated as being a rag lover - but I think that always said more about them than me - so I hope we can actually complete a contract with our manager - a first for our club in many a decade

[bernabias_right_boot]

The fact that no-one is mentioning long term projects and mancini in the same sentence points to an immediate turn around in fortunes and results. The fact that not even Alan Hansen is convinced points to more of the same.

This is City! If it can go wrong, it will. But I'll still love 'em.

[viking the Odd]

Who knows, but what it does tell us,we obviusly could not attract any of the big guns, O'neil,Hodgson,Mourinio, e.t.c. So we have to make do with some one with no experience.
Give him till the end of the season to get top 4, then if not bye-bye.

[zuricity]

It wasn't long after Mark Hughes came that players started going public . Elano did it and got fined because it was against Hughes. Other did it and it was pro Hughes and didn'tget fined. Hughes then publicly had a go at previous regimes and particulary Svens. He needed hid own canvas and his own resources. Well he had 18 months and a massive amount of resources, unlike Sven or even poor old Pearcey.

Normally, because of the money involved the next manager doesn't have too many funds available. That's when we see how good managers are. eg old harry at Spurs.

This time i'ts different. There are unlimited funds. It would however be great to see Mancini do well with somebody elses players.

It's still nice to have the extra funds though.

[feedthegreek]

dont know myself hope hes a great success.
the one thing he has to do is to stop us leaking goals.
thats about the jist of it, in every other dept were fine great going forward good midfield,
great keeper. should,nt be too difficult.
i think he will definitely sign 2 defenders.
good luck roberto.

[salford city]

None of us know whether Mancini is the man. The only thing that I'm looking for is NOT to have to score three and four goals to win a game. Sort the defence out - that was Hughe's downfall and the bit from the statement about not looking likely - I'm para-phrasing but that was what I read into it?

It's going to be interesting to see if he comes in with a traditional Italian mentality as was evident with his Inter side with four at the back three in midfiled to break things up, two wide men and a lone striker.

If he was indeed sounded out earlier this month, we have got to hope that he has done his homework and has watched us. It could be a blessing that Toure is off to Africa and that Lescott & Bridge are currently side-lined. If he comes in and brings in two full backs whose priority is to defend & a commanding centre half, that'll do for me.

Bottom line is he's got to hit the ground running, he's got 'til the end of the season to get top four or we go looking for someone else

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I don't see how anyone can say yes or no. He is an unknown quantity in the premiership and seems to be a slight panic appointment rather than a definitive first choice.

The suggestion that there is an anti Mancini campaign is both laughable and pathetic but not a suprise that it gets suggested by those who think in that style. He is City's manager and I hope ehe wins everything possible in a glittering long career with us. I do also think that to suggest that his premiership target for this year should be 6th is also laughable.

[MaineRoadMemories]

the sheikh has made it quite clear he wants champions league football this season with these players we have. Our new manager has to deliver this ambition this season. The way spurs and villa are playing i don't think we will. I just hope he doesn't get sacked too at the end of the season if this is the case. That would mean we have a mental owner. Also wonder what influence kidd had on the sacking?

[Martinez]

Not sure, I'll always be sceptical towards italian players and managers, I thought Chelsea were making a mistake when they appointed Ancelotti but was proven wrong so I guess we'll have to wait and see. He will have to use the squad he inherited though, I don't think he will be allowed to buy his own 11 like Hughes did. If Carlo could do it....

[ant london]

Not sure, I'll always be sceptical towards italian players and managers, I thought Chelsea were making a mistake when they appointed Ancelotti but was proven wrong so I guess we'll have to wait and see. He will have to use the squad he inherited though, I don't think he will be allowed to buy his own 11 like Hughes did. If Carlo could do it....

I'm sceptical about players coming from Serie A to the Premiership....but I think that is driven by City's own painful experience rather than being statistically correct.

Managers on the other hand....well...


Zola - I like and think he could be great given the resources
Ranieri - OK, didn't set the world on fire but enjoyable fare
Ancelotti - Top of the league
Capello - Stroll through WC qualification


I'm just hoping that we don't get the exception to the "rule" that Italian managers of English teams seem not too bad at all....would be typical City of us to do just that though

[Lacky]

I think some City fans, will be abit Disapointed that Mark Hughes left, but Now he's gone. We should get behind our new manager Mancini, and get behind the team. Let's see who Mancini Try's to bring in- in the Transfer Market.

I believe Mancini is the one for city, His record was very good at Inter Milan, and he's won quite a few trophy's!

CTID.

[mcfc1632]

why 12 months? Wouldn't that make it almost impossible for him to break it into Champion's League?

If you and few others people here are planning Mancini out campaign because you hate, for some odd reason, him then you should be straightforward about it. At least I never hid my utter contempt towards rag 'sparky'.

A Mancini Out Campaign?????? Don't be so fucking stupid....god you can be a cock at times mate

I SUPPORT THE CLUB AND THE TEAM....unlike your antics over the last 18 months. Do I think that makes me a better City fan than you? Yes I do, and one with considerably more class.

He has from here til the end of the season to get into the CL. We're in sixth place with a game in hand. I firmly believe Hughes could have got us to the top 4 (even though I fully understand the decision and agree with the timing to change now)

Roberto Mancini has 12 months as more than half the work has been done for him. Pretty simple concept. If at the end of 12 months he hasn't moved us on as I said THEN I will be happy for him to be removed. But I'm not such a cunt as to agitate week in week out for change before that point....or even afterwards.

Well said Ant - I agree with every word - you show up the simple lack of class and the inability to put CITY ahead of personal bias that some of the anti-Hughes groupies have demonstrated for months.

The inconsistency of views and convenient selection of targets / words is shown up by the sentence:

"For me the targets are as follows. This season, show clear progress on the pitch, Hughes used our 'easy run' so it's going to be tough second part of the season but top6 should be good target. Considering Hughes finished 10th in his first season...."

The Hughes out crowd would not have been satisfied with something better than 10th or even 6th - and as for the 'easy run' bit - laughable - we are 6th with a game in hand and extremely well positioned to be top 4 this season - which I sincerely hope is the case because I am a CITY man through and through despite who is in charge....

I actually think that we would have finished top 4 under Hughes, Scouse 1 are finished and we have the ability to outstay Spuds and Villa - perhaps what we did not need was a major disruption - but time will tell

I voted not sure because whilst I am hoping that he makes instant impact he has no PL experience and it is a very different league - as Ramos found out - and I draw a comparison there with his inability to adapt from Spain

But like you - I will get behind the man because he is the CITY manager - it is enough for real fans - meanwhile some of the 'gloating / told you so' attitude is frankly an indicator of the character of individuals

[Fidel Castro]

So according to Hughes biggest critic (NQDP), Mancini's target is top-6. Why sack Hughes then? He's been sacked, no problem but I then expect progress not stagnation. It sounds like you're already making excuses should Mancini not be the saviour.

[walmai]

Brian Kidd? WTF?

Is he a choice made by Mancini, or are these Middle Eastern moguls deliberately trying to wind you lot up?

Who next on the COMS gravy train? Captain Marvel the Sports Psychologist?

[ant london]

Brian Kidd? WTF?

Is he a choice made by Mancini, or are these Middle Eastern moguls deliberately trying to wind you lot up?

Who next on the COMS gravy train? Captain Marvel the Sports Psychologist?

funny cunt!

haha.....however, as others have alluded to, it would be very interesting to know what kind of role Kidd has played since his appointment over the Academy. Was he a mole? An agent provocateur? Or do him and Bert go back...way back?

There is enough smoke to suspect that he was involved in the fire(ing) of Hughes. How will that affect the players (who mostly seemed well disposed towards Hughes) in terms of their attitude towards....and trust of....their new assistant manager???