manager Alan Pardew has stated that club chairman Mike Ashley is the best that he has worked with.
The Magpies chief has received criticism from the club’s fans in the past over some of the deals that he has orchestrated, whilst he was also questioned for his sacking of Chris Hughton to bring Pardew to Tyneside.
Despite this, Pardew led the side to a fifth-placed finish last term, and has been rewarded recently with a new eight-year contract.
The coach has stated that he is pleased that he can go about his everyday business without having the chairman looking over his shoulder.
“He is the best chairman I have had in terms of letting me work,” Pardew is quoted as saying in The Daily Mail.
“He hardly ever bothers me and if he does, it’s about a decision involving the budget, questions like, ‘Was that a good move?’ or ‘Could we have paid less?’.
“But outside of the team, very rarely will he stop me and say, ‘Why did you sub him at that time?’ or ‘What’s the story with him? Why isn’t he playing?’.
“He trusts me and knows I am being fair. I am trying to get the best out of the team,” he concluded.
Newcastle take on local rivals Sunderland on Sunday, with the corresponding fixture last season full of aggression and heated moments.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It is believed that key defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor are both close to making a return from injury, and will face late fitness tests ahead of the game.
Newcastle United defender Danny Simpson has come out and stated that he believed Sunderland were lucky to draw the Tyne-Wear Derby on Sunday.
The Black Cats pinched a late leveller thanks to a Demba Ba’s own goal, and the right back felt it was rough justice for his side.
It has been well known that Newcastle are yet to hit top gear this season but have showed a lot of grit and determination to grind out results.
This Sunday was another example of this resolution, especially in defence as the side seemed fairly assured holding Sunderland at bay, until they equalised with less than 10 minutes to go.
The Toon star was quick to draw upon the positives of the display and believes that Pardew’s men can use this result as a springboard to push on.
The former Manchester United star went on to tell the Newcastle Official website, “It gets to the point in a game when you do not think you are going to concede. You feel quite comfortable. Everybody seems to be doing their jobs and playing together.
For them it had to be something freaky like that. It was a fluky, lucky goal.”
The North East outfit don’t have lots of time to reflect on the result, with their next game coming up on Thursday against Club Brugge and Simpson will be looking to get another run out there.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The full back has been out with injury recently and will be looking to return to full match fitness. The defender has also shrugged off reports that he is set to leave in the January transfer window with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
As one of England’s three premier domestic competitions, the League Cup has been a cherished prize for many a manager in its 50-year history. For some new bosses, League Cup glory has helped to kickstart a new era of success at a new club. As we look forward to the next round of this year’s Capital One Cup, FootballFanCast chronicles a few of the managers who first tasted glory in the competition, and what they’ve gone on to achieve.
When a long-time assistant takes over from the man under whom he worked, it can often be difficult for him to achieve the results of his predecessor. Just look at Steve McClaren emerging from the shadows of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England tenure and promptly missing out on the 2008 European Championships, or Sammy Lee’s disastrous stint as Bolton manager following the departure of Sam Allardyce, for example. So imagine the pressure of taking over the reins at Liverpool FC, at the time arguably the biggest team in football, from living legend Bob Paisley.
That was the challenge facing Joe Fagan when he took charge on July 1, 1983. Monumental task though it undoubtedly was, Fagan proved more than up to it – winning a treble of League Cup, First Division and European Cup in his first year as manager and following it up by reaching the European Cup final again the following season, only to be beaten by Juventus after the Heysel tragedy.
Following Paisley’s era of success, in which Liverpool won six First Division crowns, three League Cups and five continental trophies, Fagan was under immense pressure to keep the culture of winning alive at Anfield, and he did just that in March 1984 when the club sealed their fourth consecutive League Cup triumph in a replayed final against arch-rivals Everton. Having seen the first match tied 0-0 after extra time, the Reds took an early lead through captain Graeme Souness in the replay before seeing off the Everton threat for the rest of the game.
Having demolished Brentford by an 8-1 aggregate score in the second round, Fagan’s side, who were enduring a shaky start to the defence of their First Division crown, needed two replays to squeeze past Fulham in the third round (eventually going through thanks to a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage).
Another replay was required to see off First Division strugglers Birmingham City in the fourth round in December, before Liverpool yet again failed to see off their opponents at the first opportunity in the quarter-finals, Sheffield Wednesday this time taking Fagan’s men to a replay. The semi-final – which was two legs anyway – saw them progress past Third Division minnows Walsall after a 2-2 scare in the first leg at home. Including the replayed final, Liverpool played 13 matches in the 1983-4 League Cup, the most played by any team in the history of a competition which, for top-tier teams, comprises a maximum six rounds.
Fagan clearly valued the competition, however, as was displayed by his squad selections. Four of Liverpool’s starting lineup – goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, defender Alan Hansen and midfielders Alan Kennedy and Sammy Lee – featured in all 13 League Cup fixtures on their way to an astonishing 67 appearances in the season overall. Many other first-team regulars, Mark Lawrenson, top scorer Ian Rush and Souness among them, featured in 12 of the games. Overworked as the Liverpool squad was that year, Fagan wasn’t prepared to compromise his chances of collecting some silverware.
With the League Cup safely returned to Anfield for a fourth consecutive summer, Liverpool went on to retain their First Division title and claim their fourth European Cup, with a victory on penalties over Roma in the final, held at Roma’s home stadium, the Stadio Olimpico. Following Souness’ departure to Sampdoria in the summer, however, the club struggled the following season and, having finished the year trophyless, Fagan announced he was retiring hours before the Heysel Disaster which overshadowed his second European Cup final, which ended in defeat to another Italian side, Juventus.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Fagan died in 2000, a Liverpool coach for almost 20 years and a deservingly well remembered manager who, in his brief time at the helm, continued to steer the club on its path to near-perpetual success. He was the first manager to win the Treble, and to do so in his first season as a manager is an extraordinary achievement. The League Cup will always be remembered as part of Fagan’s legacy.
There’s a feeling that Andre Villas-Boas is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t at the moment. Despite a relatively prosperous start to life at White Hart Lane he is still the subject of intense criticism from some quarters of the fan cbase. Last week the Portuguese coach was roundly booed for replacing Jermain Defoe with Emmanuel Adebayor as Spurs chased a one goal deficit at home against the Latics – a game they would eventually lose. Complaints about Villas-Boas’ tactics, philosophy, summer recruitment efforts and handling of certain players have all come under the microscope. From the outside looking in it appears as if the same pressure and expectation that ultimately defeated him at Stamford Bridge. Are the clubs supporters really that impatient?
This week on FFC should Emmanuel Adebayor be given more first team opportunities and which Dutch defender is on Villas-Boas’ wanted list?
[divider]
Best of FFC
Why he must take his share of the blame at Tottenham
Why the time has come for Andre Villas-Boas to unleash him
Arguably The Top TEN ‘Terrace Heroes’ at Tottenham
To boo or not to boo at Tottenham
Arthur Rowe: A Lost Tottenham Hotspur Hero
Why Daniel Levy has to deliver the transfer goods
Did it expose the real problem at Tottenham Hotspur?
Tottenham And Newcastle Join £8m transfer race
Liverpool and Tottenham keen on Dutch ace
Tottenham will need to pay ‘super fee’ to land Alderweireld
[divider]
Best of WEB
The (Boo) Boys are Back in Town – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2
Crisis Upon Crisis – Harry Hotspur
Turn up Tottenham – Dear Mr Levy
Are Everton Really Eyeing Up A Double Swoop For Spurs Duo? – Transfer Tavern
To sub or not to sub – Dear Mr Levy
The Blame Game Or ‘Why AVB & Levy Are A Pair Of Naffing Jokers’ – Harry Hotspur
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“We needed the right reaction after the weekend and we certainly did that. The lads are delighted and we’ve got to maintain that form now going into the Premier League. This is another big game. We went there last season, gave them a good run for their money and probably should have won, but it wasn’t to be. We’ll go back up there full of confidence again after playing well against Maribor. We know it will be very difficult on Sunday and we’ll give it our all. We’ve played well away, we’ll prepare right and hopefully we’ll get the right result.” Gareth Bale wants Spurs to retain their confidence ahead of the meeting with Man City.
West Ham may have enjoyed an impressive return to the Premier League so far this season, but there are still many areas of the team that needs improvement if they are to maintain their good form.
With midfielder Kevin Nolan being the club’s top scorer with five goals and just four of their Premier League goals coming from strikers, an out-and-out goalscorer will be high on Sam Allardyce’s priorities.
Big Sam will also be looking for another winger, to help club record signing Matt Jarvis, and a goalkeeper to replace the ageing Jussi Jääskeläinen. A right-back will also be in his sights in order to strengthen a defence that is almost unchanged from last season’s Championship campaign.
Click on Jack Butland to see the ten players who will be on Big Sam’s January Transfer Window wishlist
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Joleon Lescott is considering leaving Manchester City during the January transfer window, which has alerted Everton, according to reports from The Guardian.
The England international has slipped down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, with manager Roberto Mancini appearing to favour summer arrival Matija Nastasic alongside captain Vincent Kompany.
This has left the 30-year-old as fourth choice, with Kolo Toure often being selected from the bench.
Lescott is thought to be unhappy at the defensive shift made by his manager and is keen to play first-team football to remain in the hunt for a position in Roy Hodgson’s England plans.
He maintains that he is willing to fight for his place, yet it is unclear as to whether this will be possible.
Everton are thought to be keen to bring back the central defender, whom they sold to City for £22m in 2009, during the winter transfer window.
However, with Toure set to depart for the African Cup of Nations in the New Year, Mancini may be against allowing his back-up man to leave for fear of injury to either of his first choice centre-backs.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Toffees could still press ahead with a bid, but will be looking to draft in Lescott for a reduced fee.
Meanwhile, striker Mario Balotelli has been urged to return to Italy by national team manager Cesare Prandelli
are believed to have lined up Loic Remy and Salomon Kalou as possible transfer targets this January.
Marseille striker Remy is already the subject of talks with Newcastle, who see the French international as a credible replacement for Demba Ba, should the Senegalese hotshot leave St James’ Park next month.
But West Ham appear keen to hijack the move, after Hammers agent Willie McKay held talks in London with Marseille president Vincent Labrune on Tuesday evening, The Daily Mail reports.
It is thought that a player-plus-cash deal has been discussed with the French giants that could see Modibo Maiga go the other way, just as Gabriel Obertan had been mooted as the player to join the Ligue 1 side in the event of a part-exchange deal with Newcastle.
QPR have also been linked with Remy but their lowly league position makes Rangers an unattractive destination for the 25-year-old.
Salomon Kalou is also on West Ham’s radar, The Daily Mail has reported. The former Chelsea forward appears keen on a return to England after failing to settle at Lille this season.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Ivorian left Stamford Bridge for free in the summer, but has managed only three goals in 17 appearances so far this season, as the double-winners of 2010-11 have endured a poor first-half to the campaign, currently languishing in 11th place, nine points behind the leaders, Paris Saint-Germain.
The Hammers had tried to sign the 27-year-old this summer, but were beaten to his signature by the French club.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to end his 12-year stay at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and begin a new chapter in what has been a glittering career so far, but with murmurs of interest from Manchester United, is it the sort of move that could benefit both parties?
The 34-year-old still seems a relatively key squad member in Rafa Benitez’s side and with a contribution of seven Premier League goals in 13 outings so far this term, while he may be in decline, he still clearly has his uses. A goalscoring midfielder is a difficult quality to perfect; Paul Scholes had to adjust to his age and gradually began to drop deeper and deeper, while Steven Gerrard looks to be doing the same thing at Liverpool, but Lampard has remained consistent in that regard, grabbing at least 10 league goals in the last nine consecutive seasons and he looks well on course to do the same this term.
If it were up to Benitez, you sense that both Lampard and Cole, for their experience more than anything, would be kept around, but we are not privy to contractual negotiations and their demands; whether they expect to be assured of a starting slot, the length of the deal and the monetary value of it are all private at the moment, so Chelsea, understandably, are copping plenty of flak for letting two ageing but still valuable players slowly but surely slip out of their grasp without a fight.
Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner stated last week: “Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup, then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory [both in December], that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season.
“Nothing since has changed in any respect. Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves.”
It seems a strange position for Chelsea’s hierarchy to take, for while the need for the club to move on from the old guard is an important job that needs carrying out, completely ditching players while they can still contribute rather than fading them out seems the wrong approach to take, particularly with the club in a clear state of transition. This has led to Lampard reportedly consigned to his baffling fate, with PSG and LA Galaxy the favourites for his signature, but a rumour doing the rounds last week linking him with a switch to Old Trafford, while on the face of it would seem out of character from both sides, is certainly worthy of discussion.
Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins and general fountain of niceness set the ball rolling over the matter last week, telling BBC Radio Manchester: “He’ll want to continue to win and play at a high level – and there’s no higher level than Old Trafford. You have the master of utilising the older player in Sir Alex Ferguson, so I think it would be a tremendous move for Frank and a good one for Manchester United as well.
“You only have to see the performances Giggs and Scholes have put in over the last few years – and they are four years older than Frank! He’ll win them over because of his footballing ability.”
First and foremost, this is not another Robin van Persie deal; the Dutchman left Arsenal in the summer to win silverware, which with the club currently seven points clear of rivals Manchester City in the league, it looks like he’ll do, thus vindicating the controversial switch. However, Lampard has been at Chelsea for 12 years and is seen as a major part of the club’s history now, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and last season’s scarcely believable Champions League triumph. There is no reason for him to put his legacy on the line for what would be a relatively short-term switch to one of the club’s nearest title challengers. Can anyone honestly imagine him returning to Stamford Bridge in another club’s colours?
At the same time, though, Lampard still has something to contribute at the very highest level, which is why a switch to PSG looks the best bet for me, but it’s not like he would suddenly be out of his depth were he to move to United, but given their obvious need for a defensive midfielder, does the England international fit the bill?
United have a sustainable and clearly defined policy with older players of granting them one-year extensions, with 39-year-old Ryan Giggs and 38-year-old Scholes the recipients of this approach. Ferguson doesn’t see age as a barrier as much as other managers do, but would Lampard really settle for judging his career on a season-by-season basis? He will be 35 at the start of next season but he may still seek more long-term assurances over his future and role in the side. Both Scholes and Giggs are afforded a status in the squad due to their past achievements at the club and relationship with Ferguson, so it’s wrong to suggest Lampard will get the same treatment.
Moreover, the argument that because Scholes and Giggs are both ageing players entering the twilight of their respective careers that replacing an old squad player with a slightly less old one is somehow a logical explanation is complete and utter folly and that appears to be the only basis of this rumour, the sort of 2+2=5 journalism that helps churn out easy copy.
Could Lampard contribute to United? Yes, of course he could. Is he what they need? No. They need long-term replacements for both Scholes and Giggs, not another stop-gap measure. Ferguson’s legacy will be judged just as much by what comes after him as it is on his last few years in charge and a smooth handover is crucial, so replacing the duo is of paramount importance. It’s the sort of move that Harry Redknapp, with his short-term thinking, would feel comfortable doing but you suspect Ferguson has eyes on a more solid solution.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The United midfield is in dire need of someone who can win the ball back quickly, with Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick very good with it but lacking that bite in the tackle that every top side needs without it. They’ve missed it since Roy Keane and Owen Hargreaves, with Darren Fletcher’s return to injury only showing slow progress.
They need someone like Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Strootman or whatever the flavour of the month is on the continent – that every midfielder in Europe over the past five years has been labelled as the ‘perfect solution’ to the club’s midfield problems points to two things – a frustration with Ferguson from the fans that he keeps ignoring recruiting in that area and second that nobody really knows what the answer is. Nevertheless, what is clear is that while Lampard would be a useful squad option, he’s not the future of the team and it’s doubtful whether he would join United, putting his reputation at risk, then be content to play second fiddle.
Whenever you hear the Lampard to United rumour, part of you will think that it could just work, because who would say no to such a decorated, experienced and talented individual, but when you dig a little deeper, neither party would be content at the nature of the move or the length of the deal, while competition for places would be fierce. To answer the title of the article, is he worth a transfer punt? Definitely. Will it realistically happen? No.
Should Tottenham Hotspur eventually go on to lift the Europa League trophy in Amsterdam this May, you can place your bets now as to who might take the honour of being the first to raise it with both hands.
Following the loss of both a club legend and inspirational captain in Ledley King during the summer, the school of thought was that the armband already had a natural successor in fan’s favourite Michael Dawson. And in due time following Andre Villas-Boas’ appointment, that was eventually the case.
Although while injury has so often been a lingering shadow over the former Nottingham Forest man’s career in North London, his modest total of 16 league starts has had little to do with time on the treatment table and a lot more to do with Villas-Boas’ personal preference. For the first half of Spurs’ campaign, their newly crowned skipper found himself relegated to the substitutes bench.
In recent weeks, the 29-year-old has of course made a stellar return to proceedings and won back the trust of his previously doubting manager. But even so, Dawson still remains part of a rotating set-up at centre back. With the return of arguably the club’s outstanding defender in Younes Kaboul on the horizon, there’s every chance that he might find himself once again fighting for a starting berth.
[opinion-widget op]
In spite of his obvious natural leadership qualities, every club has a chain of prospective command, but when you go down the line of those you’d expect to take the armband should Dawson not be playing, you find yourself with a slightly disconcerting lack of regular candidates.
When Dawson found himself on the bench earlier on in the season, Villas-Boas opted for the wealth of experience that was William Gallas, to take on leadership duties. Although at 35 and with his powers on the wane, the Frenchman hardly offers much in the way of security for the skipper’s role.
Likewise, as the veteran of many a Premier League campaign and as Spurs’ most experienced player, Brad Friedel was an obvious choice for the armband when Villas-Boas’ central defenders looked set to yo-yo in and out of the team. Yet since the emergence of Hugo Lloris, the American no longer offers a viable option as captain. In fact, had it not been for the injury picked up to Sandro that’s allowed Scott Parker in the team, you’d be hard pressed to pick one at all within this Tottenham side.
The role of the captain is notoriously overplayed within these shores and the definition of what we often perceive to be a good captain, has become caricature-like in its make-up. Contrary to popular belief, clubs don’t necessarily need a captain whose veins throb out the side of his head after berating his side in regular 30-second intervals. Following through on every tackle is no longer a requisite skill of the role in question.
Although what cannot be overstated is the effect a good captain can have within a side and although the armband is only a title, the quality of leadership most certainly isn’t. And past Michael Dawson – who’s rumoured to be in talks over a new deal at the club – that trait isn’t particularly in plentiful supply at White Hart Lane and at the end of the season, it could potentially get even sparser.
With Villas-Boas publicly stating his desire to trim his centre halves from five to four, the smart money must be on William Gallas – whose contract expires at the end of the season – departing the club. That’s one further leader that will most probably be on his way.
Furthermore, although Scott Parker has been racking up the appearances since his return from an Achilles problem, there is a feeling that the England man could well be on his way to pastures new this summer as Villas-Boas looks to raise both space and added funds for another midfield recruit. Should he depart the club, then Spurs could be left with a shortage of natural leaders.
Take away the ages of both Brad Friedel and William Gallas from this Spurs team, and the average age of the squad is around only 25-years-old. Within the likes of Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Clint Dempsey amongst others, the club boasts plenty of players with a good 180 plus Premier League games to their name, but experience doesn’t naturally transcend into leadership. And it’s here that Andre Villas-Boas may well be given some interesting food for thought come the summer transfer window.
Does this mean that the Portuguese should go out and buy an ageing midfield enforcer just because he’s at the wrong end of his 20’s and looks to be good leadership material? No, absolutely not and given the club’s policy of buying younger talent with a high potential sell-on fee, the odds are that chairman Daniel Levy wouldn’t sanction it, either.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
But if/when the club decide to try and bolster their side during the summer, they could do a lot worse than bringing in a slightly more experienced campaigner in addition to the wealth of younger, gifted talent that they currently bestow. As well as adding another leader to the ranks, given the relative lack of sustained Champions League experience in the squad, some further experience in the competition wouldn’t hurt the team, either.
It’s difficult to quantify whether Tottenham are in dire need of an added shot of leadership come the end of the season and with team spirit seemingly looking extremely positive from the outside, it’s a delicate balancing act in looking to add another big personality.
But with the right addition, a spot of extra experience could be the perfect compliment to a squad that looked perfectly balanced to push on even further next season.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini’s future continues to hog the headlines simply because it remains so up in the air, but is he already a lame duck or does he still have some authority in the corridors of power at the club, at least enough to guarantee him one more campaign at the Etihad?
It’s getting to that stage in the season where everyone takes stock and looks back on what has been achieved, or for most, what hasn’t been achieved at various clubs up and down the country; when it comes to silverware, every cup competition is nearing its inevitable conclusion and promotion tilts are either in the bag or down and out, and the same could certainly be said of City’s desire to retain their Premier League crown this season, with Mancini declaring the race all but over on Thursday with an unassailable 15-point deficit to try and claw back in the nine remaining games a thankless task. When it comes to judging the team’s overall performance, they’ve been deeply disappointing and have failed to live up to expectations and then some, but is all of that the Italian’s fault? And will he be given a chance to redeem himself?
Under the guidance of the 48-year-old former Inter Milan boss, the club have been on an upward curve ever since he took over and this season remains their first tangible setback – the failure in the Champions League, where they exited without even a win to their win saw them finish bottom of their group and fail to even drop into the Europa League and for the second season running, they left a lot to be desired, seemingly unable to stamp their authority on any game of importance against continental opposition and that presents a major concern.
[cat_link cat=”manchester-city” type=”list”]
Right through his recent managerial career, Mancini has shown an inability to make an impact in Europe, with his Inter side torn apart every season at the quarter-final stage or earlier despite being the runaway leaders in Serie A. In all honesty, do the club’s fans expect him to improve upon that ropey record next term? Probably not, and he’s managed to consign himself to being something of a domestic specialist incapable of truly breaching the top tier, which is where City’s ambitions dictate they must end up eventually.
In that respect, City’s owners may see the end of this season as the ideal opportunity to get rid of Mancini, particularly with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho thought to be looking for a return to the Premier League, with Chelsea in the running. Is there really much point in keeping faith with a manager when there are such large doubts about how far he can take the club in the future? The league is often seen as the bread and butter, but that’s not why countless millions were invested in the playing squad and star names such as David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero were purchased, the owners will want to make a splash of sorts in Europe and the jury is well and truly out over whether Mancini is the man to deliver that progress, with the evidence that he can in short supply.
Mancini has presented an inconsistent stance to the media with regards to the constant questioning over his future, sometimes going on the attack and other simply laughing everything off, but last month in a press conference saw him reveal his true feelings on the matter: “We started our project here three years ago. In that time we’re always at the top fighting for the title. We won three trophies, we’ve the chance to win more this year. All the people who talk about this do not understand football. Because if City should sack me, the other 19 teams in the league should be without a boss. I speak with Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) every week. He is like me. When we lose, he’s upset. We have a good relationship.”
He clearly feels he is safe because by and large, his relationship with the owners has remained strong even despite recent setbacks. Nevertheless, with Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano moving in upstairs, there is the danger that a power-sharing duo could push him out if they see fit, especially with Mancini’s position weak at the moment and their recent arrivals meaning they possess as much power as they will ever do.
When you compare the club to the side that Mancini inherited from Mark Hughes, the difference is huge – he’s professionalised the ranks, made the squad a lot more balanced and got them into that winning routine while also attracting better quality players than the Welshman ever could. However, there’s still a sense that the system the team uses is heavily reliant on a few key individuals to play well, with six defensive players simply hoping the creative quartet manage to do some damage at the top end of the pitch and in terms of a plan B, they’ve looked clueless at times this year, with the experimental 3-5-2 formation doing more harm than good.
For all of the money that the club have spent too, they simply don’t look good enough to become a force in Europe and there’s a real lack of depth and quality in several positions, which points to a flawed policy of which Mancini is responsible of and he is a difficult man to control, liable to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation, which is not always conducive to a healthy long-term dressing room atmosphere when everything isn’t going according to plan.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
There are plenty of positives about Mancini’s reign on the whole, but when it comes to evaluating job performance, the most important factor in deciding any manager’s future is the one just gone and without an FA Cup triumph, he could be ushered out via the back door with a handsome pay-off.
His future is intertwined largely with that of Mourinho, given City will be faced with a paucity of viable alternatives should the Portuguese boss move elsewhere. You suspect he’ll be given one more year before the club moves for someone like Jurgen Klopp, Joachim Loew or Diego Simeone, but he simply cannot afford another campaign like the potentially trophyless one this year or even his influence with the owners won’t be able to save him.