Perhaps inevitably, given the circus around Stamford Bridge, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini has also been placed under questionable scrutiny after Chelsea's brutal dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo; something incredibly absurd given the success that he has already brought to the club.
How in any way could the team at the pinnacle of the Premier League, currently the holders of the title, be even considering firing the man who has taken all of the millions of pounds invested by City's Arabic owners and developed a squad of players capable of delivering on the world stage? They would simply be foolish to follow the model of ownership that Roman Abramovic has displayed. Why change a winning formula?
And I would also ask the same question of Mancini himself. Why play around with a side that is clearly capable of delivering fantastic results? Last season City were categorised by their power, pace and sheer determination, with a solid core of a team from goalkeeper Joe Hart, through to Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.
This season they have not been quite so tantalising on the eye, yet they are still at the top of the league, showing the kind of gutsy determination that has defined their closest rivals and neighbours United for several decades. With many late goals from their 'super-sub' Edin Dzeko, they have continued to be on a par with United and Chelsea, shaping the season already as a three way fight for the title.
But I would ask, how much of this lack of spark be blamed on Mancini? Yes he has played around with the team a great deal, moving between three defenders and four and constantly changing the shape of the side, but the brutal truth is that the big players simply have not delivered. The likes of Silva and Toure simply have not provided the spark of last season, whilst Tevez and Aguero have been goal shy of late.
And it must be said that the Italian certainly has an unenviable task of keeping all of these egos happy, with the likes of Tevez and Mario Balotelli constantly causing their manager problems, damaging the harmony of the squad. As well as this, the likes of Joe Hart and Micah Richards have been outspoken when a microphone has been thrust under their noses, questioning their manager's tactics and also questioning the hunger of the squad, something that simply would not be allowed to happen under Sir Alex Ferguson at United.
But credit to Mancini, he has coped with all the pressures, and though at times he has looked like cracking up, he has managed to keep his side competitive and dangerous in the title race, despite perceived cracks in their armoury. To dismiss him would simply be ridiculous, because as long as he has the hunger to lift trophies at the Etihad, the Italian is the right man for the job. Why start all over again, with a new manager and new players? City should keep the faith and stick by their man.
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Friday, 23 November 2012
First Fast Now Approach Will Leave Chelsea Behind
They say a week is a long time in football and this has been abundantly clear from the events of this week. In what kind of world can a manager who has lifted the Champions League Trophy only six months before become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season? Obviously, only in Roman Abramovic's world, where money talks and loyalty and club status go out of the window.
Similarly to the beginning of his reign, where another of the now increasingly lengthy catalogue of managers Claudio Ranieri was sacked, despite finishing second in his first season under the Russians reign, another Italian finds himself a victim of inflated expectations. Both Italians took on sides in precarious positions, endearing themselves to the fans, with Di Matteo obviously already firmly in their hearts as a playing legend, yet none of this seems to matter in the eyes of the ruthless Russian, thus illustrating his severe lack of class.
Despite that historic night in the Allianz-Arena, where they defeated a strong Bayern Munich team on their own ground, Di Matteo was clearly never the first choice, given that they took two months to confirm his appointment on a permanent basis, which in itself is a disgraceful way to behave.
Yes Abramovic is a business man, and yes football is a results driven business, but such an approach should not be applied to football, a world where loyalty should be rewarded and where individuals should be given time to flourish. Imagine if Manchester United had dismissed Sir Alex long ago? And look at clubs like Arsenal and Everton, who, in sticking with Arsene Wenger and David Moyes, have progressed at their own individual levels. Chelsea are rapidly becoming in danger of plateauing and never materialising as a genuine threat in World Football on a consistent level.
How can a club develop continuity if they are always looking at changing the manager? Di Matteo has always had the shadow of Pep Guardiola in the background, whilst Jose Mourinho is always talking about having 'unfinished business' in England. It provides unnecessary pressure, and it is what makes Chelsea a poisoned chalice. Rafa Benitez coming in on a short term deal says to me that they are still waiting for Guardiola, and that the job is his if and when he wants it, after his sabbatical. Yet they are totally different managers, with totally different styles of play and footballing philosophies. As Arsene Wenger alluded to, why would Benitez take the job anyway?
The idea behind the appointment of Andre Villas Boas was to rebuild with a young manager at the helm, with new and exciting ideas, but in only 12 months, these ideas were dismissed and Chelsea quickly moved on, going back to the old guard of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, who both enjoyed one of their best seasons in a blue shirt.
Chelsea, under Abramovic, lack class because they are trying too hard to define themselves and craft an identity and a history. In adopting a first, first, now approach, they are in danger of being left behind both domestically and abroad. Every time they look like developing as a side, they start again as the result of a snap decision by their unscupulous owner.
In new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar, alongside Juan Mata, they possess one of the most exciting attacking trios in World Football, and if Fernando Torres can rediscover his form once more, alongside the next big money striker that will inevitably arrive very soon, they will undoubtedly be challenging come the end of the season. But with all the nonsense going on in the background, such an exciting team may fail to fulfil its potential. Why win the Champions League with one manager, strengthen the side and then simply start over with another manager, and one who is supposedly only staying until the end of the season?
Some have pointed to the fact that Chelsea have won more trophies in the Abramovic period than any other English team, but this is largely down to Jose Mourinho, a special manager who should never have been forced out at the Bridge. If the Blues had only had him as manager in this period, and not a conveyor belt of short-term appointments, I guarantee that they would have lifted more than the solitary Champions League trophy; one that they fought so hard to attain, yet its merit has simply been forgotten.
Abramovic's world is certainly a ruthless one, and one that will continue to make Chelsea look a classless mess should he continue with his ruthless interventions, as opposed to letting someone get on with developing an exciting team of players.
Similarly to the beginning of his reign, where another of the now increasingly lengthy catalogue of managers Claudio Ranieri was sacked, despite finishing second in his first season under the Russians reign, another Italian finds himself a victim of inflated expectations. Both Italians took on sides in precarious positions, endearing themselves to the fans, with Di Matteo obviously already firmly in their hearts as a playing legend, yet none of this seems to matter in the eyes of the ruthless Russian, thus illustrating his severe lack of class.
Despite that historic night in the Allianz-Arena, where they defeated a strong Bayern Munich team on their own ground, Di Matteo was clearly never the first choice, given that they took two months to confirm his appointment on a permanent basis, which in itself is a disgraceful way to behave.
Yes Abramovic is a business man, and yes football is a results driven business, but such an approach should not be applied to football, a world where loyalty should be rewarded and where individuals should be given time to flourish. Imagine if Manchester United had dismissed Sir Alex long ago? And look at clubs like Arsenal and Everton, who, in sticking with Arsene Wenger and David Moyes, have progressed at their own individual levels. Chelsea are rapidly becoming in danger of plateauing and never materialising as a genuine threat in World Football on a consistent level.
How can a club develop continuity if they are always looking at changing the manager? Di Matteo has always had the shadow of Pep Guardiola in the background, whilst Jose Mourinho is always talking about having 'unfinished business' in England. It provides unnecessary pressure, and it is what makes Chelsea a poisoned chalice. Rafa Benitez coming in on a short term deal says to me that they are still waiting for Guardiola, and that the job is his if and when he wants it, after his sabbatical. Yet they are totally different managers, with totally different styles of play and footballing philosophies. As Arsene Wenger alluded to, why would Benitez take the job anyway?
The idea behind the appointment of Andre Villas Boas was to rebuild with a young manager at the helm, with new and exciting ideas, but in only 12 months, these ideas were dismissed and Chelsea quickly moved on, going back to the old guard of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, who both enjoyed one of their best seasons in a blue shirt.
Chelsea, under Abramovic, lack class because they are trying too hard to define themselves and craft an identity and a history. In adopting a first, first, now approach, they are in danger of being left behind both domestically and abroad. Every time they look like developing as a side, they start again as the result of a snap decision by their unscupulous owner.
In new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar, alongside Juan Mata, they possess one of the most exciting attacking trios in World Football, and if Fernando Torres can rediscover his form once more, alongside the next big money striker that will inevitably arrive very soon, they will undoubtedly be challenging come the end of the season. But with all the nonsense going on in the background, such an exciting team may fail to fulfil its potential. Why win the Champions League with one manager, strengthen the side and then simply start over with another manager, and one who is supposedly only staying until the end of the season?
Some have pointed to the fact that Chelsea have won more trophies in the Abramovic period than any other English team, but this is largely down to Jose Mourinho, a special manager who should never have been forced out at the Bridge. If the Blues had only had him as manager in this period, and not a conveyor belt of short-term appointments, I guarantee that they would have lifted more than the solitary Champions League trophy; one that they fought so hard to attain, yet its merit has simply been forgotten.
Abramovic's world is certainly a ruthless one, and one that will continue to make Chelsea look a classless mess should he continue with his ruthless interventions, as opposed to letting someone get on with developing an exciting team of players.
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