Roberto Mancini not 'the one'

So Roberto Man'City' has got his managerial career off to an absolute flyer. I've never know so many football fans in Manchester (or Salford!) scratching their heads in confusion with the good fortune that has landed on their doorstep.


After Hughes inevitable dismissal, where he appeared to be the only one in the world that was surprised with the sacking, it seems like Man City now mean business.
However, I can't help thinking that Mancini is the wrong man for the job. Just like Zola isn’t quite right for West Ham, how Ranieri didn't last as long at Chelsea and why Vialli also failed.

Amongst a group of common denominators there always seems to be a genius who stands out far and away above the rest. In this particular clique is the vastly underrated genius that shines brightest amongst the Italian Jobs. That man is Carlo Ancelotti - the one Italian manager that looks like he can hack it in the Premier League. What I'm getting at is that most Italian managers are naturally defensive minded, which is fine. In Serie A. I firmly believe that Mancini’s good start is purely a combination of renewed enthusiasm, players eager to please the new Gaffer and fringe players having one last throw of the dice at impressing Capello for a jolly to South Africa with the big boys in June for the World Cup. At least the Man City squad is inspired now, which is more than can be said when Hughes was in charge of all those bore draws.

Hughes’ experience and knowledge of the game is, I feel, very limited. He may have helped conquer Europe under the wily Scot that is Ferguson, but he was a Welsh international who didn't really live through the whole array of unique experiences that come with the World Cup and European Championships. Just like the Carling Cup differs vastly to the European cup, it's that vast difference in National Football versus the International stage. This lacking in Hughes' pedigree is unfortunate, but might be why he's still a rookie manager in relative terms. Unfortunately for Hughes, I don't think the might of the Welsh FA were supporting him, simply because the Welsh FA weren't mighty enough. By this, I mean basic things that become embedded into the fabric of a young Footballer. For example, Wales have never had a ‘Lilleshall’ of their own to be proud of or any school of excellence that I’m aware of where Rush, Ratcliffe, Southall and Hughes could have had a football education to compete with other nationalities. On this note briefly, after watching Ian Rush and Mark Hughes' international career peter out, it makes one wonder why Ryan Giggs chose Wales even after wearing the 3 lions on his shirt. I fear Alex Ferguson advised him accordingly, in order to maintain the interests of Scotland and not let England prosper. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but as a Liverpool fan, I know Ferguson better than I’d prefer. Shrewd move, but that's why Fergie is where he is today. That's an article for another day though. For another writer. For I care little about Man Utd.

Back to Mancini. As experienced and decorated a player and manager he may have been, I just don't think he will give City's filthy rich owners and Silver starved fans their holy grail. Some might say their holy grail is the Carling Cup, but try telling that to the Arabs, to Robinho, to Tevez and to anyone contemplating a move to Eastlands after the World Cup.

It looks as though City are trying to follow Chelsea's blueprint. Rich owners getting rid of an average manager who was obviously always only a caretaker (Ranieri-Hughes) and were subsequently replaced with better Managers. Granted City certainly have done that by getting Mancini in, but maybe they only want Mancini to get that all important 4th spot and then roll out the red carpet for Mourinho next season ? Maybe they've already approached Mourinho and been rebuffed.

That same Mourinho who had Liverpool's famous Liverbird as his mobile phone wallpaper while he was winning the European cup with Porto.

Food for thought, maybe?