Is Mancini getting it right at Manchester City?
When Roberto Mancini was first installed at Manchester City, as an Italian, it was no surprise to see three holding midfielders week in and week out. He has tried his hardest to force Yaya Toure into unknown territory in attack and in fairness; for the most part it has been a success. So why the change?
With the arrival of Edin Dzeko, it does seem as though Mancini was forced into a change in formation and to slot the Bosnian in along side Carlos Tevez. That, for most was an obvious change but the omission of Nigel De Jong in midfield is slightly mystifying. Especially when the very average Gareth Barry still starts and I pose the question to football fans, what is he actually good at?
Very much like Denilson of Arsenal, Barry doesn’t seem to have any real strength in particular areas. Like Jermaine Jenas, he is just a standard player, nothing awful, nothing special. For a club with ambitions greater than Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego, it does seem rather strange.
It must also be disheartening for players like Adam Johnson to see a languid, let’s face it, truly terrible player in Jo taking up a position on the wing when it becomes available.
They also have Tevez putting his future in doubt whenever he feels like it; his whole situation seems more ridiculous than the clubs fetish for snoods. Not a problem though, I’m sure Sheik Monsour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (what a mouthful, or eyeful in this case) will dangle gigantic wads of cash in front of any player looking to earn more (so all of them).
Mancini is looking like a keeper for the management spot though, even if his ways are uncertain. The only candidates would be Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, but they are too busy battling it out in La Liga and for who’s the best manager to have their heads turned. Actually, the ‘special ones’ bonnet is probably too heavy from the weight of arrogance to turn.
So with all of these seemingly miscalculated tactical decisions, how are they sitting in third?
Well for one, they have Tevez up front and David Silva flowing through teams with ease. What is interesting is out of the top four or five teams, they have what should be a comfortable fixture list to navigate through. Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are the most notable of teams left but having beaten the first two and drawn with the last, they should remain positive.
If they do manage to tough it out and finish in the top four, will it be seen as an achievement though? After spending more money than a Hollywood blockbuster movie, I don’t think so. They may even see Spurs hinder their chances if last season is anything to go by.
It does all depend on what City team and manager turns up. We have already seen them play for a draw against Arsenal, their ambitions maybe grand, but is their belief?
