mancityblues.com

I've been saying throughout Mancini's reign that I've felt any of the wins we've had have been in spite of him rather than because of him and more down to us having a talented squad of players. I think this squad could achieve great things given a manager who could produce a successful system which galvanises them and allows them to consistently fulfill their full potential, along the lines of the one Ferguson has at the swamp.

That's the only difference between us and the likes of United for me.

These things take time and I felt Hughes was part way down that line, which is why I was so upset that he wasn't allowed to see the big plan through having put together the squad himself.

However, I certainly don't think this scenario can be achieved by continually chopping and changing the manager before the system is in place, or by giving a manager six months to 'see what he can do'. I deplore that situation.

In fact if the owners had given Mancini a four year contract I wouldn't have felt as bad as I have recently about performances. I'd be saying give him time. It is his short term appointment and all the rumours about what will happen in the summer that has really unsettled me and made me feel impatient about the status of our club if i'm honest. Of course that isn't his fault. That's the situation he has accepted from his employers.

The manager that takes us forward might be Mancini given time and some money to bring in a few more of his own players. It might be Mourinho if Bobby doesn't get us into fourth.

Personally, I don't think I'm going to enjoy watching City under either of these managers though. Certainly not in the same way as I enjoyed watching a Hughes team when they played well.

But I guess if either of them brought success to the club, albeit in an unattractive, grinding sort of way, I'd forfeit the entertainment factor for a while.
~Spike~