MANCINI IN AT CITY
Despite a 4-3 Manchester City win today against Sunderland, manager Mark Hughes has been fired by management. Now before I get into Roberto Mancini lets look at where City is after an amazing spending spree. The squad currently is in 6th place in the EPL with a record of 7 wins, 8 draws and 2 losses but apparently ownership expected more after huge player investment in the summer. Giving 6 goals up in their last two games might also not have helped Hughes cause to go along with a boatload of draws. They are 11 points off of Chelsea who are atop the table in England.
He was a dead man walking today as he had to know the axe was coming down with Roberto Mancini in attendance at the game. So the former Sampdoria and Lazio star takes over after taking a break from coaching Inter Milan. At Inter Mancini won a total of seven trophies as a manager including 3 Serie A Titles.
Fascinating stuff going on at Manchester United with the appointment of Mancini. English coach out, Italian coach in. Having called Serie A games in the late 90’s at Fox Sports World (now the Fox Soccer Channel) I always loved watching Mancini’s amazing skill and how unique his approach for the game was. Over 200 serie A goals with most of his time spent at Samp. Did win a Serie A title at Lazio in 97 and appeared for Italy only 40 times despite his immense skill and variety of ideas.
Thoughts?
How about the craziness in the EPL. Fulham smack Manchester United 3-0 at Craven Cottage as Bobby Zamora continues to score goals and on one was aided by Texas native Clint Dempsey who continues to impress. Portsmouth beats Liverpool 2-0…….The EPL is far more interesting with some of the recent results and a new world order.
BARCA win 6th trophy……Is there anything they can’t win? Barcelona defeated Estudiantes 2-1 to earn the World Club title!!!!
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Glenn,
There is something Barcelona cannot win, and that is a game against Chelsea!
Sad to see Mark Hughes be sacked by Citeh. Once the Saudis came to City, it was just a matter of time before Hughes was sacked and a big name was brought in. I am sure that Mark Hughes will find a new team to manage, but I hope Citeh gets what they deserve.
I won’t say anything about Liverpool because it is just too easy. They are going to become the Newcastle of the EPL and I hope they are relagated soon. United losing to Fulhamerica is epic.
Here’s to Chelsea going 6 points clear and on towards the EPL!
Coach H
Coach H, actually Barcelona beat Chelsea in this past Champions League, and in 2006!
I recall Ronaldinho making Cech, Terry and company look stupid long enough to have them stare at his feet and with both feet planted, he shot a marvel of a shot to kissed the inside of Cech’s goal!
At Stamford Bridge too!
Oh and Chelsea can’t tie or even score on Barcelona without playing all 11 players as defenders!
Funny how hypocritical your preppy behind is that you criticize Man City for changing Managers after the new owners invested tons of money and didn’t get results, didn’t your club’s own mogul but from Russia get rid of arguably one of the best coaches in the world because he kept losing to eventual champions or runners-up of the Champions League?
Oh and you also have an Italian with a big name and history of success, so why can’t Man City get one of their own?
Oh and you were wondering when we would field a Spanish player in all 3 lines, well really they’re on their way to field them in all 4!
Not just Spanish of the actual league they play in, but homegrown!
Valdez, Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Pedro!
Guess what? All from the actual league they play in, and homegrown!
Oh it gets better! How about those international stars? Abidal, Alves, Keita, Yaya Toure, Jeffren, Henry, Ibrahimovich
Look at that 2 of those are home grown too, and most of those were found by good scouting and reasonable transfers, mixed with some veterans stars for leadership like Henry!
Wow Jeffren is like what 22? Boy is great to keep pumping out great players! And Bojan isn’t even 20 yet? He’ll get more U-21 play and possibly a shot at London 2012 for an Olympic medal!
Wonder if you will keep you coach if he fails to win the Champions in like 2 years?
I’m happy Dempsey’s squad crushed Man U, but they are only 6 points away from your beloved Blue Devils at best! Hope to see Donovan run past your beloved midfield, oh wait Essien would be gone damn, guess Ballac will do!
“Look at that 2 of those are home grown too, and most of those were found by good scouting and reasonable transfers, mixed with some veterans stars for leadership like Henry!”
Not so sure I’d be placing Henry on any pedestal these days – the ref in yesterdaze game sure didn;t have a problem showing him a yellow card for diving at the top of the box.
Christopher, if you want to jump and get corrected, please, by all means! Otherwise try not to make false statements! I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt but Henry was given a yellow
Here’s the link of the FIFA Match report:
http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=252913/match=300111971/index.html
I am not sure he did dive, although with his current record after the Ireland game kind of hard to believe he didn’t, looked a bit clumsy of a fall to be a dive but he did get carded, and saying he’s a veteran star who provides leadership is hardly putting him on a pedestal, is actually kind of assigning him the tag of “role player”
The Pedestal is for the best player in the world, and the other 2 who form part of the 3 out of the 5 finalists for FIFA World Player of the Year!
Oh how cool is this, West Ham just scored on a PK to go into halftime up 1-0, hell Ashley Cole got off easy, he was the last man inside the box, isn’t that a straight red?
Relax, Edwin. You can admire Mr. Henry if you’d like. I however, choose not to reward that style of play, nor that content of character.
I don’t like it either, but like I told you not sure if he did dive, it looked more like a very clumsy fall after he foolishly lost his footing, but you have to wonder how that play is outlawed? It’s very tricky and done almost everywhere, I didn’t like Henry at Arsenal, I was a bit hesitant when he got to Barca, struggled his 1st year but had one hell of a campaign last year and absolutely tore Real Madrid up at the Benabeu, then he did the whole Ireland hand ball thing so I’m a bit torn, I hope he can win at least 2 more titles, La Liga and Champions and then he can come to MLS maybe New York or Philly I don’t know? Who know he might even go to Vancouver? Lots of French heritage in Canada? Probably more in Montreal but I don’t know.
But “that style of play” or content of character is done by a lot of players almost by every player at one point, some just do it more often and in the box as opposed to in the middle of the field to keep or regain possesion.
I wouldn’t be so quick to bash him for his character on this one questionable dive and/or the Ireland match, I’ve seen him play for about 4 years now, defenitely not a representation of the guy!
I would hope you don’t judge him one 1 act or another questionalbe or 2 bad acts?
BTW, like I said never put him on a pedestal, I said he’s a veteran star who provides leadership, still a great player overall despite his hand ball incedent!