TGR
Well-Known Member
A very interesting article in the MEN written by Stuart Brennan which asks some very pointed and pertinent questions regarding the abilities and limitations of Pellegrini and the DoF:
The questions do however need to be asked. The main players of the current squad who are doing the business are those brought in by Mancini. Any and all of the signings since are questionable. The squad is an ageing one now, and are we just treading water until the current stopgap manager moves on?
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manuel-pellegrini-struggling-match-roberto-8477566" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... to-8477566</a>
'The spirit of Roberto Mancini still infuses today’s Manchester City team, even if the Italian’s legacy has been soured in the last two years.
Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Mancini said a year ago that he deserved a large dose of credit for the exploits of a team that was breaking goalscoring record sand playing great football on its way to the Premier League title.
“The players scoring the goals are players that I bought - Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and David Silva,” Mancini said. “I think Pellegrini is doing a good job, but what is happening now at Manchester City, we did three years ago.”
It was typical Mancini, forthright and bold, but carrying an undeniable truth.
One year on, Mancini’s words still resonate. The world-class players at the heart of Manuel Pellegrini’s team, the driving force, are all Mancini signings – Aguero, Silva and Toure.
Throw in Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, as stalwarts and vital supporting players – both signed before the 2008 takeover – and it becomes apparent that, in terms of signings, this is not Pellegrini’s team at all.
He brought a swagger and dash that had been missing in Mancini’s final, fretful season, as well as pouring oil on waters troubled by the fiery, uncompromising “Bobby Manc”. But one thing that he has not done yet is properly enhance the squad he inherited – the jury is still out on the players recruited by Pellegrini, in conjunction with chief executive Ferran Soriano and football director Txiki Begiristain.
Indeed, it is perhaps the latter two who will carry the can if City DO flop.
Question marks have already been raised by the clumsy handling of the Frank Lampard fiasco, and the fact City were caned by Uefa’s financial fair play punishment, despite assurances that they would be OK. And so far the only signings in the Pellegrini era who have been an unqualified success have been bargain captures Martin Demichelis and Lampard.
The big-money captures have not ripped up any trees, with the possible exception of Fernandinho, who had a fine debut season but has blown hot and cold in the current campaign. At £30million, he probably should be capable of filling Yaya Toure’s boots, but that has not been evident.
Alvaro Negredo had a spectacular five months before fading and being shipped out, although that was for a small profit.
Stevan Jovetic was probably the marquee signing of the summer of 2013, the one that most excited fans and observers – but he was consumed by injuries last season and is still fighting to find his true form in this campaign.
Jesus Navas has also sparkled in fits and starts, but the lack of consistency and doubts over his end product, have dogged him in his first two seasons. He was definitely better in harness with Negredo.
This summer’s captures are being judged too quickly, but there are already concerns about whether Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando will be good enough in the long term. Mangala is young, but the price tag – which has been revealed to be £40million rather than the oft-cited £32million – weighs heavily around his neck. The fact that Pellegrini chose Demichelis ahead of him for the Arsenal game speaks volumes.
Fernando looked to be the answer to City’s problems in his first few games, and even though he has been unremarkable since returning from injury, he did enough to suggest he could come good. The other two incoming players, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero, were brought in as competition for Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart, but have quickly settled into the number two slots in their positions.
If City’s challenge falters and they end up trophy-less, hard questions will be asked when the club executives report to Abu Dhabi.'
The questions do however need to be asked. The main players of the current squad who are doing the business are those brought in by Mancini. Any and all of the signings since are questionable. The squad is an ageing one now, and are we just treading water until the current stopgap manager moves on?
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manuel-pellegrini-struggling-match-roberto-8477566" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... to-8477566</a>
'The spirit of Roberto Mancini still infuses today’s Manchester City team, even if the Italian’s legacy has been soured in the last two years.
Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Mancini said a year ago that he deserved a large dose of credit for the exploits of a team that was breaking goalscoring record sand playing great football on its way to the Premier League title.
“The players scoring the goals are players that I bought - Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and David Silva,” Mancini said. “I think Pellegrini is doing a good job, but what is happening now at Manchester City, we did three years ago.”
It was typical Mancini, forthright and bold, but carrying an undeniable truth.
One year on, Mancini’s words still resonate. The world-class players at the heart of Manuel Pellegrini’s team, the driving force, are all Mancini signings – Aguero, Silva and Toure.
Throw in Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, as stalwarts and vital supporting players – both signed before the 2008 takeover – and it becomes apparent that, in terms of signings, this is not Pellegrini’s team at all.
He brought a swagger and dash that had been missing in Mancini’s final, fretful season, as well as pouring oil on waters troubled by the fiery, uncompromising “Bobby Manc”. But one thing that he has not done yet is properly enhance the squad he inherited – the jury is still out on the players recruited by Pellegrini, in conjunction with chief executive Ferran Soriano and football director Txiki Begiristain.
Indeed, it is perhaps the latter two who will carry the can if City DO flop.
Question marks have already been raised by the clumsy handling of the Frank Lampard fiasco, and the fact City were caned by Uefa’s financial fair play punishment, despite assurances that they would be OK. And so far the only signings in the Pellegrini era who have been an unqualified success have been bargain captures Martin Demichelis and Lampard.
The big-money captures have not ripped up any trees, with the possible exception of Fernandinho, who had a fine debut season but has blown hot and cold in the current campaign. At £30million, he probably should be capable of filling Yaya Toure’s boots, but that has not been evident.
Alvaro Negredo had a spectacular five months before fading and being shipped out, although that was for a small profit.
Stevan Jovetic was probably the marquee signing of the summer of 2013, the one that most excited fans and observers – but he was consumed by injuries last season and is still fighting to find his true form in this campaign.
Jesus Navas has also sparkled in fits and starts, but the lack of consistency and doubts over his end product, have dogged him in his first two seasons. He was definitely better in harness with Negredo.
This summer’s captures are being judged too quickly, but there are already concerns about whether Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando will be good enough in the long term. Mangala is young, but the price tag – which has been revealed to be £40million rather than the oft-cited £32million – weighs heavily around his neck. The fact that Pellegrini chose Demichelis ahead of him for the Arsenal game speaks volumes.
Fernando looked to be the answer to City’s problems in his first few games, and even though he has been unremarkable since returning from injury, he did enough to suggest he could come good. The other two incoming players, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero, were brought in as competition for Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart, but have quickly settled into the number two slots in their positions.
If City’s challenge falters and they end up trophy-less, hard questions will be asked when the club executives report to Abu Dhabi.'