Article Praising Pellegrini

[The Silver Surfer]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/no-one-laughing-manchester-city-anymore-4095988?

What is Manuel Pellegrini’s greatest achievement as Manchester City’s manager?

Is it to harness the prowess of a ­forward line that is as potent as any in world football?

Is it to have taken the club one stage further in the Champions League, ­establishing them as ­significant players in Europe?

Or is it the triumph of a second Premier League ­title? Creating the winning ­mentality that is ­becoming second nature at the Etihad.

Yes, the cool Chilean, the ­master of the understatement, can be praised for all of the above.

But the real skill in Pellegrini’s ­current class of players has been two-fold.

First, he has managed to keep a dressing room of Galacticos all ­singing from the same hymn sheet.

More importantly, he has turned ­Manchester City into one of the most boring clubs in the Premier League.

That’s not a criticism. And I’m not talking about ‘boring’ on the pitch – far from it.

It is a sign of a healthy club when they don’t occupy the front pages of our national newspapers.

Obviously, it hasn’t always been this way. For football folk approaching their middle age, Manchester City were ­always good for a laugh.

Observers used to look back with fondness at the really good stories which made the rest of the watching football world smile.

You’ll remember them. It started with former chairman Peter Swales, who almost bankrupted the club at the turn of the ’80s with his purchase of a string of players who weren’t really capable of living up to their price tags. Steve Daley, Kevin Reeves and the rest.

That sparked a downward spiral at the club which spawned some ­memorable tales.

Getty
My way or the high way: Mancini wasn't a fan of compromise

Indeed, it was Franny Lee, shortly after taking over from Swales, who claimed: “If there were cups for cock-ups, then Manchester City’s trophy cabinet would be bursting.”

Me? Well, I particularly admired the one about Steve Lomas.

You’ll remember it. Last match of the 1995-96 campaign. Manchester City came back from two-down against Liverpool, thinking it would be good enough to save them from the drop. Manager Alan Ball orders the midfielder to take the ball to the corner flag, having been given some ­erroneous information.

Cue a desperate Niall Quinn charging down the players’ tunnel, telling a startled Maine Road that they needed to win the game.

Too little, too late. Manchester City are relegated. Ho ho! We all had a chuckle at that one. There’s been ­several since then. In 2003, Manchester City became the first team to lose a Premier League game without the ­opposition (Middlesbrough) having a direct shot on target – Sun Jihai putting through his own goal.

We had the sight of Stuart Pearce taking a stuffed toy – a horse called ‘Beanie’ – to sit on the sidelines with him for good luck. (A man nicknamed Psycho with a teddy?)

The whole episode with Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra ended with former chairman John Wardle having to pay the players’ wages.

It didn’t stop after the Sheikhs took over, either. Chief executive Garry Cook firing off distasteful emails about Nedum Onuoha’s ­cancer-stricken mum ... to Onoua’s mum.

Then we had Roberto Mancini’s ‘my way or the highway’ ­dictats. Fireworks from Mario Balotelli on and off the field. And Carlos Tevez ­driving while disqualified.

Now? Twitter ­accounts ­celebrate ‘Boring James Milner’.


VIEW GALLERY
The dressing room is filled with high-class players who ­appear to enjoy ­playing for the club – the best of whom have been signed to long-term contracts.

The club means what it says ­regarding community involvement.

They do not appear to be merely paying lip service to it – although, with a bottomless pit of money to splash around, they don’t have to.

And now they have landed Frank Lampard – the current England captain – on a free transfer from their biggest title rivals. Gift-wrapped.

Pellegrini has either instigated – or been part of all of that.

No nonsensical spats in public, ­despite Jose Mourinho’s goadings.

A happy camp that knows how to grind out victories. And one that is set to have a decent crack at the Champions League this season.

And you know the best thing of all for England’s champions. Now that Mr Ferguson has departed, their biggest rivals, United, just cannot get it right, can they?.

So, yes, the club has been through the mill. But if there is such a thing as a higher being, he’s currently sat upstairs wearing a sky blue scarf.

Laughing with Manchester City. Not at them.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/no-one-laughing-manchester-city-anymore-4095988?

What is Manuel Pellegrini’s greatest achievement as Manchester City’s manager?

Is it to harness the prowess of a ­forward line that is as potent as any in world football?

Is it to have taken the club one stage further in the Champions League, ­establishing them as ­significant players in Europe?

Or is it the triumph of a second Premier League ­title? Creating the winning ­mentality that is ­becoming second nature at the Etihad.

Yes, the cool Chilean, the ­master of the understatement, can be praised for all of the above.

But the real skill in Pellegrini’s ­current class of players has been two-fold.

First, he has managed to keep a dressing room of Galacticos all ­singing from the same hymn sheet.

More importantly, he has turned ­Manchester City into one of the most boring clubs in the Premier League.

That’s not a criticism. And I’m not talking about ‘boring’ on the pitch – far from it.

It is a sign of a healthy club when they don’t occupy the front pages of our national newspapers.

Obviously, it hasn’t always been this way. For football folk approaching their middle age, Manchester City were ­always good for a laugh.

Observers used to look back with fondness at the really good stories which made the rest of the watching football world smile.

You’ll remember them. It started with former chairman Peter Swales, who almost bankrupted the club at the turn of the ’80s with his purchase of a string of players who weren’t really capable of living up to their price tags. Steve Daley, Kevin Reeves and the rest.

That sparked a downward spiral at the club which spawned some ­memorable tales.

Getty
My way or the high way: Mancini wasn't a fan of compromise

Indeed, it was Franny Lee, shortly after taking over from Swales, who claimed: “If there were cups for cock-ups, then Manchester City’s trophy cabinet would be bursting.”

Me? Well, I particularly admired the one about Steve Lomas.

You’ll remember it. Last match of the 1995-96 campaign. Manchester City came back from two-down against Liverpool, thinking it would be good enough to save them from the drop. Manager Alan Ball orders the midfielder to take the ball to the corner flag, having been given some ­erroneous information.

Cue a desperate Niall Quinn charging down the players’ tunnel, telling a startled Maine Road that they needed to win the game.

Too little, too late. Manchester City are relegated. Ho ho! We all had a chuckle at that one. There’s been ­several since then. In 2003, Manchester City became the first team to lose a Premier League game without the ­opposition (Middlesbrough) having a direct shot on target – Sun Jihai putting through his own goal.

We had the sight of Stuart Pearce taking a stuffed toy – a horse called ‘Beanie’ – to sit on the sidelines with him for good luck. (A man nicknamed Psycho with a teddy?)

The whole episode with Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra ended with former chairman John Wardle having to pay the players’ wages.

It didn’t stop after the Sheikhs took over, either. Chief executive Garry Cook firing off distasteful emails about Nedum Onuoha’s ­cancer-stricken mum ... to Onoua’s mum.

Then we had Roberto Mancini’s ‘my way or the highway’ ­dictats. Fireworks from Mario Balotelli on and off the field. And Carlos Tevez ­driving while disqualified.

Now? Twitter ­accounts ­celebrate ‘Boring James Milner’.


VIEW GALLERY
The dressing room is filled with high-class players who ­appear to enjoy ­playing for the club – the best of whom have been signed to long-term contracts.

The club means what it says ­regarding community involvement.

They do not appear to be merely paying lip service to it – although, with a bottomless pit of money to splash around, they don’t have to.

And now they have landed Frank Lampard – the current England captain – on a free transfer from their biggest title rivals. Gift-wrapped.

Pellegrini has either instigated – or been part of all of that.

No nonsensical spats in public, ­despite Jose Mourinho’s goadings.

A happy camp that knows how to grind out victories. And one that is set to have a decent crack at the Champions League this season.

And you know the best thing of all for England’s champions. Now that Mr Ferguson has departed, their biggest rivals, United, just cannot get it right, can they?.

So, yes, the club has been through the mill. But if there is such a thing as a higher being, he’s currently sat upstairs wearing a sky blue scarf.

Laughing with Manchester City. Not at them.

That's a very positive article, although assuming my occasional role as a pedant, that Francis Lee quote was from his days as a player at the club iirc.

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

I enjoyed reading that. I would say that Kevin Reeves was a cracking little player, though. No Kenny Dalglish, but no Steve Daley either.

 

[proudbear]

Just fell off my chair. The Mirror?? MIRROR? Saying God wears a sky blue scarf and saying the rags are calamitous?

Never thought id see the day. Oh how times change

 

[Henkeman]

It's a good piece, but it also explains exactly why (from a media perspective) City don't get that much coverage. They don't give them anything to write about except football. And the press aren't that interested in football per se, they want gossip. Articles like that are 'boring'.

 

[yeah whatever !!]

Falls of chair...........

 

[Rammyblues]

I know we have all knocked the Mirror in the past but maybe its me they seem to have been reasonable about our transfer activity as well, I wonder if they have got the "ear" of our club for information.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I enjoyed reading that. I would say that Kevin Reeves was a cracking little player, though. No Kenny Dalglish, but no Steve Daley either.

I too liked a Kevin Reeves, BTP. He wasn't nearly prolific enough, but he had a great first touch, held the ball up very well for his size and was superb at flick-ons. My favourite player in the early 80's.

 

[Henkeman]

I enjoyed reading that. I would say that Kevin Reeves was a cracking little player, though. No Kenny Dalglish, but no Steve Daley either.

I too liked a Kevin Reeves, BTP. He wasn't nearly prolific enough, but he had a great first touch, held the ball up very well for his size and was superb at flick-ons. My favourite player in the early 80's.

He scored the first City goal I ever saw live (a penalty), so he's a God of my childhood.

 

[Bewar3them00n]

Just fell off my chair. The Mirror?? MIRROR? Saying God wears a sky blue scarf and saying the rags are calamitous?

Never thought id see the day. Oh how times change

Yes, they'll be slagging off Labour and getting into bed with Camer... Oh, wait a minute......