Well ... Looks like he'll be out in some form or another before the deadline: <a class="postlink" href="http://tiny.cc/2yzkk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://tiny.cc/2yzkk</a>
Whether these interviews are pre meditated, or an honest guy shooting from the hip, it doesn't matter. He's gone against Mancini, and he's lost. Last night he asked Toshack for a full 90 mins, 'cos he's had so little game time pre-season. In the interview after the game, a BBC presenter told him about not being in the Europa league squad. The club hadn't. He's finished at City, sadly.
It's bad news for 2 reasons:
1. We're losing one of our best players. Forget his knees - last season he scored 10, had the most assists, and the best attitude of any player on the pitch bar Tevez. He linked up brilliantly with Carlos, and opposition teams HATED playing against him. If it hadn't been for Tevez's goals, Bellamy would have been our player of the season, No doubt about it.
2. I understand the manager has to have authority. But it has to be consistent. Mancini isn't showing strength here, he's showing exactly the same weakness we all criticized Hughes for. You can't let some players behave differently from others. Otherwise, nobody knows where they stand. Tevez speaks out against the training sessions, and he's made Club Captain. Bellamy speaks out, and he's forced out.
It's exactly what Hughes did. Robihno and Elano both behaved badly, but Hughes supported Robhino and scapegoated Elano. And exactly how did Robinho re-pay that loyalty? By taking the piss. Stand by for Tevez to do the same in the next 2 years.
Bellamy is an idiot, no question. But he's a great player. A vital player for us.
Mancini should have tried harder to work with him.If not, he should be consistent, and offload everyone who's ever criticized him publicly, (including Tevez, Robinho & Given).
Be consistent, or don't make a stand at all. This is BAD management.