The reality is that whilst people continue to "blame" Cook and Marwood for Mancini's dissatisfaction, it is Khaldoun who ultimately makes financial/transfer decisions as he clearly stated in his end of season video. He also clearly stated that we would not be recruiting in the same way as we have done in the last couple of summers. This was completely at odds with what Mancini has said since...so it seems a touch unfair to be laying it all at the doorstep of the other two.
Well, yes, but I think it's gone something a little bit like this:
Khaldoon says, FFP coming, we must tighten up a bit.
He promises Mancini 30 + 5 to 10m for every player they get off the books, plus Aguero as a replacement for Tevez.
Mancini says, fine, 40m on Sanchez, I'll worry about the other positions later on.
Cook and Marwood aren't quite as fussed about Sanchez as Macini. They go in low, maybe don't do a good job selling the club to Sanchez, who senses a bit of reticence and suddenly realises that all along he wanted to be a squad player at Barca.
Mancini says, fucking great, he was the key to my plan.
Now Mancini, Cook and Marwood come up with Nasri. A similarly skilled player but with less potential and a completely different character. Sanchez is a little lion just like Silva, and plays wherever he is told. Nasri is a bad boy, and has already made a big fuss about his preferred position. Of course that's only significant to the manager, the CEO and Director are not concerned with the personalities and dynamics of the group.
Cook and Marwood are happy though; they are going back to their comfort zones; for Cook it's established big name players, for Marwood it's dealing with Arsenal.
If I was Mancini I'd think, hey, perhaps they wanted this all along.
And then they pay a huge amount in fees and wages.... and then they turn round and say to Mancini, sorry, no more money, because we didn't shift the last lot.
In principle Khaldoon's decision would have kept Mancini happy, but in practise....?
