If Hughes deserves credit for one thing during his time here, it would probably be getting Robinho and Ireland to play as well as they could have done. They are the two best players on our books but Mancini doesn't seem to get either of them as footballers. He doesn't understand Ireland or simply does not value him highly enough to play him a role that suits him. Playing him on the right wing? That's stupidity. I wouldn't be against him playing on the left wing for the record as he could cut in and catch defenders on the backfoot but like all British players he seems hateful of versatility. Same goes for Rooney and Gerrard.
I think it's pretty clear that Mancini took over as manager having done very little research on the squad he was to inherit. He thought we needed a new midfielder in Vieira when we had adequate players there already, he seems to think that Boyata is a child prodigy that we've all been dying to see and he clearly sees Ireland as a decent utility player and nothing more. It's a shame as well because given the right players he can play systems to produce good football which, with the quality of our side, should be enough to beat most teams in this league. Just see Stoke today for god's sake. But he doesn't understand the players or English football. Just see Hiddink when he took over at Chelsea for an example of a man who really understands football in different countries.
It's a shame because we'll most probably sack him in the summer. We should have kept Hughes longer and gotten our real managerial targets.
I think it's pretty clear that Mancini took over as manager having done very little research on the squad he was to inherit. He thought we needed a new midfielder in Vieira when we had adequate players there already, he seems to think that Boyata is a child prodigy that we've all been dying to see and he clearly sees Ireland as a decent utility player and nothing more. It's a shame as well because given the right players he can play systems to produce good football which, with the quality of our side, should be enough to beat most teams in this league. Just see Stoke today for god's sake. But he doesn't understand the players or English football. Just see Hiddink when he took over at Chelsea for an example of a man who really understands football in different countries.
It's a shame because we'll most probably sack him in the summer. We should have kept Hughes longer and gotten our real managerial targets.