Couple of responses to a few posts in the thread:
Firstly, thanks to all those who have ordered, it's very much appreciated and I'll make sure the distributor gets the books out to you as soon as they're ready.
Now, on the title - It's impossible to please all of the people all of the time. It's called 'The Man Who Restored Pride' because it covers the Mancini years at City with a focus on the manager (his methods, his style, and both his positives and his negatives - I'm not trying to pretend he was perfect, when he wasn't) and, most of all, putting it into context with the years that had gone before it.
I'm not trying to claim that the FA Cup and the Premier League wins were all down to Mancini, though it has all come on his watch through his methods - that said, it's not a pro-Mancini book; it is all about opinions and mine are in there, though if you're reading it I'm not asking you to agree with me. I'm also trying to analyse what Mancini did well and what he did badly, how that affected the club and, again, put it all into context with Manchester City.
Equally, I'm not trying to say that I was ever ashamed to be a City fan. We've all experienced the 'if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong' feeling that City fans have and God knows there have been some embarrassing results in my 25 years, let alone those who've been supporting since before I was born. The point of 'restoring pride' is more about ending the years of being 'everyone's second club' because we were a club whose ability to shoot itself in the foot knew no bounds. Others used to look at us with a sympathetic smile and few will do that now.
I suppose I can't win on the Sheikh Mansour front - I was criticised for the very first edition of my first book (a print on-demand paperback, that's now out of print) about City from the takeover to the FA Cup win, because I was focusing only on the time when we were rich. Typical City was pretty much a more succinct version of that book and now, in this one, I've tried to steer clear of the takeover.
I've tried to make it an interesting read and I don't like releasing material that isn't the best it can be, though that being said I can't make you like it. Some people will, some people won't, there's nothing I can do about that (although I hope you do, obviously!). Given the nature of the publishing industry, I can't claim to be "cashing in" as I'm taking quite a financial risk in backing myself on this project (long story, but if it fails to sell, then I'm financially liable).
I'm not adverse to criticism (after all, nothing anybody can say about my writing ability will ever come close to the sorts of things my head can say about it - I guess writers are quite naturally some of the most fragile people on the planet when it comes to self-belief/criticism) and if you don't like it, I can only apologise. I would prefer that criticism came after having read it, though, rather than judging it solely by the cover etc.
Either way, I'd hope that you'll enjoy it, but if you don't fancy it - I won't be offended if you don't buy it. I'd just like it to be given a fair crack of the whip.
David
AustinBlue said:
Does the book have any insider information from people who worked with Mancini, or any candid interviews with players that aren't in the press already? Or is it more a fan's perspective?
I've used what perspective I can get - through my job, I've been able to speak to one or two of the players and various people at the club while Mancini was in charge, but if it's an insider scoop you want this isn't going to be what you're after, I'm afraid. The interviews I did all featured on the Blue Moon Podcast, so if you've heard them there's little more to add.
The book is more an analysis of Roberto Mancini, City under him and putting the last three-and-a-half years into context with the years before it. I've tried to make the analysis as impartial as I can, and there are bits of my own personal experiences and my thoughts in there too.
I hope this helps. :)
