As a cathartic exercise designed to wash away the negativity of the last few weeks and the worry I have for the rest of the season I asked myself what I thought City would look like this time next year.
In truth there was some serious soul searching with regards of the management of the team. As some of you may know from previous posts of mine I am not a Mancini out kinda guy and have, until very recently poo-pooed the idea of Mourinho taking over but now I have my doubts.
So after all the info has been weighed and measured, all the speculation considered and the whispers (and some of the whisperers) interrogated I came to these conclusions.
Team Management
Unfortunately I don't think Mancini is going to last.
It's not the results now but more the messages about the real intentions of the owners allied to the poor response from the team and just a general sense that he is a dead man walking.
I dont take pleasure in this one at all but I now think that Mourinho will be in place for the start of next season.
Europe
This is one of the reasons for the change of management. City will still be in the Europa League although they will not have qualified for the Champions League.
Squad
There are no doubt going to be a great number of changes to the squad whoever is in charge come next season. If Mancini were to be in the role the signs are that some of the home grown talent and recent purchases are on their way out.
The same will no doubt the case under JM - I will not be so presumptuous as to pick and choose players, creating a list of ins and outs but I think City will add more steel to the midfield, more class upfront and more speed of foot and thought in defence.
Names to consider - Ribery, Ansaldi, Maicon,Aguero and Lampard.
There is also likely to be at least one mega-deal that will hang in the balance for a while but fail in the 11th hour.
Joe Hart will be recalled by City and handed the number one position with Shay used as back-up
Boardroom
I know some of the readers of this wont like it but Garry Cook will remain in place alongside Brian Marwood but there may well be a new Chairman along the lines of Chelsea's Bruce Buck.
Infrastructure
This is the most positive aspect of next year in many ways.
The new training facilities will be under way with a planned opening in late Summer 2011. The worlds greatest training camp will be of the highest spec and mouth wateringly good looking to boot.
The old casino site will be well on the way with underground car parks, leisure and shopping marking it as a world class destination.
City will have its own 20 storey hotel reaching up into the sky making the club the real focus of Manchester.
The buzz around the club in terms of infrastructure will be second to none and surpass all expectations.
We will still be taking on board the announcement of the planned extension of COMS, its purchase by the club and the competition to name the soon to be refurbished 60,000 seater venue.
League Position
After an almost hellish two years or so behind them City fans will be gleefully looking at City being 2nd in the league behind Chelsea, with United a distant 4th.
Bluemoon
The forum will be packed with negative threads about the fact that we only managed to beat United 4 - 0 when it should have ben at least 6.
Some people are only happy when they are moaning ;-)
How have I done?
In truth there was some serious soul searching with regards of the management of the team. As some of you may know from previous posts of mine I am not a Mancini out kinda guy and have, until very recently poo-pooed the idea of Mourinho taking over but now I have my doubts.
So after all the info has been weighed and measured, all the speculation considered and the whispers (and some of the whisperers) interrogated I came to these conclusions.
Team Management
Unfortunately I don't think Mancini is going to last.
It's not the results now but more the messages about the real intentions of the owners allied to the poor response from the team and just a general sense that he is a dead man walking.
I dont take pleasure in this one at all but I now think that Mourinho will be in place for the start of next season.
Europe
This is one of the reasons for the change of management. City will still be in the Europa League although they will not have qualified for the Champions League.
Squad
There are no doubt going to be a great number of changes to the squad whoever is in charge come next season. If Mancini were to be in the role the signs are that some of the home grown talent and recent purchases are on their way out.
The same will no doubt the case under JM - I will not be so presumptuous as to pick and choose players, creating a list of ins and outs but I think City will add more steel to the midfield, more class upfront and more speed of foot and thought in defence.
Names to consider - Ribery, Ansaldi, Maicon,Aguero and Lampard.
There is also likely to be at least one mega-deal that will hang in the balance for a while but fail in the 11th hour.
Joe Hart will be recalled by City and handed the number one position with Shay used as back-up
Boardroom
I know some of the readers of this wont like it but Garry Cook will remain in place alongside Brian Marwood but there may well be a new Chairman along the lines of Chelsea's Bruce Buck.
Infrastructure
This is the most positive aspect of next year in many ways.
The new training facilities will be under way with a planned opening in late Summer 2011. The worlds greatest training camp will be of the highest spec and mouth wateringly good looking to boot.
The old casino site will be well on the way with underground car parks, leisure and shopping marking it as a world class destination.
City will have its own 20 storey hotel reaching up into the sky making the club the real focus of Manchester.
The buzz around the club in terms of infrastructure will be second to none and surpass all expectations.
We will still be taking on board the announcement of the planned extension of COMS, its purchase by the club and the competition to name the soon to be refurbished 60,000 seater venue.
League Position
After an almost hellish two years or so behind them City fans will be gleefully looking at City being 2nd in the league behind Chelsea, with United a distant 4th.
Bluemoon
The forum will be packed with negative threads about the fact that we only managed to beat United 4 - 0 when it should have ben at least 6.
Some people are only happy when they are moaning ;-)
How have I done?