Mancini's Brutal Honesty

[eaststand]

answer 2: Doesn't really defend his players to the extent other managers do - is it a problem/issue?
answer 3: It's an area you wish Mancini was better at but overall not a major issue
answer 4: By saying what he really thinks in the media he has a fact to reference when questions get asked of him and thus securing his position. In a sense - being brutally honest in the media on his opinions, particularly when on the odd time within the club (like this summer) they're not being listened to - he can say "look at what i told you x number of months ago, i was right!"?


The reason why i ask this is because last season fergie's response to losing the title was "this group of young players will come again, they will learn from this". Whereas Mancini's is "We've made mistakes, we need to sign 3 top players (dependent on which media quotes you believe) in the summer."

Now obviously Fergie's approach is a lie but as someone who's been almost flawless with his psychological approach to the media manipulating them when he sees fit and always saying the right things, is that the right way? Ultimately he said what he said last summer but he did what Mancini is saying now.

I'm not for a second saying Mancini should go, but it just gets me wondering, does publicly saying we need to spend x amount on a striker or a midfielder (despite us needing another for 2 seasons) damage the confidence of the group in those positions, particularly after a season where we could not have asked anymore of our 4 strikers (apart from tevez to play more then 10 games!); does it have no effect, or does it keep players from getting complacent?

[Bluemoon]

I applaud his honesty.

[tarungrover25]

yup... its true mancini is honest.... but if u look at football, a teams success has been mainly due to its youth... mancini is talking about getting new signings to improve, which i feel is rubbish, instead he should go with young players like denis suarez if he rly want new players..... real passion and hard work gives the actual taste of glory

[eaststand]

The youth policy does seem to be an area Mancini comes in for a bit of stick, especially in journo articles linking other managers with the job. I'd love him to gamble a little more/show a little more faith but in terms of a judge of player, he's been pretty much faultless. He was quick to want away with Adebayor, look how that turned out. He preserver-ed with Balotelli when others (me included) where telling him it was time to go, who for all intents and purposes is doing pretty well at Milan. He brought in Boateng, a young player at the time and look how well he's gone on to do with Bayern. He's shown more than just faith but belief in Nastasic this season and it has paid dividends.

So when he says the current batch of 18-22 year olds aren't good enough or aren't complete enough players to offer anything at City yet i'd generally have to trust that assessment. Even if the argument against is that without opportunity, a lot of talented players past and present maybe would have never made it! The Brendan Rodgers situation strikes me as similar, everyone was praising Dalglesh and Liverpool for blooding these young players and having such a conver-belt of talent; Martin Kelly, Flannagan, Robinson and Spearing. But these players have been deemed not good enough or not ready by Rodgers but the likes and talents of Sterling, Wisdom and Countinho (albeit not an academy lad) have been given plenty chance, which is probably because they not only possess the potential but also know and are capable of playing the way the manager wants them to play. Which might be the issue with our current batch. There has been a massive influx of signings of players to the academy between the ages of 15-17 but very few at the 18-21 bracket. Whilst some of our more promising, albeit not exactly potential superstar players of the age group have moved on (either on loan of permanently) to seek regular first team football; i.e Ibrahim, Wiess, Trippier (named Championship right back of the season, impressive consider Burnley's season), Mee, Veseli and Boyata all/most of whom may not have had it in them to make the new grade of our first team but also all of whom where that current crop's best players.

I guess the way kids are rushed into the first team nowadays/get paid a fortune before they've proved anything, it's difficult. If we attempt to sign a promising 18-19 year old from a team they're going to want, in most cases, more than a couple of million and when you sign a player for more than a couple of million they're going to expect to be involved in the first team set up. Perhaps that is the problem we're facing now and are waiting for that current 16-18's batch to catch up an attenuate the current apparent lacking from the EDS. If you believe the papers it is one of the areas Tixki (can't spell his second name) and Serano are planning to resolve in the summer. I'd imagine 2-3 marquee signings, some expected and some not so expected departures and 3-4 players of U23 yrs

[trautmansdropkick]

One thing I'd like to add to this discussion is that the criticisms that Mancini has been making against some players are, generally, well deserved and, in addition, add to his presence and his position as the man in charge.
Hughes was a softy and just look at what has developed for him !

[Bluemoon]

Mark who ?