ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- The Tevez situation

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 12/13/2010

I was planning to write about the West Ham game as the absence of Carlos Tevez created in some ways the first true example of the Mancini diamond in action. However fairly obviously that is a column for another time as the transfer request from Tevez has created something of a furor. There are, I believe, at least three different issues that are fueling the situation.

The first is that Tevez's domestic situation changed this year. As with Rooney, I'm not a fan of delving into a player's private life. Suffice to say that apparently Tevez and his long term partner split and she returned to Argentina along with the couple's children. Tevez appears to be legitimately unsettled and homesick wanting to be near his kids.

Second an overlooked part of the equation is that Tevez doesn't really fit Mancini's tactical preference. Yes, that's somewhat of a bizarre statement given the number of goals that the Argentinian has scored for City, but as I've discussed in the past Tevez comes back for the ball and that actually creates conflict with the creative midfielder playing in an advanced central role (AMC). Against West Ham you saw more of the flow in the attacking phase that we can expect from a Mancini team. The back four is set, de Jong and Barry provide a defensive cover in front of them and then one of the ball winning midfielders, in this case Yaya Toure, the AMC David Silva and two strikers, Jo and Balotelli. All four have defensive duties as well but as the team turns defense into offense then Toure, Silva, Jo and Balotelli were showing a tremendous amount of movement and changing of position which caused West Ham significant trouble. Tevez, within context, doesn't really work in that formation.

It's been my long held belief that Tevez would leave this summer if Champions League qualification was achieved. Despite speculation suggesting that Tevez will leave in the January window I find that highly unlikely. City's goal this season is to qualify for the Champions League. Once that is obtained then, and only then, do I feel Tevez will leave the club.

And third, there is the implication in the City issued statement that the problems stem from a desire for an improved contract. Even if true this is a serious mis calculation by the City hierarchy. Tevez has always struck me as a player who more than anything needs to be wanted. I'm not naive, money plays an important part in the decision making of most players, but the utter joy with which Tevez jumped into the crowd after scoring his first goal for West Ham against Spurs has always stuck with me. Then there was the United situation and the pursuit of Tevez by Mark Hughes. Throw in a comment here and there and that's my take on Tevez.

As such to issue a statement, as the club did Sunday, implying that the desire for a new contract was at least part of the issue is quite possibly the most ill conceived notion since Lincoln said "I'm bored, let's take in a show." If truly money is the root of the problem then calling out the player isn't going to make him happy and if money isn't, as I suspect, the issue then you've just made him so pissed off that nothing can save the situation. Just because United were successful in painting Rooney as the bad guy doesn't mean that it should be the normal tactic for dealing with unhappy players.

Tevez is gone. Not today, not I suspect in January, but soon. He will not finish out his contract at the club. Of that I am certain. Mancini and by extension Garry Cook and Brian Marwood better hope that they qualify for the Champions League this year. Winning cures just about everything in football, but the number of players that are being pushed out is starting to become an issue. Elano, Robinho, Petrov, Bellamy, Ireland, Onuoha, the upcoming Given and more. Certainly some of this is related to the Sven to Hughes to Mancini transition and the desire of managers to have their own players, however it's a trend that needs to come to an end.

Comments

Posted by z on 12/13/2010

Why do you think Mancini prefers Jo in this role to Adebayor? Jo did not have a great game yesterday, while Adebayor has been pretty impressive.

Wallace Reply Honestly I have no idea; I would like to see Adebayor and Balotelli play together. That being said I'd like to see Jo play a few games with Silva as the Brazilian used to make decent runs into space when he was at CSKA Moscow and I'd like to see if Silva can provide the service. You don't score goals at a better than 1 in every 2 games, even in the Russian league, unless you are good. To put in perspective, Roman Pavlyuchenko's goal scoring record was better, but not by a huge amount.

Posted by The Archivist on 12/13/2010

City offered its take on the Tevez situation because the club is probably finally now finished with mollycoddling this spoiled brat. He is desperately lonely, I would note, because his long-time girlfriend and mother of his two daughters went back home after she discovered that he was cheating on her with a 19-year old. No doubt he feels that is also the fault of Cook and Marwood.

I am surprised that you have made no mention of Kia Joorabchian in this blog post.

The turnover in personnel is a bit unnerving, perhaps, but you've gone too far in asserting that "...it's a trend that needs to come to an end." Does this mean that you are in favor of retaining the following players, Wallace - Adebayor, RSC, Jo, Caicedo, SWP, Bridge, Lescott and Given? Just wondering.....

Wallace Reply It's the quality of player leaving that concerns me. Of your list I'd only consider Given and Adebayor to be in that group in terms of quality. SWP I'd send out on loan, at his best he's great but it's been a while since we have seen that.

Posted by kevansam71 on 12/13/2010

So who do you think gains the most by Tevez leaving?Adebayor,Johnson,Jo please say Bellamys coming back,I know hes not ,but i can dream.

Wallace Reply Bellamy should be brought back which would allow City to occasionally play a 4-2-3-1 with Johnson on the right and Silva as the AMC.

I don't believe any of the players benefit from Tevez leaving as I'm convinced City will purchase 3 central forwards in the next year to add to Balotelli. If Jo gets better then that would be two new players. Personally I'd like to see how John Guidetti would do, he's on loan at Burnley, as well.

Posted by Nova on 12/13/2010

Sorry, when the chips are down i only see Tevez fighting to keep us in the game. If we lose him, i do think it would be hard for us to seriously come back from games. Still where do you think he could end up?

Wallace Reply I think he gets sold to a Spanish club and retires at the end of his contract.

Posted by Evan Georgiou on 12/13/2010

The Club Statement is spot on....Tevez has exonerated Roberto-that's very nice of him-who does he think he is?He has a contract with Man City and he should man up and fulfil it.He is always the first to talk about being a man.He is the highest earner and is now the highest in maintenace fees.Roberto can get a top 4 place without him.In this day and age it takes a noble man to fulfil his obligations....Tevez is not noble.

Posted by jsg on 12/13/2010

Basically, Tevez's statement can be summarised into - "The fans love me and I love them. But I must leave, and it is all someone else's fault"

sounds very familiar to me...

Posted by Martin Nazimek on 12/13/2010

i really cant stand this at all. We are already hated by a lot of people because of our resources and now this. There are players here who want to win, but tevez did really score a lot. When he doesnt play the scoring is going to come from who? Yaya usually does not score. We need a true forward. I would love to see Carroll in a city shirt. He knows the british style and he is young. Dzeko is my initial want, but dont know if he will be the same in the EPL, although the Germans have a similar style of physical play. Where do you thing we are going to get our goals from now Wallace? CTID

Wallace Reply I think Torres will be revisited, but Liverpool under new ownership are in no pressure to sell. Also remember that Silva can play as a second striker with Adam Johnson playing the creative midfield role (Balotelli and Silva with Johnson as AMC is actually pretty darn good). But any way you slice it, City are in the market for at least a couple of forwards.

Posted by AK on 12/13/2010

First thought I had after the West Ham match was "this is too good to go on". And it has. You make valid arguments about how Tevez doesn't fit into Mancini's favourite formations. You neglect to mention an important statistic however: Despite Adebayor, Balotelli, Jo, Yaya Toure, David Silva, et. al, Tevez has almost half our goals this season. He single handedly brings us back from matches when we are down.
As a long time City fan I watched his arrival from our cross town rivals with giddyness. Then he goes on to score 30-odd goals in 60 matches cementing him as a fan favourite. Whatever you want to say: losing Tevez is going to hurt bigtime, right as we were on the verge of a massivew rise.
I like that Sheikh Mansour has backed Mancini and feel Mancini has done amazing job balancing all the egos.
But whatever you want to say about formations, losing Tevez is not good (and who's on the market as a replacement???)

Posted by Daniel on 12/13/2010

As a general statement, building a team is an art, but so is buying one like City is trying to do. It's what Real Madrid does. City is learning to do so and the people there now seem to have a handle on it, so of course they're going to have to let some of the other previous buys go.

As far as Tevez goes, it's about money. It's not about man management. He's already come out and said he's okay with Mancini and Cook is the real problem. That tells me the real problem is Joorabchian. Every story now is quoting a "source close to Tevez/City." Guess who that is.

My hope--and it's probably not realistic--is that we can work out a deal to swap Tevez for Karim Benzema and then launch a major bid for another striker such as Torres or Dzeko.

For now I'm just going to be happy sitting joint top and console myself that at the very least our formation shape was so much better against West Ham because Tevez wasn't dropping so deep constantly. Maybe that's my blue-tinted glasses, but it'll do.

Posted by chris on 12/13/2010

Tevez will probably leave - hopefully not before the end of the season - and I think if he is here until then he will bust his gut even more than ever.

That said, if he were to be sold in January or frozen out Robinho style, who would score the goals? recent results aside, City have been way too reliant on his goals to carry them this season... without him, no shot at title and possible another Fifth Place finish.

Posted by Justin on 12/13/2010

I'm so conflicted on this issue. Tevez is the most passionate player I've ever watched play the game on the pitch...however, off of it, he is a lonely and solitary man that wants to be removed from everything that makes him the great player he is. While I think it will only hurt City to lose Tevez, sometimes the emotional state of player won't allow him to stay. City will overcome and I fully agree, David Silva looked brilliant in the AMC role! More to come, only if "super" Mario can hold off a defender and not whine about it (kind of like Tevez being half his size and holding off anyone!)

Posted by Jesse on 12/13/2010

Wallace, your proposal that Bellamy return and that City play 4-5-1 with Silva "in the hole" means that someone out of Barry, de Jong or Yaya must be dropped. I don't see it happening because Mancini places a huge premium on possession, and Bellamy is not a possession player. Neither is AJ for that matter, which is why AJ makes cameos and does not start. Mancini is about 65% possession and winning 1-0. Unlike Hughes who was about 45% possession and winning 4-3...

Wallace Reply Yes, I know. It's just Bellamy was so good the early part of last year.

Posted by SAm on 12/13/2010

It is time some of you people start thinking like big club supporters. Bellamy? SWP? Please! These are players that look great in average teams when they are the stars but cannot stand not being the star. The sooner they leave the better. Mancini needs his core players, which he seems to be drawing together, and then get rid of the waste. Pretty much all of Mark Hughes signings are in this catagory. Good but not great players. Adebyor is a good player but is not willing to sacrifice for the team and it would be best if he left too. As for Tevez, I can see him going to Spain to be honest, not in January as you said but summer. I think he is over England, its cold and its physical style. I am also suprised that people havent picked up on the no christmas/new years comment by Tevez. It is obvious that the lack of a mid season break is a source of consternation.

Posted by Grayson on 12/13/2010

Wallace, I was hoping you would be one of the ones to comment more on the West Ham game and less on the Tevez brouhaha. However, this article is entirely worthy as you, per usual, tend to focus less on the swirling rumors and trite reporting, and put the spotlight more on how the issues affect the club, the formations, and the future. Thank you for that.

I don't know if a win over a team that is currently bottom of the table merits a seperate blog entry, but I'd appriciate. I like the way that City is playing right now, and I especially like your coverage of the formations and tactics that Mancini is using.

After watching a lot of birthing peings for city over the first dozen or so games, it's nice to see something positive come to fruition. With City now surpassing Chelsea on the table, and looking to hang in there not just for the 4 position, but maybe something better, I'm a little nauseated looking for actual reporting on the team other than Tevez topics.

Wallace Reply Some thoughts on the West Ham game should worth coming.

Posted by Sam on 12/13/2010

Pardon my language, but to me, Tevez's comments boil down to one thing: Garry Cook is an asshole. Carlito has gone out of his way to thank the ownership and reiterate that his relationship with Mancini is just fine. That leaves Cook, and I too would never want to work under a character like him.

Posted by Francisco Silva on 12/13/2010

IMO Tevez is sincere about his desire to leave. He is a passionate player and gives it all day in day out. His problem is probably that some other players are just thinking about the next payday.

He should be a pro and see out his contract of course but the current football rules allow players to get away with what they want regardless of what they sign.

At the same time, I need to mention that I don't agree entirely with the Mancini preferred formation. Tevez is an integral part of the team, his goals are normally match winners, and Mancini knows this. I am sure he will relax all of his tactical rules in exchange for Tevez to keep scoring winners. You will not get points to start your preferred formation but by scoring goals, which is what Carlito does.

Posted by Francisco Silva on 12/13/2010

There is too much focus on formations I have noticed lately. But modern managers are doing more and more man-management and rarely talk about the 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1. Getting the most out of players is more important than how they line up when they come out to play. Check out Barcelona’s line up, you won’t know the formation they are playing if it wasn’t for how they start the game, after this they will adopt whatever formation suits the game. When they loose the ball the look so desperate to get it back, like their bonuses depended on ball possession and not results; there is no formation when they are chasing rivals. Check out ESPN average position when following a match and also the heat tracker and you will see what I mean.

Posted by Noah Wexler on 12/13/2010

First of all Tevez is absolutely great on the field and a I appreciate what he has done for City so far and look forward to more this season. I think this situation has everything to do with Tevez's agent. The window is coming up and City is extremely vunerable to this tactic given Tevez' importance at this juncture of the season. This is a scott boras/kia move if I have ever seen one. That being said, Tevez has been a suspect captain choice because of his ineptitude with the media and english language. Every comment he makes is taken so far out of context its rediculous but this is magnified by his inability to articulate what he means in a way that cannot be twisted into a half a$$ story for the back pages. I never understood why Mancini made him captain to begin with. Kolo, Barry, De Jong and Kompany play every game are seemingly level headed (De Jong's is good crazy) and speak english. I think leaving it with Kolo or giving it to Barry would have been a wiser move.

Posted by Abyssight on 12/13/2010

Jonathan Wilson does not agree with your tactical assessment of Tevez's role in Mancini's 4-3-3. Tevez's drop-back is exactly what helps to link the midfield and front.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/nov/09/carlos-tevez-city-the-question

Wallace Reply I completely disagree with everything in that article except the final paragraph. You can call City's formation a 4-3-3 but that's not really accurate. In attack it's closer to a 3-2-3-2... The first three is the central defenders plus one full back. The next 2 are de Jong and Barry and the second 3 are one over lapping full back, Toure and Silva while the final 2 are the two forwards.

Posted by Adam on 12/13/2010

I agree the buying and selling of big names players should stop. Buying these big names creates problems when they do not start every game, cause they start to complain publicly and disrupt the locker room. I feel like the signing today of Israeli youngster Gai Assulin is a step in the right direction(from what I have read about him). Start building a farm system.

Other note, why does Adam Johnson not start? everytime he gets onto the pitch he makes a big difference. He did more in 10 minutes then Jo did all game.

Posted by Kyle Fjetland on 12/14/2010

If Tevez leaves, do you think that the rumors around City adding either Ibrahimovic or Dzeko start heating up again?

Wallace Reply I think City will be linked to every striker on the planet.

Posted by Yahga on 12/14/2010

I always thought that when you have a job to do, just go and do it...you are getting paid to do it...Do it or if you can't handle the working conditions leave.

I love Tevez, I feel more confident in us winning when he is on the pitch that not. Not only for his goal scoring ability, but his presence makes everyone around him better. However, we have a good squad of players that can replace Tevez. Silva, Yaya, are coming into their own. Mario keeps his head; Adebayor stop complaining; We will be the team to beat.

Tevez said it best...Give it some time, and the finish product will be there. We will attract quality players...not just big names. I would so want to see us keep that ball like Barca.

Posted by Daniel on 12/14/2010

In response to Adam re: Jo/AJ

No, AJ didn't do more than Jo. Yes, he scored. Yes he was valuable. Jo passed well, put together some beautiful crosses Balotelli should have and didn't capitalize on, gave Hart a target, dragged defenders to give scorers room (including I believe for AJ's score), and helped keep the shape of the team at a tactical advantage. For the poster that thinks formations are overrated, it's about shape. Mancini's preferred formation seems fluid, but it's all about shape. You need proper spacing and positioning and movement.

Tevez is very important, but he also makes himself important because he's capable of scoring on his own and from disadvantageous positions. He makes himself important by doing this after he's the one that prevents the formation shape from holding true. Yaya had a great game because he wasn't forced back by Tevez dropping unnecessarily deep. Playing Tevez has obvious advantages. City can play to different advantages without him, though.

Posted by pj demers on 12/14/2010

It gives me no joy to say this but he has to go. Perhaps City can grant him "compassionate leave" to go back to Argentina while behind closed doors the club can play hardball with Joorabchian and force him to buy out his contract or negotiate an expensive transfer to Real Madrid. City need to put this issue to bed quickly. January or June he is as good as gone. I see no point in holding on to a player who clearly does not want to be at City. My question is do you now strip him of the captaincy? The club's response to his request aside, I don't think Tevez can truly say he's been treated unfairly by the club who for the most part have catered to his needs and his ego. I also wonder if this saga drags out if Mancini will be forced to give Ade a chance as the club has said we will sell before we buy.I think it says alot when Tevez's behavior makes Ade look mature by comparison.

Wallace Reply Gareth Barry should be the captain of the club. I expected it the day he was signed and haven't changed my mind since.

Posted by SK on 12/15/2010

Not much of a fan of Tevez. Ok he scores goals and puts in 200% every game... but there have been many opportunities to pass to a free man who would have a clear shot at goal yet Tevez wanted to take on 3 men to try and get the goal himself. I believe he is passionate but not much of a team player. I enjoyed watching the West Ham game and seeing more of a flowing game. The reason why no one else usually scores for City is because Tevez hardly passes

If Balotelli can learn the EPL way he would be no doubt one of the best players in the league. If he has the heart. Assulin is a new signing so another strength to the attacking midfield.

Posted by Andrew on 12/15/2010

I respect your perspective as a City fan but alot of what you are saying is either 1) too optimistic or 2) hogwash.

Adebayor? Lazy and disinterested in our club. Not at all what he once was. If Tevez leaves, I shutter for the day that we think Adebayor is going to provide half of the goals #32 did for us.

Balotelli? Good technical skill, but again, lazy and disinterested in our club. I have no interest in configuring a Johnson/Silva/Balotelli scenario right now, 'cause I think Silva and Johnson would be running around like madmen trying to get Balotelli the ball, while he would be sitting around the box waiting for the 45th minute. We might as well force Tevez to pay up, give Balo like two more games, and they try to buy someone else.

Seriously I want nothing to do with these moaning strikers, no matter how good they. As for Silva/Johnson/Yaya, etc. they are pure class and I think they genuinely enjoy playing for City. And that's all I ask.

And Champions League football.

Posted by Skotty on 12/15/2010

who will city buy in jan or end of the season with tevez gone i think we can still do it but we need some to fill his spot clearly ??

Wallace Reply City need another young tall striker to play with Balotelli and then at least one veteran striker to provide back up.

Posted by alex11 on 12/15/2010

who would be the main targets in jan or end of the yr if tevez leaves ?Adebyor could he score every week like he did with the gunners?? or even santa crus?

Posted by JJ on 12/15/2010

Time to let him go when he thinks he is bigger for the club. Same old problems during his times at his previous clubs except west ham.

Posted by Ed on 12/16/2010

City needs a striker who will stop moaning, shut up and play. Robinho, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Tevez, Jo, Bellamy (striker/winger) all seem to have problems keeping their opinions to themselves and letting their football do the talking.

How about signing someone like Diego Forlan for a change. The man knows his football and certainly has his scoring boots. And he played for United - even better a deal if he proves a success. And don't take me too seriously on this one.

Believe it or not City needs a thinner "first team quality" squad to maintain the egos while having worthy sidekicks in each position. Chelsea is a good example in that they certainly have trimmed their squad to a good number of players who play week in week out and has a bench that doesn't complain as much.

Given that Chelsea took a couple of seasons to achieve it I would expect the same from City, save some clueless owners and executives.

Posted by Aaryn Sharp on 12/20/2010

Where is Adebayor?

Wallace Reply I've seen no reason for his non playing...

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