Ian Holloway... My goodness, such a breath of fresh air and such an incredibly positive attitude to attempting to survive in the Premier League. Blackpool have got no business, absolutely none, in staying in the Premier League and yet every week it is attack or go home with nothing.
That this week, as in the first contest against City, Blackpool did indeed go home with no points does nothing to detract from their manager's strategy. The Seasiders could have taken either game and it would be hard to argue with such a result. Five times this season, Blackpool have travelled away from home and returned with all three points and it wasn't hard to understand why as in the dying moments of the game Blackpool were playing virtually a 4-2-4 and getting numerous players into the box.
I predicted that Blackpool would go down this year. Should they stay up I will never be happier than to be proven completely wrong. Yet City rode their luck, in general played well and kept pace with United at the top of the table.
The scary part is that City really haven't hit their stride yet and still could use a couple of additional recruits. The thought must give their rival managers pause.
Life is good for Mancini.
Meanwhile a quick look at the Premier League table shows Fulham in the relegation zone and Spurs challenging for a Champions League spot. But if you didn't know which team was which a casual observer at White Hart Lane Saturday would have been hard pressed to correctly identify each team. Mark Hughes can feel aggrieved that Fulham didn't get at least a point from the game as for long parts of the contest they had Tottenham on the back foot. That being said the full commitment of the Spurs defenders was excellent to see.
Such first year struggles appear to be a trademark of the former City manager as this is now the third club where initially his new club is in the lower half of the league. I am quite confident that given the support of the Fulham ownership, Hughes will have the team in the top ten next year and regularly challenging for Europe thereafter.
It's now been a little over a year since Hughes left and Mancini joined City. Despite various press reports of a club in crisis, City have gone from strength to strength and are legitimate challengers for the title. For all the talk of a strong squad, an injury to de Jong, Kompany or Tevez would almost certainly derail such talk. The goal remains, qualify for the Champions League.
For Hughes, Fulham seems a perfect fit. If Damien Duff could cross the ball on Saturday the press could well have been discussing two away victories in a row and a significant reduction in the current level of pressure.
And Holloway? Once Capello leaves the England job I'd love to see the Blackpool boss be given a couple of friendlies to see what he could do with England. Might be a level too far, but it would be fun to watch.
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Posted by Daniel on 01/02/2011
Wallace, I think City might feel the absence of David Silva more than they would feel the absence of Tevez and possibly Kompany. Possibly. Not trying to take away from their importance, but Silva seems to be the key to unlocking defenses since we don't really play with wingers and crossing isn't our game. I hope our December (and upcoming summer buys) are cover for De Jong and Silva in addition to a striker (such as Dzeko or my dream-signing of Torres.)
Wallace Reply Silva is rapidly becoming the best player I've ever seen in a City shirt. The only positive about a possible absence is that City have the players to play his position should they be needed. But give Silva another year and there's a good chance the consensus is that he's the best player in the Premier League.
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Posted by saif on 01/03/2011
i think silva is the most important pleyer in man city but, i hope he comeback quickly. does any one know how strong his engry so far???
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Posted by Sam on 01/03/2011
I think Hughes will get the sack to be honest, particularly if they continue to close in on the relegation zone. City were very fortunate to get rid of him when they did, he was not able to manage a team with City's aspirations and funding and purchased a plethora of players who continue to cause problems at city for the wrong reasons (see Bellamy, Santa Cruz et al). Hughes needs to be at a struggler on a tight budget as he lacks knowledge of european football and bringing together a team of superstars. Mancini however seems to be doing a marvellous job, managing a raft of diverse and conflicting personalities (Balotelli, Tevez, Toure etc), top players who have been unable to cut it in such a competitive environment (Adebeyor, Santa Cruz) and has managed to keep things on track. Once he can clear the decks a bit more he should have the team fired to challenge not only for the top four but perhaps the title itself! Who would have thought!
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Posted by daniel arthur on 03/02/2011
why is this that Mancini don't use Adam i would like to know.
Wallace Reply Johnson is injured at the moment
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Wallace Poulter is an award winning video game producer, designer, industry consultant and writer. He has been a football fanatic since the day he moved in next door to Brian Clough. "Cloughie" being the acknowledged genius that he was promptly moved out and went to manage Derby. A serviceable senior school left-back in his youth, Poulter played one season of Sunday league football as a striker proving conclusively that he was a serviceable senior school left-back! Today Poulter remains involved with football as a licensed referee and most recently as a consultant on a Football MMO.
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