Source: Team_Talk
Italians flavour of the month - SA
Rovers are hoping the weather will not put pay to their Monday night trip to Eastlands, where Mancini was installed as successor to Mark Hughes last month in controversial circumstances.[LNB]So far the Italian has overseen league victories over Stoke and Wolves and a win at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup - all without a goal being conceded - but his appointment came as a surprise to many and the wisdom of City's decision remains to be seen.[LNB]Mancini's compatriots Capello and Trapattoni have impressed during their time in charge of the England and Republic of Ireland national teams respectively, and Allardyce thinks Italian managers have become "flavour of the month" as a consequence.[LNB]"They are fanciable at the moment," Allardyce said.[LNB]"They are obviously the flavour of the month and that's probably because Capello has done so well with England and all of a sudden Trapattoni has done alright for Ireland.[LNB]"Everybody thinks Italians are the way forward again, but that is a trend, a fancy for our bosses - we are not in control of that."[LNB]Mancini won three league titles in four seasons at Inter Milan between 2004 and 2008, but Allardyce believes the Barclays Premier League is a step up from Italian football.[LNB]"He is over here and he's going to test his skills in the Premier League for the first time," Allardyce said.[LNB]"He has a good record in Italy, but it appears that in Italy it is not quite as good as it used to be so everybody wants to come to the Premier League now, because everybody knows this is the best place to be."[LNB]Allardyce recently voiced concerns about the impact of foreign players upon England's domestic talent pool, and he also feels it is important with the growing influx of coaches from overseas that home-grown managers are given the chance to shine.[LNB]"Not only are all the players coming - all the coaches worldwide want to come," Allardyce said.[LNB]"We have a big challenge on our hands as Brits or English, to make sure we show them that we are just as good - and in most cases, if given the chance, we have managed to do the job just as good, if not better than them."[LNB]Mancini has already made his first signing for City in Patrick Vieira and is being linked daily with a host of names from around the world.[LNB]In contrast Blackburn look set for a quiet transfer window, but Allardyce insists he is happy to keep faith in the players already at his disposal.[LNB]"Every football club at this stage of the season decides whether it is going to increase its already extensive wage budget and in many cases in January, clubs decide to go above it or beyond it," Allardyce said.[LNB]"At the moment we are not in a position to do that financially which I understand. That is why we are not looking to do any business.[LNB]"I've got a lot of confidence in the players, even though we are in a delicate position in the league.[LNB]"I hope the performances are going to continue as they are and that will bring more victories in the last 18 games than they have in the first 20, and we'll be sufficiently okay to be relatively comfortable in this league this season."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
