Source: Telegraph
Has Roberto Mancini improved Manchester City?
When Mark Hughes was sacked as Manchester City manager in December, the club were sixth in the Premier League. They were also in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, and had lost just twice all season. [LNB]Three months later, they are out of the Carling Cup, out of the FA Cup, and have now lost six games in total - twice as many under Mancini (four) as they did under the man he replaced. [LNB]Paul Scholess sympathy for red-carded Darren FletcherManchester City manager Mark Hughes unleashes warrior spirit in face of speculationSo what has Mancini really achieved? Well, City have moved up one place in the Premier League, to fifth, thanks largely to his brief honeymoon period. Mancini began well, winning his first four games in charge and beating Manchester United in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final. Since then though, the wind has been taken out of their sails, and a 3-1 defeat against Stoke in the FA Cup follows a desperately disappointing draw at home against Liverpool at the weekend.[LNB]Several players are said to be unhappy — as many as eight according to one source at the club — and there have been questions over Mancini's training methods, his ever-changing tactics, his substitutions during games and his curious deployment of some players. The recent 2-1 defeat away to Hull City, for example, was a great cause of frustration. With City trailing, Mancini took off Bellamy and brought on Patrick Vieira who, it was claimed, was unfit while a bemused Shaun Wright-Phillips remained on the bench. [LNB]It may seem ludicrous to judge Mancini after such a brief period in charge, but City's owners have already proved that they will be doing exactly that. So what conclusions will they be drawing? [LNB]Have City improved under Mancini? Are they playing better football? Are they on course for fourth place? Or has the Italian's appointment taken the club backwards? [LNB]Have your say below... [LNB]
