Manchester City players face uncertain future under Roberto Mancini

21 December 2009 11:16
Joleon Lescott: The England defender has been little short of disastrous in a Manchester City shirt since his £22m move from Everton in August. [LNB]Unconvincing on the ball and prone to rash challenges in dangerous areas, Lescott is now facing at least a month on the sidelines following knee surgery, so he faces an even bigger battle to reclaim his place. [LNB] Related ArticlesMan City warned off making Balotelli bidMark Hughes didn't see it comingRobinho wants Mancini talksMancini takes over at City with future in doubtMark Hughes's statement in fullRoberto Mancini targets Giorgio Chiellini and MaiconIronically, while Lescott has struggled, the man he replaced Richard Dunne has been a huge success at Aston Villa. [LNB]Wayne Bridge: City are now discovering that £12m is an awful lot to pay for a very average left-back. [LNB]Bridge spent almost six years at Chelsea, most of them as understudy to Ashley Cole, and he has done little at Eastlands to suggest he is any better than a jobbing defender. [LNB]One-dimensional, defensively suspect and with an over-reliance on his left foot, Bridge is on borrowed time under Mancini. [LNB]Kolo Toure: Arsène Wenger rarely makes a mistake when selling players that have served him well and it appears as though he cashed in on Toure at the perfect time. [LNB]Mark Hughes paid £16m for the Ivory Coast defender and made him captain, but Toure needs to play alongside a commanding centre-half to perform at his best and that hasn't happened. [LNB]The 28-year-old has appeared cumbersome and uncertain in recent weeks. His imminent departure for the African Cup of Nations will deprive him of the chance to make an early impression on Mancini. [LNB]Robinho: At a British record £32.5m, the Brazilian is arguably the most overpriced player in Premier League history at least Juan Sebastian Veron helped Manchester United win the title! [LNB]Robinho was a shining light in his early days, but his away-day performances have always been dismal and his contribution over the past 12 months has been minimal. [LNB]Mancini's arrival might spark him into life, but the Italian is unlikely to be convinced by a player who has regularly flattered to deceive. [LNB]Roque Santa Cruz: Troubled by injuries since his £17.5m summer arrival from Blackburn, Santa Cruz is highly regarded within the game. [LNB]But the Paraguayan's fitness record is a concern and, with Mancini expected to get the best out of Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tévez, Santa Cruz is likely to be the odd man out. [LNB]If he is sold, however, City face a massive loss on the former Blackburn player having paid over the odds to sign him in the first place. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph