Source: Daily_Mail
Roberto Mancini's bright idea of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli not looking so clever
'If Inter sell Balotelli, we'll be there. In Dzeko, we have more than a simple interest. Dzeko and Balotelli together to Manchester City? It is a good idea!' - Roberto Mancini, July 2010 [LNB]Mancini's 'idea' does not sound like a particularly good one now. [LNB]Not considering how Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko have performed in blue since City paid ?50million to bring them to Manchester, and certainly not in view of the predicament he faces after Carlos Tevez was all but ruled out of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against his old club Manchester United.[LNB] Name: Edin Dzeko. From: Bosnia. Age: 25. Cost: ?27m. Man City appearances: 15. Man City goals: 4 (none in the league). Mancini:'He must improve. I expect more.'[LNB]Name: Mario Balotelli. From: Italy. Age: 20. Cost: ?23m. Man City appearances: 23. Man City goals: 10 (six in the league). Mancini: 'I hope he can change his behaviour.'[LNB] The spectre of last season looms large: City losing out to Tottenham in the race for a Champions League place and seeing their hopes of a Cup Final appearance dashed by United.[LNB]For Mancini to avoid a repeat of that scenario - perhaps to save his job - it looks as though he will have to rely on two players who have undoubtedly let him down this season. But can he? [LNB]Both strikers were anonymous in Monday's crushing 3-0 defeat at Liverpool after Tevez was forced off early on with a hamstring injury. Balotelli has not found the net in his last seven games, Dzeko in his last six.[LNB]The Bosnian, who arrived in January for ?27m with a big reputation after scoring 66 times in 111 appearances for Wolfsburg, looks no nearer breaking his Premier League duck for City. His only goals for the club have come against Notts County and Aris Salonika.[LNB]Balotelli's strike-rate since he signed from Inter Milan for ?23m in the summer might be better, but the volatile Italian's City career appears to be going backwards amid a series of controversies.[LNB] Fears: Carlos Tevez is almost certain to miss the FA Cup semi-final after limping out of the league defeat against Liverpool[LNB]Consistently touted as the best finisher at the club, he started on the bench at Anfield and was then substituted himself before the end. Even City's loyal supporters are starting to lose patience.[LNB]The odds are being cut on one of them making an early exit this summer, with Udinese's Chile striker Alexis Sanchez already being mentioned among the possible replacements. That is of little use to Mancini right now as he tries to fill the gap left by his captain and leading scorer.[LNB]Tevez limped out of Anfield on Monday night and spent Tuesday recuperating at home while the rest of the squad went in for a warm-down and treatment.[LNB]He will be assessed again on Wednesday but the initial prognosis of two weeks' out is unlikely to change dramatically. Even if he had the option to gamble, Mancini knows he cannot afford to lose his talisman for even longer when finishing in the top-four remains his priority.[LNB] Problems: On-field discipline has been am issue for Balotelli... as it has been off it[LNB]Of the eight games Tevez has missed this season, City have lost half of them and won only two. His total of 18 Premier League goals is three times greater than the combined contribution of Balotelli and Dzeko. Perhaps the only consolation for Mancini is that one of them has to come good at some stage.[LNB]His team selection at Chelsea last month, when Tevez missed out with a groin strain, suggests Dzeko will start at Wembley with the unpredictable Balotelli held back on the bench. It would certainly be no surprise to see City revert to a more cautious approach after they were ruthlessly exposed at Anfield.[LNB]'It was definitely our worst performance of the season,' said midfielder Gareth Barry. 'It's difficult to put your finger on anything in particular but I'm not sure we can blame Saturday too much. [LNB] Value for money: Andy Carroll justified his price tag on the night Dzeko nor Balotelli did[LNB]'It's important we learn from the hurt we suffered last year. That will make us even more determined.[LNB]'At times like this you just have to bounce back. It should be easy to pick ourselves up because it's such a massive game for the club. If you can't get yourself up for a semi-final at Wembley then you shouldn't be in the game.' [LNB]For Dzeko and Balotelli, the stage is set. There could not be a better moment to deliver.[LNB] Man City out to steal march on Inter by launching ?44m bid for SanchezLiverpool 3 Man City 0: Fernando who? Carroll at the double to sink hapless Blues Two strikers, ?62m and NO goals: Carroll and Dzeko are yet to deliverAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, Gareth Barry, Mario Balotelli Places: Liverpool, Manchester, Chile
